New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

For the week of September 22nd-28th, 2008

 

Watch your step…oops! Yes, that’s fresh tomato juice in between your toes. It’s all part of a week’s work at the Small Farm Training Center here at New Vrindaban Dham.

For instance….

The season-concluding harvest continued up top at the Garden of Seven Gates, as we were able to finish off our crop of tomatoes and pull the remaining plants out of the ground. Where once they grew on vines to green and orange and red results now stands only the dirt and the occasional scampering mouse. After finishing the big job, Chris once again remarked that he felt “like a manly man.”

We have a large stock of green and red tomatoes of varying varieties and sizes in the cooler. Please share in our harvest for you and your family’s needs! See Tapah or Chris if you would like some tomatoes.

Click here to head on over to the Club 108  blog to read more

 

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Focusing and unfocusing my eyes
I see the green tomatoes I am to pick in the vines also green
It’s subtle to say the least
Like the wise hockey playing soccer playing blogging cow loving sage once said
If you can’t see into the trees when you’re driving
How can you see Krsna?
He is The Most Subtle
Subtle, not loud, He’s behind the scenes
Looking inwards, where I like to be
It’s not a cheap trick
To pick green tomatoes or loving devotion or anything sublime in this way
Because the tomatoes flowed and flowed into the crates
And in the meantime these words flowed onto this page

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For the week of September 15th-21st, 2008

The chill of the fall night soothes and refreshes the soul. Let us refresh your browser in the same way with this week’s updates of the goings-on here at the Small Farm Training Center here at New Vrindaban Dham.

It’s never boring…for instance

In what is becoming a project akin to building the Great Pyramids, we put into place a big, 400-lb log this weekend in our Workshop Extension, moving one step closer to being able to begin construction on the roof. The whole shebang included skinning the bark off the log, in which Chris remarked that it made him “feel like a manly man”, and then hoisting the log using the combined brainpower, willpower, and musclepower of Tapah, Tom, and Jay Murari. Big thanks to the Glendale flea market for providing the large tripod that also did some of the actual lifting.

Click here to head on over to the Club 108 blog to read more

 

 

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Natural Gas Extraction in New Vrindaban Moral, Ethical and Philosophical Considerations Community Meeting, 15 September 2008

Notes taken by H G Labangalatika devi dasi (Malati’s assistant)

 Discussion revolved around basic factors of A) Our purpose and responsibility as heritors of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and B) Prevailing reality and our best strategy given conditions we are facing.  The central philosophical issue, as enunciated by HH Varsana Swami, is yukta vairagya: will we use it, abuse it, or turn it aside?

 Attendance was good, and participation included many of devotees from the community who voiced a variety of perspectives and explored a range of considerations.  The following factors were discussed:

 ·        Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and example

o       Regarding coal, drilling into earth

o       Utilizing natural resources: how does natural gas fit into this scheme

·        Consulting the brahmanas

o        Specifically mentioned: Varsana Maharaja (who was present), Radhanatha Maharaja, Sivarama Maharaja (whose varnasrama project in Hungary is noted for its success on many levels, including socially and financially)

·        Environmental impact

o       Extent of development (compression stations, pipeline, lateral drilling)

o       Effect on local air, water

·        Terms of the leases, contracts

o       Decisions will be per individual land owners, can add clauses as desired to control specific use

o       Legal complications – could we handle a legal case against gas companies if some altercation were to occur

·        Financial considerations

o       Will the income be sufficient to make desired improvements at NV

o       How would trusts be set up and managed

o       What would be more beneficial financially over time, leasing or owning wells ourselves

·        Our ideals, purpose, mission

o       Does this represent “plain living, high thinking”, is this what we joined movement for

o       Is this ‘selling out’ or ‘being practical’

·        Positive use of income

o       For cows, for building sustainable community economy

o       Increased support for preaching projects, perhaps  even to help other ISKCON projects

·        Perception of others and its impact on our mission

o       NV as beacon or hypocrite; effect on preaching, power to inspire others

o       Will set a precedent

·        New Vrindaban in particular (conditions and community)

o       Not the best land (also per SP)

·        Examples of wealth gained and used for mission

o       Industrialists as biggest donors to major ISKCON projects (also example of SP’s instructions to Ambarisa Ford)

·        Money as the answer?

o       Community and devotee relationships as the key

o       Have had money before, but no improvement

 Statement by Varsana Maharaja:

 The three cardinal truths of Vaisnavism begin with sambandha.  We tried to limit and restrict this to mean the relationship between the jiva and God, but in truth it means also the relationship between the jiva and the environment.  Srila Prabhupada describes the extraction of coal and oil as being similar to the activities of Hiranyaksa, which resulted in the earth being thrown off its orbit.  Although gas extraction is not as immense an invasion, it is nonetheless participation in the prevailing economy and an industry of ugra-karma.   In order to be protected by the license of yukta-vairagya, the income resulting from this industry would have to be put into a trust directed toward coming back to the goal that Srila Prabhupada stood for.   We have not made headway in this direction, and we would need tremendous financial resources to break away from the prevailing economy for good and become a truly self-sustaining community.  It’s like the example of using a thorn to remove a thorn.  Socially and spiritually, we have the idealistic young people emphasizing the ugra-karmic aspect, while the older devotees are struggling to get some standard of sustainability and simplicity.  Ethically, the question is:  will this income be used to free us from ugra-karma?  We know from various lectures that the earth produces when her resources are being used if she’s pleased; and she is pleased when her resources are used in a way that is pleasing to Guru, sadhu and sastra.  If we are going to participate in ugra-karma, we must scrutinizingly evaluate how the money will be used.  There is great responsibility, but also great potential.

