New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

On Sunday, May 1, over 40 people attended the inauguration of a 48-day Nrsimha Yajna by a fire sacrifice conducted by Ananda Tirtha dasa.  “The sankalpa or intent of

this yajna is to beseech Lord Nrsimhadeva to facilitate opening the full potential of New Vrindaban Dham,” said Jaya Krsna dasa, Community President of New Vrindaban.  “We are ask Lord Nrsimhadev’s mercy in clearing away the residue remaining in the dham from the past, assisting the devotees in healing from the past, and creating an atmosphere of protection and auspiciousness in the dham.”

For the next 48 days, a prayer (see below) will be read before the Nrsimha arati both in the morning and evening.  Furthermore, the Nrsimha Kavacha Mantra will be played 24 hours daily at the Yajna Shala (between the temple and Govinda’s Snack Bar).   Finally, Jaya Krsna is asking all community members to pray for five minutes daily during this yajna for opening the full potential of New Vrindaban Dham.  The 48-day yajna will conclude with a fire sacrifice during the 24-hour kirtan on Saturday, June 18.

“I am also arranging for a physical cleaning of the dham as part of the yajna,” said Jaya Krsna.  “I have asked Arya-siddhanta dasa, the Vice President for Temple Services, to organize a maha-cleaning of the temple room this coming week.”  Later in the month, Arya-siddhanta will organize a maha-cleaning of the entire temple building.  In addition, devotees will be responsible for cleaning their rooms and offices in the temple.

After the temple building is clean, Jaya Krsna will focus on the grounds.  “The first area is the back of the temple behind the kitchen and the woods between the school to the creek,” explained Jaya Krsna.  “There are, of course, other outdoor areas to be cleaned up.  I will make a list of those areas in due course of time.”

Please participate in this 48-day yajna and help create an atmosphere of auspiciousness in New Vrindaban.  You can participate by attending Nrsimha arati, praying privately, attending the closing fire sacrifice, helping with the maha-clean ups, and/or by cleaning away clutter in your own personal space.

Prayer to Lord Nrsimahadev to be read before Nrsimha arati

We offer our respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all power.  O Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly cleanse ourselves and the atmosphere in the Holy Dham, help us to let go of all the past influences so that we are able to render pleasing service to You, the devotees and pilgrims.

See more Faces of the Festival of Inspiration here.

Dear devotees,

There will be a home program tonight (May 9th) at Damodara’s and Gopa’s home at 6.30pm.

All are welcome,

Please bring a prep if you can,

****************************************

Dear devotees,

Radhanath Swami will be doing a home program at Raghunath and Jamuna’s home on Tuesday (May 10th) night at 6:30pm.

Everyone is invited.

If you are able to bring a prep that would be great.

Thanks,
Jamuna

ITEM 1 – Upcoming  Devotee Care meeting on Thursday  May 5.

The meeting is held in the Prasadam Room and starts at 5:30 with refreshments. Ends at 7.  Devotee Care meetings will be on the First Thursday of every month. Everyone is welcome.

ITEM 2 – Youth Activities  Tulsiananda, Sita, Visakhy, Usa, etc. Bhajan every Tuesday night from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.

ITEM 3 – Tamohara Prabhu / Mantrini d to give Child Protection seminar after the  FOI  weekend.

Will be on  either Monday or Tues, May 9th or 10th at 6 pm.  Please keep your schedules open.

ITEM 4 – Minutes by M. Sukhavaha of Devotee Care meeting from April

Devotee Care Meeting – April 1, 2011  Attendance: 16 devotees, including Jaya Krsna Pr and Malati devi

***SAFETY –  Three topics were discussed:

1.       First Aid Kits -“ where to be found

Most devotees are replenishing themselves

Malati devi will email Suk the extensive list of what needs to be included.

Send announcement out and on website asking for any first aid items  under the list.

Papaya based meat tenderizer or baking soda for bee stings

Epipens injection for bee stings

Fresh lemon juice for bee stings

Print out list of what is to be included in each kit with a chart at the top. Whatever is removed can be noted and checked on the checklist.

