New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

This Friday May 4 in the  morning,  we will be honoring the disappearance day of a very special departed Vaisnava, Jayananda das.

You are all invited.  Here is the schedule:

JAYANANDA DISAPPEARANCE DAY CELEBRATION
FRIDAY MAY 4, 2012
8:00 AM SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CLASS WILL CONSIST OF STORIES FROM SEVERAL DEVOTEES WHO HAVE HAD CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH JAYANANDA PRABHU.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY IF YOU HAVE ONE.
FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL BREAKFAST!!

Please join us this Saturday:

NRSIMHA CATURDASI Schedule 

Weekend of May 4 – 6, 2012

Friday May 4^th

7:00pm            Gaura Arati by HG Gauranga

7:30pm            Narasimha Caturdashi Class by HG Gauranga

8:30pm            Shayan Arati

Saturday May 5^th                   

5.00am            Mangala Artika

5:45am            Japa session

6:00 am            Srimad-Bhagavatam Class by HG Gauranga

(he has to leave early, thus the early class)

7:30am            Sringar Darshan

7:40am            Guru Puja

9:00am            Breakfast

12:30pm          Arati HG Yugal Kishore  / GaurNatraj

1:00pm            Bhagavad-Gita  by Rasa Chaitanya

1:30pm            Lunch Prasadam

4:00 pm          Fire Yajna

5:00pm            Abhishek of Lord Narasimhadeva.

6:00pm            Lecture by HH Varsana Swami Maharaja.

7:00pm            Gaura Arati Shankaranand Das.

7:30pm            Feast

8:30pm            Shayan Arati

Sunday May 6^th

5.00am            Mangala Artika

5:45am            Japa session

7:30am            Sringar Darshan

7:40am            Guru Puja

8:00am            Srimad-Bhagavatam Prembhakti Das.

9:00am            Breakfast

1:00pm            Arati GaurNatraj Das.

1:30pm            Sunday Feast Lecture – Yugal Kishore Das.

2:15pm            Sunday feast prasadam served.

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Hare Krishna,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Gaura Nitai!

Today marks two weeks from when I arrived at the holy dhama, New Vrindavan. Our Merciful Lord has been showering me with the blessings of a new beautiful family and life of service. I am very excited to be here and more than happy to dig up some dirt and allow for the growth of new life. I am your aspiring servant, Bhakta Rafael. You may call me Bhakta Rafa for short (pronounced Ha-fa).

ECOV has taken me under its wings and is showing me how to grow. and plant life.

All I knew about plants before is that they are conscious beings that need tender loving care in order for them to thrive, kinda like us. And like humans, they suffer from the material world. Uncomfortable weather, mistreated soils, overgrown weeds, animals bothering, people stepping on them, etc…

Still, we are making and effort to allow life to grow and flourish. The goal is to grow foods and flowers from our own (organic) garden, offer it to Godhead, and then nourish our family and community.

The work has been ongoing, lead by seriously devoted and experienced souls; as the saying goes “This generation plants a tree, the next gets the shade”. And that’s the basic principle. Except, we wish to give our children much more than just shade.

So far, at  Madhuban, we’ve planted 10 Chinese chestnut trees, with 20 more to go. Chestnuts were native to this area, and the natives used to live off of Chestnut flour. In a few years, Krishna willing, they will produce fruits and grow to be huge trees! 20 more trees were distributed to the residents to plant on their own land. Jaya!

At the Garden of 7 Gates, with the help of hardworking devotees, Charles and Navadwipa, we dug a 125-foot long bed for asparagus.  These veggies are great, because they are perennials, meaning they will grow back year after year, Krishna willing.

Other perennials are the many varieties of blackberries, blueberries, currants, bush cherries  and raspberries being cultivated in 3 separate beds, also within the 7 gates. After we transplanted them, we are laying down newspaper with hay on top, as mulch. It’s a big job, but it’s better to try to prevent the weeds from growing, than to battle them in the summer, when they grow out of control. Weeding is always necessary!

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Playful Calves

by Rasa Priya Gopi

Our two calves, Rupal Soma (left) and Gandharvika (right) have formed a strong bond of friendship. They’ve become like sisters and are inseparable. Their playful antics help them develop strength and coordination… and are fun to watch!

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Adjusting to A New Life

by Rasa Priya Gopi dasi

Adjusting To A New Life

Cows have emotions just like humans do, and they remember who has hurt them or their family members. They are also known to worry about their future. Cows that have not been treated with kindness will naturally have trust issues.

