Gaudiya Discussions Archive » ANNOUNCEMENTS

Relevant announcements of upcoming programs, new publications, new websites and so forth.

East Coast Gathering (US) -

braja - Fri, 23 Jul 2004 01:52:09 +0530

Dear All,

Although this is a little premature for an announcement, I will be out of the country soon, so I thought it best to start with the arrangements now.

Some members here at gaudiyadiscussions have been discussing the possibility of getting together towards the end of August or early September. If you are located on the East Coast or would be interested in travelling for the meeting, please let us know, either by posting here, PMing me, or, if you are not a member, by emailing me: admin {at} loibazaar.com

We are located just south of Albany NY, approximately two hours north of New York City, two hours west of Boston and four hours south of Montreal... where our guest speaker resides. Yes, our esteemed speaker will be none other than Sriman Jagadananda Dasji.

The program will be held over a weekend, possibly beginning on the Friday evening and wrapping up on Sunday morning. Besides the patha, I have also suggested an open Q&A session that might cover questions on raganuga bhakti, Gaudiya history, etc.

I'll announce more details here as they evolve--we have children, spouses, jobs and logistics to work around--but if your interest has been piqued and you'd like more information, please contact me directly.

Braja.

Madan Gopal - Fri, 23 Jul 2004 07:20:20 +0530

Boy, I'd love to go. I'm on the east coast but about 12 hours away. Keep us informed, though I doubt I'll be able to make it. When is Jagatji doing a world tour, every town and village?!

Jagat - Fri, 23 Jul 2004 07:33:27 +0530

It's been quite a while since I have given any kind of public talk. Not since I taught at university, which is something quite different. What I really miss is doing the puja of the Bhagavata before speaking. I don't know if they do this in the Gaudiya Math; I don't think it is done in Iskcon at all.

braja - Fri, 23 Jul 2004 10:57:05 +0530

Nearest airports are Albany Int'l (25 minutes) and Stewart (60+); train station at Hudson (12 minutes). We can arrange transportation from any of those places.

I only mention Stewart--a tiny airport--as there are a couple of small/cheaper airlines that fly there, such as Independence Air who seem to fly from NC and other diverse places for $89 each way. I've never heard of them but they must exist as they have a web site.

Southwest fly to Albany and they currently have fares for $73 each way from Raleigh/Durham to Albany. Standard fares to Albany from R/D seem to hover around the $180 mark.

Perhaps a collective prayer for $pecial ble$$ing$ is needed? A Laksmi puja as well as the Bhagavata puja?

Madan Gopal - Fri, 23 Jul 2004 17:09:16 +0530

Wow, I just might have to see if I can get away! If anybody has some extra mantras to offer in a laxmi puja, hey, think of me.

Jagat - Tue, 27 Jul 2004 19:06:53 +0530

August 28-29 looks like the most opportune time.

Advitiya - Tue, 27 Jul 2004 19:32:07 +0530

QUOTE

Yes, our esteemed speaker will be none other than Sriman Jagadananda Dasji.

Jay Jagadanandaji ki jay! (We all vote for it).

What a great idea! Thank you Braja for organizing this Satsang before going to Vrindavan.

QUOTE

Perhaps a collective prayer for $pecial ble$$ing$ is needed? A Laksmi puja as well as the Bhagavata puja?

I liked that. It made me laugh far a while. This is really you.

What are the arrangements for staying there? Like to know...

braja - Wed, 28 Jul 2004 11:38:51 +0530

As much as anything concerning this free-spirited group can be official, we can officially confirm that the program will take place the weekend of August 28-29th, in Stuyvesant Falls, New York.

We can offer transportation from any of the local airports or the train station and directions for anyone who wishes to drive. On advice from the Department of Homeland Security I won't post them publically, so please send me a PM or email if you need them.

We can also offer some accomodation so again please let me know if your budget leans toward needing free lodging. Depending upon your flexibility and tolerance level, we can have several people stay with us and we may have other openings with friends in the same neighborhood. Please don't feel shy in contacting us or asking for assistance if you are considering attending.