First Aid Kits can be found in various places: The Gift Shop in the Front Lobby, Arya Siddhanta Pr grey house, Palace upstairs, Palace gift shop, Temple kitchen, Gopa’s store They will be replenished by the owner.

2. All Purpose Fire Extinguishers

Gerald spoke about the price for new extinguishers between $89 and $100

Suk to email Gaura Shakti and ask him to look for these at auctions and EBay

Gerald will find out how many – approx 50

3. First Aid training – Gerald will put out a list and have email sent from Jaya Murari Pr to see who is interested to get first aid training for $25. Red Cross will come out and give a 2 year certificate for a 4 hour training session.

Put out a message on Jaya Murari that people can donate First Aid Materials – list and can also donate Fire Extinguishers. Also put out a message on the Website that people can donate these items.

***((Video Cameras for security)) Gopish is checking into this – Administration

***Hands on Help – Emergency

Phone Tree – Contacts Buddy System – who can give you assistance in an emergency

Vidya devi 845-5416

Jaya Sri – 845-2638 work 845-

Rides to Doctor or emergency Room.

Gopa -“ 843-9808 / cell 280-2363

Madri – 843-0122

Atma – 845-6945

Emergency babysitting – Sita / Vishakha, Usa

***Child Protection Team

Govinda Priya 845-3710, Harinama 845-6695, Atma 845-6945 (training involved).

***Jamuna: Women’s Club: 845-3875

a. Women’s Empowerment Group (self-expression) – 6 week commitment

Experimental  Facility for people to go deeper – Set the Intention the first week.

(Sadhana, Relationships, Gratitude, Appreciation, Expression, Support

b. Women’s Monthly Fun Day – Summer outside activities -in  winter more crafts art classes, herb classes, cooking classes to learn and heal

First Meeting was  on Monday April 4^th at Jamuna’s house

c. Health and Well Being –  Exercise, Yoga, Nature Walks

***Sukhavaha – Ongoing seminars and practice groups include. Compassionate Communication.

***Admission of new residents

Includes anyone visiting over 10 days. No one has authority to invite others to stay. The Administration to get the Application, do the background check (do you have any felonies) and call the 3 personal references on the sheet and do an interview (or team to do interview??). – Devotee Team of 3  to possibly review new applicants  coming to stay on Temple grounds. Jaya Devi on Team – Give a recommendation to the Administration Board.

ITEM 5 – The Final Word –  Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O’ son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.  Gita 9:27

And PS:

If there are sufficient items I will put out newsletter  for the 1st and 15th of each  month. The more we use the newsletter, the less  Jaya Murari prabhu will need to do in sending out so many announcements.  So if you have any items or announcements  send them by the 12th and the 28th of May to story108@juno.com –     

ys, Sankirtana d.

May Newsletter

Typically spring brings us out of the darkness of winter, shining it’s light on many things that we didn’t or couldn’t tend to in the colder, dormant months. In spring, we clean our houses and sometimes we do a personal physical cleanse through fasting and diet. We clear the clutter (toxins) out of our bodies, homes and minds.

I personally have had many devotees approach me with their deep concerns for creating real community. I would like to invite all residents of New Vrindavan and surrounding areas to partake in a Spring Cleaning to clear and remove stagnant energy and create a refreshing, rejuvenating atmosphere in New Vrindavan. If you choose, here are some ways you can participate:

· Create the intention to clean up and clear out. This could be done by simply writing down your intention and posting it where it will catch your attention (fridge, bathroom mirror, etc.) so you can reflect on it and see how to initiate some actions to clear.

· Attend the daily chanting of the Nrsingha Kavaca prayers. This will be happening between May 1st and June 18th at the morning and evening programs. It will culminate at the 24 hour kirtan, a final release to the Holy Names.

· Clean up the environment of clutter. This could range from cleaning your own home, room, car, etc., to cleaning the temple and/or the surrounding temple areas where stagnant energy has accumulated.

· Find positive and effective ways of communicating and resolving issues. When circumstances don’t go the way we expect them to, rather than complain to others, find straight forward means to clear any upset. Some strategies might be:

? working to directly resolve the issue with the other person.

