November 2020

Highlights

Program Updates
Kartik Corner
Upcoming Events
Food for the Soul: Featured Recipes
Bulletin Board
Media Recommendations

Program Updates

TSI Donor Page

The Sanga Initiative is excited to announce our donor page! As you all know, TSI’s mission to become a far-reaching and impactful organization that furthers Srila Prabhupad’s mission is the essence of our community and the work that we do. We organize multiple retreats, camps, seminars, and more through fundraising efforts and kind contributions. In order to continue growing and spreading a sense of unity amongst numerous youth across multiple countries, we need your active support! On the donor page we have options for one time, yearly, or monthly donations. All the donations that are collected are used to enrich our programming sessions, keep retreat and camp costs low so all youth can attend, and grow out the organization that is TSI! Please join us on this wonderful journey of outreach and community building by becoming a donor and a valued member of the Sanga Initiative family!

New Team Update

As we draw nearer to the end of the year; we can look back on this year with gratitude and look into the future with hope and faith.

The Sanga Initiative has been busy working on new programs and COVID-style webinars and retreats as there has been tremendous growth with new members, programs and goals; all geared towards connecting with ISKCON youth.

This month we wanted to highlight the Professional Development team which consists of Pooja Shroff, Anushri Gupta and Harini Mekala.

These super star devotees endeavor tirelessly to enrich, empower and support the youth devotees in the next phase of their lives.

Their mission is to enable leadership and professional opportunities for ISKCON youth so that they feel inspired, prepared, and aligned when they transition into their careers. The team hopes to connect younger youth to senior devotees in various professional fields so that they can better understand what career path they may want to pursue. The professional development team aspires to create a space to discuss a range of topics that include: managing conflict, servant leadership, understanding our nature, and integrating spirituality into our professional lives.

This team is currently working on the TSI Internship program which was launched this past summer in partnership with ISKCON at the United Nations. In addition; they are actively seeking to grow and scale partnerships so that they can create a diverse range of professional service opportunities. The Professional Development team has also been working on a leadership workshop series to start the conversation on important leadership topics.

Let's cheer them on for their efforts, and we encourage all of you to take advantage of the events they have coming up! Scroll down to see one for November :)

Kartik Corner— sharing reflections from the month of kartik

Kartik in the Time of COVID
By: Allegra Lovejoy Wiprud November 12, 2020

Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill and giving shelter to Vrajwasi.jpg

Another year. Another autumn. Another Kartik, Diwali, Govardhan Puja. Holidays come around reliably each year. To borrow a phrase, why is tonight different from all other nights? What is it that makes this Kartik – this Govardhan Puja – special?

We tell the same stories every year. We conduct the same rituals. That’s what tradition is about. Familiar rituals are comforting. But they can become stale unless we seek fresh meaning each year. Approaching the holiday with the vulnerability of now makes it possible to be deeply enriched.

We know the story of Govardhan Puja. The arrogant Indra, king of the heavens, lays siege to the village of Braj because he did not get enough tribute. He sends battalions of stormclouds to Braj, nearly washing the village away. Sri Krishna calls the villagers and all their animals to take refuge under Govardhan Hill, which he miraculously lifts with the little finger of his left hand. There, the villagers shelter for seven days and seven nights, until Indra gives up his campaign and realizes he is not so powerful after all.

The most important part of this story is not the weather. It’s not Indra, only the latest in a string of heavenly public servants with dictatorial aspirations. It’s what happens under that hill. There, the Brajabasis are completely absorbed in relishing Sri Krishna’s presence – and one another’s. It’s the best kind of samadhi, the kind where all your friends are there too. Through seven days and seven nights of loving glances and interactions with Sri Krishna, each Brajabasi was satisfied to their heart’s content.

Spending a week with all of our friends sounds pretty good right now, after six months of social distancing. Nowadays, spending time with just a few loved ones is difficult, what to speak of a thousand best friends and the Supreme Lord to boot. Many of us cannot even go to the temple. In this circumstance, hearing about the Govardhan pastime may be less than relishable. It may even be envy-inducing. But there’s another way to do it. We can choose to turn towards Krishna and towards our loved ones in the heart, no matter how great the physical distance.

The Brajabasis didn’t have to go under that hill. They could have run away, each trying to save herself or her family. They could have called Krishna’s proposal to shelter under the hill ludicrous. They could have quarreled and blamed each other for the flooding of Braj. They could have obsessed over Indra’s Twitter feed and up-to-the-minute updates on behind-the-scenes controversy. But they didn’t.

They chose to go under that hill. They chose to trust Krishna. Instead of closing their hearts in fear, they chose to open their hearts to the Lord of their hearts – and to one another. It may feel strange to ascribe choice to personalities in ancient epics – especially liberated souls like the Brajabasis. Wouldn’t they trust Krishna by default? Not necessarily. There are enough cases of doubt in the Bhagavatam to establish that even liberated souls have free will – what to speak of you and me.

During this time of isolation, it’s all too easy to sink into dejection. The more we focus on what we’re missing out on, the more reasons we have to be morose. The more we focus on the suffering and uncertainty around us, the more reasons we have to doubt that Krishna is in control. But life wasn’t easy for the Brajabasis either. Their whole world was turned upside down – over and over.

Even during this time of isolation, we can choose to turn towards Krishna. Sometimes, being isolated, away from the bustle of the festival season, can actually help us discover the Lord in the heart. We can chant, offer lamps, and cook just for Krishna. We can also choose to turn towards our community, extending ourselves over distance with gestures of love and service. These gestures are especially valued by those who are struggling more than we are. Surely we all have relatives or acquaintances who have lost loved ones or lost jobs during this pandemic, or who just need a friendly call.

After the seven days and seven nights of Divine Love, Indra approached Sri Krishna in humble repentance. If even Indra can put aside the barriers of the heart and turn towards God, then there’s hope for us all.

Upcoming Events

We hope you’re staying safe and healthy during this unpredictable time. We are excited to be continuing our webinar series that will allow us all to stay engaged through discussion and association! Please check our social media pages for upcoming webinar dates:

Past webinars can be viewed here

-Food for the soul-

Pumpkin cake bars

Ingredients: Cake Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour 240g
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 Tbsp Gluten Free Egg Replacer and 6 Tbsp of Water (let this sit for 2 minutes)
1 cup brown sugar 100g
1/4 cup white sugar 50g
1/4 cup whole milk 60mL
15 oz pumpkin puree one small can
⅔ cup vegetable oil 160mL
2 teaspoon vanilla extract 10mL

Ingredients: Frosting

1/2 cup butter 113g, room temp
8 oz cream cheese 226g, room temp
3 cups powdered sugar 340g
1 tsp vanilla

Method:

Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 10x15x1 inch jelly roll pan or line it with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and spices in a large bowl then whisk together and set aside.
In a separate bowl combine the egg replacement, oil, white and brown sugar, vanilla, milk, and pumpkin puree then whisk together until smooth.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix until just combined then transfer the batter to your prepared pan and spread out into an even layer using an offset spatula. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes or until the center springs back when pressed lightly.
Make the frosting by beating room temperature cream cheese and butter together until combined then add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat on low then switch to high for about three minutes or until light and creamy. scrape the bowl down and mix once more.
Once the base is cool cover with the cream cheese frosting, cut and garnish. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or Trader Joes Pumpkin Spice Topping
Offer these delicious cake bars to Krishna and enjoy!

Bulletin board

Note: This board will be used to highlight exciting events happening in the larger Bhakti community! Please check them out and support these incredible organizations!