Although it's hard to fathom the "reality" of disembodied, cyber entities, we are real (and somewhat sane). Through this forum I have met new friends--and met old friends anew--and in some cases have taken the next step and met them in person and have not been disappointed by doing so.

So if you are curious or seriously inquisitive, please consider visiting us. Our doors are open so long as you are open. (We can probably take a few distressed also but seekers of wealth might be disappointed. And the jnanis, well, you know what to do.)

I'll post some information on local hotels within the next day or two and will also discuss more with Jagat as to the schedule of events. As I leave for India on Friday, I'm quite busy so please excuse the lack of detail or sporadic posts. It certainly isn't due to any lack of enthusiasm.

braja - Wed, 25 Aug 2004 23:31:59 +0530

Dear All,

For those who have already expressed interest but haven't heard from me, please PM me and I will give you the address and so on. The program details will be finalized within the next day or two but we will basically keep Jagat as busy as possible, with two sessions on Saturday and another on Sunday morning.

And for those who are contemplating attending but needing further impetus: Just Do It! Life is tottering like a drop of water...

braja - Thu, 26 Aug 2004 19:53:52 +0530

The program will start at 2pm on Saturday. We'll break for dinner and then continue with an informal session. On Sunday morning we'll be having, well, something amazing! We'll wrap up by lunchtime Sunday so that anyone travelling from a distance can make it home at a reasonable hour.

If anyone needs to call for directions, my number is 518-799-2318.

BTW: Although most of the books I picked up on my last trip to India won't be here till sometime in late September, I did bring back some of Ananta Das Baba's other books, including Prema Bhakti Candrika, Rasa Darsana, and others. I don't have many copies of some of them right now, so I'll let attendees have first pick. There is also some new video footage that we might find time to show.

I also have several copies of a new book for the disciples of Haridas Sastri-ji--Message to Disciples--that is a very useful introduction to daily sadhana and other topical issues for Westerners in particular. I'll post more on that later.

Rasaraja dasa - Thu, 26 Aug 2004 20:11:49 +0530

QUOTE (braja @ Aug 26 2004, 06:23 AM)

Dandavats. All glories to the Vaisnavas.

Will these meetings/talks be recorded? I would love to receive a copy since work will be keeping me from coming East for the meeting. I would push for a video conference into the meeting but...

Aspiring to serve the Vaisnavas,
Rasaraja dasa

babu - Mon, 30 Aug 2004 07:29:51 +0530

QUOTE (Rasaraja dasa @ Aug 26 2004, 02:41 PM)

don't think there were any recordings but i do have lots mental notes floating around my brain up until 4:00 pm saturday when dharma called me to see a film festival about the person who gave srila prabhupada his first harmonium when he came to the west and as well provided for legal expenses when he was having problems with his visa... it was exquisite watching him read his "sunflower sutra"

the "east coast gathering" was for me a joyful experience... my cup wasn't half full... Gaura Priya and Braja kept it filled to the top with love... show me the myth... show me the myth (...perverted reflection of "show me the money") Gaura Priya and Braja are the myth... the symbol

(sorry, yah had to have been there to get the nuance...jagat talked about myth, mythos, symbols)

the group was small...it had an intimacy...small enough so there wasn't someone giving lecture and others passive... there was this locking of horns in the questioning of points... it felt tight as in inches were not given but all ground was examined... well, as much as one could in the time at hand... a month would have been nice... and answers were answers in themselves but too, they were questions...

but too, there were times to let go and let jagat take us to the stratospheres of who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the dual incarnation of Radha and Krishna... Krishna wondering what is this joy the devotees feel?

and i left on the question of "how does one find one's dharma?"

and i left not accepting jagat's answer as what could be the final statements...