? asking for a mediator if needed.

? looking to have everyone’s needs considered and met.

? considering the impacts our complaints have on ourselves and the larger community.

· Pray to increase our awareness and consciousness in removing stagnant, negative energy, the old, conditioned habits that are not in our highest good or benefit.

Spring is about new growth. So, how about it? All in favor, jump in the Spring Cleaning mood and set your intentions for the next 48 days. Let’s see how much of a difference we can make by aligning our thoughts, words and deeds in clearing a space to create a NEW New Vrindaban, where all Devotees Care.

Thank you for your concern and participation.

Your servant,

Sukhavaha dd

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On Wednesday, April 20, 2011, about 20 devotees met at the Small Farm Training Center Guest House. The gathering was organized by New Vrindaban’s Center for Preventative Medicine (CPM). One of the goals of the CPM is to raise awareness about the medicinal properties of food.

“Let food be your medicine and your medicine be food”. –Hippocrates

The gathering started with a short bhajana led by HG Nityodita Prabhu. Then, a discussion about the health benefits of raw foods amongst the devotees was led by Arya-siddhanta dasa.

During the discussion, Bhaktin Shannon said, “When foods are heated above 115 degrees, the beneficial enzymes naturally present are denatured. The digestive system has to work harder and longer to process cooked foods to get nutrition and energy from it. Living foods have healing powers that can alleviate many illnesses such as low energy, allergies, digestive disorders, weak immune system, high cholesterol, candida, obesity and weight problems.”

After the brief discussion about the health benefits of raw foods, the guests enjoyed a Raw Food Potluck Prasadam Feast. Some of the dishes present were:

-Raw Nori Rolls, filled with veggies & a tasty raw sauce
-Several varieties of Fruit Salad
-Zucchini Pasta
-Wild Edibles, Sprouts, and Spinach Salad with a Creamy Raw Ranch dressing
-Juice pulp from Wild Edibles from the Dham crackers with Cashew Cheese
-Green Smoothie
-Raw Asparagus & Spinach fresh from the Garden
-Sweet balls (recipe included below)

Guests commented how delicious the items were and some were surprised how light and energized they felt after sumptuously eating.

One goal of the CPM is to offer alternatives for prasadam— to gradually influence the temple prasadam to be a more diversified, healthy, organic diet. The CPM wants to help devotees maximize their service to Krsna by encouraging a diet that provides the maximum amount of energy with minimal bodily effort. The group is not supporting veganism, but instead is encouraging the health benefits of raw food, as well as creating delicious foods for Krsna that come from our organic garden (or other local organic gardens).

A highlight of the event was a group of 15 high school students and teachers came through, each sampling a raw dessert. They were all excited to taste new treats –and every guest took a piece of Maha fruit! When told what the ingredients were, Anthony, one of the students exclaimed, “How can something made only out of that taste so good?!”

The Raw Food Meetups will continue on Wednesdays at 5:30pm at the Small Farm Training Center Guest House. This upcoming Wednesday we will be watching the movie Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 days. For more information about the movie and the potluck click here: http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2011/04/24/movie-night-raw-food-potluck/

Sweet Balls

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Walnuts or Pecans
• 2/3 Cup Dates, pitted
• 1/3 Cup Raisins
• 1tbsp Raw Almond Butter
• 2tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1tbsp Carob Powder
• 1/2 Cup Coconut shreds

Directions:

1. Grind nuts in food processor until the larger pieces break up.
2. Add dates and raisins and process it again until sticky.
3. Transfer to a bowl.
4. Add almond butter, maple syrup and carob, and mush together with your hands.
5. Roll into balls and roll in coconut to garnish
6. If they happen to be too sticky, put in fridge for 30minutes, and you are back in business

PALACE OF GOLD & PALACE ROSE GARDEN TO BE FEATURED ON CNN HEADLINE NEWS

This May and June, the Palace of Gold and the Palace Rose Garden will be featured on CNN Headline News.  The five-minute interview with Damodar dasa, Vice President of Guest Services in New Vrindaban Community, will air approximately 50 times in over 875,000 homes in the Pittsburgh, Laurel Highlands and Ohio Valley regions.  The interview was conducted by Comcast Newsmakers, whose guests include federal and state legislators, local elected officials and nonprofit organizations.  Comcast Newsmakers is seen on CNN Headline News by Comcast subscribers.

