ISKCONyouth.com

1) Devotee Name (if applicable), and Legal Name:

Amanda Helene S.

2) Date of Birth

December 1, 1986

5) Life summary. Please tell us a summary of your life story. How did you get to where you are today?

I am 20 years old. I grew up in Long Island, New York. Over the past few years I have gone through a lot of changes. Spiritual changes. Highschool was hard for me, so was college, I felt like a lot of what I was doing I was doing out of fear, fear of not having money, fear for survival. For a long time, I felt something was wrong and something was bothering me, but I couldn't quite name it. Soon I found that the values I had accepted from the society I was raised in, the spiritual beliefs I held, or didn't hold, the reasons for my life choices and future plans, weren't at all aligned to my heart. I was an 'agnostic' my parents were very reformed jews, and I had no real sense of the spiritual world. It was very hard for me to know my heart and understand the world from my soul, because I had no reference to even know that. Slowly though, over the past few years, I began to open up more and more to the presence of Krishna. I had become a vegetarian when I was fourteen, and began meditating frequently three years ago, when I was around 18. I left highschool, went to a college for a short period, but found later that that too, wasn't really aligned to me. I had a series of spiritual openings, I raised my kundalini, and a lot seemed to change after that. Last year I met a monk who I became very close to, and he introduced me to The Hare Krishna movement. Since then I have been doing the mantra regularly and have found that it has helped me so much to continue to lift old dirt from my heart. I haven't yet joined a hare Krishna temple. I was interested in this trip because I was hoping to become more involved and deepen my understanding, and meet like-minded people.

6) Your hopes and dreams for your future:

Right now, my hopes and dreams are just to continue to chant, and deepen my connection to Krishna, and see where he leads me.

7) Your interests, talents, skills and abilities:

I am an artist, I love to paint, draw. I love to sing. I also love to dance and love many different styles.

8) How did you find out about this bus tour?

A friend of mine told me.

9) Why would you like to come on this bus tour? What are your expectations for this tour?

I am hoping to meet cool people, have a lot of fun, see beautiful sites, and become more immersed in the Hare Krishna movement, so far I have only been to The India Festival in Manhattan, and a kirtan in Brooklyn. Both of which I loved, but haven't had a chance to do much else.

10) You’ve read the description about the tour. You’ve noticed that, among fun in beautiful surroundings -- beaches, mountains, volcanoes, pyramids, jungles -- the tour focuses on things like following the four regulative principles* for the duration of the tour, and we’ll have lots of kirtans, bhajans, a japa retreat in Guatemala, and spiritual discussions. How do you feel about this spiritual focus of our tour? Honestly. Please speak from your heart.

I have been a vegetarian since I was young, and am now raw vegan. I am celibate. I don't drink or do any kinds of drugs, and I don't gamble. I am so excited, if I go, for the kirtans, bhajans and spiritual discussions ect, I feel it would be very nice to be able to learn other people's perspectives and experiences. And reflect on what we experience within a spiritual context.

11) What role does Krishna play in your life?

Krishna is my whole life. :)

12) How do you see yourself contributing to help spread the jewel of Krishna consciousness to others in your lifetime? What would you like to do to spread Lord Krishna’s glories?

I would like to educate more and more people about chanting, and Krishna consciousness. For me my whole life has changed since being introduced to it, and I would like to do the same for others.

13) How do you feel about the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)?

I think it's a beautiful organization, I know it helps a lot of people all over the world.

14) How does your local ISKCON temple and devotee community contribute to the quality of your life? (If it disappeared tomorrow, how would your life be different?)

So far my life wouldn't be much different as I am not currently involved with any temple. But I hope to be soon. For me Krishna consciousness has been restricted to my personal practices, but I am hoping to become more involved within the community.

15) What would you like to see ISKCON and your local temple community do more of for you?

Don't really have an answer for that. I would like to see more education about health and raw food, because I have found it really contributes to one's peace of mind and spiritual practice.

16) What would you like to do (more of) for your local ISKCON temple and devotee community?

I would like to contribute in any way needed.

17) What are three things you like about yourself?

I like that I follow my heart. That I try to be kind, and that I push myself to do my best.

18) What are three things you would like to improve about yourself?

I would like to improve in my devotion. I would like to not be too hard on myself, when I don't live up to my high expectations. I would like to improve in my service to others.

19) “Coming on this bus tour would mean a lot to me because…”

The tour looks like a beautiful way to help spread Krishna Consciousness and learn about it more myself. Krishna Consciousness has greatly changed my life. I would like to become more involved, meet devotees, help spread the message, and learn more about kirtans, temple services and other practices.

20) Please give three references who can vouch for your character. These can be respected members of the devotee community, such as senior devotees, and / or members of the community at large, such as teachers, professors, employers. Please give their names and email addresses and phone numbers, and tell us what relationship you have with them.

1) Advaitacharya Das - close friend and mentor
2) Jennifer M. - my best friend

This trip would mean very much to me. Krishna Conciousness has become my whole life. I would really love the opportunity to become more involved, meet devotees and help spread the message. I can't see my future without the Krishna movement, and would like to take this trip as an opportunity to immerse myself within it.

Thank you for the opportunity, and your wonderful program.
Blessings
~Amanda :)