one will not know Krishna unless one knows Goddess

and this is true of dharma...dharma is of the Goddess

dharma may be your loves and passions or for the non-bi polars, what interests you and so one studies if one needs training and gets a job in this field... or if your just a simple laborer, your cool at whatever construction job comes along

one may have a dharmic practice but to know and be of one's dharma, this goes to the root of your soul.., dharma is not a simple digging a hole with a shovel and i am dharma of the construction worker... dharma implies the quest to awaken

dharma is when you are this construction worker and you dig holes and carry heavy rocks and you are rooted in this experience and you draw from it as who you are as a person and from that you create your life experience... you might happen to notice an immense beauty within and without that others don't see and so on the job, you might do things a little different to bug people... maybe people might get a little bugged but an oppurtunity for conditioning-suspended communication takes place between you and your other workers... and then they might in their own way see beauty within and without... and then, after work or before work or even on your lunch napkin during work, these words appear on the surface of your feelings of your life experience and so you put them to paper... and you read them at a open mic poetry reading and someone says you write really nice poetry and you are poet and you tell them "no, i am a construction worker and i never want to stop busting my gut every day"

Jagat - Mon, 30 Aug 2004 17:49:20 +0530

Whoops. Just lost a post. O well. My thanks also to everyone. I would be interested in getting feedback from others as well. Thank you, babu, for commenting here. My special thanks to Braja and Gaurapriya, who are truly pillars for the Vaishnavism of the future. They have nothing to do but what they are already doing. Their lives are a straight line to Radha Kund.

I suspect I started getting incoherent around Saturday evening, and when I arrived home last night, I turned in pretty early for me. I have three major tasks that I have to complete, so I will probably have to limit my participation on this board for the next week or so.

Babu's question about dharma deserves a separate thread, so I'll start that off.

Madhava - Tue, 31 Aug 2004 22:20:27 +0530

Did anyone record the speech Jagat gave?

Jagat - Tue, 31 Aug 2004 22:27:10 +0530

QUOTE (Madhava @ Aug 31 2004, 12:50 PM)

Did anyone record the speech Jagat gave?

Thank God, no. There were more informal conversations than official classes. When I finally did sit down to give a more formal class, it was a little scattered, though it did eventually gel.

Advitiya - Tue, 31 Aug 2004 22:30:13 +0530

It was a lovely association, indeed!

First of all, I like to thank Braja and his wife Gaurapriya for having us in their Temple-like home and for their wonderful loving service.

I like to write few words about Braja’s place before I go for any feedback.

The place itself had such an impact on me! It is totally “bhajanAnukUl”.

Living in that house, one is bound to grow love and devotion. Seeing Braja and Gaurapriya in their bhajan kutir (prema-kutir), their loving service towards Gaur-Nitai and the devotees, I feel like starting my life all over again!

I have never been to Vraja, but staying at Braja’s place was like staying in one of the dham –s. I was amazed to see that life could be so down to earth, so simple, so much connected to God which also allows to bring joy and prosperity in life. This is what I felt staying there! I admire their niSThA. May Lord Gauranga and Nityananda bless them and their precious children.

I also like to mention that Braja is an excellent cook. All the preparations were uttama. Everything was so proper and totally vaisnava way. He was serving us in his verranda just like in dham as a pakka devotee.

Now comes the other part or should I say the main part!

I like to thank our speaker Jagat prabhu for his tireless work at GD and as well as for his tireless speech. Although the program was supposed to start at 2 P.M, but it started as soon as Jagat prabhu stepped in. Some people from our web-site like Babu, Frank, Anand and Nila-madhava were already there waiting for the arrival of our Jagatji. As soon as everybody was introduced, the coversation started. We could only hear Jagadanandaji’s loud and deep voice accentuated with his famous laugh. He carried on until 8 P.M taking a break for prasadam in between and then again the conversation continued until everybody dropped.

Jagadanandaji not only poures his heart at GD; he has so much to offer you can’t even imagine!

