Radha Madhava's new name is...

Dear Devotees, Friends and Family

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Guru, Gauranga, and all of you!!

Thank you all so much for your wonderful blessings and kind
encouragements. By your grace I am feeling very happy and safe knowing
I have such loving supports in my life.

I regret that I am short on time, but I wanted to write a small update
before too long.

On Monday May 29th in New Vrindavana by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada
and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda I was initiated
into the illustrious Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya by His Holiness
Radhanath Swami Maharaja.

After vowing to follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex,
no gambling, no intoxication and no meat eating, along with the vow to
attentively chant a minimum of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha
mantra and to serve as the humble servant of the servant of Srila
Prabhupada's ISKCON, I received the new name Rasikananda dasa!!!

I was actually quite stunned when I heard my new name. I'm slowing
getting accustomed to it.

Radhanath Maharaja had me touch the feet and get blessings from my
parents and all my family members before he would initiate me. It was
quite a lovely and sweet exchange.

I am feeling very happy and peaceful. Safe to know I am in the care of
my loving master.

I don't have any pictures or videos to share yet, but I'll send out
links to some as soon as I receive them.

Also I would like to announce that I will be transferring to a new
email address:
rasikananda@gmail.com

Kindly update your address books. (:

I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Currently I'm in Alachua visiting my brother Mrkanda and will be in DC
on June 3rd for Radhanath Swami's visit. I'll be at Kulimela in New
Vrindavan after that. Hopefully I will see you there!

Thank you again for your love and prayers. Please bless me that I can
stay chaste to my vows and to always honor all living beings as
representatives of my Spiritual Master.

Wishing you all the best,
I beg to remain
your servant,
Rasikananda dasa

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Radha Madhava Initiation Announcement

Dear Devotees, Friends and Family,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Guru, Gauranga, and all the devotees!

I've just received confirmation that I have been accepted to receive
initiation from His Holiness Radhanath Swami this coming Monday May
29th in New Vrindavan!

I apologize for the late notice, but I didn't want to say anything
until it was confirmed.

I humbly beg for your kind blessings upon this foolish servant of
yours. Please pray that I can somehow become useful and pleasing to my
Spiritual Master and the devotees.

Thank you so much for your loving care, guidance and support. I don't
know how to repay my debt. (Please let me know if you have any ideas
or anything you want me to do for you. :)

The only reason I'm receiving such causeless mercy is due to the
merciful assosciation and priceless gifts to me of your selfless
friendship and devotion.

I know that I am actually quite unfit to be accepting such a
responsibility, and so it is essential to me to receive your heartfelt
blessings that I can follow purely the instructions and example of my
Spiritual Master and follow in the footsteps of the great devotees.
Without the blessings of the devotees there is no hope of ever
achieving the favor of Guru and Krsna.

If anyone is interested in coming or would like to know more
information, please write me and I will happily answer any of your
questions.

There will be a number of other devotees also receiving initiation
like Bhakta Eli and Bhakta Keith and 30 others. Please send your
blessings on their behalf also.

Thank you again for your kind support.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to His Holiness Radhanath
Swami! All glories to all the devotees!

your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Radha Madhava dasa

(I'll write later with news from the ceremony along with photos and
the auspicious new name Maharaja will bestow upon me.)

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada