Building and Maintaining Relationships
In case you missed the last December Urban Devi, please click here or on the image below to listen. Healthy relationships are an integral part of our devotional life in Krishna consciousness and a fundamental part of a balanced life in the world in general.Drawing from Rupa Goswami’s description of loving exchanges and other relevant devotional and educational resources we will discuss the basic principles of building and maintaining healthy relationships in the various aspects of our lives – ranging from very intimate to friendly or formal acquaintance and even to relationships that require keeping a respectful distance.Speaker Bio: Nanda-Nandana Dasi, a disciple of Hridayananda Dasa Goswami, has served in ISKCON as a cook, teacher, and leader. In 1992, she joined ISKCON in Boston, Massachusetts where she served as a head cook, preparing Deity offerings and managing the kitchen, as well as cooking for feasts, festivals, public programs, and events. Nanda-Nandana has trained in and taught seminars in Non-violent Communication, Mediation, Leadership Training, and Bhakti Sastri. Nanda-Nandana is currently living at the Krishna House in Gainesville, Florida where she manages and trains cooks in the kitchen department and occasionally teaches seminars, and Gita classes, and leads spiritual discussions at public events for the Krishna House Bhakti Academy.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_4NZJ_5MfY[/embed]
All the best,Rukmini Walker
Urban Devi- Devotional Literature: Practical Strategies
This month's Urban Devi session was with Guru Carana Padma Dasi. She joined the bhakti movement in 1976 in Chicago where she was engaged in full-time outreach programs. She came to the UK in 1979 and was at the full-time ladies’ book distribution party in London and around the UK. After marrying Kripamoya Dasa in 1982 they developed a community through the Nama Hatta outreach and FOLK (Friends of Lord Krishna) programs as well as supervising, educating, and nurturing new students who joined the ashram. After having her 3 children, she became involved in children’s education at Bhaktivedanta manor and eventually became the head of the Primary elementary school where she served for over 20 years. At this time, she gained her degrees in Educational Management and Early years education. She is currently serving on the temple council at Bhaktivedanta Manor UK and is on the Ladies' board at Bhaktivedanta Manor helping to support the ladies’ programs there. She is also an Ombudsman/Mediator through ISKCON Resolve.
With Gratitude,
Rukmini Walker
Urban Devi Class: Listening to Learn
~presented by Vrindavan Vinodini Devi Dasi
This August's Urban Devi Class featured Vrindavan Vinodini Devi Dasi speaking on the topic "Listening to Learn". Drawing from bhakti wisdom and secular knowledge and research, you will learn the simple and practical application of seven key principles to help you grow, improve and establish healthy loving relationships. Please click here or on the video image below to listen to the talk.
Vrndavana Vinodini grew up in both the Montreal and Ottawa ISKCON Communities. At 23, after finishing her Bachelors in Biochemistry, she travelled to Belgium to complete Bhakti sastri in Radhadesh. Although having grown up in the tradition of Bhakti, the trip was life-transforming as it was here she chose the Bhakti path for herself. Coming back to Canada, she completed her Masters in Biochemistry, after which she went to Mayapur to study deity worship. Upon returning, she served for several years as a scientific regulator and advocate for natural health products. In 2016, she received her coaching certification and started learning about a powerful personality framework known as the Enneagram. Today, she works as a coach who helps others develop a better relationship with themselves and build a rich inner life by becoming aware of the patterns of the ego. Alongside coaching, she teaches the Gita in yoga studios, small groups, as well as meditation classes[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FettkzwXgc[/embed]
Struck with Wonder and Gratitude!
All the best,
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Impressions ~ Urban Devi Nature Retreat, Huguenot, New York
~by Rukmini Walker
Last weekend we held an Urban Devi Nature Retreat in upstate New York. It was held at a thousand-acre retreat center on the bank of a lake. We gathered and sang kirtan by a bonfire at the lake each night, and we met inside by the fire in the lodge each morning. I led a workshop and guided meditations on Cultivating the Garden of the Heart.
Afternoons were spent boating on the lake, journaling, dreaming, sharing and doing restorative yoga, led by Lucero. Delicious prasadam meals were lovingly cooked and offered by the mother-daughter team of Elaine and Champaka-lata.It was a deepening, rejuvenating gathering of heart-opened women on the path of Bhakti. Some were new to the path, some more seasoned, but, I think, all of us left with a refreshed perspective on our lives in the cities where we live.Komala Kumari gave us a Bharata Natyam dance class where she taught us how these dancers offer respect to the earth before they dance. She also taught us the facial expressions (abhinaya) and hand gestures (mudras) that express the story and moods of the dance.Kumari also shared with us this beautiful recording of the Sanskrit verse (shlokam) she performed and taught us. Scroll down to the end of this blog to find the link to the recording and the English translation. Please listen to it and be transported to the divine realm of loving Krsna!
Also below is a recording of a song uplifting the gifts of women that Lucero shared with us and we all sang together, along with many photos of our time there together.Thanks to all of you who came and opened your hearts so wide.If you weren't able to make it this time, please plan to join us next September!All the best,Rukmini Walker
Here is a recording of the Sanskrit shlokam that Kumari shared with us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri6Y7BFJIwU
Here is the shlokam in Sanskrit followed by the meaning:
Kastuurii-Tilakam Lalaatta-Pattale Vakssah-Sthale Kaustubham Naasa-Agre Nava-Mauktikam Karatale Vennum Kare Kangkannam | Sarva-Angge Haricandanam Sulalitam Kanntthe Ca Muktaavalim Gopa-Strii Parivessttito Vijayate Gopaala Cuuddaamannih ||
Meaning:1: Salutations to Gopala Who is adorned with the Sacred Marks of Kasturi (Musk) on His Forehead and Kaustubha Jewel on His Chest,2: His Nose is decorated with a Shining Pearl, the Palms of His Hands are gently holding a Flute, the Hands themselves are beautifully decorated with Bracelets,3: His Whole Body is Smeared with Sandal Paste, as if Playfully anointed, and His Neck is decorated with a Necklace of Pearls,4: Surrounded by the Cowherd Woman, Gopala is Shining in their middle in Celebration like a Jewel on the Head.
Here is the Women's song: https://youtu.be/_FVKUMAKtmg
And some photos of our time together: