Community Groups
Building relationships & exploring truth
Bhakti Center Community Groups
Bhakti Center Community Groups are a great place to meet new people and develop lasting relationships. Together we explore truth through the eyes of timeless spiritual wisdom. Join a group to share thoughts and realizations, to express doubts and ask questions, and to find inspiration and support on the spiritual path.
These are small, weekly gatherings of about 8-12 people with thoughtful and experienced group leaders. We have different levels of groups – some that serve as a starting point for new seekers and others for people who are more committed.
Find out more about them below.
Beginning Bhakti
Beginning Bhakti is a great starting point for those new to bhakti and looking to explore the path with a group of like-minded seekers. Over the course of 12 weeks the group spends time reading from The Journey Within and discussing topics such as life’s meaning, purpose of yoga, divinity and our spiritual identity.
Find out moreGrowing Bhakti
Growing Bhakti is for those familiar with bhakti and looking to develop their faith and practice. Over the course of 12 weeks the group spends time reading from an important Bhakti text and discussing topics such as bhakti philosophy, spiritual practices, healthy lifestyle changes, and relationship with spiritual teacher and Krishna.
Beginning Bhakti is a prerequisite for Growing Bhakti (or wisdom course equivalent)
Find out moreDeepening Bhakti
Deepening Bhakti is for committed devotees to nourish and sustain a life of devotion on the path of bhakti. The closed group sanghas meet regularly over several months and draw inspiration from a specific topic, bhajan, prayer or passage from sastra. The group then discusses and shares openly and honestly about realizations, struggles, and the journey of deepening faith and surrender.
Meet your teachers
Raseshvara Madhava
Coordinator
Dr. Rikin Patel was introduced to the practice of bhakti yoga by his mother when he was a young child, as they spent many hours avidly watching the great epic – Mahabharata.
During a period of exploration, he met his spiritual teacher for the first time in the UK in 2005, while studying at the London School of Economics. Medical school eventually led him to NYC where he lived at the Bhakti Center during the community’s formative years in 2007-09. Living at the Bhakti Center with a family of monks gave him a deep inclination for monastic life. After completing his medical training in 2014 and many years of anticipation, Rikin left for India to deepen his practice of bhakti in a simple ashram setting. It was during this period that he became inspired to commit himself to the Bhakti tradition and soon after, received the name Raseshvara Madhava by his teacher.
In 2019, Rikin completed his 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification from the Bhakti Center at the Govardhan Eco Village. He is board certified in Pediatrics in both Canada and the US and is currently growing his practice in the area of Lifestyle Medicine. He is passionate about promoting a culture of wellness and resilience within physician and trainee communities through medical improv, yoga, meditation and plant-based nutrition. In addition to yoga and meditation, Rikin is a dedicated martial artist who teaches and trains Shaolin Kung Fu and has over 30 years of experience.
Priya
Coordinator
Priya’s journey in Bhakti began in her childhood going to the 55th Street temple. As a former student of Lake Huntington Gurukula, engaging in devotional service became an intrinsic part of her life. She has also trained in Bharatnatyam for 15 years and performs as expression of Bhakti.
Priya spent 10 years on Wall Street in compliance, building electronic trading systems and equity sales for Goldman Sachs, fidessa and Bloomberg LP.
She is privileged to be a mother of 3 childen and is dedicated to teaching her children how to live a life of gratitude and service to others.
She feels that the Bhakti Center exemplifies the essence of showing compassion towards others. She is passionate about community groups because they connect seekers from around the world in an effort to uplift and support one’s path of Bhakti. She is humbled to help facilitate this process and looks forward to serving you.
Champaka
Temple Care Coordinator
Oversees all programming and care initiatives for our Temple community, with the aim of helping our community feel connected, inspired, nourished and supported in their spiritual life.