March 2012 Highlights

C O M M U N I T Y

news Radhanath Swami visits ISKCON

Happy Birthday to Chandravali devi dasi

Book Distribution

Govindas Restaurant

Radhas Boutique

Outreach

Gaura Purnima

Devotee Care

Youth Preaching

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Community News

Gaura Purnima Gaura Purnima celebrates the auspicious occasion of the appearance of the Lords most merciful incarnation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This year Gaura Purnima fell on March 8th. The morning started with euphoric kirtan with Their Lordships dressed in new outfits for the special occasion.

His Holiness Atmanivedana Swami, who gave an entertaining and insightful class, joined us. We were also very fortunate to have the association of Rupa Vilas dasa, who gave the evening discourse.

As usual the day was filled with festivities which included a drama, maha harinama, kirtans, abhishek of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, a sumptuous feast and the famous late evening festival kirtans.

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Community News

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Community News

Devotee CareCreating a system of care in Lisbon

We visited ISKCON-Lisbon, Portugal centre, on the request of Rupa Vilas and Govinda Sundar Prabhus from 19 - 22 March 2012 after they were inspired by a presentation made at the ELM about the Counsellor System and Devotee Care.

The devotees were extremely receptive, hospitable, kind, caring and eager to hear. There was a core group of about 4-5 who attended our daily sessions over three days from 3:30-5:30 pm - then there were programmes each evening nama hatta style. All of the core group are initiated, over 30 years of age and mostly locals.

We discussed the core ethos of Devotee Care and shared the method we have introduced (counsellor system) - explaining that there are many different styles and methods to choose from. (We gave them copies of the newest devotee care journals for them to see.)

The sessions were very interactive and personal, with questions and answers, real life experiences of successes and challenges.

They were inspired to begin the system but felt it was important to first develop themselves by meeting as a group to hear and chant together for their own nourishment and to also discuss how to practically move forward.

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Community News

We have agreed to stay in touch with them via email, share any information we have and also to follow-up at a later date to be set in the future - which they desired.

Side point is that they seem to be running a relatively successful lunch time restaurant programme with approximately 50-75 customers a day, many of them say Hare Krishna or Haribol, are professionals and almost entirely locals.

Another side point - there was a lot of talk about integrating more with the local Hindu community, this has not been done and may require guidance.

Your servantsJai Nitai dasa and Bhava Bhakti devi dasi

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Community News

Gita Sutras

The Gita Sutras sessions continued as usual, and the main topics discussed were Life Lessons and the Inner Voice.

Youth PreachingMarch was a very exciting month for preaching, being the last month before the Easter break. The main highlights are outlined below.

Mantra Jam

After considerable planning and hard work, our team at SOAS university finally launched their Mantra Jam kirtan event in the heart of SOAS, attracting well over 100 people throughout the evening.

An evening of mellow and ecstatic tunes was led by Radha Londonisvara dasa and Jahnavi devi dasi, and by the end of the session there were crowds of students dancing wildly in the lounge area of the university.

The event was a huge success, being the first introduction to Krishna Consciousness for a large number of students. The event included not only kirtan, but book stalls, merchandise and a free feast which was a big hit with the students after an evening of dancing and singing.

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Community News

KC Lounge

We have recently recruited new team members from the brahmacari ashram to manage the weekly Friday Programe, in an effort to revitalize and expand its success. It is hoped that the programe will also now serve to attract a new generation of attendees who

may consider joining the ashram at a later stage.

The main topics covered this month were the Inner Voice, Sense Perception, an overview of the Bhagavad Gita and a presentation on the WADDA farm community project in India. Another of the popular open Q&A sessions was also held.

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Community News

Happy Birthday to Chandravali devi dasi A surprise party was held for Chandravali devi dasi on March 3rd to celebrate her 60th birthday. The party was held in Govindas and brought many members of the ISKCON London community together. Mother Chandravali ki jaya!

Radhanath Swami visits ISKCON London At the end of this month we were very fortunate to have the association of His Holiness Radhanath Swami. Maharaja spoke on building a community of care and led an estatic kirtan. His Holiness Chandramuali Swami was also in attendance and led the devotees in dancing enthusiastically.

