May 25, 2025
Dear Maharaja Hanumat Presaka Swami, please accept my humble obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
HpS/ASA - ❗ AgtSP. Paoho. Thank you for writing to us.
SADHU SANGA MAY 2025.
We’re in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Shingle Resort, with choice accommodations, swimming ponds, and gigantic convention centers, just perfect for ISKCON’s annual Sadhu Sanga (SS),
if sources tell me right this is the 12th anniversary event.
The culmination over the years has brought greater numbers of Vaishnava’s to this transcendental happening.
Personally,
this is our first attendance so the ambience is most refreshing, yet,
overwhelming.
So many senior Mahatma’s and Vaisnava’s under one roof.
Primarily, his grace Indrayumna Swami has been motivating these yearly Spiritual revivals and in doing so he has elevated many devotees, old and new, just the recipe to revive Vaisnava camaraderie.
OUR PLACE
Subhra and I had heard of this event and we decided to invest our time with the desire to gain both rest and relaxation with such good association.
Since the event was so close to home, we took advantage of it.
Was a challenge to get all the billing and time slotted, though well worth it after the fact; Sadhu Sanga is Sadhana proven, though personal effort is required not to get swayed by the externalities of the resort.
Knowing that, keeping 16 rounds and personal practice is still first priority.
For the volunteers and organizers, it was a grand effort, and if it wasn’t for the professional facility, this event would have been even more difficult. It was a wise decision of management to take advantage of the modern resort technology for serving so many at once.
A quandary of service was on my mind, seeing all the people engaged in details of the event, I felt I could do more.
HpS/ASA - You used to work in professional event community at Lake Tahoe, California events, no?
Then many, many, many years with SFO Rathyatra!
🐒 Have Swiss Army knife, will travel.
As programs unfolded, I did realize our investment helped provide the event, so I let go of guilt and just kept my enthusiasm with all I was involved with, which seemed to be the best service for the moment. It just kept getting better.
PROGRAM
A 1,200 square feet main stage, at a 5’ height with two 40-foot big screens is our main arena, 500 plus chairs for the audiences and at the right and left borders, and clean new carpet space wall-to-wall. Old and young alike, had spaces for viewing, dancing or touring the partitioned displays of ISKCON books, projects at the entrance, Authors, Artists, displaying creations, Souvenir Clothing available and individual devotees with ashram offerings, big and small. Also included is an up-to-date staff for guest administration by the entry doors.
No one can say this was not a well-organized show . Even when I lost my I.D. bracelet, the staff retro-activated a new one for me in just minutes.
PRASADAM
Our first meal was an Ekadasi special on our Friday night arrival, and till our final breakfast on Monday's closing, all was impeccable.
Devotees from Dallas brought necessary paraphernalia, spices, and essential ingredients.
The Hotel staff worked under their direction, bringing bona fide results.
5 buffet lines with one Vegan table, all seemed pleased and satisfied. Waiters cleared dining tables and supplied the buffet items, some devotees would serve out the specialized sweets, and they even had hot milk in dispensers.
An amazing feat,
considering there were over 3,500 guests.
All relishable, but I had to refrain from evening servings... too much for this Ol’ boy.
THE SHOW IS ON!
From Mangals to the evening programs there were the superb sounds of Kirtans and Bhajans. Many of the performers, senior and youth, were from our own Alachua community, hours of ecstasy for all there. I was getting a little fired-up in the early morning program and danced with the Guru Astika prayers. The Sastric lyrics brought inspired moves to the momentum, just flowed with the morning moment. Later on I was complimented and didn’t realize my solo maneuvers caught attention.
At a later program most of us were sitting and clapping along with the Kirtan, getting inspired again, and at one point I decided to quietly move to front fringe of the stage and dance again Feeling confident, I just improvised a few steps and naturally moved into bliss. Proudly reflecting on my earlier moments of movement, I did a 180 degree slow spin, while turning I looked and saw Vaisesika Prabhu and 45 disciples right behind me, all dancing perfectly synchronized Swami Steps while choreographically swinging their arms.
Feeling a bit humbled, I gently shuffled off “stage right” and melded as gracefully as possible to the back of the group. Talk about association reminders, we’re all in this together!
HpS/ASA - Were there Deities and Srila Prabhupada Murti on stage???
ASSOCIATION
Many folks from all over the world were there, it was nice seeing old acquaintances and meeting new Vaishnava’s. One elderly gentleman from Australia was at our dining table, His name is Paramakaruna Prabhu and he was looking at my clip-board and asked about it. Since he asked, I displayed some of the Yantric diagrams I use for japa. Mentioning to him I started using this system in Peru when we visited you.
Paramakaruna said he knew you, and even more exchanges were made; he was curious and took pictures of my japa-grid forms and completed works.
Another instance with a devotee named “Rsi Waterman” was made at his book table.
He’d written about his experiences in Krishna consciousness, from high school to his adult senior years, the book is called “Children of a Harsh Bliss.’ We briefly chatted and asked him about a ”Kindle” edition, he said there was, though he’d only get 5 dollars from the book. I could only afford a digital copy at the moment. It’s a very unique take on K.C. personal development.
HpS/ASA - Jaya!
Now I’m trying to get in contact with him; it’s worth paying the man for his sincere work. His times in early New Vrindavana were peculiar, and Rishi Waterman enlivens these idiosyncrasies quite well, revealing some intimate characteristics of various key persons involved there.
Sri Bhagavan sure was swathing all sorts of Rasa’s in those days, guess the ends justify the means, now New Vrindavana is a successful community. If you’d like a copy of the book, I could send you one.
HpS/ASA - Please remind us later. Now we are reading H. H. Trivikrama Swami's book!!
PARTING IN BLISS
Monday morning’s final class was given by Maharaja Sacinanda Swami with his frolicking flow of grand iterations to the audience. He would address the group as a collective individual and we were invigorated by his enthusiasm and reality checks. He summarized at the end of the discourse the essential 3 practices for a truly transcendental Bhajan and/or Kirtan, these are needed for full results in chanting: BHAVA: Love, TALA: rhythm, and RAGA: melody blissfully arranged.
This correct chanting will also empower others and cleanse their hearts.
Then he said, “ Remember these 3 and take Prasadam Now!” and we all went to breakfast, and left full of mercy.
Sadha Sanga Ki Jaya!!
Your servant in training, c.c
(After all this is said a done, I'm still satisfied just doing japa)
HpS/ASA - Thank you!! There is another letter with this title that you sent earlier. We will try to get to it a little later.
Also, we think, a report for Jaya Hari Das.
This event merits the attention.
What if ISKCON ruled the world?
Now, 6.14PM, Houston time.
We will call Niti-sara Das in Boise, ISKCON.
We are trying to work on some schedule, perspective for our ASA Camp there July 2-11th.
Thank you so, so, so much.
All respects to Srimati Subhra Devi Dasi et al.
Thank you.
THANK YOU!
T H A N K Y O U ! ! !
