Planet ISKCON

These bracelets are extremely versatile, they are my favourite for Jagannatha, Laddu Gopal and Gaura Nitai. These bracelets are so versatile I have made them for all my deities.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Crimp Beads (these are optional, but they help make the bracelets stronger)
2. Pliers
3. Elastic Jewelry Cord
4. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
5. Scissors
   

Step 1: Cut a generous length of the elastic jewelry cord and tie a knot at the end. Next string on the crimp bead followed by the beads.

Step 2: Feed the unknotted end of the jewelry cord back through the crimp bead (in the opposite direction) to complete the bracelet.

Step 3: Use the pliers to 'crush' the crimp bead securing the bracelet. Alternatively, you can eliminate the crimp bead and just knot the cord however due to the stress put on the bracelet when stretched over the deity's hands the crimp beads tend to hold up better over the long run. However, for Jagganatha and Laddu Gopal I find knotting works best as the bracelets can be visible from all sides and they do not need to be stretched as much. Finally, trim off the excess jewelry cord.

These bracelets are extremely versatile, they are my favourite for Jagannatha, Laddu Gopal and Gaura Nitai. These bracelets are so versatile I have made them for all my deities.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Crimp Beads (these are optional, but they help make the bracelets stronger)
2. Pliers
3. Elastic Jewelry Cord
4. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
5. Scissors
   

Step 1: Cut a generous length of the elastic jewelry cord and tie a knot at the end. Next string on the crimp bead followed by the beads.

Step 2: Feed the unknotted end of the jewelry cord back through the crimp bead (in the opposite direction) to complete the bracelet.

Step 3: Use the pliers to 'crush' the crimp bead securing the bracelet. Alternatively, you can eliminate the crimp bead and just knot the cord however due to the stress put on the bracelet when stretched over the deity's hands the crimp beads tend to hold up better over the long run. However, for Jagganatha and Laddu Gopal I find knotting works best as the bracelets can be visible from all sides and they do not need to be stretched as much. Finally, trim off the excess jewelry cord.

<p>In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.m4a">Click here to play audio/video</a></p><p> </p><p>or download the source AAC file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.m4a">bad things.m4a</a></p><p>or download the source MP3 file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.mp3">bad things.mp3</a></p><p>or download the slides as a PDF file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.pdf">bad things.pdf</a></p>

In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.

 

Click here to play audio/video

 

or download the source AAC file bad things.m4a

or download the source MP3 file bad things.mp3

or download the slides as a PDF file bad things.pdf

In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.

 

Click here to play audio/video

 

or download the source AAC file bad things.m4a

or download the source MP3 file bad things.mp3

or download the slides as a PDF file bad things.pdf

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyam tato drutya gopya

To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyam tato drutya gopya

To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

Hello Everyone!
You are invited to attend our Kirtan Festival in Upstate NY. If you in the area or would like to fly in please register. October 24-26th.

Check out the list of activities and the link.

http://www.gauravani.com/

Essential Kirtan and Yoga Workshop
FRIDAY EVE: 6pm-8pm
Foundational Rhythms of Kirtan: Balaram Chandra
Stories within the Music; lila’s of Krishna and Rama: Raghunath
Kirtan and dance performance: prayers to the Butter Thief:
Gaura, Keli & Vrinda

SATURDAY:
7-8AM meditation, japa & pranayama w/ live sitar by Curtis Bahn: Balaram Chandra
8-9 AM breakfast prasad
9-930 Songs of the Sages:song study with Gaura and Raghunath
930-11AM BHAKTI VINYASA YOGA levels 2-4 with Raghunath
11-11:30AM break
11:30-12:45AM MANTRAS FROM THE VEDAS: their power and meaning by Raghunath
12:45-2:45pm Lunch Break
2:45-4:45pm Group Musical instrument Study (choose two)
Harmonium, Kartals, Indian Mrdanga (clay drum), Dance, Songs & Significance
4:45- 5:45 PM Restorative & Open mat Yoga with Live kirtan
5:45-8 PM Dinner Break
8-9:30 PM Karuna Shakti Evening Kirtan with Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits

