Shekinashram actively supports the following
charities:
Sandi Pani
Muni Childrens School
Sri Radhey Seva Trust
Sri Radha Giridhari Mandir
Glastonbury Weekly Prasadam Distribution
Unity Celebrations
Jai Sri Lakshmi Devi!
As Shekinashram has grown and evolved in its own devotional service, it
has been fortunate to expanded its work beyond the physical boundary of
the ashram, with an outreach programme to support humanitarian projects
engaged in doing great service for the poor, sick and hungry in India.
In virtually all spiritual traditions it is recognised as essential to
ones own spiritual advancement to support those who inspire us spiritually.
It is also considered a blessing to offer this small service as a gesture
of devotion to the Supreme. In this spirit we have offered our supportive
association to the various projects listed by offering financial and energetic
support where possible.
Please feel free to browse their sites and offer your own independant
support if you feel able in some way. Often for us in the western world
£5.00 per week can be unnoticable, however to a child in Vrindavan
it can mean the difference between having an education or not. This can
make a dramatic difference to their life, and with a standing order set
up from your bank account it happens automatically without further effort.
If you feel I cannot afford this, consider that the single most powerful
step toward attracting a properous existence is to first make offerings
to the Divine in the form of giving to others. After all the Divine gives
us everything, we are not the owners of anything, we are simply guardians
for a limited time. Even our bodies, our most precious 'possession' are
reclaimed in a reletively short time. It is in everyones best interest
to use our resources for the greater good of all, and it feels great to
feel like we can make a difference to someone's life.
Vaisnava dasa dasanudasa.... aspiring to serve the servant of the servant
of the Lord.
Vrindavan Charities
As aspiring devotees, we are closely connected with the holy land of Vrindavan,
where Srimati Radharani and Bhagavan Sri Krishna played out their childhood
pastimes here in this material world, giving us powerful examples of a
life lived as the personification of Transcendental Reality, where heaven
manifested on earth forevermore. Even though not really comparable, from
our perspective Glastonbury is the closest example that we have here in
England of such a place.
In this way we feel a natural inclination to bridge these two powerful
epi-centres of spiritual potentcy, where the veils between the material
world and spiritual world are very fine, and by feeding energy between
these two great pilgrimage centres of the world (drawing spiritual sustenance
and rejuvenation from pilgrimages to Vrindavan and feeding revenue generated
from our Seva projects over here in Glastonbury to the Holy Dham of Vrindavan)
we keep a healthy circulation of energetic association flowing between
the two.
The Sandi Pani Muni Poor Childrens School, Trees for Life, the Social
Development project, Sri Radhey Seva Trust and Sri Radha Giridhari Mandir
all operate out of Vrindavan. The Tulsi Trust have very close links with
Glastonbury.
The Sri Radha Giridhari Mandir is an ashram and temple run by Sri Ramana
Bihari Dasa Babaji, who is also the founder of 'Shri Radhey Seva Trust'
based in Vrindavan. They also work very closely with the Tulsi Trust who
specialise in offering medical and educational assistance to tribal Bengali
refugees who live in the jungle districts of Madhya Pradesh with little
or no local amenities.
The Sri Radhey Seva Trust
As well as many other projects including distributing food, water and
clothing, the Sri Radhey Seva Trust has recently opened a free medical
clinic to offer based medical healthcare to local village people and sadhu's
who have greatly suffered from last years flooding of the Yamuna river.
They are providing an invaluable service to as many as funding allows
of the poverty striken residents of Vrindavan. They urgently need financial
support to keep the clinic open. Please make a donation if you are able.
Sri Ramana Bihari Dasa Babaji who initiated this project visits Glastonbury
every year to give guidance and inspiration to those attracted to devotional
life.
Amma
As well as investing energy in Vrindavan we also support Amma's charities
(Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi). Amma is possibly the greatest humanitarian
of all time. Her main ashram is in Kerala, South India, although She travels
extensively worldwide throughout the year, giving devotees an opportunity
to see Her in their own country. Her achievements in meeting others suffering
and initiating charitable projects are astounding and a phenomenal inspiration
to all around Her.
Amma spends most of her waking hours receiving the distressed and all who come to her for comfort, day after day without a break.
Dandavat pranams..... Jaya Jaya Devi Mata Namaha!
Prasadam Distribution in Glastonbury
Here in Glastonbury at Shekinashram we freely offer a sanctuary, and place
of worship 365 days a year for whoever wishes to visit. We have a daily
programme of puja, kirtan and silent meditation, which all are welcome
to join us for. Four years ago we initiated a weekly prasadam distribution
programme on Glastonbury High Street, in order to give everyone the opportunity
to enjoy the transcendental vibration of prasadam. Prasadam is pure vegetarian
food (vegan in our case) prepared lovingly with consciousness especially
for the Divine. Although it tastes delicious, it is not prepared for our
sensory pleasure. We make it as an offering to Radha and Krishna. After
a short offering ceremony where They enjoy the essence of the food and
bless it for us to partake of, we distribute it freely to all to enjoy
the blessed remenants. The vibration of prasadam is sublime and considered
non-different from the Divine itself. In this way we are able to act as
instruments of the Lord's infinite mercy, feeding delicious prasadam indiscriminately
to whoever happens to walk past. Weather permitting this currently takes
place on Glastonbury High Street between 5pm - 6pm every Wednesday. Please
feel free to come and enjoy. Hare Krishna!
Unity Celebrations
The Unity Celebration is an annual devotional/dance event held at Glastonbury
Town Hall, which at capacity usually attracts around 400 people, and is
a fund raising event for the charities above.