He started his speech by quoting “Adau zraddhA tataH sAdhu-saGgo’tha bhajana-kriyA….” to explain how to develop bhakti, the nine steps and so on, touched many grounds and then ended his speech by explaining three aspects – Sat, Cit and Ananda, stressing on the difference of approach between Eastern and Western philosophy to establish theism. The Eastern religion goes from impersonal to personal while the latter starts from personal and ends up in impersonal. The Eastern view goes more deeper by accepting the Cit and Ananda part along with Sat. It was quite interesting to see the common ground between these two philosophical views.

Here comes the best part what Babu and Frank have missed!

Would you believe if I told you that Jagadanandaji helped us visualize Golaka?

It was the next morning after having a good rest and a good breakfast. Jagatji started the program by singing "gurvastakam" along with mahamantra. He sang beautifully although it was after such a long time! I wish I taped his voice!

It was called Guided Visualisation. Personally, I think, it was a great idea! It was just WONDERFUL!

It was the practical application of "Adau zraddhA...", the complete blend of Yoga and Bhakti.

I will keep this as a surprise as well. One has to be there to believe it! Until the next gathering…

Gaur Haribol!

Madhava - Tue, 31 Aug 2004 22:37:46 +0530

Thank you, Malika, for the sweet and thorough description! Now I am all envious for not being able to attend! Anyhow, I'll just have to wait until the winter-time as GD goes Vraja! Now, we just need to get Jagat there somehow...

QUOTE (Advitiya @ Aug 31 2004, 07:00 PM)

Some people from our web-site like Babu, Frank, Anand and Nila-madhava were already there waiting for the arrival of our Jagatji. As soon as every body was introduced, the coversation started.

Who is Frank, if it's not a secret?

braja - Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:13:09 +0530

Frank is a disciple of Shyama Das, in the Pusti Marg. A (near-)Woodstockian, like Babu/Chief. I have a few photos of the first session that I'll post when I have more time.

Thanks to everyone for attending. Impediments seemed to spring up all around and, in hindsight, it was probably one of the worst weekends of the year to hold the program. But as a test case, I was very pleased--how can you ever go wrong when Vaisnavas gather for Hari katha? Next time we'll plan the event further in advance and maybe hire a babysitter or three for those who find themselves in that stage of life.

Madhava - Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:50:18 +0530

I was wondering who Frank might be in the forums here.

babu - Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:56:17 +0530

QUOTE (braja @ Aug 31 2004, 05:43 PM)

Impediments seemed to spring up all around and, in hindsight, it was probably one of the worst weekends of the year to hold the program.

the only impediment i noticed was it was hot but i seemed to forget about that in the joy of the occasion

braja, have a great time in vrindavana... say hello to my good friend Krishna for me

sadhaka108 - Wed, 01 Sep 2004 03:07:54 +0530

QUOTE

It was called Guided Visualisation. Personally, I think, it was a great idea! It was just WONDERFUL!

Sometime ago I had the idea of doing a guided visualisation using the descriptions of the shastras, unfortunaly I never executed that. How was this executed by you all?

I answered this and then put it in a separate thread. Guided Visualization of Goloka. -- Jagat.

purifried - Thu, 02 Sep 2004 02:38:14 +0530

Haribolo.

I had the good fortune to attend. I've known Braja-jana and Gaura Priya for a while now and I was really happy to be able to go to this little shin dig. I was also very happy to meet Jagatananda in person.

For a short time, I lived just down the road from Braja-jana, but now I'm back in New Jersey (long story). I saw Braja's home develop from them ripping all the walls and floors out into the beautiful place it is now. Its pretty inspiring actually and I really love how they have developed the place.

Not only that, but Gaura Priya has a cool little Montessouri school that she began herself and that she runs. They seem quite brahminical!

Oh and I will also confirm that Braja is a grand cook. Plus all the veggies were from his garden! And the sweets straight from Vrindavan - how can you go wrong?! The man has many talents! I lament I'm not a closer friend than I am (and not just for the food!

).

