(Recording) Urban Devi Feb Sanga: Befriending our Parts w/Symala Priya Devi Dasi

Please click on link here for the recording.

Mental and emotional care are important branches on the tree of holistic care for our community. In this sanga we will explore and practice strategies to help us attune with our inner parts with the goal of becoming more appreciative and receptive to our position as part and parcel of Krishna. Since Krishna Consciousness is a relational and transformative process, we sometimes need to upgrade and mobilize that process from within. Syamala will share tools inspired by Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, and EMDR psychotherapy practices. This will be an experiential sanga with time for sharing and reflections in small groups.

Speaker bio: Symala Priya Devi Dasi was introduced to Krishna Consciousness in Washington, DC in 2010 through yoga classes with Hari-kirtana das. She continued to take workshops and courses with Hari-kirtana on yoga philosophy from a Vaisnava perspective, which helped Symala deepen her understanding gradually and organically. She feels fortunate to be part of the Institute for Applied Spirituality (IFAST) and ISKCON of DC communities.

By profession, Symala is a licensed psychotherapist with a holistic approach to mental health care. She is passionate about empowering people of all ages to mindfully engage in a process of self-discovery and transformation. The name of her private practice was inspired by her spiritual teacher, Radhanath Swami (InnerFoundationsCounseling.com). 

Symala Priya likes to assist in organizing a variety of community events that help people connect with each other, as well as enrich their relationship with devotional service. She serves as a local representative for the Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Initiative and Vaishnavi Ministry of North America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyBiNlPbWY

"Seven Principles of Making Relationships Thrive"

In our July Urban Devi Sanga, Jahnava devi dasi presented on the "Seven Principles of Making Relationships Thrive".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 this special discussion.All the best,Rukmini Walker   [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hyFwfOkMhQ[/embed]

Texas school shooting: A Bhagavad-gita perspective - Chaitanya Charan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pysdrdzUImI

Lookin at true SELF care with Jamuna Jaya Devi Dasi

In our last Urban Devi Sanga, Jamuna Jaya devi dasi delved into looking at true self care.  A disciple of HH Dhanurdhara Swami, Jamuna Jaya calls herself the "bodega cat" of the Bhakti Center - always hanging around somewhere - for almost a decade. Her services at TBC include teaching for the Yoga Program, leading Community Groups, being a mentor and more. Professionally, she is a clown who performs in hospitals for children, a storyteller, and a yoga instructor.Please click here or on the video image below to listen in!All the best,Rukmini Walkerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyhiqraNeME

Struck with Wonder and Gratitude!

I gave a class at New York's Bhakti Center on gratitude and the aspects of wonder from the Srimad Bhagavatam - wisdom for  higher state of  mindfulness and for a grateful attitude. In the image below, the transition from lower to higher state is by staying engaged, curious and maintaining a sense of wonder.

To listen in, please click on this link or on the video image below.

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All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Connect with Rukmini through her Patreon Community: Patreon.com/RukminiWalker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker Urban

Devi: urbandevi.com Bhakti Center: https://bhakticenter.org/

[embed]https://youtu.be/f33a8LU7Y3U[/embed]

Ultimate Life Hacks from the Bhagavad Gita

In our April Urban Devi* Ladies Syama Sangita Devi Dasi takes us on a journey into Sri Krishna's main teachings of this sacred book.

Born and raised in NYC, Syama Sangita has performed stand-up comedy on hundreds of stages in Canada, U.D., U.K., and Hong Kong. Wanting to take her craft to new heights, she decided to combine her love for humor and love for Eastern Spirituality, and founded The Hopeful Hindu (http://www.thehopefulhindu.com/), a speaking company that combines stand-up comedy and ancient spiritual wisdom from the East. Aastha currently lives in LA and works for Jay Shetty, creating conscious media content for the world.

To listen to these incredible and inspiring stories, please click on this link or on the video image at the bottom of this post.

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All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Urban Devi is a monthly interactive women’s discussion circle that seeks to make spirituality accessible to women in the 21st century. For more information, please follow Rukmini on Facebook, or go to the Bhakti Center NYC online programs.