SUNDAY:
7-8AM:mediation, japa & pranayama w/ live sitar by Curtis Bahn:Balarama Chandra
8-9 AM breakfast
9-10:30-MANTRAS & MOVEMENT :asana class with Keli Lalita
11AM-12:30 Experiments with Kirtan visualizations
12:30-1pm Final Dance and Kirtan with Gaura & Vrinda Rani
1pm-3pm Govardhana Picnic and Goodbyes

Yesterday a lady came to the Honolulu temple with her three children. All four of them were very nice and cultured; however, they had been left homeless due to the present economic climate. After they left i checked my email and had to filter out several items of spam telling me how to find foreclosures in my area. Greed and lust have broken out from their hiding places and are running amok in our sand castles. Without the KC perspective, it would be easy to get very depressed about how humanity is turning out -- shallow, cruel, and ridiculously opportunistic. Only can a person who  reasons that little further, allowing the Absolute a chance to enter the equation of life, find some reason to be optimistic about human nature -- or soul nature. It's at times like this that i wish i had the intelligence and openness to be able to chant Hare Krsna incessantly. Any other future is cruel.

Yesterday a lady came to the Honolulu temple with her three children. All four of them were very nice and cultured; however, they had been left homeless due to the present economic climate. After they left i checked my email and had to filter out several items of spam telling me how to find foreclosures in my area. Greed and lust have broken out from their hiding places and are running amok in our sand castles. Without the KC perspective, it would be easy to get very depressed about how humanity is turning out -- shallow, cruel, and ridiculously opportunistic. Only can a person who  reasons that little further, allowing the Absolute a chance to enter the equation of life, find some reason to be optimistic about human nature -- or soul nature. It's at times like this that i wish i had the intelligence and openness to be able to chant Hare Krsna incessantly. Any other future is cruel.

These "double stranded wire bracelets" are my favourite because they are easy to put on my deities and they are quite simple to make.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Beading Wire (make sure the gauge of the wire is not too wide for the aperture in the beads you choose TIP: the bigger the gauge number the thinner the wire)
2. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
3. Toothpick or other round object (for larger deities I recommend a larger object such as the end of a paintbrush)
4. Wire cutters
5. Pliers

Step 1: Using the wire cutters cut a piece of wire approximately 5-6 times longer than the final length of the bracelets. Bend the wire in half and place the toothpick or other round object in the middle (as shown above).

Step 2: Twist the wire together 2-3 times creating a loop and remove the toothpick. This loop will be used to hold the 'tail' of the bracelet so make sure it is big enough to allow you to easily fasten the bracelet on your deities.

Step 3: At this point you should have a loop with two pieces of wire sticking out from it. Begin stringing the beads onto the two pieces of wire ensuring you have the same number of beads on each strand. Experiment with different colours and shapes to create interesting patterns. TIP: if you are using large beads begin and end each strand with 1-2 small seed beads to help the bracelet keep its shape.

Step 4: Use the pliers to hold the two strands of wire together (approximately 1- 2 cm away from the beads), and begin twisting until you have a nicely braided tail. Then use the wire cutters to cut the tail down ensuring you have enough to hook into the loop at the opposite end of the bracelet. I recommend leaving it a bit long until you try the bracelets on your deities you can be sure they fit properly.
The finished product, when dressing all you need to do is feed the tail into the loop and bend it into a hook to keep the bracelet in place.

Stay tuned for DIY Deity Jewelry: Bracelets- Part 2: Beaded Elastic Bracelets

These "double stranded wire bracelets" are my favourite because they are easy to put on my deities and they are quite simple to make.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Beading Wire (make sure the gauge of the wire is not too wide for the aperture in the beads you choose TIP: the bigger the gauge number the thinner the wire)
2. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
3. Toothpick or other round object (for larger deities I recommend a larger object such as the end of a paintbrush)
4. Wire cutters
5. Pliers

Step 1: Using the wire cutters cut a piece of wire approximately 5-6 times longer than the final length of the bracelets. Bend the wire in half and place the toothpick or other round object in the middle (as shown above).