Such is the case with our newly rescued cows, Malati and Jamuna. Most likely, they were not treated very well at the dairy, but they’re rapidly adjusting to their new life at New Vrindaban. The devotees are especially kind to the cows and care for them as individuals.

Jaya Prabhupada is keeping them in the barn’s corral for awhile to establish a friendship with them. Lalita Gopi encourages people to try to feed them. She says they’ll soon make a positive association with humans and food and become friendlier.

For now, the two friends are at least enjoying each other’s companionship and their peaceful surroundings.

The sound is missing for a while in the beginning, keep listening.

Note a cameo appearance by Hladini dd in an early crowd scan.

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LET THERE BE LIGHT

by Krpamaya das

Last weekend I was walking towards the temple from Prabhupada’s Palace. When I reached the temple a young devotee named Tripti cried out “Prabhu, can you please help me?” She was brimming to the chin with light bulbs. Tottering in her small hands, the light bulb boxes were about to drop to the ground. I rushed over and grabbed the top layer of boxes. Her husband, Prakash, appeared and the three of us brought the light bulbs into Jaya Krishna’s office.

Prakash and Tripti had just spent the week in New Vrindaban joyfully dancing in kirtan and attending Srimad Bhagavatam classes. This last service was their parting gift to Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra.

The previous day Jaya Krishna Prabhu, had given Prakash and Tripti a tour of the newly renovated ashram rooms on the second floor of Radha-Vrindabanchandra’s temple. Prakash (whose name in English means “light”) noticed the ashram rooms needed light bulbs. He took a quick inventory and realized we needed 120 bulbs.

Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita (10^th chapter, text 11)

“To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance”.

While on their way home from New Vrindaban, Krishna turned the light of inspiration on in Prakash and Tripti’s hearts. When they were near Pittsburgh they decided to do some practical seva for the Brijbhasis and purchased 120 energy-conserving light bulbs for the temple ashram rooms. Then they turned around and came back to New Vrindaban. I met them outside the temple just after they had returned .

The light bulbs they purchased were special. They use only 18 watts instead of 75 watts and last 10 times longer than our standard 750 hour light bulbs, thus using 76% less energy and thereby helping New Vrindaban reduce its energy consumption. After Jaya Krishna Prabhu received the gift, he affectionately embraced Prakash and offered his respects to Tripti. Then he gave them a large framed picture of Radha and Krishna and a plate of maha prasad.All glories to Tripti’s and Prakash’s devotional service. We all look forward to seeing them when they return for the Festival of Inspiration. May Radha Vrindabanchandra and all the Brijbasis shower their blessings on these wonderful devotees as they help light our way on our path back home… back to Godhead.

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Please see this beautiful article on Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, written up in WVLiving.com e-magazine out of Morgantown, WV.

It is written by Rachel Henderson and photographed by Rebecca Kiger Fotografia.

A Shy Cow

by Rasa Priya Gopi dasi

Lalita Gopi tries to coax a nervous Jamuna into the Goshalla to take supper.  Jamuna is one of New Vrindaban’s two newest cows.

reported by Lilasuka dasi

Q: What is your main realization now that you’ve come to the end of your first year in NV?

A: I am more than ever convinced that NV has enormous potential. I see that due to the many sacrifices made by the devotees who lived here in the past, NV became a very powerful and beautiful holy place.  NV is currently in a transformation phase.  We are trying to adjust our activities based on Srila Prabhupada’s vision and instructions for NV and this includes the directions for the community in the future.  We have almost completed The Master Plan, which is a big opportunity for the devotees in NV to create a new understanding in our service to SP. This Master Plan is a very useful tool that could be the key to a wonderful future for NV

**

Q: What did you think when you were asked to become Community President (CP) of NV?

A: I was aware from the very beginning that to be CP is a challenge. And to be CP of NV is a BIG challenge!  But as soon as I came here a year ago, I received support and encouragement from many devotees inside NV.  And, due to the blessings of the Vaisnavas and the mercy of Krsna, I feel we’ve made progress over the course of this year.

**

Q: Have you heard any feedback on this progress?

A:  Yes, there have been many visitors who say that they are feeling a new, positive atmosphere. We are even receiving letters from former Brijbasis who want to return.  I am not taking credit for these positive changes.  Rather, they are largely the result of the sincere service of the devotees.

**

Q: Can you tell us some of the positive changes that have occurred over the past year?

