In the sacred land of Mayapur, the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a new milestone has been achieved with the establishment of the Soul to Soul Guesthouse. This unique venture, born from the vision of Gopinath Das, reflects not just a physical space for devotees but a holistic approach to Krishna consciousness. In an ISKCON News interview, Gopinath shares the inspiring journey that led to the creation of this spiritual haven and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Gopinath, a devoted soul rooted in Mayapur, embarked on a journey fueled by a desire to contribute meaningfully to Srila Prabhupada's mission. The Soul to Soul Guest House is not merely a physical structure; it symbolizes a spiritual journey, navigating through challenges, hopeful expectations, and the essence of ISKCON's global community.
The Bhaktivedanta Medical Association (BMA), a global healthcare committee with more than 220 devotee doctors dedicated to providing comprehensive care to devotees on a virtual platform free of cost, successfully launched its first-ever health camp on November 25, 2023, at the ISKCON's Bhaktivedanta Manor. There were about 700 registrations, with 350 devotees attending the three-hour-long event.
Many theistic persons and sometimes others turn to God for hope during desperate times. Devotees from Singapore provide spiritual care for patients for whom there is no other hope. At the instruction of His Holiness B.V.V. Narasimha Maharaj, ISKCON devotee Padma Locan Das has launched a hospice outreach at the Gita Reading Society, the local ISKCON congregation. Padma Locan Das, his wife, Renuka Devi Dasi, Vraja Lila Devi Dasi, Karuna Devi Dasi, Subhanana Devi Dasi, and Sewa Kund Devi Dasi are part of a team that routinely visits and cares for patients at a day hospice in Singapore.
Alachua, Florida - The Bhakti Recovery Group (BRG) Convention, held recently in Alachua, Florida, has emerged as a beacon of hope for individuals navigating the challenging path of addiction recovery within the devotee community. The convention, spearheaded by Jiva Gaurangi Dasi, "Jiva G," the founder of BRG, and co-organized by Namamrita Das, brought together devotees from diverse backgrounds to explore the powerful fusion of Bhakti spirituality and the 12-step recovery program.
In a transformational initiative to bridge spiritual healing and personal growth, the Bhakti Recovery Group (BRG) is gearing up to host an empowering convention in Alachua on September 23-25th.
The Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. project continues to expand as a new chapter has formed at ISKCON Delaware, USA. In April 2023, two of the three Vaishnavis who started the local Delaware Vaishnavas Care team attended the official "Art of Caring for Vaishnavas" seminar that took place at ISKCON Philadelphia, presented by Sangita Devi Dasi. Bhaktins Jenna and Sherri were inspired by this much-needed service and formed a team with Bhaktin Staci to assist devotees during their times of need.
During the weekend of June 3-4, 2023, the Vaishnavas Care Team (Mexico) presented their Second Holistic Health Fair at the ISKCON Mexico City temple.
Vaishnava healthcare professionals and well-wishers participated in the two-day event by offering their skills to congregational members and guests from neighboring areas. Free services included reiki sessions, acupuncture treatments, physiotherapy, homeopathic treatments/demonstrations, medical check-ups by a physician, and dental care by a devotee dentist.
In 2022, ISKCON Mayapur began construction of a new 100-bed multi-speciality hospital on Bhaktisiddhanta Road, adjacent to the existing hospital building. The new project has reached the first-floor level and is progressing quickly.
On Saturday, April 22nd, the Eco Teaching Farm at New Raman Reti in Alachua, FL, celebrated its sixth annual Earth Day Eco Festival. Established in 2017, the Eco Teaching Farm's mission is to develop, through hands-on learning opportunities, a fully functional and dynamic, self-sustaining, ecologically sound farm project. The Festival is a beautiful way to showcase that aim for devotees and the public.