Perignano di Lari (PI), Saturday July 17th 2010
Centro Study Bhaktivedanta Main Office (near Park) - Perignano di Lari, PISA, Via Livornese Est, 172
Lecturer: Marco Ferrini, Founder and President of Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta

Saturday July 17th, in the park next to the Centro Study Bhaktivedanta Main Office, a Farewell celebration took place to honor the Academy Year, with the participation of more than one hundred people among scholars, association members and loving friends who follow the School activities.
The feast started with Vaishnava Traditions’ spiritual music and songs. It was a pleasant occasion to share and think about the aims of the Association which celebrated its fifteenth year of full activity.
With this occasion, Marco Ferrini (Matsya Avatara das), Centro Study Bhaktivedanta President and Founder, held a speech that we report in part as follows.

Saturday, 26th July at Avenza di Carrara, in the olive orchard  by the Old Tower, in an exclusive atmosphere, took place the fifteenth edition  of the National Culture Award Torre di Castruccio, organized by the Accademia della Torre Carrara with the participation of institutional authorities and a large public of three hundred people.

The event was officially acknowledged by the President of the Italian Republic,  with the patrocination of the following institutions: The President’s Office and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Art and Cultural Affairs, the region of Tuscany, the Province of Massa Carrara, the Carrara City Council, the National Association of Sociologists.

Yesterday afternoon a big meeting took place at Villa Castelletti, a breathtaking view in the middle of a park sorrounded by centuries old trees, located up on the soft hills west of Florence. The theme of the meeting was: “Man between Space and Time: a comparison between cultures”.  It was organized by La Compagnia del Tao and Scuola di Agopuntura tradizionale of the city of Florence, directed by Dott. Franco Cracolici.

On 25 October, at the Literature and Philosophy Faculty of the University of Siena, Prof. Marco Ferrini held a lecture at the Convention titled:  "Shradda:  Faith, Rite and Indian Society."  The subject was discussed by anthropologists, philosophers, scholars of India and authoritative exponents of the academic world.  The President of the Faculty and the Prefect of the City of Siena were present.  Prof. Ferrini held the lecture by discussing in-depth the following subject: "Shraddha in the Vedic-Vaishnava Tradition:  faith that thinks, faith that acts, faith that loves."  Following is an excerpt of his speech.