A: Well, the morning programs are stronger with better attendance.  Some old faces from NV are beginning to show up at the festivals. Pilgrims who did not visit NV the last twenty to twenty-five years are visiting us again and are offering their full support for the development of the community. Last summer (the summer of 2011) was a very good summer in terms of support from the NV extended congregation, both in visiting NV and supporting Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra financially.

**

Q: What are your goals for the coming year?

A: Personally, my goals for NV are to “OPTIMIZE OUR SERVICE TO KRSNA”. There are many ways to do this.  We need to increase the overall consciousness, which is something that devotees are always striving for. I’d like to improve the devotional programs. I feel that it is also important to improve relationships among devotees.

As for the Master Plan goals, although there are so many varied aspects of NV, we have condensed them down to seven topics. For each of those seven topics, we have created one year goals, three year goals, and ten year goals. Of course, now we are working hard to reach those one year goals, once they are approved.

**

Q: Expanding the topic of the master plan, where do you see the main directions given by Srila Prabhupada for NV?

A: From my perspective, Srila Prabhupada has given instructions that NV should focus on cow protection, sustainable agriculture, a simple village life, a place of pilgrimage in the West, a place of higher learning and above all, a place for people to develop their love for Krishna. These are the topics on which the community will hopefully focus in the future.

**

Q:  Are there any other highlights from the first year you’d like to mention?

A: NV is an attraction for devotees from all over the world.  However, especially the guests from India who are in the U.S. like NV with our nice deity worship, the Palace of Gold, the beautiful landscape  of the Appalachian hills with our cows, peacocks and swans. Some express that “My main temple is NV.”  About 47 congregational members received initiation last year, the result of serious, dedicated preaching of the NV preachers over many years. We now have twenty bhakta vrksa groups all over the country who come together regularly for Krsna katha and Krsna kirtan. We have increased our preaching efforts strongly in offering several Srimad Bhagavatam classes, Bhagavad-Gita over the phone every week, as well as a daily Japa introduction.

**

Q: What about NV’s facilities?

A: We have started to improve the facilities in NV. We have put a new much-needed roof on the lodge. We’ve improved the cabins.  The renovations on the temple asramas are almost finished.  We have been able to at least put a stop to some of the deterioration at Prabhupada’s Palace.

**

Q: What are the priorities at this point?

A: I see several priorities for NV.  One is working on the land, which includes protecting the cows as well as growing food.

The other priority is increasing our outreach preaching to several target groups.  One target group is the many intentional communities around the country.  There are many intentional communities that are functioning nicely on a material level and we would like to share our spiritual vision with them, which could add a spiritual aspect to their already operating communities.

Another target group for our outreach preaching is university students.

We are also very determined to set up an organizational structure for NV that can continue to be used long term, with empowered, dynamic leaders.

**

Q: So do you like living in NV?

A:  Yes, in spite of the challenges, I feel at home here and I do like it. I would like to also express that I cannot fix all of NV’s problems at once.  The devotees have high expectations and sometimes I wish I had a touchstone which I could use to fix the problems! For this first year, I’ve had to do a lot of hands-on work myself due to lack of manpower. I am very happy that Krsna sent us a number of very serious, dedicated devotees this spring.

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Q:  How can the devotees help?

A: There are many opportunities to do so many services without even being asked, such as cleaning, weeding, serving Their Lordships on the altar and many other things.  Community members are also encouraged to join the temple programs and the different festivals, speak to pilgrims and guests and spread the word about NV within their network.

For everyone’s information, Sankirtan Prabhu is the Community Advocacy Council representative, the person who can be approached if someone has a specific issue that he/she wants to be represented to the management. Sukhavaha Prabhu, as representative of the devotee care team, is offering support for any devotee needs on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the library

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Q: Will you post a monthly “message from the CP” on the ongoing progress?

A:  Yes I would be happy to do that.  I would also like to reinstate community dialogues during the season and also have regular Istha Gosthis with the temple devotees.

**

Q: Do you have any final words of inspiration?

A: The NV community is often seen as the heart of the ISKCON movement in the U.S.A.  So if we can heal the heart, then it will have a great impact on the whole movement in North America.  NV has facilities for big festivals and gatherings, is a very beautiful place and can be a big draw for devotees, friends of Krsna and people form North America and all over the world.

I think the Palace will once again be a big draw for Americans.  We plan to develop a nice exposition of Srila Prabhupada’s life at the Palace for the purpose of creating a better understanding of SP’s mission for people in general.  Krsna is kindly allowing us at NV to serve Him in so many ways.  The future of NV is bright.

Q:  Thank you very much, Jaya Krsna Prabhu.