Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education
Issue-009
1st Jan ‘08
The VOICE Messenger
In This Issue…
Srila Prabhuabhuabhupada Uvacha... Easy meet ---2007 Preaching for M.tech Students at NIT Surathkal 1 1 2 Nistha Camp-2007 Ashraya Camp-2007 Upcoming Events 2 4 4
Srila Prabhupada Uvacha
Material existence consists of pious and impious fruitive activities. As long as one is engaged in any kind of activity other than the devotional service, it will result in the happiness and distress of this material world. When we enjoy life in so called material happiness, it is to be understood that we are diminishing the resultant actions of our pious activities. And when we are put into suffering, it is to be understood that we are diminishing the resultant actions of our impious activities. Instead of being attached to the circumstantial happiness and distress resulting from pious or impious activities, if we want to get out of the clutches of this nescience, then whatever position we are put in by the will of the Lord we should accept. Thus if we simply surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we shall get out of the clutches of this material existence.
Easy meet----2007
EASY stands for “Enlighten Aimless Suffering Youths”. VOICE preaches to non-earning members of the society such as college students, children etc. Hence most of our programs for them have to be subsidized with the help of donations from others. Hence EASY scheme was started in 2001 with this idea in mind. All the alumni of VOICE who are holding good positions in society voluntary contribute a fixed amount of money every month. Since last 6 years this donation collected has been funding all our activities such as subsidizing books, spiritual facility picnics, for camps, publishing, to practice weekend one time programs, six session certificate courses, staying students together, Krishna meetings, consciousness
The program started with an interview of Prof Kanchan Chaudhary, HOD cryogenics dept, IIT Kharagpur. His presentation was full of appreciation for Vedic culture & how VOICE is offering a holistic training while simultaneously grooming students as ideal son / daughter, husband or wife, corporate and a noble citizen.
prasadam and many more. On 15th Dec 2007, we had EASY get-together -"An evening of gratitude & enlightenment" for EASY members and students of VOICEs all over India.
HG Radheshyam Prabhu speaking to youths
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
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Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education
HG Kanai Thakur Prabhu gave a powerpoint presentation on the evolution of VOICE over the years, its different wings, and branches at different universities and in prestigious technical institutes. The presentation was followed by a thrilling drama by teenage VOICE students. This drama very graphically depicted how VOICE is helping the misdirected youths. Taking an example of a student who had self-destructive habits because of the bad association, and how he got transformed and came out of his frustration and bad habits and became serious in his studies by coming in contact with VOICE members. After a short speech by HG Radheshyam Prabhu about the virus of materialism spreading all over the world, the wide spread degradation, and then the activities of VOICE towards the goal of making a significant change in improving the condition of the society, we heard from the guest speaker, HG Dwarkadhish Prabhu who is practicing Krishna Consciousness since 1983 while serving as doctor at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai. First explaining the significance of the land of India, i.e., Bharata varsa, he told how VOICE is doing the best social service following expertly in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada who converted even the Amercian Hippies and Chinese atheists into pure Vaisnavas. He ended by requesting the audience to offer their best services and monetary help to spread the mission of Srila Prabhupada and thus receive immense blessings of Krishna because Srila Prabhupada very much wanted the temples to be spiritual universities & modern youths embracing Krishna Consciousness. For more details of about EASY, please mail at easy@voicepune.com or call Arjuna Gopa Das at 9881235254. -Aditya (IVth Year Comp, NIT Surathkal) - Pradeep Kumar (Software Engineer-IBM) Sl. No 1. 2. 3. 4. After the book distribution, the students were invited for a seminar on “Art of Self Management” by HG Sundar Chaitanya Pr. Many of the students were inspired by the seminar, and registered for the 4-day course on “Fundamentals of Spirituality”. On an average of 30 students attended all the seminars. Book Distribution Details Group Members Books
Aditya & Chandra Shekar 28 Puran Singh & Chandra Sekhar 14 Venkatesh & RaghuVamsee 38 Puran Singh & Sudhir 49 TOTAL 129 The boys were very enthusiastic and inquisitive about spirituality. One of the boys Mr. Mrinal Sharma was mentioning that he got convincing answers for all his questions. The boys liked the Culture of VOICE and sweet dealings among student devotees. Sudhir, from NIT Surathkal says, “Going into the hostel, talking to the boys & distributing books is an amazing experience”.
-Puran Singh (B.Tech,NIT Surathkal)
Nistha Camp----2007
The 2nd phase of Nishta camp started with Srimad Bhagavatam class by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj at ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai. “Personally I was touched by the video of Simple Temple in which Maharaj mentions that a temple is not made of bricks and stones but by the devotion and relationship between devotees”Says Raghav a B.Tech student of IIT Kharagpur.
