Newsletter March 2025
Dear friends of Goloka Dhama!
I would like to share with you a few questions that are on my mind and where I am looking for answers. Who am I? What is my relationship to life, to the universe, to God? Questions that everyone asks themselves to some degree.
In the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, it says: I am part and parcel of God. But what is the soul and who is God? This can be explored more deeply in the temple. The longing for love. Every soul longs for love and seeks to connect with it in many different ways. A longing for home. For belonging, where I really feel at home in my heart. Goloka Dhama is the
highest refuge for the soul. The soul's journey in search of the highest happiness until it remembers
its true nature and devotes itself to it. Why do we suffer? Because we seek joy independently of God. And we can explore freely until we realize that everything independent of God is only temporary joy and suffering. When we connect with God, we enter into an eternal covenant that is essential, true and eternal.
Goloka Dhama is a place for daily prayer and chanting. And a prayer is nothing but the weeping of the soul to connect with pure transcendental divine love. Every day, especially on Sundays, the most delicious food is served here. As they say, the way to the heart is through the stomach. And in this tradition, one of the spiritual practices is to cook for God with full love and devotion and to offer it to Him in deep prayer. You can feel this with every
cell. By eating, one imbues the body and soul with this divine love. The monks and nuns in Goloka Dhama, who have dedicated their lives to God, inspire visitors with their humility and devotion to cultivate these qualities in themselves. They can also give you a glimpse of their realization of the mystery of this life.
What a blessing it is to experience what the meaning of this game called life is and to be allowed toapproach the divine games.
Your servant,
Hari Nam Prasad das, for and on behalf of Goloka Dhama
In keeping with the theme, on March 13 we celebrate Gaura Purnima, the appearance day of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most important day of the year for all Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
In 1486, a lunar eclipse took place on this day (then February 18) and all the inhabitants of Navadwip near Mayapur in West Bengal bathed in the Ganges according to Hindu custom to
counteract the evil effects of the eclipse. They chanted the holy names of Krishna aloud. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared at moonrise along with Krishna's Holy Names. He is called “Gaurachandra” or “Golden Moon” because He appeared simultaneously with the full moon and because of His golden-yellow skin colour, but also because of His soothing influence on humanity. It is said that the moon shrouded itself in darkness to give way to the true moon, Sri
Gaurachandra. During the 48 years of His life, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, through His personal example, extensive
travels throughout India and conversations with the leading philosophers, religious leaders and
rulers of His time, established the Sankirtan movement of the Holy Name, which continues as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna Movement). We are very much looking forward to celebrating this important festival in Goloka Dhama!
Your servant,
Tattva Darsini dd for and on behalf of Goloka Dhama
BG 2.13 purport
Since every living entity is an individual soul, each is changing his body every moment, manifesting sometimes as a child, sometimes as a youth, and sometimes as an old man.
Yet the same spirit soul is there and does not undergo any change. This individual soul finally changes the body at death and transmigrates to another body[…]
Upcoming events:
- 14th - 16th March 12 Months - 12 Teachers: Energy Medicine - Healing in the 21st Century, Janajanmadi Wloka
- 11th - 13th April 12 months - 12 teachers: Exploring the Sacred Ramayana: The Heart of Hanuman - Courage and Selfless Service, Jaya Sacinandana
- 17th - 21st April Bhakti Immersion Retreat with HH Sacinandana Swami and Hari Parsad Prabhu
- 23rd - 27th April Be a monk challenge - digital detox with Rama Gopala and Divya Nama
- 1st May Open day
- 2nd - 4th May Bhakti Circle and Yin Yoga with Rama Gopala and Divya Nama
- 23rd - 25th May 12 months - 12 teachers: Japa Retreat with Gaurahari and Vaijayanti
- 30th May - 1st June Steps to Kirtan with Priya Manjari