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Bhaktivedanta College Japa & Kirtan Retreat in 2010 with Sacinandana Swami - 2009-12-25

An invitation letter from Sacinandana Swami:

Dear devotees and friends,

It is with great happiness that I am inviting you to Bhaktivedanta College Japa & Kirtan Retreat 2010, which will take place in Radhadesh from Saturday, May 1 (19 hrs) until Friday morning, May 7, 2010.

The idea of organizing Japa & Kirtan retreats emerged from a realization we had during our many Japa retreats. Simply put, we became aware that the dharma for the Age of Kali is sankirtana: singing the holy names with devotion, in the association of others. It is primarily through this process that the realization of Krishna can take place.

Srila Krishna das Kaviraja Goswami writes:

tattva-vastu-krishna, krishna-bhakti, prema-rupa
nama-sankirtana-saba ananda-svarupa

"The Absolute Truth is Shri Krishna, and devotion to Krishna in pure love is achieved through congregational chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all bliss." (CC Adi 1.96)

Our Vaishnava scriptures contain a wealth of information on kirtana. When I began to research the subject, I was overwhelmed by the nectarean information on the proper moods, proper styles, and proper skills of doing kirtana. My enthusiasm to share all this information has grown unlimitedly. Now I am dedicating a good part of my service to research this exiting subject matter even further and systematically give training in the art of kirtan.

As the research on kirtan deepened I felt like a spiritual archeologist who had just found a lost treasure and now wanted to share it with the world. So I decided to develop the Japa & Kirtan Retreats.

The Japa & Kirtan retreats will summarize the insights of the Japa retreats and then go into explaining and doing kirtan. Good kirtan improves japa, and good japa also brings about improved kirtan. Both of them complement each other, because they are based on the same thing: Krishna's most merciful form, the holy name.

The holy name is so merciful that devotees have even glorified Kali-yuga as the best yuga, since the yuga-dharma of this age is chanting!
"I am most satisfied by this particular yuga, Kali-yuga, because the result of all spiritual processes (meditation, sacrifices, and Deity worship) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the holy names of Lord Keshava. O great sages, a small effort in Kali-yuga is the cause of the greatest good fortune for mankind. No doubt, I am most satisfied by this particular yuga." (Visnu Purana 6.2.15-17)

I am unlimitedly grateful to Srila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas of our glorious parampara, who reveal this deepest knowledge to us. This gratitude will manifest during the seminar in lectures, workshops, and lila-katha, all focused on becoming deeply absorbed in the holy name and, of course, in soul-uplifting kirtanas. These retreats are open to anyone sincerely interested in practicing Krishna consciousness. I am most
enthusiastic to receive and serve all of you.

*** Booking ***

The Japa & Kirtan Retreat starts Saturday evening (May 1) at 19 hrs and ends on Friday morning (May 7). A confirmation of your attendance is required. Please contact the Radhadesh Guesthouse: +32(0)86387131 or email: <Radhadesh.Guesthouse@pamho.net>.

We will have the following categories of accommodation in the Radhadesh Guesthouse, which include accommodation, prasadam and seminar fee:

1. Shared room (3 - 5 beds) - € 150
2. Dormitory (for this option own bedding or sleeping bag is needed) - € 125

These are the price packages for six days per person (from Saturday, 17 hrs until Friday, 11 hrs). Extra nights will be charged. This offering is valid until April 1, 2010, one month before the Japa & Kirtan Retreat starts.

Those who are not staying in the Radhadesh Guesthouse should register with the College Secretary at +32(0)86323277 or email: <College@pamho.net>. Price only for seminar without prasadam and accomodation is € 50.

*** Travel ***
When you are in Belgium, how to travel to Radhadesh?

Radhadesh Guesthouse
Petite Somme 5
6940 SEPTON DURBUY
BELGIUM
0032(0)86.387131
Radhadesh.Guesthouse@pamho.net

*** Taxi service from Airports ***
To reach Radhadesh with devotee taxi you can call Damakartu Dasa at mobile +32(0)484479680 or email <Damakartu.DG@pamho.net>. Another driver is Pandu Vijaya Dasa at mobile +32(0)494384171 or email<KrishnaPandu@hotmail.com>.

*** Prices for pick up ***
Calculated at 0.30 Euro/km:
Brussels International airport - Zaventem - € 70
Brussels South airport - Charleroi - € 55
Luxembourg airport - € 90
Liege train station - € 30
Namur train station - € 30
Marloie train station - € 13
Barvaux train station - € 6

Please remember that there are two airports near Brussels. One is called 'Brussels International' (Zaventem) and is very close to the city centre. The other is called 'Charleroi' *or* 'Brussels South'. Charleroi is a little bit closer to Radhadesh. This is to avoid long waits, which can occur if we get incorrect information. Give us details of where you want to be picked up from. Please give your flight information: flight number, arrival date, departure date & airport (or station).

At both airports you can buy a train ticket for € 10.50 which is valid for bus from airport to the train station and all trains till Marloie or Barvaux.

For more information please contact the College Secretary:
Tel: +32 (0)86 32-32-77 / E-mail: college@pamho.net