[embed]https://youtu.be/b96-LkvD2k0[/embed]

Gopi Gita Appreciation part 1, The Monk's Podcast 159 with Madhavananda Prabhu and Amarendra Prabhu

Dear Friends,For the last several days, I've been listening with deep gratitude to a most illuminating discussion on The Monk's Podcast in six separate episodes.Dear friends of ours, Chaitanya Caran, Madhavananda, and Armarendra Prabhus have been discussing The Gopi Gita, the songs of Lord Krsna's Vrndavan gopis from the Srimad Bhagavatam Tenth Canto Chapter Thirty One.In this chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, the gopis are crying out to Krsna in a mood of separation. This is one of the most sacred canons of our Caitanya Vaisnava literature. Hearing this sacred chapter discussed by these three deeply learned devotees has been such an uplifting joy for me.  To listen, please click on this link or on the YouTube image below.I just wanted to share this treasure with all of you as well. These are very high topics being presented by devotees who are steeped in deep realizations along with the brilliant commentaries of our previous acaryas (great teachers).Please drink deeply of this sweetest nectar- the songs of the gopis sung in the mood of separation and unpacked for us by those with profound devotional understanding.All the best,Rukmini Walker    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNpt2U3ZzW0[/embed]

The Heart of the Sacred Feminine: The Ecstasy of Lord Caitanya

In part five of The Heart of the Sacred Feminine, Ashley Liteckly Elenbaas and I explore sweet stories of Lord Caitanya. May you find our conversation as engaging as I do!  To listen in, please click on this link or on the video image below.

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All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Connect with Rukmini through her Patreon Community: Patreon.com/RukminiWalker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker Urban Devi: urbandevi.com Bhakti Center: https://bhakticenter.org/

 [embed]https://youtu.be/WPvpogbKsRM[/embed] 

The Heart of the Sacred Feminine: Beauty and Truth in Bhakti

Once again, Ashley Liteckly Elenbaas of Sky House Herbs invited me to share in a talk exploring the The Heart of the Sacred Feminine: Beauty and Truth in Bhakti.  I hope you find our conversation as engaging as I do!  To listen in, please click on this link or on the video image below.

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All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Connect with Rukmini through her Patreon Community: Patreon.com/RukminiWalker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker Urban Devi: urbandevi.com Bhakti Center: https://bhakticenter.org/

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fME80dzdYi0[/embed]

The Heart of the Sacred Feminine - The Dance of Intimacy (Session 3)

Ashley Liteckly Elenbaas of Sky House Herbs has invited me to share a series of talks with her exploring the Divine Feminine, Srimati Radharani. So far, we've had three discussions, and we're planning to continue them every couple of weeks.

I hope you find these conversations as engaging as I do!  To listen in, please click on this link or on the video image below.

All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Connect with Rukmini through her Patreon Community: Patreon.com/RukminiWalker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker Urban Devi: urbandevi.com Bhakti Center: https://bhakticenter.org/

**Maha Mantra to recite on Tulsi Japa Beads: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hara Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_6tsOjpuik[/embed]About Ashley ElenbaasAshley is the proprietor of sky house herb school and apothecary. She  teaches people about plants, lead wellness workshops and retreats, and spend copious amounts of time in the garden.To join Ashley you can find her on the following media platforms.Subscribe to this channel to stay up to date with new videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHW…Sign up to my mailing list to stay updated on free webinars, virtual garden and herb walks, and other free content: http://www.skyhouseherbs.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.litecky Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyhouseherbs/  #SkyHouseHerbs #AshleyElenbaas

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Adventures in Russia w/Mondakini Devi Dasi

In our January Urban Devi* Ladies Sanga, Mondakini Devi Dasi talks about her amazing experiences as well as the experiences of heroic devotees who laid the foundation of the explosive growth of Krishna Consciousness in Russia.  Mondakini regularly travels to Russia, providing venues for devotees who suffered in Soviet prisons to share their profound stories with others. To listen to these incredible and inspiring stories, please click on this link or on the video image at the bottom of this post.

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All the best,

Rukmini Walker

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*Urban Devi is a monthly interactive women’s discussion circle that seeks to make spirituality accessible to women in the 21st century. For more information, please follow Rukmini on Facebook, or go to the Bhakti Center NYC online programs.

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDi7D-5w4zc[/embed]

The Poetry of Nature

a conversation with Jahnavi Harrison

 During late October's Eco Bhakti Weekend, Grammy-nominated artist and BBC radio presenter Jahnavi Harrison reflected on how Bhakti poetry can help us to more connect to divinity through a deeper appreciation of the natural world.  The Eco Bhakti Weekend was organized by Yale University’s Ecology Forum in partnership with the Bhakti Center, NYC and Princeton University Hindu Life Program.  To listen to the session please click on this link. 

