Vegetarian African Food project

In springtime this year our kitchen crew cooked 10 days very delicious vegetarian food for an international conference of African scientists and leaders of universities from Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

As one of the main goals is to spread vegetarian, plant protein diet for the poor population of Africa they asked us to cook a balanced vegetarian menu for 10 days. „Support Africa“ is an international foundation who are supported by the European Parlament and already supported several medical clinics and social projects in Africa.

It´s been a very successful meeting as Prof. Pfeiffer mentioned at the end of the conference as they found many native wild plants with high amounts of protein. Finally the scientists set up a 5-years-program starting with collecting and growing best seeds for larger agriculture projects based on natural ecologies only.

Thanks to Swamiji and the kitchen crew to make this happen!

Project information:

Conference on the development of non-animal protein in Sub-Saharan Africa

Research Institute for Sub-Saharan African Studies, SUPPORT AFRICA STIFTUNG, Nassau, April 4 - 15, 2011

Aim

Malnutrition, caused by insufficient protein, is often the source of diseases and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since further population explosions can be expected, Africans will not have sufficient animal protein in the future. this scenario will become even more severe through climatic changes.

Scientists at African universities undertook independently extensive research on this matter in cooperation with the Research Institute for Sub-Saharan Studies. Now they would like to exchange their findings in a preparatory conference and prepare actions for further research on non-animal proteins.

Known and used vegatable proteins as well as unknown wild plants shall be researched on interdisciplinary and developed further agrnonomical and genetically as well as their cultivation and nutritional use promoted and fostered productions of new non-animal protein products.

Finally, non-animal protein products shall be promoted for home usage and farming. Development-political measures for the introduction and spreading of non-animal poor populations and their production and marketing shall be supported.

Gurupurnima

Swami told this story at Gurupurnima (Utpalavati paraphrasing from memory):

There was a boy in Mauritius, actually, who was in despair--over a girl. Of course, I knew about it. I went to his home and asked his mother, "Where is your son?" The mother told me that her son was sleeping in his room. I told her, 'No, he is not sleeping.'

When I went to this boy's room, he had taken lots of pills. The boy became all right. The boy's mother asked me later, "What did you do?" You see, the Divine Mother takes care when you ask her for something if it is beneficial.

Swami told this story very humbly, so that you almost did not notice that he actually was the instrument the Divine Mother used to heal the boy. The story was very heart-touching!

Heartfelt congratulations!

Swami Vishwananda 's orange robe from the auction goes to Switzerland.

third winner of the rafle

The 3rd prize  ticket number 5 goes to Czech Uma, three days during Navaratri in Swami Vishwananda 's center Shree Peetha Nilaya, single room full board free of charge.

Second winner of the Raffle

The 2nd prize  ticket number 73 goes to Switzerland Kiran winning a T-shirt that Swami Vishwananda particularly likes and often wore.

First winner of the Raffle

The results of theraffle at Gurupurnima:
1st prize   ticket number 37 goes to Russia  Elvira Sergeeva:

The shoes that Swami Vishwananda was wearing during his travel to the holy places in Israel in 2011.

Bhajans' training

 

In Shree Peetha Nilaya, the center of Swami Vishwananda, Sulalita from Moskow sang during the darshan amazing bajans. After the Gayatri Yagna she gave a Bhajans' training.

Singing for God in Shree Peetha Nilaya

There was also this week nice and lifely lessons, personal and for groups. The basis of the lessons were to be allways conscious that we sing for God. There was naturally also a voice training, breathing exercise, keeping the ego low. Every one was enthousiastic.

Swami Vishwananda hears to the Bajans sung in Shree Peetha Nilaya

Last evening Some recordings were done and suddenly Swami Vishwananda came into the room to hear the Bajans. We hope that Sulalita will came soon again to continue her teachings.

Swami Vishwananda talked in Russia about: How to experience the Unity with the Divine

God created everything and dwells inside us. Calm your mind so that you can focus on the Divine inside of you. The desire of our soul is to attain God's lotus feet. Love all, love every body then God dwells inside everyone. Remember this every day then you will experience the Unity.

Puja Tour

This July, Paartha and Utpalavati (Autor of the book "Unity with the divine"), two disciples of Sri Swami Vishwananda, make a joint tour through Europe.

They stop in different places to conduct pujas, do workshops and satsangs. Both of them are long time disciples of Swami resp. Babaji and help to spread his teachings about the path of Bhakti.

