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April 2002

Dear Friends

As we approach spring I look back over the winter months and reflect on a time when daylight is short and we have the opportunity to read more on

the dark winter nights. Just as the flowers start to sprout through the soil we begin our spiritual lives of uncovering our eternal relationship with Lord Krishna. The watering has to continue until we fully bloom in the form of chanting Krishna's name.  By that time we will be so blissful that we won't want to stop and 16 rounds will seem like only licking the outside of the jar of nectar. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to distribute the most precious gift of love of God by being the perfect example of a devotee. Until that time many people thought Lord Krishna's pastimes in the earthly Vrindavana were as an incarnation of Lord Narayana and it was a secret to very few that Vrindavana was none different than Goloka Vrindavana in the spiritual world and so most desired to go to Vaikuntha alone. But this secret was only opened for everyone because Lord Chaitanya was distributing the Holy Name and everyone involved in this Sankirtan movement of preaching will experience the nectar just like the close servant of a rich man experiences some of the opulence of being rich.

Coming back to reality of the winter past, I, like many others yearn for the sunny days and see the sun in a similar way as the Supersoul, who in effect.

lights up the knowledge we may have read or heard this winter to give us deep realisations of our relationship with Lord Krishna. Spiritual knowledge is only revealed in the heart by the spiritual master or Supersoul just like someone turned the light on.

Weekend Retreat

We are having another retreat at our house on the May Day bank holiday weekend from Friday night until Monday morning. The last one was very successful, partly due to the wonderful association of Janananda prabhu and I'm hoping for a nice size group again. I'm not sure who the special guest will be yet but there will certainly be morning programme every day at 7.30, followed by classes on Vaishnava discipline/cleanliness, mrdanga/harmonium lessons, cooking and the special guests class (to be confirmed).

We are situated in the West Wales countryside 5 miles from the sea in a peaceful area ideal for japa walks.

Breakfast of home-made muesli and Bread/toast will be served after Srimad Bhagavatam class, small lunch of fruit yoghurt/fruit and large evening meal. We are asking for a small charge of £15.00 to cover prasadam and gas/electric. We have some space inside if you book early otherwise we have grass for camping.

Tamal Krishna Goswami goes back to Godhead

H.H. Tamal Krishna Goswami left this world on the 15^th March in the morning at a hospital in Mayapura. He was involved in a car accident on the way to Calcutta

to fly back to England where he has been studying for a doctorate at Cambridge/Oxford universities for extended preaching purposes. He was one of Srila Prabhupada's early disciples and pioneered the Radha Damodara travelling Sankirtan Party across America with several buses and including many famous devotees.

He was also the first devotee to go to China and preach there. He was G.B.C for many areas including Mayapura, Calcutta, Fiji and Dallas and had written many

books and is featured in many ITV videos.  He had many disciples including Gauri dasa the temple president of Bhaktivedanta Manor.

your servant Minaketanarama dasa

Dates for April May and June

APRIL

4^th Thurs Appearance of Srivas Pandit (Panca Tattva)

6^th Sat   Bristol Nama Hatta - 2pm - Arjunanatha's house.

8^th Mon   Papamacani Ekadasi - fasting from grains and beans.

9^th       break-fast 6.03 - 10.16 am

14^th Sun  BRISTOL STUDY GROUP – Oddfellows Hall - 11 – 3 PM (bring some lunch to share)

17^th Wed  Appearance of Ramanujacarya,

21^st Sun  Bristol Nama Hatta – 3pm - Odd Fellows Hall. Special Guest –Parasarama prabhu(film of Vrindavana,Bhajans and magic tricks)

ALSO BHAJANS IN BROADMEAD AT 1.30 PM.

Lord Ramacandra's Appearance Day (Ramanavami). fast till sunset.

Large festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor.

23^rd Tues Kamada ekadasi

26^th Fri Lord Balarama Rasa yatra.

   Appearance of Vamsivadana thakura and Syamananda prabhu,

27^th Sat  Appearance of Hanuman.(Lord Rama's dearmost servant)

MAY

3^rd Fri Retreat at Minaketanarama's and Gandharvika's

Mon 6th  See front page for details and interested parties please contact us on number below and we will send full schedule of the weekend.

6^th       Disappearance of Vrindavana das thakura.

8^th Wed   Varuthini ekadasi.

11^th Sat  Bristol Nama Hatta - 3 pm - Odd Fellows Hall

         Bhajans in Broadmead at 1.30 pm. EVERYBODY WELCOME.

12^th      Plymouth Nama Hatta - 2pm -  Anne and Allens.

         Appearance of Gadadhar pandit (Panca Tattva)

18^th Sat  Sankirtan Party at Bhaktivedanta Manor(classes, kirtan, drama and feast).

21^st Tues Appearance of Sita devi. (Lord Rama's Wife)

Appearance of Jahnavi devi (Wife of Lord Nityananda)

22^nd Wed  Mohini ekadasi.

24^th Fri  Disappearance of Jayananda prabhu (pioneer of first Ratha Yatra in U.S.A.)

25^th Sat  Narasimha Caturdasi.(Appearance of Lord Narasimhadeva)- fast till dusk

26^th Sun  Appearance of Madhavendra Puri and Srinivasa acarya.

31^stFri   Disappearance of Ramananda Raya.

JUNE

3^rd/4^th    CONGREGATIONAL RETREAT AT THE MANOR – (like Buckland Hall retreat - workshops, classes, kirtan and lots of socializing!

6^th Thurs Apara ekadasi.

7^th Fri   Appearance of Vrindavana das thakura.

9^th Sun   Snana Ratra (Bathing of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra) – everyone can participate. (at Soho Street or Manor)

16^th Sun  Maha Regional Gathering for Bristol,Swindon,Gloucester,Cheltenham,Plymouth/Liskeard and West Wales. Special Guest - Kripamoya prabhu and friends. (small charge of £2 towards Hall Hire)

20/21^st Thur/Fri Summer Solstace - festival at Stonehenge. Parasarama prabhu and friends will be doing mass prasadam distibution and kirtan will be going on right through the night.

21^st Fri  Bhima Nirjal ekadasi (Total fast if you can manage it - no liquids.) Or fast from grains and beans.

22^nd Sat  Boreham Wood Carnival.(kirtan and a float by Parasarama prabhu and friends)

Panihata festival(chipped rice)

23^rd Sun  Ratha Yatra in LONDON starting at midday from Marble Arch proceeding to Trafalgar Square culminating in a large festival until 7pm.

24^th Mon  Snana Yatra (bathing of Lord Jagannatha in Jagannatha Puri ready for Ratha Yatra.)

28^th-30^th

Fri-Sun  Glastonbury Rock Festival

Kirtan, Harinam, and prasadam distribution. Organised by Parasarama and Giridhari prabhus