Urban Devi Sanga - Meditations on Sri Radha: The Original Sacred Feminine

This month the Urban Devi Sanga explored meditations on Srimati Radharani, the original sacred feminine.  To listen to a recording of the sanga please click here or on the video image below.   In the sanga, Rukmini Devi references a special recipe said to the a favorite of Sri Radhika, she shares it with us below.

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Dear Friends,This afternoon, we had our monthly Urban Devi sanga online. I spoke about Srimati Radharani, and that link will be shared with you here.Someone asked what is a favorite preparation of Sri Radhika? Just a few days ago, my dear friend from the UK, Varsana Devi Dasi sent me this recipe. I’m happy to share it with you here.The recipe calls for arbi, a starchy vegetable that’s used as a substitute for potatoes, but it’s much more healthy than potatoes. It’s available at Indian or Asian grocery stores. The unusual spices used in this recipe can also be ordered from:pureindianfoods.comIngredients:10-12 arbis1/2 tsp carom seeds (also called ajwain)1/2 tsp tumeric powder1/2 tsp garam masala powder2 Tbsp oil2 Cups watersalt as requiredsome mint and coriander (cilantro) for garnishingFor making the paste:3 medium tomatoes1 green chili1/2 inch ginger1 tsp cumin powderInstructions:

1. Wash the arbi well.
2. Cook the arbi until tender.
3. Drain and let the arbi cool.
4. When warm or cook, peel the skin and slice the arbi into 2 or 4 pieces vertically
5. Grind all the ingredients mentioned for making the paste into a smooth paste.
6. Heat oil.
7. Add the carom seeds and fry them.
8. Stir and add all the spice powders one by one.
9. Fry the tomato paste until the oil separates, this will take about 6-7 minutes.
10. Add water, salt and the boiled arbi pieces.
11. Simmer for some 6-7 minutes till the gravy becomes smooth and thickens a little bit.
12. Garnish with mint or coriander leaves and serve Arbi Curry to Radha and Krsna

Jai Sri Radhe! Jai Sri Krsna!All the best,Rukmini  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgbvns0spZk&feature=youtu.be

Building Strong Connections & Friendships in Krishna Consciousness

This is a poem that Ananda Vrndavan wrote about Krsnanandini. Krsnanandini gave a talk last week on the Vaisnavi Ministry site and Ananda was supposed to introduce her. Click here to listen to Krsnanandini's talk.  Ananda, as the community president of ISKCON of DC, was busy organizing our temple's Community Supported Agriculture distribution and the next few days of our Krsna Janmastami festivities. Below is the poem that Ananda had intended to read as an introduction.  All the best, Rukmini Walker

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Krsnanandini devi is a poem

Because she does what good a poem does

She stops us in our tracks

Makes us pause and think and see things differently

Like a poem she touches our emotions, draws the feelings out of us

In her presence you feel like you are held in a warm embrace

And simultaneously swept away by the strength of her convictions

She is a short and crisp haiku

"Don’t say 'I do me' - say 'I do Krishna!'"

And she is the couplet at the end of a sonnet

That forgives and extracts the best out of all situations

She is the Pilgrim's Progress, but not an allegory

She is the living truth, the real deal of what we know

Love and cherish about the practice of Krishna Bhakti

She is the north star poem, leading the way 

Into that bright beautiful night full of stars

Connected and connecting others

To the sweet and full moon of Lord Krishna

Ananda VrindavanCommunity President

ISKCON of DC

301.910.3426  | iskconofdc.org

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5bqrkAmZB4&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

Troubleshooting relationships

~a special talk with Uttama devi dasi

This month's Urban Devi sanga featured special guest, Uttama devi dasi discussing how to troubleshoot relationships.  Good relationships are essential for our mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Navigating conflict is inevitable.  Utamma talks about how we can learn to do it respectfully.To listen to this inspiring talk, please click here or on the image below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4ZOZVLLZMM&feature=youtu.be[/embed]Uttama devi dasi is a member of the Grihastha Vision Team. She and her husband of 49 years, were initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973. They both serve as marriage mentors and relationship trainers. They travel extensively facilitating seminars on relationship dynamics. While at home they help new couples via video conferencing, using a systematic premarital education program. They also train other mature happily married couples to do the same. They live in Saranagati Dhama, Canada, and have 3 children and 6 fun grandchildren  

Engaged Bhakti podcast with Rukmini Walker

featuring Rukmini Walker in an interview with Krishna Kishore Dasa

In this Engaged Bhakti podcast episode, Krishna Kishore Dasa (Dr. Christopher Fici) holds an enlivening discussion with Rukmini Walker on the meaning of women's empowerment in spiritual life and how we can understand and express the ideal balance of the sacred feminine and the sacred masculine in our everyday lives.