During these events one can also hear news from Shree Peetha Nilaya (Swami’s intl. Center in Springen, Germany). All proceeds from the workshops, pujas and satsangs go directly into the centre and its renovation works.

Here you find an overview over all the places, dates and contact details of the organisers.

We look forward to see you there!

Satsang of Swami Vishwananda

Questions and answers in the lovely temple dedicated to Radha and Krishna  went on during three hour.in St Petesburg.

Darshan in St Petersburg with Swami Vishwananda

More than 500 devotees came to have the darshan of Swami Vishwananda.

Swami Vishwananda at midnight

During the white night of St Petersburg, the sky is still clear at midnight. Swami Vishwananda stands before the statue of Peter the Great.

Swami Vishwananda in St Petersburg

Swami Vishwananda with Russian Devotees on the river Neva which flows through much of the centre of the city. The bridges opens at night to let the big boats go through.

Gayatri Festival Video

The whole festival with all the ceremonies was a very nice and deep experience.

About Gayatri Devi

Krishna said in the Gita “aham Gayatri tvam mantra.” which means “Among all the Mantras, I am the Gayatri Mantra.”

oṃ bhur bhuvaḥ svaḥa

tát savitúr váren yaṃ

bhárgo devásya dhimahi

dhi yo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

Gayatri Devi is the creator (Brahma), protector (Vishnu) and destroyer (Shiva). She has all aspects of the creator, protector and destroyer in Her and all the weapons represent these Divine qualities, that we were just talking about. She is sitting on a red lotus, which symbolizes that She has the whole power (Parashakti). Her whip symbolizes the destruction of all the sins. Also the axe destroys the ego, pride and arrogance. She has a swan which symbolizes purity. It is the ultimate purity without any negativity, because She is the manifestation of Brahman Itself.

When you chant the Gayatri Mantra, it gives calmness to the mind and when the mind is calm, you will have peace

.

Five faces: Gayatri Devi has five faces, which symbolize the five elements. The whole Universe is bind by these five elements, but not everywhere it has these five elements in action.

Ten hands: She has ten hands, that are showing that She is ever ready to come to your help. The position of Her hands show “Don’t fear anything my children”. “I am a Mother. I am here always to protect you.” She will give you everything. Just by chanting the Mantra you will get everything what you want in life.

This yagna is conducted by Sri Swami Vishwananda and is dedicated to the Divine Mother in the form of Gayatri Devi. The yagna takes place over a period of 3 days and the first day is usually dedicated to the invocation of Gayatri devi by carrying out a kalash puja. Discourse about Gayatri devi is sometimes given by Swami. All participants take part in offering havan samagri and rice into the yagna kund whilst chanting the Gayatri mantra. All present receive the benefit and the blessing of both Gayatri Devi and Sri Swami Vishwananda.

Tomorrow begins the Gayatri Yagna with Swami Vishwananda

In Springen Swami Vishwananda will perform the Gayatri Yagna from

Friday 24th June to Sunday 26th June

New CD with Swamiji

On his last trip in South Africa Swamiji recordet a new Cd in a professional Music Studio.

You can order the CD at: "Bhaktishop" or mail to: order@bhaktishop.de

(Also available at "Silenzio-Music")

Birthday-Tombola

Tombola raffle starting on the 33rd Birthday of

SRI SWAMI VISHWANANDA

First prize

The shoes in which Swami visited

all holy places in Israel 2011!

For his 33rd birthday Swami wishes the reopening of his International

Center Shree Peetha Nilaya in Springen to take place as soon as

possible. Instead of offering personal presents to him you are invited to

participate in a tombola. All proceeds will be used only for the renovation

of the buildings.

There are only 108 tickets each costing €33!

The draw will take place at Gurupurnima 15th July 2011 in Springen.

2nd Prize

T-Shirt that Swami particularly likes and

often wore…

3rd Prize

Three days during Navaratri

2011, between 28th September

and 6th October, in Swami’s

Center in a single room with full

board free of charge.

To participate:

You can purchase tickets either by:

1. Cash payment in the Bhakti Shop in the Center in Springen (Mataji Tusti) or

2. Ordering via e-mail and the transfer of €33 per ticket. When cashed you will

receive one or more ticket numbers.

Email: tombola@bhaktimarga.org

Please send emails in English or German.

Bank account

Account: Bhakti Event GmbH

Account Number: 200 282 891, Frankfurter Sparkasse

IBAN: DE295005 0201 0200282891