Milestones of Swami Mukundananda’s 2017 US Tour
As Autumn/Fall approaches, most in the US realize that it is time for Swamiji to head back to India. People in India, on the other hand, are eagerly awaiting his arrival. They are counting down the days for his India tour to begin!
2017 was an action packed, landmark year for Swami Mukundananda, JKYog, and Radha Krishna Temple in Allen, TX. The temple opened its doors in July on the occasion of Guru Purnima. It took three years to get here and the inauguration was a once-in-a-lifetime event! It was attended not only by the local community but also by devotees from all across the US. The events were covered in our July issue of Sumiran.
2017 also saw four retreats – Clearwater, FL at the end of April, Visalia, CA during the Memorial Day Weekend (last weekend in May), Reading, PA in mid-July, and Denison, TX over the Labor Day Weekend (first weekend in September). Swamiji covered four different chapters of the Bhagavad Gita during these retreats.
Speaking of Bhagavad Gita, the Telugu edition of Swamiji’s commentary of the Bhagavad Gita was published in July. This was in addition to two other books that were printed as well.
Art of Mind Management was published in May. In this book, Swamiji explains the importance of acquiring knowledge from a trustworthy and credible source because correct knowledge is the most important weapon that is required to tame this unruly mind. Repetitive contemplation (chintan) of this knowledge then helps the intellect to control the mind. However, as we all know, our effort is only half the story. Grace of God is essential as He bestows the results of our practice.
Science of Healthy Diet hit the stalls in mid-July. In this book, Swamiji explains the impact of food on the body and mind. A healthy body and mind is the combined effect of a good, balanced diet (eighty percent) and physical activity (twenty percent). Swamiji then elaborates on the macronutrients (three different food groups), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, spices, nuts, etc.) and explains the importance of nourishing the body with liquids. He also explains the science of digestion and provides quick tips for healthy eating.
Besides these books, four new kirtan/pad CDs were released: Aba Na Lagao Bar, Agati Ki Gati Tu Hi Radhey, Chalu Mana Shree Vrindavan Dham, and Priyatam Nandakishore. These CDs are in a new format wherein Swamiji also provides an explanation in English after the Hindi verse.
The two DVDs that were released were Ram Kathamrit and Shreemad Bhagavad Mahapuran based on Swamiji’s lecture series. Ram Katha is a must watch as Swamiji shares the untold secrets of the characters and incidents. As many times as one has read the Ramayan, there is so much more to learn from this epic as narrated by Swamiji.
Finally, five centers hosted Diwali gala dinners. New York hosted its dinner on September 22nd, North Carolina held its event on September 24th, and Bay Area, CA held its event on October 7th. Dallas, TX and Denver, CO hosted mega dinners on Saturday, Oct 14th. Swamiji will start his India tour shortly. Click here to see his schedule.