The classes were more like question and answer sessions, with the exception of the one that Jagat started by opening up Madhurya Kadambini. He made a few points about the book that I hadn't heard or read in any addition of MK that I've read (Dina Bandhu & Sarvabhavana versions). Actually it seemed like the entire visit was just question and answers. I guess you could call it a class when it was in the temple room. The ladies being eager to hear as well as keep things on schedule actually had to break into the conversation just to get us to move it into the temple room!

Let me delve into my notes...

In the Madhurya Kadambini class here are a few things that were discussed:

That it hasn't been translated so well in general... that we have 2 kinds of samskaras one from prior lives and one from this life... Jagat quoted 'ye yatha mam prapadyante' and said that Krsna's reciprocation doesn't necessarily work like that. In other words, bhakti is independent. There is not really any material means of getting it. She descends by her own sweet will and thus she is indpendent even of Krishna... the nature of prema is that you want to give something back... that there are 2 kinds of prema. one is ecstacy and the other is love... He told the story of how in Gaura lila Lord Caitanya wouldn't give Saci Mata prema... Jagat also made the point that sometimes terms like prema and others have a general meaning as well as other meanings... Jagat explained nistha as the fact that we continue to hold on to Krishna, or even that we can't forget Him if we want to. That was a new way of looking at it for me. Though I still tend to think I'm somewhere in anisthita bhajana kriya...

Anyway, that is kind of how I take notes - in pieces. I apologize if it isn't very clear or continuous. Maybe Jagat would like to elaborate or clarify? I have some more, but don't feel like typing the rest at the moment. So I hope everyone has a nice day.

Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna Jaya Vrindavan!

Ys,

NMd

Hari Saran - Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:36:42 +0530

It is clear for me that I missed a wonderful gathering at Braj’s place. It is, was and will be hard for me to ever understand that I missed it. I was only 3 hours away, but the commitment to host Thomas Hopkins was already made and nothing could change, except if my car was in a better shape. Hopkins was friendly and really happy to meet devotees in a no-institutional environment. He stayed from Friday later noon, till around 11am on Sunday.

The swing festival was nice. We celebrated it at the lake house and it was pleasing to Sri Sri Radha-Raman to look at the Washington Lake, which we call Yamuna.

My car, well, luckily, yesterday when finally the car stopped to run I was 4 miles away, only (thanks God, the Angels and everyone there). In order to run it again I’m by passing the air-conditioning system. (I don’t think I will ever need it here anyway, at least not in NY countryside).

With the grace of the Vaishnavas, I probably will get the opportunity to be in that august assembly, next time. Or by their grace we have them all here for the next Jhulan Yatra festival.

But come on, you guys could be a bit less cruel by feeding the others with a tape or two…

However, thanks Jagat and other for the Visualizations.

Radhe Radhe !

Advitiya - Fri, 03 Sep 2004 02:07:30 +0530

This is what Anand wrote to me:

QUOTE

I don't think I answered your question about whether I will be posting something about the East Coast gathering. As you know, I am not a full member so I cannot post there. But that's ok, your account seems to have covered pretty much everything. Actually if you like to post for me, you can mention my account that I am going to give you here, as follows, if you so decide:

Here is what she wanted to post and I find it very sweet.

About the guided visualisation, what I thought interesting was that the images suggested by Jagadananda for the meditation appeared in my mind very vivid and real, as if a very solid possibility. So I thought that being so "guided" was a key factor for the confidence element in such meditation. I remember the suggestion that the path to Nanda Baba and Yasoda's house was to the left but that we would go to the right, to look for that giant banyan tree. Were I not being guided I would probably end up going to Nanda Baba's house (not that that would be bad, I would just miss the rest of the tour). But when we were suggested to join the demigods and shower flowers from the sky, I actually rejected the invitation and decided to remain on the grass. That's when I too heard someone snoring... It wasn't me! Anyway, I liked this system of guided meditation but I would probably prefer the traditional posture of sitting up. Falling asleep makes one less proactive in the environment, I am sure. Also, I thought that maybe a background related sound, such as brijbasi bhajans or even just forest sounds would be helpful as stimulus.