“The Palace of Gold is being featured due its international and historical significance,” said Damodar.  “The Palace Rose Garden is being featured due to the extraordinary beauty of the rose varieties, as well as the fact that this garden blooms three times a year from June through September.”

Last year, the Palace of Gold received over 15,000 visitors from around the world.  “The Palace was a labor of love,” explained Damodar.  “It was built by young Hare Krishna devotees as an for their teacher or guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the modern Hare Krishna movement.”

The Palace was originally intended be a home for Srila Prabhupada, but he passed away shortly before the seven-year construction was completed.  Thus, the Palace of Gold was converted into Srila Prabhupada’s pushpa-samadhi or memorial.  For this reason, the Palace of Gold is a place of pilgrimage for the international community of Vaishnavas, Hindus and Asian Indians.

Moreover, the Palace of Gold is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Ohio Valley due to its architectural beauty and historical significance.  “The Palace of Gold is America’s Taj Mahal,” said Damodar.  “A visit to the Palace is like a visit to India.  It is a cultural experience.”

Outside, the Palace Rose Garden boasts over 100 different varieties of roses.  The Palace Rose Garden is one of 130 gardens in North America that is accredited by the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the vitality, strength and beauty of garden roses.  Currently, close to half of the 850 rose plants at the Palace of Gold are AARS winners, ensuring the exceptional overall beauty of the garden.

Inside the Palace, there are thirty-one stained glass windows, including four peacock windows with over 1,500 pieces of cut glass in each window.  The floors and walls are all polished marble inlay and include fifty-two varieties of marble and onyx from Europe, Asia and Africa. All the furniture is carved teakwood from India.  In the Grand Hall, there is an unusually large French chandelier that is over 150 years old, as well as a 4,200 piece crystal ceiling designed in a style similar to the ceiling in the Dilwara Jain Temple in Mount Abu in Rajasthan.

Please visit the Palace of Gold and the Palace Rose Garden this summer.  The entire site is surcharged with the spiritual potency of Srila Prabhupada and his presence is especially manifest there.

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Prahladananda Swami Speaks on cow protection and remembers the old days in New Vrindaban.

Click here for audio on how Cow Protection Solves Problems

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On March 27 and 28, New Vrindaban Community hosted a series of management meetings.  Many of the attendees reported that the meetings were very positive and a feeling of moving forward from the past.  One of the main topics of discussion during the meetings was the long-range planning for New Vrindaban.

The result of the discussions is the formation of the Community Vision and Planning Team.  Three devotees, Soma dasa (Chairman), Dayavira dasa, and Gaura Shakti dasa have agreed to serve on the Community Vision and Planning Team. The team received two mandates at the management meetings.

The first mandate for the Community Vision and Planning Team is to survey all the full-time residents of New Vrindaban, as well as many pilgrims and guests.  “Srila Prabhupada’s vision is that New Vrindaban is a place of pilgrimage in the Western world,” said Soma.  “Therefore, New Vrindaban must offer facilities for the people who visit the holy dham.”

The data from the surveys will be analyzed and then combined with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions for New Vrindaban.  The main points that Srila Prabhupada stressed are cow protection, sustainable agriculture, 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.

The second mandate for the Community Vision and Planning Team is to design a long-range plan for New Vrindaban.  “Right now, the team is studying how other communities go about long-term planning,” explained Soma.  “After choosing an appropriate model, we will engage as many devotees as possible in the design phase, and also hire professionals as necessary.”

“The potential in New Vrindaban is unlimited,” said Soma enthusiastically.  “Therefore, it will require the input and expertise of many people.  I urge everyone to come forward to offer assistance to the Community Vision and Planning Team.”

If you have any questions or you would like to offer any specialized skills for the design phase, please contact Soma dasa at Soma108@gmail.com or Vijaya Radha devi dasi at VijayaRadha108@gmail.com.