April 22nd, 2006, Leicester Congregational Retreat, UK

April 22nd, 2006, Leicester Congregational Retreat, UK

I was picked up at Heathrow, terminal 3, driven to Leicester and then did
the seminars. First seminar was on leadership of the congregation. I started
at 12.30. I showed a PowerPoint presentation on Bhakti Vrksa, the mood and
the qualities of a Bhakti Vrksa leader; how it brings out the best in
people; how they need to develop these good qualities of humility,
tolerance, of desire to serve and facilitate. The devotees were enthused to
take up some leadership roles.

We had a city recreational hall and it was filled with devotees. Seems there
was a over of hundred - hundred and fifty devotees who were present, a very
intelligent group of the Congregational devotees of UK, from the
Middlesex??, London.

After showing the Bhakti Vrksa opportunity for people to take up leadership
role, then I showed the 2005-06 Annual GBC Congregational Development
Ministry report. To see the highlights of Krishna Consciousness around the
world and how it was spreading they expressed their realization that ISKCON
was really happening and growing and they are very enthused. They also
thought that there was of scope for them. Everybody can fit into the
congregational development programs. One of the members of the congregation
was preaching in the prisons. He was the captain for three prisons.

After the lunch everybody broke themselves into small groups; eight
different groups to discuss the different aspects of surrender. I came back
and they presented each group a drama. Trying to express what their type of
surrender was. I was asked to be the Judge. So I judged them in four
categories: enthusiasm, creativity, originality and message also considered
the clarity of their presentation. They did a lot of scoops on the Queen, on
Prime Minister, on George Bush. Somehow they all got purified and chanted
Hare Krishna. It was very difficult to judge the different groups. Each of
them was very well performed.

Your well wisher always

Jayapataka Swami