New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Last spring students from Ohio University visited NV to conduct interviews with devotees.

Their papers can be viewed by going to the site below and clicking on the first selection: “Community Member’s Visions of the Future…”

http://www.pluralism.org/affiliates/emery/index.php

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Jesse and Lilasuka’s ‘ garden party ‘ program, which features the talents of various local musicians, is coming to New Vrindaban.

Their next program will be at Damodar and Gopa’s house on Sunday Nov. 15th.

Don’t miss it! These folks are loaded with talent.

3:30 – 5:30 PM — Concert

5:30 – 6:30 PM — Pot Luck dinner (Please knock yourself out and bring an ecstatic prep)

6:30 – Closing time — Story and pastime telling — more music / dance? Who can say?

Kindly note this is not this coming Sunday but the 15th.

More info (304) 843-9808

by Bhaktin Rita

On October 28, New Vrindaban Community in West Viriginia, USA, hosted the world’s most famous bush doctor.  Dr. Landveld manufactures natural medicines from plants, roots, tree barks, carrots, fruit and lianas from the Amazonian rainforest of Suriname.  Suriname, which is bordered by Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana, hosts one of the Earth’s last remaining virgin rain forests.

What is unique about Dr. Landveld’s work is the fact that he is producing the medicines in compliance with international safety standards.  All his remedies are tested and proven through modern scientific research.  The international community is taking note.  In 2006, he received the prestigious Case in Point Platinum Category Award in Paris, France.  In 2005, he received the Century International Gold Quality Era Award in Geneva, Switzerland.[1]

“I was extremely interested and impressed with New Vrindaban’s Small Farm Training Center.  I gained valuable information about the indigenous plants in West Virginia,” said Dr. Landveld.  “Moreover, the Center’s motto is ‘simple living and high thinking.’  This describes the micro-lending program I am organizing for peasant women in Suriname.  I will definitely visit New Vrindaban on my next visit to this area.”

Dr. Landveld’s visit to New Vrindaban ended with an extended tour of Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold.  “We have many Krishna temples in Suriname.  We also have many Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and people live together peacefully.  But I have never seen anything as wonderful as New Vrindaban’s Palace of Gold,” said Dr. Heijnes Landveld.  Dr. Landveld spent ten days in Wheeling, USA, visiting area schools and meeting local dignitaries.  “I had my itinerary all planned for my final day in Wheeling.  But I canceled all my appointments and spent the entire day in New Vrindaban.”

For more information about New Vrindaban Community, contact (304) 843-1600 x105 or info108@aol.com.  For more information about Dr. Heijnes Landveld or his medical practice, visit http://www.odany-jewa.com/

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by Amrita Gopala dasi

The chairs are folded and stacked and the big hall under the lodge stands empty, but the spiritual buzz generated by the 150 ladies who gathered for the ninth annual Vaisnavi retreat still hangs sweetly in the autumn air in New Vrindaban. The retreat, “by women, for women” who are engaged in Krishna consciousness, is a unique way for American and Canadian devotees to hear, chant and learn in a supportive, enlivening atmosphere and has become a staple festival coordinated by Her Grace Malati devi dasi. This year’s Vaisnavi retreat was held from October 2nd and culminated in a Love Feast on October 4th.

This retreat’s special attraction was the large number of Srila Prabhupada’s initiated disciples in attendance. In a seminar facilitated by Her Grace Mahamaya devi dasi, twenty-three devotees shared their wonderful, funny and amazing memories of their spiritual master to an audience greedy to hear their realizations and experiences. Seated around Srila Prabhupada’s vyasan in the temple, the disciples spoke of how meeting and serving His Divine Grace impacted their lives forever. “His eyes, when they looked into mine, said ‘Come with me,'” recalled Gopi Mata devi dasi, an American disciple who joined ISKCON in the United Kingdom. There was hardly a dry eye in the room when Kanti devi dasi, who took shelter in the Paris temple whilst evading a suspicious man who was following her and Madira devi dasi, spoke with a heart overflowing with gratitude about Srila Prabhupada’s infinitely compassionate nature.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, grand-disciples and followers gathered together again to glorify His Divine Grace in the Palace of Gold, New Vrindaban’s “labor of love” built by hundreds of devotees in the 1980s. After an exhilarating mangala-aroti led by Sandamini devi dasi (the current president of the Tuscon, Arizona temple), the retreat participants focused their energy and prayers in an offering to Srila Prabhupada. Specific requests were made on behalf of Rasajna devi dasi, a beloved and celebrated disciple of His Divine Grace who is suffering the advanced stages of cancer. Via telephone, godsisters expressed words of love, admiration and gratitude to encourage Rasajna in her time of need. The prayer circle was an incredibly powerful and bonding experience that will replay in the memory of all who attended.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and grand-disciples exchanged knowledge and engaged in remembering the intoxicating pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in over a dozen seminars and workshops. In one of the devotional presentations, Her Grace Nanda devi dasi elaborated on the meaning of the markings decorating the Lords’ lotus feet. Devotees engaged in front-line preaching spoke about they are spreading Krsna consciousness. Two of Srila Prabhupada’s grand-disciples, Anandini devi dasi and Cakori-Radha devi dasi, gave compelling Power Point presentations detailing their efforts to push on the sankirtana movement. Both women are using dynamic approaches to expand the preaching. Their presentations made an impact on the participants, and at the end of the retreat many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples expressed their satisfaction and gratitude at the efforts of second-generation devotees to keep the mission going.

Beautiful kirtanas and sumptuous feasts prepared by long-time New Vrindaban resident, Shanka dasa, are always a mainstay of any Hare Krsna festival, and these made their mark on the Vaisnavi retreat.