Step 2: Twist the wire together 2-3 times creating a loop and remove the toothpick. This loop will be used to hold the 'tail' of the bracelet so make sure it is big enough to allow you to easily fasten the bracelet on your deities.

Step 3: At this point you should have a loop with two pieces of wire sticking out from it. Begin stringing the beads onto the two pieces of wire ensuring you have the same number of beads on each strand. Experiment with different colours and shapes to create interesting patterns. TIP: if you are using large beads begin and end each strand with 1-2 small seed beads to help the bracelet keep its shape.

Step 4: Use the pliers to hold the two strands of wire together (approximately 1- 2 cm away from the beads), and begin twisting until you have a nicely braided tail. Then use the wire cutters to cut the tail down ensuring you have enough to hook into the loop at the opposite end of the bracelet. I recommend leaving it a bit long until you try the bracelets on your deities you can be sure they fit properly.
The finished product, when dressing all you need to do is feed the tail into the loop and bend it into a hook to keep the bracelet in place.

Stay tuned for DIY Deity Jewelry: Bracelets- Part 2: Beaded Elastic Bracelets

Check out the article here.

Kapila turned 10 today. Ten years of being a mother gone by in a flash. I am excited and a bit nervous to see what the next ten years will bring for my oldest child. My goodness, how time flies...

We started out the day with birthday pancakes for breakfast. I knew it was going to be a very busy day so we woke Kapila up a bit earlier and let him open his presents and blow out his candles before school.

I picked him up from school at 11am and took him out for lunch at Whole Foods. Then we went book shopping at the thrift shop. Turned around and picked Rasaraj up from school and picked Narada up from Radhanuga's. Got home around 3:15p. Homework and a tiny bit of down time. Headed to the temple for music practice with all the kids at 4:30p (they are practicing for a performance on Friday for my gurudev's Vyasapuja/birthday). Got home at 5:25p. Squeezed in dinner (rice, broccoli/carrot/tofu stir fry, yellow mung dal) that I cooked earlier. Left for Kapila's soccer game at 5:45p. Game at 6p. Back home at 7:15p. Cupcakes and milk then bedtime.

Reading the card from Grandpa and Grandma Presents from mom and dad-new japa bag, a movie he loves, and his very own Bhagavad Gita
An amazon.com giftcard from Auntie, Uncle, Jacob, and Timmy. Awesome!!!
An awesome Lego set from Radhanuga and family
Making a wish over his birthday pancakes ;0) I bet he was praying to win his soccer game :)

New sheets from Grandma & Grandpa-Star Wars!
Cupcakes for after soccer
Oops, caught daddy eating one before soccer
Of course Narada had to have one also
6pm soccer game (they won 4-1...undefeated so far!) He's waving to Saranam who came to watch

Kapila turned 10 today. Ten years of being a mother gone by in a flash. I am excited and a bit nervous to see what the next ten years will bring for my oldest child. My goodness, how time flies...

We started out the day with birthday pancakes for breakfast. I knew it was going to be a very busy day so we woke Kapila up a bit earlier and let him open his presents and blow out his candles before school.

I picked him up from school at 11am and took him out for lunch at Whole Foods. Then we went book shopping at the thrift shop. Turned around and picked Rasaraj up from school and picked Narada up from Radhanuga's. Got home around 3:15p. Homework and a tiny bit of down time. Headed to the temple for music practice with all the kids at 4:30p (they are practicing for a performance on Friday for my gurudev's Vyasapuja/birthday). Got home at 5:25p. Squeezed in dinner (rice, broccoli/carrot/tofu stir fry, yellow mung dal) that I cooked earlier. Left for Kapila's soccer game at 5:45p. Game at 6p. Back home at 7:15p. Cupcakes and milk then bedtime.

