First Lithuanian Retreat. Kaunas 2nd- 7th January 2010

Dandavats Prabhus and all friends

By the causless mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, we have just completed another successful Japa retreat, this time in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Amidst heaps of snow and sub zero temperatures, the devotees were packed into quite a small, simple, yet very warm home, on the edge of a dense forest, close by the frozen, majestic Nerris river. Even though it was cold, the devotees could take nice, attractive walks in the natural surroundings, undisturbed.

Our host Ananta Krsna Prabhu, took complete motherly care of us. None of us lacked for anything the entire time. All were blissfully satisfied.

Just as in the previous retreat in Poland, this was a first time here in Lithuania of a japa retreat. The devotee community, which is quite small, were not quite sure what to expect.
We had our regular morning and evening programs which were supported and enhanced by having the most qualified BV Sadhu Maharaja with us as translator and organizer.

As previously, the devotees were very enlivened by chanting throughout the day and realizing more and more, by direct perception, of the power and sweetness of Krishna’s holy names. This, coupled with our study of the bhakti sastras, made the perfect formula for sustained, progressive, spiritual growth.

During this retreat we were not able to have our regular sharing exchange due to the many visitors attending our evening programs, nevertheless devotees were completely satisfied and found time during the day independently, to affectionately bond and communicate with each other.

Next year we will again come together, and now that the devotees realize how satisfying the retreat experience is, we will have a longer and better attended time together.
Thank you all for coming and offering your enthusiastic support.

Hare Krishna
Vaisnava dasanudasa
BV Tridandi Swami

An appreciation of the retreat from our host
Ananta Krsna Dasa from Kaunas, Lithuania.


It was certainly a most deepening and intimate japa-retreat experience for me. All those who participated supported each other so much just by being together and chanting throughout the day. There was an atmosphere of sincerity which gave us the spiritual freedom and focus and to feel free and be truthful with ourselves. Tridandi Maharaja is not just guide; he is a sincere friend, who helped us to stay eye to eye with ourselves. He personally helped me to be just myself, as I am, rather than to try and push something inside me. It gave me a feeling of spiritual freedom. It was a flying feeling of spontaneous attraction to the Lord.
I have never before understood very clearly that my practice of Bhakti yoga is a natural process, it doesn't need any false support, as it seemed previously, ‘it is not an artificial imposition on the soul’. The Lord is happy with us just the way we are. He doesn’t want us to be striving for personal improvement all the time, as I had previously understood. The Lord accepts me as I am and I know He was happy because of our coming together. This feeling of real love is amazing! It is the most valuable jewel of the retreat.
In one Russian song it says “Better than mountains, are mountains where you haven’t yet been”, in other words, new horizons. This retreat was unknown territory for my soul, and the chanting opened up the possibility of entering a little more deeply within myself.
I liked it soooooo much. I want more and more.
Thank you Maharaja.
Jaya Gurudeva
Radhe Radhe.