Written by audarye Thursday, 22 January 2009
Dear Devotees and friends, Japa retreats are now being conducted in all parts of the world and are becoming more and more sought after by devotees and friends of Lord Krishna. Let me try to explain the magic of such a retreat. It’s a truly transformational experience because the retreat offers much more than just some skills to help you to improve your chanting. It aims at improving your relationship with Radha and Krishna in Their most merciful forms of the Holy Name. Perhaps this is why japa retreats have become so popular.
What can you expect from a japa retreat?
● Strengthening your inner connection to the Divine Couple
● New insights and techniques in relation to chanting the Holy Name
● A stronger commitment to offenseless chanting of the Holy Name
● Breakthrough experiences in chanting the Holy Name
● The opportunity to earn how to expand the boundaries of your spiritual life so that you can have deeper and more rewarding spiritual realisations.
The answer is: Yes! Level 2 is organized in a manner that allows you to absorb the knowledge and skills of Level 1. We will first repeat and deepen our understanding of aligning body, mind, and heart with the Holy Names. Then we will expand on the knowledge and discover deeper ways of chanting. Therefore, even if you join the Japa Retreat at level 2, you will still be taken along the path.
Sacinandana Swami
Booking and traveling
The Japa Retreat starts on Monday (8th June) and end on Saturday evening (13th June). All participants should confirm their attendance with the Radhadesh Guesthouse 0032(0)86.387131 (radhadesh.guesthouse@pamho.net).
We will have following categories of accommodation:
1. Shared room (4 - 5 beds)
2. Dormitory (for this option own bedding or sleeping bag is needed)
Special care regarding accommodation can be offered upon request. For more information please contact Radhadesh Guesthouse.
Price package (accommodation, prasadam, seminar fee):
1. Shared room - 150 Euros
2. Dormitory - 125 Euros
These are the six days prices for one person (Monday 11:00 – Sunday 11:00). Prasadam and seminar fee are included. Extra nights will be charged extra. This offering is valid until 8th of May, one month before the Japa retreat starts.
*** 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 Pandu Vijaya dasa at mobile +32 (0) 494 384 171 or email krishnapandu@hotmail.com. Another driver is Ramaniyangam Krsna dasa at mobile +32 (0) 486 946 299 or email raymond_thoma@yahoo.co.uk.
*** Prices for pick up *** (calculated at 0.30 euro/km) are:
Brussels International airport - Zaventem - 70 Euros
Brussels South airport - Charleroi - 55 Euros
Luxembourg airport - 90 Euros
Liege train station - 30 Euros
Namur train station - 30 Euros
Marloie train station - 13 Euros
Barvaux train station - 6 Euros
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 Euro which is valid for bus from airport to the train station and all trains till Marloie or Barvaux.
Feed Backs on the Radhadesh Japa Retreat 2008
● My Japa habits have changed drastically so far, and I cannot wait to put it all into practice on the battlefield, in everyday life. […] I'm also enjoying this day of MENTAL FAST, much needed. (Citra devi dasi)
● What a revelation! (Bhakta Josef)
● I am very much the humor-fan, so this retreat was simply great. (Bhakta Ben)
For me it's difficult to imagine the immense benefit that this service, which you do so thoroughly, attractively and carefully, in presenting the essence of what Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas have taught, is having within our society. […] I will write you about the Irish retreat we spoke about. (Sri Rupa dasa)
● I applied the cathedral method, and suddenly I saw Them sitting on a throne in my heart. They were smiling like "We were always here, now finally you see Us." And the next thing is I saw Them in my whole body, just everywhere. Also outside! They smiled very lovingly and I bowed down to offer a lot of white flowers to Them. (Malati devi dasi)
● I have taken a sankalpa to spend more time with the practice. I have faith that your instructions are best for me and following them will lead me to all auspiciousness. (Gaurahari dasa)
● After 13 years of "chanting", I finally got a drop of taste for the Holy Name. Thank you for saving me. (Anupama devi dasi)
● This retreat was spiritually my peak experience of the last four years in Radhadesh. Thank you. I will go on with the chanting as my life project. Let's see what will happen. (Dina Dayala dasa)
● I waited for this retreat for a long time, and finally the Holy Name gave me His mercy to make a step closer to Krishna. The Holy Name is a person, and I want to meet this person. (Syama Sakhi devi dasi)
● I am very, very grateful to you for the experience. It really was a break-through, and without your help and guidance I would never have been able to do that. (Bhaktin Anna)
● I got so much realization and my japa improved like I never would imagine it could in my life! Thank you so much! (Ganga)
● You gave me exactly what I needed, a balance between reality and encouragement at the time. (Bhakta Nimai)
● I have no words to express how I feel now. I just can express my gratitude to you. I feel very fortunate and honored to have had this incredible opportunity. I hope the seed that you put in my heart will blossom soon. (Bhaktin Susana)
● This Japa Retreat was so inspiring, and I learnt to strive harder in my Krishna consciousness! When you said it was between us and Krishna, I immediately got shaken, He sees everything, and so who was I trying to fool! […] Thank you for helping me open my eyes and realize the skyscraping qualities of the Maha mantra. (Jalasaya)
● I am very grateful for this outstanding retreat. Japa is the yuga dharma. It is our only hope to connect with the Lord through the Holy Name. You are facilitating our way to Krishna so nicely. Thank you. (Jaya Krsna dasa)
● Thank you for giving this Japa Retreat in Radhadesh. What can be more important for Prabhupadanugas than to work on the quality of our chanting? Your seminar is more than a retreat because it is so well-prepared, based on shastra, and loaded with your sincere desire to help the ISKCON devotees worldwide to improve their chanting that it has a transformational effect. Next time I hope to be present fully. (Hrdaya Caitanya dasa)
● Thank you very much for all your sweating and pushing throughout this last week. Krta juo' ham! ('I am aware of what has been done!' Thank you) (Gaurahari das