New Vrindaban will again be the place to be in 2010 for another ecstatic gathering of women who serve Srila Prabhupad and Lord Krsna. Plans for next year’s Vaisnavi retreat are already in place: Malati devi dasi will extend an invitation to all of Srila Prabhupada’s women disciples to come to New Vrindaban from October 1st to the 3rd . Also, a Facebook page will be launched to facilitate the disciples in communicating, sharing and event planning.

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This Wednesday, Oct 21st, we will observe the disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada. The many activities are schedule throughout the day. If you would like to cook something to offer to Srila Prabhupada, please do so. We will offer Srila Prabhupada a feast in the afternoon and in the evening.

We are showing the documentary, “The Final Lesson”. The film is emotional, but there are lessons Srila Prabhupada wants us to learn in order to perfect our Krsna Consciousness in this final lesson.

If you have any questions or comments, please call or email me.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

ys,
Sikhi Mahiti das

Srila Prabhupada Disappearance day festival

8:15 am – Video lecture Srila Prabhupada
11 am – Srila Prabhupada remembrances and offering of the 2009 vyasapuja book
12 Noon – puspanjali
12:15 – arati Srila Prabhupada
12:30 – Raja bhoga arati
1:30 – prasadham

4:45 – movie – “the final lesson”
5:30 – parikram to the palace (carry altar murti to palace)
5:45 – abhiseka of Srila Prabhupada
6:00 – Srila Prabhupada khata
7:00 – pushpunjali Srila Prabhupada
7:15 – arati Srila Prabhupada
7:45 – feast at the temple. (Srila Prabhupada will return to the temple in a car)

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Schedule for Diwali – Festival of Lights on Saturday, Oct 17, 2009

6:00 Bhajans
7:00 Arati
8:00 Entertainment
8:30 Arati and Damodarastakam
9:00 Fireworks in the parking lot

Schedule for Govardhana Puja on Sunday, Oct 18, 2009

12:00 – 1:00 Go puja by the temple and circumambulation
1:00 Arati
1:30 Go puja in the barn across from the Palace Lodge
2:30 Sunday feast
4:30 Arati
4:45 Bhajans
5:00 Abhishek
5:30 Bhoga offering — please bring a preparation
5:45 Dance performed by local devotees
6:00 Govardhan-lila pastime by Sankirtan prabhu
7:00 Arati of Govardhan hill
7:30 Feast
8:30 Damodarasika

as taken from:http://www.newvrindaban.com/

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On Wednesday, October 21, New Vrindaban Community will host a free family festival to commemorate His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.  Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in Calcutta, India, in 1896.  He traveled to the United States in 1965, at age 70.  Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada passed away in Vrindaban, India, in 1977.  Vrindaban, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is located in north central India.  Within its 84 square miles, there are over 5,000 temples dedicated to Krishna.  New Vrindaban, West Virginia is named after Vrindaban, India.

Between 1965 and 1977, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada traveled around the world fourteen times and established more than 100 temples and centers, including New Vrindaban Community.  He called his international organization ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Even while traveling, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translated into English over 80 volumes of ancient Sanskrit scriptures.  One of his most important works, Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, is translated into forty-eight languages.  Bhagavad-Gita means “The Song of God.”  “I joined ISKCON because of the books,” says Sikhi Mahiti, President of New Vrindaban.  “I found the philosophy interesting and I wanted to learn more.”

After Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s passing, New Vrindaban Community established Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold as his memorial.  Every year, thousands of tourists visit West Virginia in order to tour the Palace of Gold.

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold receives its name from the 8,000 square feet of 22-carat gold leaf used both inside and outside the building.  Its true glory is its marble work.  The Palace features 35,000 feet of marble, weighing 254 tons.  Over fifty varieties of marble and onyx were imported from France, Italy, Canada, and the Middle East.  In the temple hall, there is an antique French chandelier with rare Marie Antoinette crystals.  There are many other special features of the Palace — you will have to see it to believe it!

Many of the festivities on October 21 will take place at the Palace.  It is the perfect opportunity to take a guided tour and to hear how a group of young and idealistic youth built a palace in the rolling hills of West Virginia.  Entrance to all events is free and open to the public.  For more information about this festival or about the Palace of Gold, contact (304) 843-1812 or visit http://www.palaceofgold.com/.

Dear Vaishnavis:

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

On behalf of Malati dasi, I’m including the link for the Facebook event page we have created to spread the word about next year’s retreat. The theme of the event will be “Celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s Daughters”, and will include a 24 hour kirtan, prayer circle, workshops on the five angas of bhakti, in addition to Reflections and Memories of Srila Prabhupada by his female disciples. Please access the page, upload your photos or comments, and make plans to attend. We hope to offer sponsorship/financial assistance to those senior women who would otherwise be unable to attend. We are in the planning stage and want your input. Thank you!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=169561530971&ref=mf

Your servant,

Vinode Vani d.d. (ACBSP)

October 17: Diwali Celebration

Here is a complete schedule of events:

6:00 PM Bhajans
7:00 PM Arati
8:00 PM Entertainment
8:30 PM Arati and Damodarastakam
9:00 PM Fireworks in the parking lot

October 18: Go Puja and Govardhan Puja

Here is a complete schedule of events:

12:00 – 1:00 PM Go puja by the temple and circumambulation
1:00 PM Arati
1:30 PM Go puja in the barn across from the Palace Lodge
2:30 PM Sunday feast
4:30 PM Arati and worship of Govardhan Hill
5:00 PM Abhishek
5:30 PM Bhoga offering — please bring a preparation
6:00 PM Entertainment
7:00 PM Arati
7:30 PM Feast
8:00 PM Damodarasika