Workshops for devotees

Workshops for Devotees (8 to 20 hours)

• The Japa Workshop - Levels One and Two

  Japa workshops and retreats are powerful ways to make major improvement in chanting and increase one’s taste for the holy name. The programs are designed to take one’s chanting to a level that might otherwise take years to achieve. This results in a greater attachment for chanting along with the other benefits that result from good chanting. Our japa programs are based on the Japa Retreat taught by Sacinandana Swami.

  Read the full course description here.

• Transformation Through Forgiveness - Letting go of resentment

  Although forgiveness is central to our philosophy, the culture of forgiveness is not deeply engrained in ISKCON. We talk about the need for tolerance and forgiveness, we know nothing comes to us that we don’t deserve, yet resentment still resides in the hearts of many of us.

  This is a hands-on workshop in which devotees work through their personal resentment issues using a step-by- step forgiveness process based on Vaisnava teachings and Vedic psychology.

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• The Power of Humility and Self-Honesty - Understanding the psychology and practice of humility

  This centers on taming the needs of the false ego to dominate, attract attention, judge, assert itself and show off. It naturally includes methods and attitudes for improving intra-personal and inter-personal relationships.

  It contains many powerful self-reflection exercises that deal with false ego, the need to be right, difficulty in hearing other\’s points of view, etc.

  It is highly self-reflective, challenging, and transforming.

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• First Be Conscious, Then Be Krsna conscious - A Krsna conscious self-development workshop

  This is a self-development workshop designed specifically for devotees. It is an exploration into how we became conditioned (how and why the modes condition us), the power of choice, overcoming the mind\’s tendencies to work against us, creating more balance in our life, and discovering and connecting with our unique mission (dharma) and inspiration in Srila Prabhupada\’s movement.

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• Sexual Purity for Men - Support for all men in their efforts to remain sexual pure

  As devotees engage in the process of Krishna consciousness and attempt to detach themselves from material life, they inevitably confront the difficulties involved in controlling sexual urges. This workshop serves as a support system to help male devotees better understand and deal with their sexual challenges.

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• The Sadhana Workshop - Strengthening and deepening our devotional practices

  A weekend workshop or retreat designed to give those not living in a temple  an experience of a full morning and evening program, two days of  classes, a better understanding of the importance of sadhana,  and exercises to help reflect on ways to improve their personal sadhana.  The workshops is suitable for devotees on all levels. 

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• Prayer - Harnessing the power of prayer to overcome any obstacle we face

  Devotees look at how their prayers may reflect impure motives in service and/or fears about surrender.  By working through these misgivings, devotees realize how faith in Krishna affects their ability to more freely pray for pure bhakti. The process is aided by a deeper understanding of what pure devotional service is, both  in philosophy and practice, and through the study of the mind and heart that goes into the prayers of great devotees.  

  We then learn to use prayer to reach goals, overcome obstacles, and to go deeper into japa.

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• Your Relationship with Vows - Being committed in a non-committal world

  Commitment to one’s vows is fundamental to the practice of bhakti. Yet many devotees find it difficult to maintain the vows they take, be they initiation vows, marriage vows, or simple commitments they make to themselves. We offer tools and attitudes that empower one to more deeply connect with their word of honor and to reflect on their relationship with commitment.

  The workshop also serves as a support system for anyone who has taken initiation vows. 

  Read the full course description here.

• Train the Trainer - Workshop Facilitation Training

  For devotees interested in learning how to professionally facilitate workshops, Mahatma Das offers Train the Trainer, a workshop based on the professional facilitation training he received from one of the most successful seminar facilitation companies in North America. Students learn professional facilitation techniques that enable them to draw out learning and deep realizations from the students, engage then in self-reflection, and empower them to achieve more than they thought possible.  Ideally suited for teaching devotees or non-devotees.

  To know more about this course, click here.

• Sacred Union - A Marriage Workshop for Devotees

  Sacred Union is a relationship building workshop that offers principles and strategies to make marriages successful. These principles can even turn around a deeply troubled marriage. Learning these principles and understanding male/female dynamics will insure the greatest chance of a new marriage succeeding and a current marriage enduring. This workshops can aptly be titled, “Doing the hard work needed to live happily ever after”.

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• How to Cooperate When You Can't - Improving communication, cooperation and relationship skills

  Developing good relationships can be one of the most challenging areas of our lives but are essential to most effectively service Srila Srila Prabhupada, come closer as a community, and inspire and uplift one another.

  This workshop delves deeply into the psychology of interpersonal relationships and their effect on group dynamics. It is as much a personal transformation workshop as it is a relationship building workshop.

  I strongly feel it would be of immense benefit to our movement if a course of this nature were made mandatory for all new asrama devotees and congregational members.

  Read the full course description here.

• Finding Your Dharma in Prabhupada's Mission - Connecting with what makes you alive

  This course helps devotees, through a series of exercises and discussion, get in touch with their inner calling and determine how to best engage this inspiration and nature in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

  Devotees leave with plans how they can best service Prabhupada and details of how to execute that service.

  For more, click here.