The Global Devotee Care Directorate is happy to share the inauguration of a weekly Devotee Care webinar series called 'Vaishnava Seva'-an effort to emphasise a culture of devotee care in ISKCON temples and communities.

We will be moderating conversations with senior ISKCON leaders, administrators, and care givers etc.

Today, we will interview HH Jayapataka Swami who is an ISKCON GBC and Co-Minister of the Congregational Development Ministry on the importance of Devotee Care for Preachers involved in Krishna Conscious outreach.

The moderator will be Gauranga Das, who serves amongst other things, as the Global Duty Officer, and in the Global Devotee Care Directorate.

Date : Tuesday,  9 June 2020

Time : 10:45 AM Eastern US time,  8:15 PM India time

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Hear from Caru Das and his wife Vaibhavi Dasi as they share how they grew their annual color festival into the largest of its kind, their unique temple architecture, relationships with city council and neighbors and preaching during the pandemic.

This was published in the Amazing and Unusual USA publication:

Publications International has just produced a 320-page coffee table hardback which includes a picture of the Sri Sri Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, and the following caption.

Amazing and Unusual USA“What could seem more out of place than a temple built in the middle of nowhere? A Hare Krishna temple built in this no-man’s land, which happens to be an acknowledged Mormon stronghold. But build it, the Krishnas certainly did. In fact the group received a great deal of help from their Mormon brethren.The 50 foot tall temple juts up from its elevated plain like a proud citadel should. Exquisitely beautiful, the domed sanctuary is modelled after New Kusum Sarovar, a famous palace in India.More than 40,000 visitors tour the temple annually. Hot vegetarian meals are fed to those who hunger physically as well as spiritually, and gifts, books, and apparel are sold as souvenirs. Such is the peaceful coexistence of faiths.” — Jeff Bahr, compiler.

Date : Thursday,  11 June 2020

Time : 11:00 AM Eastern US time,  8:30 PM India time

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Radha Krishna Das is the GBC secretary for Hungary, Romania, Turkey and Cyprus as well as the co-GBC for Greece, North Macedonia and Israel.

He has various international responsibilities such as the GBC Nominations Committee, he has been the Euro RGB vice chairman for the last 8 years, and he lectures at the GBC College.

Radha Krishna Das became the youngest person to receive a GBC appointment in the last 40 years after graduating from the GBC College in 2017. Radha Krishna Das had previously served for a number of years as Temple Director in New Vraja Dhama / Krishna Valley – the Varnashrama farm community of the Hungarian Yatra – where he managed 5 departments with over 60 devotees serving in them.

During his time as a Temple Director in Krishna Valley he simultaneously served in various other capacities; in local government as Deputy Mayor, and as Chairman of the Eco Valley Foundation, which is involved in scientific cooperation with nine universities and is affiliated with the Hungarian Science Academy (the Eco Valley Foundation is the only Hungarian NGO that received observer organization status from the UNFCCC).

Date : Saturday,  13 June 2020

Time : 10:00 AM Eastern US time,  7:30 PM India time

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Let us find out what is being cooked at the Lower East side of New York, Manhattan.
Divya Altar will be interviewed by Ananda Vrindavan Devi.

ABOUT DIVYA
For Divya, food is much more than a means of sustenance. Food is a friend that has transformed and uplifted her on levels way beyond the physical. She grew up in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and her conscious relationship with food began when she was 18, while interning at the kitchen of an underground yoga ashram. She has been a vegetarian and a cook since then (27+ years).
For five years, she studied in India, where she first experienced Ayurveda. Over time, this ancient healing practice has helped her cure digestive issues, chronic fatigue, and an autoimmune disorder. The transformative healing experience inspired her to study Shaka Vansiya (SV) Ayurveda (which emphasizes on linking the physical and mental needs with the foods and seasonings that will create balance) and become a certified nutritional consultant and culinary educator. Over the years, her cooking evolved from fun, to service, to a health necessity, to education, to writing a book, to a full chef’s career, and… going back to where it started. She has taught thousands of people how to cook, and she has a passion to share the excitement and sense of possibility one can experience in their encounters with pure, sumptuous food.

Her husband, Prentiss, and her are the cofounders of Bhagavat Life, an Ayurvedic culinary school and Divya’s Kitchen, an Ayurvedic restaurant in Manhattan, probably one of the most successful restaurants of the lower east side village of NYC. She is also the author of What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen

She gives credit to many of her teachers who nurtured her and watched her become who she is today. Among whom are Vaidya R.K. Mishra, Krishna Kshetra Swami, BT Swami, Yamuna Devi, Barbara Ann Brennan, Jaidev Singh, and many more.

In her free time, she likes to read books, roam in nature, and hang out with friends and family.

Date : Saturday,  13 June 2020

Time : 12:00 AM Eastern US time,  8:30 PM India time

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The panel of Sangita Dasi, Janaki Dasi and Kamala Radha Dasi will be interviewed by Ekavira Das.

The coronavirus pandemic has cast much of the world into a collective state of grief. Our sense of loss covers a wide spectrum: from loss of personal space and freedoms to dashed expectations and visions to loss of our physical or mental health to the loss of loved ones. We may also be experiencing grief from the undeniable gap between the world we would like to have and the world we’ve inherited.

Most cultures have developed traditions around grief to help people contain and move through the intense feelings of loss; and most of these rituals involve community. The collective nature of mourning rituals support and hold the bereaved through the emotional process.

But in this period of social distancing, many people now find themselves grieving in isolation. Some of us live in societies that have abandoned these communal traditions. As a result, our grief might remain unexpressed, get congested, or be postponed. Unprocessed grief can have traumatic impact and can result in anger, rage, violence, depression, and substance abuse. Most bereavement counselors agree that it’s important to grieve consciously and intentionally in order to heal, grow, and move forward.

Date : Sunday,  14 June 2020

Time : 10:30 AM Eastern US time,  8:00 PM India time

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The GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) serves the GBC by offering strategic advice, guidance and solutions for the benefit of the whole of ISKCON.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada