Interfaith and Humanitarian Work
Since 1999, the Temple Bhajan Band has been going out to the community for benefits and fundraisers to help victims of the Tsunami, Katrina, Sandy and the disaster in Haiti, raising tens of thousands of dollars. Sura Dasa just received a "Humanitarian of the Decade" award at the International Interfaith Film Festival for bringing prasadam and chanting to the community.
Donation accepted!
From Raymond Kong Hsi Lai Temple January 6th 2019
Thank you so much, Sura. We loved the band. The singing by the nice lady was so beautiful and I was amazed by how well the saxophone fit into the ensemble. We will definitely contact you in the future for other events. Thank you again!
With Palms Joined,
Raymond Kong
Outreach & Social Ed Departments, International Buddhist Progress Society
From Dr. Gwynn Guibord, Sept. 13, 2017
Dear Sura,
It is with a full and grateful heart that I thank you and the ISKCON team for Saturday's presentation Ancient Vedic Living in The Modern World, on behalf of the Guibord Center.
The generosity of ISKCON knows no bounds. Your talk and the talk of others, the Museum presentation, the chanting, and the cherished view of the Gods. Then there was the food... what a sheer delight.
When the doors were opened to the cherished sight of the Gods it was a profound moment for me that reduced me to tears. We are one people.....
Thank you, dear friend, for a beautiful presentation
With gratitude,
The Reverend Dr. Gwynne Guibord
From Yoga Gives Back, December 8th, 2013
Dear Sura and the Temple Bhajan Band!
Many thanks for your most generous support this past Sunday at Yogitoes.
Though the turn out was small, we received donation exceeding $1000 for this event, so it was a big event!!
Thank you again and hope to see you again on January 25th, at YogaFit.
I will keep you posted when I know more details.
Namaste,
Kayoko Mitsumatsu
Founder/President
Yoga Gives Back
501(c)3 Non Profit OrganizationRaymond Ko
Thank you so much, Sura. We loved the band. The singing by the nice lady was so beautiful and I was amazed by how well the saxophone fit into the ensemble. We will definitely contact you in the future for other events. Thank you again!
With Palms Joined,
Raymond Kong
Outreach & Social Ed Departments, International Buddhist Progress Society
From Dr. Gwynn Guibord, Sept. 13, 2017
Dear Sura,
It is with a full and grateful heart that I thank you and the ISKCON team for Saturday's presentation Ancient Vedic Living in The Modern World, on behalf of the Guibord Center.
The generosity of ISKCON knows no bounds. Your talk and the talk of others, the Museum presentation, the chanting, and the cherished view of the Gods. Then there was the food... what a sheer delight.
When the doors were opened to the cherished sight of the Gods it was a profound moment for me that reduced me to tears. We are one people.....
Thank you, dear friend, for a beautiful presentation
With gratitude,
The Reverend Dr. Gwynne Guibord
From Yoga Gives Back, December 8th, 2013
Dear Sura and the Temple Bhajan Band!
Many thanks for your most generous support this past Sunday at Yogitoes.
Though the turn out was small, we received donation exceeding $1000 for this event, so it was a big event!!
Thank you again and hope to see you again on January 25th, at YogaFit.
I will keep you posted when I know more details.
Namaste,
Kayoko Mitsumatsu
Founder/President
Yoga Gives Back
501(c)3 Non Profit OrganizationRaymond Ko
On February 24th of 2013, The Culver City Interfaith put on a Fundraiser for victims of Sandy at the St. Augustine Church. The Temple Bhajan Band donated Govinda's Cuisine for dinner and played kirtan to help raise $2,000 which went to Habitat for Humanity, Here is the letter from Habitat:
March 16th, 2013
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your generous support of Habitat for Humanity. Gifts like yours make it possible for us to partner with low-income families all over the world, providing them with the affordable homeownership opportunities they need, not to mention an abundance of hope for a much better future.
You should be proud of the positive, life-changing effect your support of our mission has had on families across the globe. Thanks to your contributions from partners, volunteers, advocates and donors like you, we will continue working toward a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Thank you for all that you do to help move our mission forward and reach more and more families................
Jonathan T,M, Reckford
Chief Executive Office Habitat for Humanity
Here are some of the letters from other events:
Dear Sura Dasa,
Thank you for sharing the gift of music and spirituality through your performance for the children of the Arts Alive Summer Camp at St. Mary Magdalen School. Your demonstration will help them form a well-rounded understanding of world music and the functions of music in different cultures and ways of life.
Your time spent us is very generous.
warmly,
Kathleen Jequinto
Kings and Clowns Inc. 501C3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Sura, Thanx again for contributing the food this past Friday and helping make our event such a success. We raised almost $1,000, which a generous student then matched for a total of $2,000, which Yoga Works will be matching. So in all, we will be donating approximately $2,000 each to Red Cross and Unicef.
Take Care, Adam Guttentag Yoga Works
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yoga Den is pleased to announce the tsunami relief benefit raised $1,250 for the people affected by the tragedy in Asia. We'd like to especially thank Temple Bhajan Band and Govinda's for their time, energy and efforts in bringing us a wonderful evening of amazing food and music. We'd also like to thank you for coming to the event and opening our hearts to our fellow human beings who share this earth with us. We are truly blessed to live in a wonderful community full of caring people.