Reading the card from Grandpa and Grandma Presents from mom and dad-new japa bag, a movie he loves, and his very own Bhagavad Gita
An amazon.com giftcard from Auntie, Uncle, Jacob, and Timmy. Awesome!!!
An awesome Lego set from Radhanuga and family
Making a wish over his birthday pancakes ;0) I bet he was praying to win his soccer game :)

New sheets from Grandma & Grandpa-Star Wars!
Cupcakes for after soccer
Oops, caught daddy eating one before soccer
Of course Narada had to have one also
6pm soccer game (they won 4-1...undefeated so far!) He's waving to Saranam who came to watch

The picture above is the same stove we have.

The picture above is the same stove we have.

This Blog has come into being for a number of reasons. Firstly, I wanted a venue where I could share my interest in Deity Worship (some people have said it verges on an obsession). Additionally it will allow me to share tips and techniques of making deity jewelry. This second reason has been an idea I have had for quite some time but have never had the technical skill to create a decent website but thanks to this blog I'll be able to share some of the techniques I have come across when making jewelry for my beloved deities Shri Shri Radha Govindaji and their friends(Laddu Gopal, Gaura-Nitai, Jaganntha, Baladeva & Subhadra, Govinda and Sadashiva Shailgram shilas, and the newest addition Lakshmi Nrsimhadev).

Eventually, in addition to the gallery of my deities on the side of the blog I plan on including a gallery of reader's deities. If you would like me to include your deities please email me your deity pictures!

This Blog has come into being for a number of reasons. Firstly, I wanted a venue where I could share my interest in Deity Worship (some people have said it verges on an obsession). Additionally it will allow me to share tips and techniques of making deity jewelry. This second reason has been an idea I have had for quite some time but have never had the technical skill to create a decent website but thanks to this blog I'll be able to share some of the techniques I have come across when making jewelry for my beloved deities Shri Shri Radha Govindaji and their friends(Laddu Gopal, Gaura-Nitai, Jaganntha, Baladeva & Subhadra, Govinda and Sadashiva Shailgram shilas, and the newest addition Lakshmi Nrsimhadev).

Eventually, in addition to the gallery of my deities on the side of the blog I plan on including a gallery of reader's deities. If you would like me to include your deities please email me your deity pictures!

Here's my only picture of him. I'm not one to collect pictures and all of the ones my mom has are not digital. This was around four years ago when he was eight.

Here's my only picture of him. I'm not one to collect pictures and all of the ones my mom has are not digital. This was around four years ago when he was eight.

Today would have been my baby brother's twelfth birthday. He passed away a little over two months ago in a car accident. Here is something I wrote about him based on some notes my mother gave me, which I also read at the funeral:

Oluwaninse Abhay Charan Adeyemi was born on September 23, 1996 in Santa Monica, CA to Gayatri (Adrienne) Liberman and Ayo Adeyemi. His father named him Oluwaninse, a Nigerian name meaning “God has made it happen” due to the unexpected nature of his birth to parents at such advanced ages. His mother named him Abhay Charan, meaning “One who is fearless at the feet of the Lord” after her spiritual master A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. From the beginning he showed how fitting these names were.

Olu was part of this world, but at the same time far beyond it. He had trouble fitting in to the stringent rules and regulations of the system. He always wanted to run free and be outside. His favorite part of school was on the playground and he got in trouble many a time for riding his bike around his town-home complex, or for letting his dogs run without a leash. He had great love for animals and went to great lengths in making sure they were well fed, walked and groomed, even going himself on a regular basis to the nearby pet store to buy the needful and look at the other many pets he hoped to one day have. He wouldn’t go to sleep until both dogs and the cat were in his bed with him (oftentimes against their will).

Olu was old in his years, not like normal children his age, an old soul, if you will. When you talked with him he spoke in complete sentences and was always very sensitive and empathetic to the needs of those around him. One time his sister Manjari was upset and left the room at a family dinner. Olu immediately got up and went after her to find out what was wrong and proceeded to spend an hour talking with her and helping her to feel better. He was only six years old at the time. One of his best friends father, his neighbor Roger thanks Olu for treating him with dignity and respect when he was going through difficult times and no one else would. This, he said, helped him to turn around his life.

