Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's journal, "The Harmonist" used to have a regular section entitled "Around the Gaudiya Mathas" reporting on missionary activities. Following in his footsteps, we present a bird's eye view of the missionary activities of Chaitanya Academy.

After completing the vows for the month of Kartika, students of Chaitanya Academy participated in a further Vrndavan Retreat for one month of studies of Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Rupa Gosvami's drama, Sri Lalita Madhava. Then, overflowing with inspiration from the Vrndavan Retreat, teams of students set off to organize educational programs all over the world. All glories to those rare souls who are sacrificing their whole lives in the fire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's kirtana-yajna. Truly they are blessed with great fortune and instrumental in the transmission of that fortune to others.

एतावज्जन्मसाफल्यं देहिनामिह देहिषु ।

प्राणैरर्थैर्धिया वाचा श्रेयआचरणं सदा ॥ ३५ ॥

etāvaj janma-sāphalyam

dehinām iha dehisu

prānair arthair dhiyā vācā

śreya-ācaranam sadā

"It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words." (ŚB 10.22.35)

Madhava Dasa Brahmacari, Murali Dhara Das, Saranga Thakura dasa and Dhananjaya dasa set off to Chaitanya Academy Venice (Italy) and began a course on Sri Bhagavad Gita with 22 eager new students there.

In the capital of Spain, Madrid, director of Caitanya Academy (Seville and Cadiz), Paramananda dasa, with Acyutananda, Syama dasi, Sikhi Mahiti dasa Brahmacari and Ananta Nitai dasa have been leading highly successful multi-media courses for new students on the basics of bhakti yoga, with an emphasis on absorption in ecstatic kirtana. All the seminar venues are packed to full capacity with new students who experience the both the mature gravity of Vedic knowledge and the childlike joy of Vraja bhakti.

On the Mediterranean Island of Majorca, Syamasundara dasa and Kandarpa Sundari have conducted popular courses for new students on Yoga Psychology

Tarakanatha Dasa Brahmacari, Jiva Priya Das Brahmacari and Bhakta Giovanni arrived in the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, to perform Sri Hari-nama sankirtana. Then they began well-attended seminars in yoga centres and youth hostels in the South of the island in Weligama and Mirissa.

Meanwhile, the GOA advanced team began devotional programs daily at the beautiful hilltop Shiva Temple in Arambol in preparation for the GOA BHAKTI YOGA FESTIVAL at the Temple of Love (29th Jan -4th Feb 2025) with Sri Prem Prayojan Prabhu. The talented team includes Ramananda Raya dasa, Vitthala dasa, Visvambhara dasa, Madana Mohana dasa, Tulasi dasi, Hemalata dasi, Karunamayi dasi, Katyayani dasi, Ragalekha dasi, Nitya Sakhi dasi. They are sure to create great anticipation and prepare a large audience for the festival in the new year.

Meanwhile, Govinda Charan Das and Arundhati Dasi have been tirelessly engaged in educational programs and caring for the fledgling devotional community in Via Reggio (Italy) in preparation for the Via Reggio Bhakti Yoga Festival with Sri Prem Prayojan Prabhu, scheduled for 10th - 13th July 2025.

Educational programs in Gaudiya philosophy have been conducted at a prestigious library in the spiritual centre of Europe, Rome, led by NavaNayaka Dasi and Yuvati Dasi.

In Latvia, Satkirti dasa, Ananta Nitai dasa, Chaitanya Dasa and many others have been making programs in the city of Riga and training devotees in the importance of vaisnava sadacara (ideal conduct) and maryada (etiquette). Uddhava dasa and Krsna Vallabha dasi conduct regular programs at the Chaitanya Academy Radha Gopinath Temple and farming community. Vrajanatha das Brahmacari continually inspires all the devotees by travelling a preaching in the smaller cities around Latvia.

Although Latvia is a small country, it seems to attract a disproportionate share of Sri Krsna’s mercy.

In the cultural capital of Russia, Saint Petersburg, the cultivation of deep Gaudiya siddhanta in the community has been guided by Vraja Sundari dasi.

In the spiritual capital of Russia, Moscow, the Third Rome, Hemadri dasa, Varaha Murti das, Lalita Priya dasi and others conduct study groups daily live and online, mainly in the new Chaitanya Academy in central Moscow.

Meanwhile in Latin America, Nanda Kisora Dasa has been lecturing on “Gaudiya Darsana” in Colombia to raise awareness of the special contribution and spiritual genius of the founder of the Sri Gaudiya Matha, Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

Some surrendered souls have remained in Vrndavan during the Winter to take responsibility for developing the local community in Ananda Dhama Gaudiya Ashrama. Gopinatha dasa Brahmacari, Rasika Sekhara dasa, Ananda Gopala dasa and Syamapriya dasi conduct daily bhajanas, kirtana and hari-katha at the ashrama and also guide the constant flow of visitors on engaging pilgrimages to various holy places in Vraja.

We also recognize the commendable service of the various nama-hatta groups in Astrakhan, Ufa, Vietnam, North Carolina, Zurich, and Biele.

Enthusiastic engagement of all the senses in the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu under the guidance of Sri Guru is the only method by which a fallen soul can easily overcome all obstacles and perfect his life by attaining the grace of the pure Holy Name. Anyone interested in completely forgetting mundane worldly existence through absorption in meaningful engagement in the transcendental loving service of Sri Krsna is invited to contact representatives of Chaitanya Academy as soon as possible….. Life is short. We must spend it wisely.

एषा बुद्धिमतां बुद्धिर्मनीषा च मनीषिणाम् ।

यत् सत्यमनृतेनेह मर्त्येनाप्नोति मामृतम् ॥ २२ ॥

esā buddhimatām buddhir

manīsā ca manīsinām

yat satyam anrteneha

martyenāpnoti māmrtam

“This process is the supreme intelligence of the intelligent and the cleverness of the most clever, for by following it one can in this very life utilize the temporary and unreal to achieve Me, the eternal reality.” (ŚB 11.29.22)