Lecture Lecture

Transcendental Transformation with Citi Sakti Devi Dasi

In our June Urban Devi Sanga, Citi Sakti Devi Dasi presented  on the topic: Transcendental Transformation. Spirituality offers an attractive solution to life’s problems. However, the very same problems that lead us to divinity, are often where our ability to connect more deeply can be discovered. Unfortunately, many of us may try to bypass our humanity, rather than transform and transcend it, which means we may then lose out on the opportunity to go deeper through our challenges.Please click here or on the video image below to listen to this special discussion, and find out more about how being human and experiencing psychological distress can be a catalyst for spiritual growth.Citi-Śakti Devi Dasi has been practicing Krishna consciousness for over 25 years and is a disciple of H.H Bhakti Tirtha Swami, serving as one of his caregivers in the last 6 months of his life. She lives with her daughter in London, UK and primarily serves as a preacher and mentor. For many years she has led a number of projects including the UK Youth Group Pandava Sena, mentorship, university preaching programs and a weekly sangha which she has run for the past 21 years.Graduating from Imperial College as a Medical Doctor & specializing as a Consultant Psychiatrist, she brings together over two decades of experience in scientific advances in mental health with Krishna consciousness & connects with a diverse audience of celebrities, politicians, healthcare professionals, students & corporate leaders. All the best,Rukmini Walker[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz6wgs0TFT8&t=1s[/embed]  

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blog blog

Just One Spoon

~ by Ananda Vrindavan Devi Dasi

Making his way towards the car with boxed lunch in hand

I began to say goodbye but he stopped and said

“Just going to get my metal spoon!”

And I thought, just one spoon

A simple act of consideration for Mother Earth

And what can one spoon do, really?

Why would he bother to walk all the way

In the opposite direction, to get a little spoon

But he did because he cared, and wanted to do his part

His one small part, to honor the earth upon which we walk

And by whom we are all nourished and sustained

I marveled at his consciousness, as I too am careful

But all too often give into laziness, or next time, or others are doing it

Or in the future, or one spoon, or plastic bag, is no big deal

But it is a big deal and “just one spoon” is the mantra for now

The call to urgency for each and everyone of us to be careful

To go out of our way to protect Mother Earth

In this very moment of choice, in this small act of mine

Can I rise to the occasion, can I make the extra effort?

I hope so, or all loving of Mother Earth seems empty

And walking our talk in Bhakti seems barely begun

*Taken from Ananda's Blog on September 4, 2020 from ISCKON of DC

photo
Ananda VrindavanCommunity President
ISKCON of DC
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Poetry Poetry

Color

~ by Acyuta Gopi
 
*To listen to this poem spoken by Taruni Radha Devi Dasi, please click here.
 
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I look in the mirror And I see this body With this color That I am supposed To give up identifying with But somehow, I can’t seem to see Beyond the brown.Brown Like the dust of vraja Perhaps you will Place Your lotus feet Within my heart And make your home Within this skin That so resembles Your eternal playground.Brown Like the peaks of Govardhan, Perhaps You will place Your hand Over my life And lift me up, Holding me the way you did The king of mountains. Giving me the ultimate bliss Of Your touch.Brown Like your wooden venu, Perhaps you will Press Your lips to the Spaces in my soul And breathe purpose Into this life So that I will never Stop singing Your tune. Alerting everyone To your inexhaustible presence.Like the wish-fulfilling trees of paradise, Like the cooked down milk sweets You are so fond of, Like the pots that hold the butter You long to steal, Like the banks of the sacred rivers where the wise go to seek YouYou have colored me The shade of so many Of Your favorite things.I look in the mirror And I see the color Of hope Of service Of faith And of love.I see a soul A life An existence Colored by You.
*This poem is taken from the award winning book Prema Mala
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