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Community News

Name Days LakshmiBook

PointsBig

Maha Big Hard

MediumMedium

HardSet Small

Jai Nitai Dasa 1 5.00 1.25 5

Bhakta Elin 1 4.00 1.25 5

Virabhadra dasa 2 9.00 2.00 1 6

Nrsmha Vallabha das 1 8.00 2.25 1 1

Bhaktin Louise 2 17.00 3.50 1 1 10

Premarnava dasa 1 12.00 4.00 2

Govinda's smart box 1 10.00 4.00 2

Bhakta Aryan 1 10.00 4.00 2

Bhakta Ben 1 12.00 4.50 2 1

Mantra Jan 1 16.00 7.00 3 4

Bhakta Shiv 1 35.00 8.50 4 2

Vijaya Das 1 16.00 10.00 5

Gaura Kishore group-Smart Box 1 30.00 10.00 5

Bhava Bhakti Counsellee group 1 32.00 11.00 5 2

Jayananda das 5 40.00 12.75 4 2 15

Bhakta Alexey 4 43.00 13.50 4 3 16

Sachi Kumar Nimai das 2 40.00 15.75 8 47

Bhava Bhakti Counselle smart box 3 71.00 17.25 2 11 31

Yoga school 1 47.00 17.50 1 8 1

Intro to Bhagavad-Gita 1 34.00 18.00 9

Bhava Bhakti Conselle Cans 1 63.00 20.00 10

Hari Kirtan das 1 90.00 26.75 7 9 33

WW south 2 111.00 30.25 6 22 29

WW west(Ealing) 1 42.00 36.75 16 3 13

Bhakta Pasha 15 281.00 97.00 16 53 154

Bhakta Laurie 9 504.00 124.00 5 62 332

Russian Bhakti Vriksha 4 357.00 128.25 36 17 191

Sundara Nitai das 9 833.00 357.00 155 1 1 49

HDG AC Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada

3 1,387.00 366.25 16 122 36 353

NPKTSP 2 1,415.00 486.50 4 27 555 604

Book DistributionDuring the month of March we collected 5,574, distributed 3,198 books for 1,840.75 book points.

The scores were as follows:

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Community News

Govindas RestaurantGovindas collected 58,075.33 in March, of this amount: catering 1,882.50 and books 103.50.

*********************************************************Govindas takings: 56,089.33

*********************************************************

31 working days. Average day for the restaurant: 1,873.40. 7,890.89 more then March 2011.

Radhas Boutique Radhas Boutique collected 9,123.86 in March.

OutreachJai Nitai dasa preformed the following outreach activities in March:

1st Held a department heads meeting. This was the first meeting of this kind. 12 department heads attended and the temple management plan to hold these meetings quarterly.

16th House Program with the Dattani family. There were 30 devotees in attendance.

23rd Held a program in Wimbledon with 25 guests in attendance.

28th Jai Nitai dasa and Bhava Bhakti devi dasi attended a Westminster Faith Exchange meeting. The topic of discussion was the upcoming London Olympics.

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Community News

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T: 020 7437 3662E: london@pamho.net

W: www.iskcon-london.org

Radha-Krishna Temple10 Soho StreetLondon W1D 3DL

International Society for Krishna ConciousnessFounder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Arati Times4.30am Mangala Arati5.00am Tulasi Arati7.00am Deity Greeting8.00am Dhoop Arati12.30pm Raj Bhoga Arati4.15pm Dhoop Arati7.00pm Sundara Arati 9.00pm Dhoop Arati

Darshan Times4.30am to 5.00am7.00am to 7.30am8.00am to 11.45am12.30pm to 1.00pm4.15pm to 6.30pm7.00pm to 7.30pm9.00pm to 9.30pm

Lunch ProgrammeMonday to Saturday1.00pm to 2.15pm

Classes7.30am Bhagavatam or Caitanya Caritamrta 1.00pm Introductory Talk6.00pm Bhagavad Gita (except Sunday)

Sunday Programme3.30pm Bhajans4.15pm Dhoop Arati4.30pm Introductory Talk5.30pm Sunday Feast6.00pm Questions & Answers7.00pm Gaura Arati

Daily Programme Times