Olu was fiercely independent and fearless. He rode his scooter or bike everywhere around the neighborhood and beyond, especially to the pet store (as before mentioned) and to the 99 cents store to buy mostly candy and toys. He had so many friends from all walks of life and was comfortable in all different settings. He loved to cook and bake and would make cookies, brownies and cakes and his favorite macaroni and cheese. In fact, practically these were the only things he would eat.

Although he sometimes struggled in academics, he was gifted in math and his teacher commented how he would figure out the answers before even her. He loved to take things apart and put them back together and his grandmother Babalee felt for sure he would one day become an engineer or architect. At a certain point he was placed in special-ed but became the natural leader of the kids there, acting as a bridge connecting them to those in the rest of the school. He had much help from many teachers and after-school caregivers who fought for him to get into the special day classroom where they were finally able to see how bright he really was.

Olu was involved with sports like soccer and baseball where he was one of the fastest runners. His first soccer time was fittingly called the Cheetahs. He sometimes had trouble with the organized aspects of sports and would rather be playing on his own chasing the cat or something, but eventually he began to adjust and excel. One of his favorite forms of physical exercise was dance. He would learn popular dances and do them so smoothly and expertly, his favorite being Soulja Boy’s Tell’em. He learned from his father African drumming at a young age and had a great sense of rhythm. He loved video games and had many friends on one online game called Ruinscape, and of course loved cartoons. He was also a Boy Scout for five years.

He had so much energy and determination. He could play for hours and hours and never get tired. His mother can attest how hard it was to get Olu to bed. He was just so full of life. And his smile. Who can forget his beautiful smile? How like the sun it would light up the room.

This past year he was able to visit many different places like Hawaii, meet relatives in St. Louis, and spend five weeks in Africa attending his grandfather’s funeral and discovering his African roots by meeting all of his family from his father’s side including his three older sisters. There he was anointed crown prince of his father’s Yoruba tribe.

Although Olu is physically no more, he continues in our hearts always, and his soul is eternally continuing on his path. God made it happen and now God has taken him away. Wherever he is now, we know that he shall always remain fearless at the feet of the Lord.

Today would have been my baby brother's twelfth birthday. He passed away a little over two months ago in a car accident. Here is something I wrote about him based on some notes my mother gave me, which I also read at the funeral:

Oluwaninse Abhay Charan Adeyemi was born on September 23, 1996 in Santa Monica, CA to Gayatri (Adrienne) Liberman and Ayo Adeyemi. His father named him Oluwaninse, a Nigerian name meaning “God has made it happen” due to the unexpected nature of his birth to parents at such advanced ages. His mother named him Abhay Charan, meaning “One who is fearless at the feet of the Lord” after her spiritual master A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. From the beginning he showed how fitting these names were.

Olu was part of this world, but at the same time far beyond it. He had trouble fitting in to the stringent rules and regulations of the system. He always wanted to run free and be outside. His favorite part of school was on the playground and he got in trouble many a time for riding his bike around his town-home complex, or for letting his dogs run without a leash. He had great love for animals and went to great lengths in making sure they were well fed, walked and groomed, even going himself on a regular basis to the nearby pet store to buy the needful and look at the other many pets he hoped to one day have. He wouldn’t go to sleep until both dogs and the cat were in his bed with him (oftentimes against their will).

Olu was old in his years, not like normal children his age, an old soul, if you will. When you talked with him he spoke in complete sentences and was always very sensitive and empathetic to the needs of those around him. One time his sister Manjari was upset and left the room at a family dinner. Olu immediately got up and went after her to find out what was wrong and proceeded to spend an hour talking with her and helping her to feel better. He was only six years old at the time. One of his best friends father, his neighbor Roger thanks Olu for treating him with dignity and respect when he was going through difficult times and no one else would. This, he said, helped him to turn around his life.

Olu was fiercely independent and fearless. He rode his scooter or bike everywhere around the neighborhood and beyond, especially to the pet store (as before mentioned) and to the 99 cents store to buy mostly candy and toys. He had so many friends from all walks of life and was comfortable in all different settings. He loved to cook and bake and would make cookies, brownies and cakes and his favorite macaroni and cheese. In fact, practically these were the only things he would eat.

