A few months before the successful Berlin Sector UTC & Conference, we didn’t expect to go online with the program. The schedule, speakers, and everything included were designed as it has been every year.
One month earlier, the decision was made and we sent the invitation: Connect online or attend smaller Regional gatherings of “Ananda Marga Way of Life through Eco and Spiritual Action“.
Live conferencing refers to the live streaming of interactive audio and video presentations, lectures, meetings, and seminars to the global audience with the help of a camera and conferencing equipment. For many, this was something new.
The two days UTC, 25th to 26th August, gave us the proof that it was possible. The speakers and presentation became focused when prioritizing the content instead of the person.
On 25th July, Dada Shubhatmananda opened the UTC with a speech about “Personal and Spiritual Growth” as an organization, followed by Govinda’s class “The Promotion Of Dharma“. In the afternoon “Dynamic Balance In Individual And Collective Life” by Prabhakar and “How To Understand, Communicate And Engage People” by Dada Jyotirupananda and Aditi.
From the learning of the first day, the online technology became interesting, but also inspiring when able to meet the speakers in their home environment. Not just as a speaker standing on a stage presenting his or her PowerPoint but the live interaction when sharing the screen or dividing members into discussion rooms. In Prabhakar’s class and Sushanta’s “Group Management“, members had lively discussions.
Dada Rasatmakananda and Manojit presented a new angle on “Planning From An AM Perspective” where the emphasis is on knowing the target area. This creates the base of a four side tool that collects the past and that collects the past and present situation, influencing factors, the human and material resources, and the goal.
Nandinii and Dyutimaya’s class on “Communication On Social And Web Media” was wee received by all. The field everyone has heard about but yet having little experience and information.
The Conference program was more complex including a live presentation from Dada Ganadevananda’s children’s education project in Catania (Italy), Dada Vanditananda’s master unit, Didi Annapurna in Poland, Dada Vimaleshananda in Italy, Didi Ananda Prama in Ireland, and Didi Ananda Advaeta’s land and building in Spain. This showed the newness compared to the previous years’ PowerPoint presentations, to see the actual place via video camera. The other live program, presented to Margiis at home, was the RAWA program where children and adults presented different dance, songs, and other art performances.
In each morning session from 28th July to 1st August, there was a lecture on different topics: “Departmental Inspiration” and “Eco & Social Action” by Dada Shubhatmananda, “Six Stages of Realisation” by Didi Ananda Harimaya, “Microvita In Practice” by Dada Rasatmakananda, and “Chariot And Charioteer” by Dada Rudrananda.
The afternoon sessions were dedicated to departmental and regional discussions. And in between the spiritual practices and kirtan.
By Rasatmakananda