GOMATA BLISS FESTIVAL-DAY-2-November 18-2015 @ Sri Vrindavan Dham

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” class=”” id=””]DAY-1, November 17-2015, continued[/fusion_title][fusion_text]The afternoon session of the Gomata BLISS Festival was covered by Sriman Vamanadeva das (USA) and Sriman Krishna Balaram das (Canada).[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AjtF9qeXkDwY6HwUrP3Z0ffohGNIyMVe6J6SJV2FTBh-.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]

HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami giving seminar on Daiva Varnasrama

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Sriman Vamanadeva das, one of the early disciples of Srila Prabhupada, shared his many years of farm experience as a devotee who had the good fortune of serving in New Vrindavan in those very early days when Srila Prabhupada had started the farm community. Over the years, he has been part of many farm projects in the USA and is presently having his own land steadily working towards self-sufficiency and sustainable living. Although there will inevitably be successes and failures in our attempts, we must always remain determined and convinced that His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada gave us the perfect vision for establishing a peaceful and prosperous society based on the Vedic principles of Simple Living and High Thinking.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Sriman Krishna Balarama das shared his many years of experience as a Homeopathic/Naturopathic Doctor and successful beekeeper outlining the crucial importance of a balanced eco system based on the presence of mother bees. He referred to a documentary called “Silent Cries” that describes how literally thousands upon thousands of beehive colonies have been destroyed over the past decade due to increased use of electronic gadgets (especially cell phones) that created excess radioactive emissions that disorientate and eventually kill bees. Without the presence of bees, the natural pollination sequence so much needed for natural and fertile growth of food will not take place and the potential danger to mankind is a most serious impending calamity.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_4603.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]

Sriman Kakakantha Das, Minister for ISKCON Cow Protection and Agriculture and Chairman for Sustainable Vaisnava Communities (SVC)

Lighting of Lamp @ GOMATA BLISS FESTIVAL. Left to right: Kalakantha das, Prema Kisora das, Indranilmani das, HH Bhakti Raghava Swami, Srimati Radha Priya devi dasi

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” class=”” id=””]DAY-2, November 18-2015[/fusion_title][fusion_text]The second day of the GOMATA BLISS FESTIVAL saw a number of qualified devotees making presentations in their respected field of expertize.

The morning session started with Sriman Kalakantha das, Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture and Chairman for the global GBC/SPT initiative committee Sustainable Vaisnava Communities (SVC) giving an overview of various on-going initiatives globally, many of which will be culminating the up-coming historical ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS-2016) expected to bring a record breaking number of over 1,000 ISKCON leaders to Sri Dham Mayapur in a concerted effort to push forward in a systematic way the mission of Srila Prabhupada.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AqHCiKAd2ihVY17f5EcaYXvSyEPrIBxjLKrSDTxkltEo.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_button link=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Varnasrama_College-Curriculum_Design.pdf” color=”green” size=”xlarge” type=”flat” shape=”round” target=”_blank” title=”” gradient_colors=”transparent|” gradient_hover_colors=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09)|” accent_color=”rgba(255,255,255,.8)” accent_hover_color=”rgba(255,255,255,.9)” bevel_color=”” border_width=”2px” icon=”fa-file-pdf-o” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”yes” modal=”” animation_type=”bounce” animation_direction=”up” animation_speed=”1″ alignment=”center” class=”” id=””]Download Presentation[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]The second presentation was given by Dr. Sanat Kumar das, a specialist in the field of organic farming. He clearly explained how the modern day agro-business approach to farming is destroying the fertility of the soil and producing toxic food bringing about serious health hazards to the people in general, hence the need for governments to return to a more wholesome and natural agriculture practice with cows playing a central role in the organization of villages.

Sriman Gauranga das, Director of the Govardhana Eco Village, a self-sufficient farm community just outside of Mumbai, explained the various facilities and services offered at the Govardhana Eco Village since the last three years. The project is an initiative of the ISKCON Chowpatty temple under the guidance of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja. The project offers facilities for Yoga Retreats as well as Conferences and Seminars catering to the ISKCON leadership who recently held their mid-term meetings. The farm project produces various crops in its organic fields and devotees maintain desi-cows to meet the needs of the growing community of devotees.

Sriman Savyasachi das and Sriman Goloka das made a presentation on two rural projects being developed in Tamil Nadu (Panchavati) and Gujarat (New Goloka Dham). In Gujarat devotees are developing a community having some 10 families with over 20 Gurukula boys. The devotees are producing their own grains and maintaining cows that provide wholesome milk to the resident devotees. In Tamil Nadu, at Panchavati, there are three families where devotees are also growing their own food and living a simple life based on land and cows.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ap1eHgAeu-fR1Dwcmpt72KWb6njEBr4Rl35OJplsdsPA.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]The afternoon session was taken up by two sannyasis. First HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja made a presentation on “Varnasrama College” explaining some of the basic components of a varnasrama society where one must put into practice the two dimensions of dharma, one being the material sva-dharma of the four varnas and four asramas and the other being the spiritual sva-dharma covering the spiritual activities of devotional service. For such an ideal community to manifest and progress both Gurukulas and Varnasrama Colleges must be present. Both educational institutions must be based on traditional knowledge called “Catur Vidya” as presented in the Kautilya Arthashastra of Canakya Pandit and the “Caturdasa Vidya”, the standard 14 Vedic books of knowledge as taught by our Vaisnava Acharyas.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]The afternoon session concluded with a presentation given by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaja who made reference to the Gokul Dham Farm community in North Karnataka, a four hundred acre farm project dedicated to demonstrating traditional technologies using local materials. Maharaja explained some of the self-sufficient developments taking place at Gokul Dham Farm and stressed the importance of understanding and applying the principles of sustainable lifestyle in our present day precarious society.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Reported by: HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami from Vrindavan, India.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]