Although he sometimes struggled in academics, he was gifted in math and his teacher commented how he would figure out the answers before even her. He loved to take things apart and put them back together and his grandmother Babalee felt for sure he would one day become an engineer or architect. At a certain point he was placed in special-ed but became the natural leader of the kids there, acting as a bridge connecting them to those in the rest of the school. He had much help from many teachers and after-school caregivers who fought for him to get into the special day classroom where they were finally able to see how bright he really was.

Olu was involved with sports like soccer and baseball where he was one of the fastest runners. His first soccer time was fittingly called the Cheetahs. He sometimes had trouble with the organized aspects of sports and would rather be playing on his own chasing the cat or something, but eventually he began to adjust and excel. One of his favorite forms of physical exercise was dance. He would learn popular dances and do them so smoothly and expertly, his favorite being Soulja Boy’s Tell’em. He learned from his father African drumming at a young age and had a great sense of rhythm. He loved video games and had many friends on one online game called Ruinscape, and of course loved cartoons. He was also a Boy Scout for five years.

He had so much energy and determination. He could play for hours and hours and never get tired. His mother can attest how hard it was to get Olu to bed. He was just so full of life. And his smile. Who can forget his beautiful smile? How like the sun it would light up the room.

This past year he was able to visit many different places like Hawaii, meet relatives in St. Louis, and spend five weeks in Africa attending his grandfather’s funeral and discovering his African roots by meeting all of his family from his father’s side including his three older sisters. There he was anointed crown prince of his father’s Yoruba tribe.

Although Olu is physically no more, he continues in our hearts always, and his soul is eternally continuing on his path. God made it happen and now God has taken him away. Wherever he is now, we know that he shall always remain fearless at the feet of the Lord.

New Goloka after school program. These pictures are from last Friday which was the second week into the new program. They meet three Fridays every month during the school year. They begin with group sadhana led by Mother Kamalini: chanting mantras and japa together and hearing a story about Krishna. Then they move onto various activities.

The first week the girls went into the kitchen with Gaurangi Priya to cook sweets for the deities. The boys had a tour of the pujari rooms and learned how to assemble an arati tray. They also had an arati and kirtan in the temple room.

Last week after the group sadhana both the boys and girls went into the kitchen to make sweets for Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda. The boys made fancy laddus (toasted chickpea flour fudge) with the help of Gaurangi Priya and I helped the girls make cardamom sugar cookies. Kapila and Vrndavan also helped my husband out with making burfi (milk fudge) for the Lord. It was so much fun and I'm looking forward to helping again in the future.

My sincere thanks to Kalindi and Gaurangi Priya for nurturing and developing this idea into a reality for our children. Thank you!!!

New Goloka after school program. These pictures are from last Friday which was the second week into the new program. They meet three Fridays every month during the school year. They begin with group sadhana led by Mother Kamalini: chanting mantras and japa together and hearing a story about Krishna. Then they move onto various activities.

The first week the girls went into the kitchen with Gaurangi Priya to cook sweets for the deities. The boys had a tour of the pujari rooms and learned how to assemble an arati tray. They also had an arati and kirtan in the temple room.

Last week after the group sadhana both the boys and girls went into the kitchen to make sweets for Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda. The boys made fancy laddus (toasted chickpea flour fudge) with the help of Gaurangi Priya and I helped the girls make cardamom sugar cookies. Kapila and Vrndavan also helped my husband out with making burfi (milk fudge) for the Lord. It was so much fun and I'm looking forward to helping again in the future.

My sincere thanks to Kalindi and Gaurangi Priya for nurturing and developing this idea into a reality for our children. Thank you!!!

Here is my new web site.

www.bchandra.com

It is still “in the works” but it is usable for now. Please tell me what you think.

-bcd

This past Saturday we finally made it to the beach. My husband had been suffering all summer, desperately wanting to get to the ocean. We finally decided the night before to pack up and head to the beach for one day. It was wonderful!