Please click on this link or on the image below to listen to the talk.

You can follow Rukmini on: https://www.facebook.com/rukmini.walker/; https://www.patreon.com/RukminiWalker, and Instagram under Rukmini Walker

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bdqk2JfN4Q[/embed]

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The Engaged Bhakti podcast is hosted by Krishna Kishore Dasa (Dr. Christopher Fici). Krishna Kishore is a lapsed Catholic kid from Detroit turned Vaishnava/ambigious Hindu. Krishna Kishore spent five years studying and living as a monk in the New Vrindavan community in West Virginia and in the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in New York City, where he remains associated with The Bhakti Center community. At the Bhakti Center he helps to facilitate the Sacred Ecology Forum.

Our Kirtan went Viral - by Kishori Jani

~An interview with Kishore Jani~

Kishori Jani is a second generation devotee, born to two senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada. She had a unique upbringing that spanned both India and the USA. She is married to Birju Jani and together they have four young children all under the age of nine. She participated in the Festival of the Holy Name recently and was picked up by a news channel in India and overnight she gathered 100k followers on Facebook. Her kirtan has been viewed now more than 10 million times on Facebook. Kishori decided to take the opportunity to preach to her new followers.

Click on this link to tune-in and hear her interview this past Sunday by Madan Gopal Das from New Jersey.

Calm, Confident and Courageous Life with Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya Das is a deeply realized practitioner of Bhakti Yoga. He is also an anesthesiologist working long hours at a hospital in the Washington, DC area. This hospital is now completely converted to dealing with Covid-19 patients. He is the one who is most at risk dealing face to face with these patients. Listen intently as he speaks about where he's taking shelter as he risks his life each day to help those on the edge between life and death.

**Please click here to watch Madhvacarya's  talk**

Please keep him and his compassionate colleagues everywhere in your prayers each day.

 

Be safe and well,

Rukmini Walker

Grateful Changemakers: TreeSisters

-by the Gratefulness Team

TreeSisters invites everyone to be in a relationship of radical generosity with the Earth and to assume leadership in ways that inspire others to do the same.Here in our feature “Grateful Changemakers”, we celebrate programs and projects that serve as beacons of gratefulness. These efforts elevate the values of grateful living and illuminate their potential to transform both individuals and communities. Join us in appreciating the inspiring and catalyzing contribution these Changemakers offer to shaping a more grateful world.

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TreeSisters envisions a world in which it is normal for everyone to protect and restore themselves and their world. The non-profit’s global network of women funds the acceleration of tropical reforestation as an expression of collective planetary care, and in doing so elicits shared responsibility for restoration at the grassroots level. As of September 2019, TreeSisters has funded over six million trees across its projects in Kenya, Madagascar, Brazil, Cameroon, Nepal, and India.Empowering women to step into their feminine Nature-based leadership, TreeSisters supports humanity’s identity shift from a consumer species to a restorer species. The organization’s approach focuses on the creation of resources and experiences that balance inner and outer, spiritual and practical, and behavioral and ecological pathways towards that shift. Founder Clare Dubois shares more about how TreeSisters engages, nourishes, inspires, and activates women through their unique gifts and generosity for the benefit of themselves, each other, and the forests that we love and need.Click here to read more about TreeSistersClick here to read more about Grateful Changemakers

Open Heart Conversations: Bhakti Yoga as a Path to Awakening with Radhanath Swami

~with HH Radhanath Swami

Here is an Open Heart Conversation that took place with Radhanath Swami at the United Palace Theater in New York City last month. Urban Devi is about uplifting the sacred feminine, but sometimes there are men who have a more developed compassionate feminine side than many women. I hope you like this compassionate conversation.To view the conversation, please click here. All the best,Rukmini