Preaching for M.Tech students at NIT Surathkal
The student devotees at NITK Surathkal recently ventured into M.Tech preaching after a very good response from the B.Tech-2007 batch. The response was much more than that of last year’s.
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj leading kirtan
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
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Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education
Then came Prerna festival addressed by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj and HH Giriraj Swami Maharaj, on “Passion to Compassion”. HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj told that highest form of compassion is to become instrument of compassion in the hands of guru and Krishna. Besides this other senior devotee of Sri Sri RadhaGoipinatha Temple like HG Radhagopinath Prabhu, HG GaurGopal Prabhu , HG Vrajabihari Prabhu and HG Sridama Prabhu also gave their valuable and inspiring association to participants. HG Sridama prabhu spoke “This is external, go deeper” where he mentioned devotional service is not activity based but consciousness-based.
Sri Sri Radha Giridhari at Mira Road, Mumbai
HG Vamshi Vadan Prabhu spoke from Nectar of Instruction how spiritual life is not a mental speculation or imaginative ecstasy but it is practical devotional service. He also told that while practicing devotional service we should be enthusiastic, patient and determined.
Students singing bhajans
At ISKCON Juhu HG Mukunda Madhava prabhu enlightened us on how one should try to utilize his best expertise in the service of Krishna and that itself will lead to greater purification of heart. Then HG Bhima prabhu spoke on how Srila Prabhupada worked hard for the establishment of temple at Juhu. Seeing “Heaven on earth” project was the special attraction. At Mira road temple HG KamalaLochan prabhu told that intelligent youths should not get cheated by materialstic civilization but take KC seriously. We also visited “BhaktiVedanta Hospital”. It was amazing to see how this hospital gives both Physical and Spiritual care for all the patients. It was more of a temple than hospital. Everyday Jagannath cart going to each patient for giving darshan and charnamrit was very special. Lastly we visited Gopal’s garden and interacted with children growing in KC atmosphere.
HG Viswarupa prabhu interacting with students
HG Radheshyam Prabhu speaking from the life of Dhruv Maharaj mentioned how material desires are like aspiring for broken pieces of glass & aspiring for devotional service is like aspiring for diamond. In the concluding lecture HG Radheshyam Prabhu urged devotees to dovetail their talents in Krishna’s service and follow principles of pure devotional service under the guidance of Spiritual master and not indulge in prohibited activities for sense gratification. Siddharth-a Final year B.Tech student from IIT Kharagpur says- we are very thankful to VOICE for giving us such a faith giving association, encouragement and providing all that is needed for blissful stay in Pune and Mumbai. –Chandrashekar(B.Tech-Comp,NIT Surathkal)
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
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Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education
Ashraya Camp----2007
The second phase of Ashraya Camp started with series of lectures by HG Gauranga Prabhu on the Caitanya Charitamrita verse “krishna nama nirantara sabara vandane”, where he explained the five meanings of ‘nirantara’ in relation to its application in sadhaka’s life. He also explained the necessity of practicing the cult of bhakti ‘nirantara’. HG Chaitanya Prabhu shared how to hear Krishna’s voice- teaching, revealing, instructing, promising, and warning us while reading the Bhagavad Gita. HG Radheshyam Prabhu gave a power point presentation on “Lessons from the pastime of Dhruva Maharaj”, where he taught us 24 practical lessons from Dhruva’s life. Speaking about Commitment, HG Jai Gopal Prabhu said that Material commitment leads to frustration, no matter how much one is committed, whereas commitment is Krishna Consciousness is always fruitful because Krishna is committed to his committed devotees.
HG Rampriya Prabhu gave a presentation on “Eight effective attitudes for effective leadership”, where he said that the leader must ensure to give love & shelter to the people under him. Love means genuine concern. We also attended the Kothrud Ratha yatra and New Vedic Cultural Center (New Temple) corner stone laying ceremony. –Satyadarshi (B.Tech, Electronics, IIT Kharagpur)
Upcoming events…..
Compiled by -Rajshekhar (M.Tech, IIT Kharagpur) Professor of Electronics, VIT Pune Date 13th Jan,5 pm - 8 pm 18-20th Jan 2008 19,20th Jan 2008 24th Jan afternoon to 27th Jan evening ’08
Sr.No Name of the Event 1 Poitive Thinker test 2 Sankalpa Camp for all India student at Pune Sphurti camp for all Pune students at Pune 3
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Pune Yatra
(only for 16 rounder devotees)–Deadline for registration is 15th Jan 2008.
For Registration contact Bh. Rajshekhar (09225520807) or Yatra coordinator of your YOGA / VOICE
Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE)
4, Tarapore Road, Next to Dastur Boys School, Camp, Pune (India) To share weekly special events, accomplishments, news, announcements and nectar kindly send email to rajshekharv@yahoo.com (Cell-09225520807)
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
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