Namaste, The Yoga Den
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, I cannot thank you enough for your generous support of our event in February (Tsunami Relief). It was so wonderful, largely thanks to the Temple Bhajan Band participation and the utterly delicious food. You are such a shining example of a karma yogi and we are so grateful! Shanti hand delivered the thousands of dollars to Thailand to people and orphans and temples in desperate need. Our effort made a big difference. I hope we meet again
Sincerely, Carol Allen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yoga and Art Community came together again with a cooperative effort to help the victims of Katrina, much in the same way as the fundraising efforts for the Tsunami victims earlier in the year. Temple Bhajan Band/Govinda's brought kirtan and free vegetarian cuisine to the following benefit programs, raising tens of thousands of dollars for those in need in Louisiana: Fumbling Towards Ecstacy, Yoga Works (Main, Larchmont and Westwood), Yoga Nook, Align Yoga, Yoga Bindu, Humanity at Peace, and scheduled to go to Insight Yoga, Liberation Yoga and Urban Yoga.
Below are some letters from organizers of the different events:
oh my oh my oh my OH MY!!!! what an evening... what a divine outpouring of love and light and all manner of goodnesses... i am beaming and swirling and glowing still... THANK YOU sura for the vast generosity of your spirit and for sharing that with us and our event... the food was over the top yummmmy and so perfect for the event kirtan was indescribably beautiful and always is - we were so blessed to have you and the temple bhajan band with us to usher the evening in... cannot tell you how much everyone enjoyed themselves because of what you put in there bellies and what you filled there ears and hearts and bodies with through kirtan... i feel so blessed to have connected with you and may our good work continue on and on... in gratitude metta sukha Fumbling Towards Ecstacy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, On behalf of the International Hospital for Children we would like to acknowledge the precious gift of your participation at the "Evening of Dance, Music and Performance" benefit at the Jewish Community Center on Wednesday September 14th, 2005 The event was a wonderful success. We were overwhelmed by the show of generosity and support from our dance community. The funds that were raised and the abundance of supplies donated brought immediate tangible relief to so many in need. From the volunteers who organized the event, to the performers, to the food vendors, to all who attended the event with such spirit and heart, we extend our deepest gratitude - your participation and presence is what made such an extraordinary evening possible.
The International Hospital for Children
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Temple Bhajan Band Performing Group Members,
Congratulations on your success in performing at Soka University's 8th annual Int'l Festival! Our audience was impressed by your talented presentation, which had added such a beautiful cultural diversity to this community event. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your generous contribution to the Int'l Festival this past Saturday at SUA campus.
This year, more than 10,000 people came to enjoy the festival doubling last years' number of 4800. Over 450 volunteer performers from forty groups participated in the festival performance representing variety of cultural and ethnic groups. The one-day festival curtain drew a close with a whooping success, which was impossible without each and everyone of your gracious support. Thank you very much indeed!
We wish you a wonderful summer and see you next year!
Sincerely,
Lisa Lu, M.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, With deep gratitude, I would like to thank you and the Temple Bhajan Band for your gifts of heart and spirit that contributed to making the Yoga of Love a deeply fulfilling and beautiful experience for our participants. Your contribution of time, resources, creativity and abundant love were so appreciated by our participants and team as well. You are each creative and gifted carriers of spirit, and the music that flows through you is divine. We were honored to have you be the beginning event fo a truly healing and transformative experience. I was delighted to get to know your sweetness, playfulness, and precious heart. And, I love your voice - singing and speaking. Thank you from my heart, and Michael and Margot Anand as well. I look forward to continuing to enjoy knowing you and your music more.
Blessings and love always, Marilynne Chophel
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, Our Unity Breakfast on Saturday, April 16th was such a glorious event!! I am so thankful that you and the Temple Bhajan Band were able to join us for such a great and successful event. Thank you for sharing your time with us, the knowledge you brought and shared with everyone truly makes a difference. Your presence amoungst us blessed us. Your grace and love was indeed an inspiration. We celebrate the connection that has been made and I look forward to our paths crossing again in the near future. You are a light among us and we salute your Godliness and your loving service. Great Blessings to you and through you.
With great love and appreciation,
Rev. Moira Foxe Church of Religious Science Redondo Beach
March 16th, 2013
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your generous support of Habitat for Humanity. Gifts like yours make it possible for us to partner with low-income families all over the world, providing them with the affordable homeownership opportunities they need, not to mention an abundance of hope for a much better future.
You should be proud of the positive, life-changing effect your support of our mission has had on families across the globe. Thanks to your contributions from partners, volunteers, advocates and donors like you, we will continue working toward a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Thank you for all that you do to help move our mission forward and reach more and more families................
Jonathan T,M, Reckford
Chief Executive Office Habitat for Humanity
Here are some of the letters from other events:
Dear Sura Dasa,
Thank you for sharing the gift of music and spirituality through your performance for the children of the Arts Alive Summer Camp at St. Mary Magdalen School. Your demonstration will help them form a well-rounded understanding of world music and the functions of music in different cultures and ways of life.
