New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Thursday 22 December 2011Community Vision and Planning Team  Report to joint Board of Directors meeting

* 7 groups work report: each group was requested to have open meetings to discuss how to expand their specific category, and develop the following:

o Vision statement that’s harmonious with the overall NVC vision statement;

o 10 year vision

§ 3 and 1 year plans on how to achieve the 10 year vision

o Here are the various vision statements:

New Vrindavan Community Vision Statement

“New Vrindavan” is an intentional spiritual community centered on the practice of Bhakti yoga expressed as the Brijabasi Spirit, emphasizing simple living and high thinking, vegetarianism, agriculture and cow protection, places of pilgrimage, and the propagation of the teachings of the founder-acharya of the International Society of Krsna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Addendum

‘Bhakti yoga’ is the reciprocation of loving service in different rasas (moods) between the eternal individual living entity (jiva, or soul) and the Supreme Lord, Krsna.

The ‘Brijabasi spirit’ manifests abundance through the synergy of loving relationships with Krsna in the center. It is a mood of simply loving Krsna and giving ones’ very life in humble service to the Supreme Lord Krsna, His intimate followers, and associates in any of the rasas, or mellows.

‘Founder’ means he established the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON).

‘Acharya’ means “one who teaches by example”. Srila Prabhupada taught us how to become Krsna conscious by his own personal example.

Srila Prabhupada is in the disciplic succession of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya, one of four authorized Vaishnava sampradayas. A ‘sampradaya’ is a tradition of strict philosophical and cultural doctrine, wherein the conclusion is known and not deviated from, and the teachings are passed from teacher to disciple. There is no English equivalent word.

By ‘vegetarianism’ we mean foodstuffs that are offered to Lord Krsna for His pleasure. No meat, fish, or eggs are consumed. The principle is we eat what Krsna wants us to offer to Him.

His teachings are based on revealed scriptures, including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Nectar of Devotion, Sri Isopanisad, and others. He is the author of more than 70 books that explain the science of devotional service, or loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

The ‘International Society of Krsna Consciousness” (ISKCON) is a world-wide organization founded by Srila Prabhupada for the following purposes:

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to Society at large and to educate people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3. To bring members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the Prime Entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4. To teach and encourage the Sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.

7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of God Who appeared about 500 years ago, predicted “prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama/ sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama”. “In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard”. (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126)

 

Education, Arts & Culture Vision Statement: The Education, Arts & Culture group empowers the individual to develop and express their natural talents in the devotional service of the Lord, and His devotees.

“Culture” we define as the expression of the eternal individual souls’ relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in devotional service. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

Revealing the Dhama:

Vision Statement: “To award a voice to the Dham to facilitate Her in revealing and identifying various tirthas, and to participate in the development and maintenance of the holy places and temples. To facilitate devotees’ developing relationships with the Dham, by visiting and serving the holy places, as well as discussing, writing and contemplating Their lilas, glories and benefits.”

Devotee Care and Relations:

The mission of Devotee Care and Relations is to strive for the spiritual, mental/emotional and physical well-being of ISKCON devotees so that they are encouraged, inspired, and empowered to be happy and make progress in Krsna consciousness, and thus be enthused to expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Agriculture, Cows and Self-reliance:

The New Vrindaban Community

§ produces locally the necessities of life

§ demonstrates a practical example of self-reliance and

§ engages and protects the natural resources, cows and the oxen.

Economic Development:

New Vrindaban’s community members are

* either employed directly by the Community or devotee businesses or

* are self-employed in the greater New Vrindaban area to maintain themselves.

Community Design and Facilities:

New Vrindavan Community Design and Facilities Group develops and maintains New Vrindavan in a environmentally responsible, sustainable manner, using locally sourced quality materials and personnel. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

Outreach, Preaching and Pilgrim Care:

Through outreach, preaching and pilgrim care, we provide the knowledge, education, concern, and training to enable all who desire to develop their spiritual awareness. We empower and assist every member to awaken their relationship with Krsna, to join Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual family, to teach his message and engage all our guests and pilgrims in the loving devotional service of Krsna. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

o 4 groups work is fine

o 3 groups work needs some refining

o New areas are needed to develop into the master plan: Deity, Governance, and Varnashram implementation

* WVU CDT meeting report

o 4 members of WVU’s Community Design Team (CDT) visited and met with 5 devotees. Two professors came for their 1^st visit to see if/how they can work with NVC.  Present from NVC were Varsana Swami, Jaya Krsna das, Gopisa prabhu, Madhava Ghosh prabhu, and Gaura Sakti das.

o The two teams decided upon the following projects:

§ Madhuvan project

§ Landscaping

§ Food storage

*Beans, grains, grinding mill; de-hydration, canning, and different forms of storage.

§ Tourism:

* Hindu

* Palace visitors

* ISKCON devotees

* Eco-groups

* How to market to each group

* How to ‘brand’ ourselves for each group

* On-site readiness; workshops, etc; “what do they want to do here?”

* Kudzayi expressed a strong interest in any guest database we may have.

o She has done consulting work for Marshall County and Moundsville.

§ Hospice project

o How to move forward:

§ Memorandum of understanding will be prepared and agreed upon

§ Each professor needs to decide individually how/if they can fit our needs into their current class.

§ Steve is particularly interested in conservation and community out-reach

§ Charlie is (exceptionally) eager for landscape management, mapping, and “How do we realize the Vrindavan vision?” On a previous visit he expressed enthusiasm for the building of the 7 temples of Vrindavan.

§ Steve  wants to bring his group of students in late January for a community discussion on the master planning. We will schedule a meeting for the 3^rd week of January, accordingly.

* Timeline

o Where are we now

§ See “8 steps…” below. We’re in steps 2 and 3. I’m intending to have this first iteration completed for Gaura Purnima 2012 (March 6 2012). By ‘first iteration’ I mean ‘first draft’, that we will see things that are not included that should be, perhaps the corollary as well, and there will be a process of review, additions, corrections, etc.

* Timeline for completion of 1^st iteration

§ 15 December Group works finished

§ 31 December: 1/3/10 year goals consolidated

§ 14 January 2012: Community Assessment finished (existing land use map, with all necessary data)

§ 4 February: 2 “future land use” scenarios developed: a) assuming no income from gas wells; b) assuming _________ $/year from gas wells. (note: $ amount to come from Gopisa prabhu).

§ 6 March, Gaura Purnima: 1^st iteration of the Master Plan completed.

 

* Finance report

o (waiting on precise figures from Rupanuga prabhu; approx. $7900+/-)

8 Steps of the Master Planning Process

1. Community Visioning: engaging the public and developing vision statements, goals and objectives.

2. Data collection and inventory: preparing the community assessment and existing land use map.

3. Data analysis: formulating future development scenarios based on vision statements, the community assessment, and land use maps.

4. Evaluating future development scenarios.

5. Selecting a preferred development scheme (the future land use map) and preparing and adopting a plan.

6. Implementing the plan.

7. Monitoring the plan.

8. Amending and updating the plan.