 

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ISKCON – Akash-Ganga building; 7^th Floor; Warden Road; Bombay

January 4, 1971

My Dear Hayagriva,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter written jointly with Rupanuga Prabhu, dated 30th December,1970, from Washington, D.C. I was very glad to learn that you have been cooperating all very nicely in the matter of overseeing the different centers which we have by the grace of Krsna established. It is most encouraging to know that you have found the standard of devotional service to be good.

The new programs to spread up Lord Caitanya’s message via the television radio and newspaper is welcome. It is now the vogue to ventilate various topics for mass consideration via these media, so why not utilize them properly in Krsna’s service? I am very much in favor of this program. Please try to develop this idea carefully.

Our touring program here in India is going on and I have just come from Allahabad where we attended the Ardha Kumbha Mela celebrations for three weeks. Our camp was very highly appreciated by all the big officials and they have said that ours was the most successful presentation. Even the members of many Mayavadi camps had to appreciate our movement’s activities and they have joined our Kirtan also even though I strongly defeat all their arguments in daily lectures. One influential man of the Allahabad community has expressed it that “never before have we heard personalism so strongly preached.”

Now we are registered in India and we have got our tax exemption permit. Our address of Bombay ISKCON is given above. The building is in the most elite section of Bombay and the rent is Rs.3,000 per month. I have been expecting some further words from you and Kirtanananda Maharaj also, but since I have been travelling, sometimes my mail is delayed for some time. I have received one letter from Rupanuga and his initial report from London is alright.

I am depending upon my representatives, the GBC, to cooperate fully to maintain and improve the standard of our centers and increase the number as far as possible. We have got invitations from all over the world and one boy has beseeched us to come to Jerusalem where he wants to help us open a branch of ISKCON.

Regarding the proposal for distributing 5,00,000 “Back to Godhead” magazines monthly, I do not think that it is enough. I have already hinted that to Rupanuga. Anyway, so far the initial down payment to Dai Nippon is concerned, you may certainly borrow the money from Sai’s contribution, but first you must give a practical plan how you will repay the loan. Let me know the scheme for repaying the money borrowed from Sai’s contribution and if it is alright then you may go ahead and order from Dai Nippon the larger quantity of magazines. That will be very nice.

I was very happy to see the picture of our new Pittsburg center. So everything is very encouraging. I expect to return to U.S.A. by the end of March.

By the benediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and my Guru Maharaj this Movement has got very great potency for rectifying the troubled situation of the whole world. Let us work to the best of our capacity to fulfill this mission of the Lord and surely that will be the best for all concerned.

Please offer my blessings to your good wife and Vaisnava son. Hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

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Google has finally taken some higher resolution shots of the Palace and Temple area.

Check it out here.

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The days are shorter, the groundhogs are fattier, there’s a chill in the air, and we’re still harvesting!

Here’s some links to the Club 108 blog and our recent updates.

Simple Living, High Thinking #12

Inside The Farm Circle #5

The Small Farm Training Center brochure (please help us as we begin to gather our 2009 Farm Crew-please e-mail this flyer and info to any interested parties you may know

 

CAMP: C/0 Kailash Seksaria; 74 Marine Drive; Bombay – 20

November 24, 1970

My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaj,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11th, November, 1970 and I have noted the contents carefully. You way be pleased to know our activities are being very much appreciated here in the Bombay area. Already we have over thirty life members. It appears that there is a very good, field for our preaching work in Bombay. Also we have get some nice Indian devotees who are fully engaging their energy in Chaitanya’s San Kirtan movement.

So although the atmosphere is surcharged with opposing elements in this age of Kali, if we simply have faith in the words of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, “As many towns and villages as there are all over the world, my name will be known”, certainly we will come out successful because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself and whatever He desires will certainly be done. So, as parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can become instruments in carrying out the plan of the Lord and be benefited and be beneficial to all others by the progressive march Back to Godhead. So do not feel dis­couraged but carry on with perseverance and Krishna will help.

Hayagriva has written one letter expressing his desire for you to return to New Vrindaban as he is feeling your separation. So if you like, you may return there. Please ask Ramanada to write me about the activities in Gorakhpur.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

(Handwritten postcript):

As also your letter dated 21 Nov1970. You may return tto New Vrindaban and engage your full energy to develop our scheme there. May Krishna protect you always.

ACB

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From a visitors blog:

“i was indeed! i made the journey to west virginia this weekend with that nice eric fellow. this was my first time to the lovely area of west virgina and my first time staying at rati and dwija’s house! while we were there we paid a visit to the temple and to the palace of gold. there was a festival on sunday called Radhastami. everything there was lovely. the palace was incredibly beautiful. i have pictures below. see?! oh! and i was in a minor fender bender. no worries! all will be taken care of and paid for by mr. pj…”

Read more and see lots of pictures here.

Here’s just a reminder of the fasting schedule coming up this week:

Wed. 9/10  Ekadasi (fast till noon for Vamana’s Appearance tomorrow)
Thr. 9/11   Vamanadeva’s Appearance Day – special lunch feast at temple
Fri. 9/12    Appearance of Srila Baktivinoda Thakura (fast till noon)