Your time spent us is very generous.
warmly,
Kathleen Jequinto
Kings and Clowns Inc. 501C3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Sura, Thanx again for contributing the food this past Friday and helping make our event such a success. We raised almost $1,000, which a generous student then matched for a total of $2,000, which Yoga Works will be matching. So in all, we will be donating approximately $2,000 each to Red Cross and Unicef.
Take Care, Adam Guttentag Yoga Works
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yoga Den is pleased to announce the tsunami relief benefit raised $1,250 for the people affected by the tragedy in Asia. We'd like to especially thank Temple Bhajan Band and Govinda's for their time, energy and efforts in bringing us a wonderful evening of amazing food and music. We'd also like to thank you for coming to the event and opening our hearts to our fellow human beings who share this earth with us. We are truly blessed to live in a wonderful community full of caring people.
Namaste, The Yoga Den
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, I cannot thank you enough for your generous support of our event in February (Tsunami Relief). It was so wonderful, largely thanks to the Temple Bhajan Band participation and the utterly delicious food. You are such a shining example of a karma yogi and we are so grateful! Shanti hand delivered the thousands of dollars to Thailand to people and orphans and temples in desperate need. Our effort made a big difference. I hope we meet again
Sincerely, Carol Allen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yoga and Art Community came together again with a cooperative effort to help the victims of Katrina, much in the same way as the fundraising efforts for the Tsunami victims earlier in the year. Temple Bhajan Band/Govinda's brought kirtan and free vegetarian cuisine to the following benefit programs, raising tens of thousands of dollars for those in need in Louisiana: Fumbling Towards Ecstacy, Yoga Works (Main, Larchmont and Westwood), Yoga Nook, Align Yoga, Yoga Bindu, Humanity at Peace, and scheduled to go to Insight Yoga, Liberation Yoga and Urban Yoga.
Below are some letters from organizers of the different events:
oh my oh my oh my OH MY!!!! what an evening... what a divine outpouring of love and light and all manner of goodnesses... i am beaming and swirling and glowing still... THANK YOU sura for the vast generosity of your spirit and for sharing that with us and our event... the food was over the top yummmmy and so perfect for the event kirtan was indescribably beautiful and always is - we were so blessed to have you and the temple bhajan band with us to usher the evening in... cannot tell you how much everyone enjoyed themselves because of what you put in there bellies and what you filled there ears and hearts and bodies with through kirtan... i feel so blessed to have connected with you and may our good work continue on and on... in gratitude metta sukha Fumbling Towards Ecstacy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, On behalf of the International Hospital for Children we would like to acknowledge the precious gift of your participation at the "Evening of Dance, Music and Performance" benefit at the Jewish Community Center on Wednesday September 14th, 2005 The event was a wonderful success. We were overwhelmed by the show of generosity and support from our dance community. The funds that were raised and the abundance of supplies donated brought immediate tangible relief to so many in need. From the volunteers who organized the event, to the performers, to the food vendors, to all who attended the event with such spirit and heart, we extend our deepest gratitude - your participation and presence is what made such an extraordinary evening possible.
The International Hospital for Children
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Temple Bhajan Band Performing Group Members,
Congratulations on your success in performing at Soka University's 8th annual Int'l Festival! Our audience was impressed by your talented presentation, which had added such a beautiful cultural diversity to this community event. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your generous contribution to the Int'l Festival this past Saturday at SUA campus.
This year, more than 10,000 people came to enjoy the festival doubling last years' number of 4800. Over 450 volunteer performers from forty groups participated in the festival performance representing variety of cultural and ethnic groups. The one-day festival curtain drew a close with a whooping success, which was impossible without each and everyone of your gracious support. Thank you very much indeed!
We wish you a wonderful summer and see you next year!
Sincerely,
Lisa Lu, M.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, With deep gratitude, I would like to thank you and the Temple Bhajan Band for your gifts of heart and spirit that contributed to making the Yoga of Love a deeply fulfilling and beautiful experience for our participants. Your contribution of time, resources, creativity and abundant love were so appreciated by our participants and team as well. You are each creative and gifted carriers of spirit, and the music that flows through you is divine. We were honored to have you be the beginning event fo a truly healing and transformative experience. I was delighted to get to know your sweetness, playfulness, and precious heart. And, I love your voice - singing and speaking. Thank you from my heart, and Michael and Margot Anand as well. I look forward to continuing to enjoy knowing you and your music more.
Blessings and love always, Marilynne Chophel
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sura, Our Unity Breakfast on Saturday, April 16th was such a glorious event!! I am so thankful that you and the Temple Bhajan Band were able to join us for such a great and successful event. Thank you for sharing your time with us, the knowledge you brought and shared with everyone truly makes a difference. Your presence amoungst us blessed us. Your grace and love was indeed an inspiration. We celebrate the connection that has been made and I look forward to our paths crossing again in the near future. You are a light among us and we salute your Godliness and your loving service. Great Blessings to you and through you.
With great love and appreciation,
Rev. Moira Foxe Church of Religious Science Redondo Beach