Christchurch NZ Retreat report

Dandavat Pranamas.
By the causeless mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga we have just completed our Japa retreat here in the South Island in New Zealand, at Governors Bay, half an hour south of Christchurch.
Fifteen of us stayed together in the beautiful “Old Vicarage” house beside the picturesque Governors Bay harbour.
The retreat was a complete success for everyone and we are happily planning two retreats in New Zealand next year, one in each island.
Below are some of the devotees thoughts, realizations and appreciations.
I would like to sincerely thank all the participants for coming and allowing me to share with them my understandings of Nama and my Guru Maharaja's teachings.
I am very grateful for their attention and patience.
Hare Krsna.
In the service of Sri Guru
BV Tridandi Swami

Introduction by Bhadra Devi Dasi of Kati Kati (Bay of Plenty, North Island)

The japa retreat is an intensive living experience which greatly enhances heartfelt appreciation for the mission and precepts of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It significantly enlivens one's relationship with the holy name. Participants become encapsulated in a sublime sphere of exclusive hari katha and sadhana-bhajana for an entire week. Facilitated by Sripad BV Tridandi Maharaja, the japa retreats serve to directly connect the participant with the holy name in a more profound way than one has perhaps ever experienced. I believe these japa retreats are the most powerful thing happening on the planet ... apart from Srila Gurudeva's hari katha, of course. Sripad Tridandi Maharaja is an exceptional example of a devotee and a human being. His humility, authenticity, clarity of vision and genuine intimate loving dealings with each and every person, provide the atmosphere, facility and encouragement to draw out the strengths in each individual. He creates a unique environment in which devotees feel comfortable to share their feelings and insights on how their inner lives are being influenced by the chanting of harinama. In this way, a very deep level of intimacy in sanga is reached.

With mauna-vrata (vow of silence) observed throughout the day, hours of bhajana, sweet interactive hari katha morning and evening and the days filled solely with japa, one experiences a tangible clearing and awakening in the mind as well as a softening of the heart. This serves to strengthen our faith in the chanting of the holy names. In the nightly group sharing, each devotee sees something of themselves reflected in each other, which as the days go by, enhances a deepening awareness of one's conditioned state and spiritual growth.
True sanga is experienced, and guhyam akyati prccati, the intimate sharing of insights among devotees, is beautifully and organically achieved. By the end of the seven days, the participants really feel the Golden Age of Mahaprabhu manifesting in their hearts.

Jayadeva dasa. (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
Since coming to Krsna consciousness I have learned and understood many truths about this process, but since completing the japa retreat I really feel like I’ve experienced a taste of it’s heart – “Love and Affection”
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Vrnda dasi (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
I feel the japa retreat has implanted many wonderful and beautiful seeds in my heart which are all so favourable, and indeed essential for progress on this spiritual path. Loving, respectful and affectionate dealings with others is easy to talk about, but I feel so many of us, especially myself, don’t really know what this means or how to do it. The seed of loving, affectionate dealings has been implanted in my heart during this japa retreat, and my desire is to cultivate with sincerity and Hari Nama that special seed.
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Madhu Pandit. (Christchurch)
-Be prepared for Harinama Prabhu to take you on a sometimes challenging journey as we glimpse our shortcomings, insignificance and indifference to the Lord. But always Nama Prabhu is there to patiently guide us like a tonic; sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet. I feel deeply grateful. I thoroughly would recommend this to anyone who wants to come closer to Nama Prabhu. Everything becomes sweeter. The bhajans, the kirtans and the association.
Thank you.
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Narayana dasa. (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur wrote in one kirtan –
“Whatever miseries are afflicting the jives, You fully dispel if one even neglectfully chants Your name just once, feeling himself insignificant and destitute, seeing no other remedy for his relief.”
This japa retreat, so kindly presided over by Sripad B.V. Tridandi Maharaja, has afforded me a meaningful insight in this connection. He is capably reflecting the love and affection of our dear Srila Gurudeva, Srila Bhakitvedanta Narayana Maharaja who is presently carrying the flow of bhakti as revealed by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and our guru varga, to the World. My appreciation will be apparent by how I deal with this matchless gift. My heartfelt thanks.
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Bhadra dasi. (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
The experience of doing almost nothing for seven days except chanting the Maha Mantra and hearing and participating in Hari katha gives significant, tangible upliftment to the mind and the heart. I feel considerably chastened and strengthened in my commitment to Mahaprabhu’s process of developing divine love.
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Uttama Krsna dasa. (Christchurch)
Seven days of association with Nama Prabhu, combined with devotee sharing, gave me a much needed injection of spiritual realization. Love is doing service for someone else even if we don’t want to do it. Thank you.
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Hari Kanta dasa. (Dunedin, South Island)
All glories, all glories to the Holy Name. I’ve achieved tangible results this week and more deeply desire realization of these truths. My heart is beginning to feel at least a semblance of true love and affection for the Lord.
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Balaram dasa. (Auckland)
A unique, rewarding experience of how to dive deeper into the Maha Mantra, in a caring atmosphere with an expert facilitator. An experience everyone should try at least once in his life and then try to maintain that level of sadhana.
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Bela dasi. (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
Trying sincerely to serve Hari Nama during this week uplifts my consciousness and soothes my mind and body, but it makes me feel more happy to see how Nama Prabhu brings everyone more closer to Sri Guru, Mahaprabhu and Sri Radha and Krsna. Yet the ultimate happiness I can see (and aspire for) is to know that my and our combined effort pleases Srila Gurudeva and serves his sublime mission of unalloyed love to one and all.
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Prema dasa (Kaikoura, South Island)
Sripad Tridandi swami is an emissary from Srila Gurudeva for me and helps me get my Krsna consciousness back into focus. For me, the japa retreat is fun, very challenging sometimes, nurturing, nourishing and generally just a great recharge.
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Dhruva dasa. (Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, North Island)
This japa retreat afforded me a long awaited opportunity to find space away from my conditioned environment and force-feed me the medicine that Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu is giving, which is in fact, increasingly sweeter and sweeter, in a most wholesome and sublime way. I found most precious understandings along with feelings, both sweet and subtle this week. The Nama yajna retreat most naturally dissolved short sighted, unwanted, contentious and ugly vices from my selfish mood. I feel a fresh and new vista of hope, and I hope to maintain along this track. I am very grateful for all the elements provided for here, and highly recommend this retreat for anyone and everyone who wishes to dive more deeply into Krsna Nama at any cost. Sripada Tridandi Maharaja, thank you for bringing to my door this japa retreat.
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Harsharani Dasi (Christchurch)
It was great!. Looking forward to the next one. Hare Krsna.