New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Student papers at the Global Leadership Center at Ohio University profile the conversion experience of some of the residents of New Vrindavan Community. The students broke into groups and interviewed devotees on the phone a couple of times, spent a month doing research into the community, and then actually came to visit for a weekend last Oct.

Now their papers are ready for viewing at Harvard University’s Pluralism Project website. The Pluralism Project is dedicated to the study of religious diversity in America.

http://pluralism.org/affiliates/emery/research.php

The article that targets me is at

http://pluralism.org/affiliates/emery/Quest_for_Dharma_Sankirtan.pdf

If you haven’t seen it already, you might also view my Nov 29th post – What The College Students Really Thought About New Vrindavan – Parts 1 & 2

http://nytsanga.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-college-students-really-thought.html

http://nytsanga.blogspot.com/2007/12/part-2-what-students-really-thought.html

– which contains reflections by the students of their visit and questions which I address.

ys Sankirtana d.

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Dec. 1979 at Bahulaban Temple and Dec. 2007

These and many other pictures are in the GALLERY of the New Vrindaban Website, as I’ve been scanning and posting some old slides. 

If you have any pictures, slides or negatives and would like to contribute them to this projects pictorial history, that would be greatly appreciated for many many generations to come.  Feel free contact me at your earliest convenience at jayamurari@msn.com

Creating a Holy Dhama in the west, in the heart of Maya’s stronghold or undoubtly “The Land of Illusion”, is an important part of and very dear to Srila Prabhupada’s plan to bring sanity to humanity and the only real cure for all the problems of this planet.  

So he has set forth these Seven Purposes of  the International Society for Krishna Consciousness for all the followers of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to help deliver each other and every conditioned soul into the Lord’s loving association.

Seven Purposes of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness:

1.  To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples 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, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagwatam.

3.  To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus to develop 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 sankirtan movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya 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 and more natural way of life. 

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

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words and music by Devananda Pandit das adapted from the 2ND chapter of Krishna book

When Krishna carried out His desires
Devaki glowed like raging fire.
He entered in her sacred womb,
Though she was shackled in a prison room.

Now Kamsa knew his end was near,
But spared his sister cos of fear;
” a cruel man’s as good as dead”
This he thought and this he said:
” don’t want no curse, don’t want no blame
I’ll spare her life to save my name,
But when this child of hers is born,
I’ll take his life some early morn'”.

Filled with envy, filled with hate,
He thought of Krishna as he ate,
His mind was on Him as He slept,
Carried Him around with every step.
Alas his heart was burdened down,
No trace of love could thus be found,
Unlike the lover’s heart that prays
To serve Lord Krishna every day

copyright 2001 Denis Moreau

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From Haribhakta’s blog:

Gopilila got out of the hospital yesterday. She was glad to get back home and so were the kids and I. It snowed last night and she was out there playing in the snow and making a big snow ball. Today she played in the snow with Gopala and Vrinda. We are trying to appreciate her company and make the time we have together meaningful.

There seems to be an underlying sadness to everything that we are doing now – for Gopilila’s folks and myself. I find myself getting edgy and more irritable than usual.

Gopi looks much better than when she went to the hospital. Then again, six pints of blood should make just about anyone look better.

The folks from the hospice came by today to give us some info about what they have to offer. according to the nurse, hospice services are usually offered to those who have six months or less left.

Seeing Gopilila’s progressive illness makes me remember Kunti Prabhu’s return to New Vrindavan and how she left so gloriously. It was quite magically. She was so immersed in Krishna consciousness. I am realizing that while getting entrance into Sri Krishna’s pastimes is our goal, it is certainly not an easy feat.

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Listen to this lecture given Jan 19 , 2008 in Chowpatty by former (and eternal) New Vrindaban cowherd boy, Radhanath Swami. A long lecture but well worth the time as it is germane to the future of New Vrindaban in particular, and to the world in general in its present state.

Click to hear “Love Me, love My cows”.

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The final fruits of this fall’s research project conducted by the students of the Global Leadership Center from Ohio University, led by longtime community friend, Dr. Greg Emery, are now available for reading and viewing at the Pluralism Project website, run by Harvard University.

Check it out by clicking here.

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by Bhakta-Chris

Freshly returned from their 5-week journey to India, the brahmacaris of New Vrindaban quickly found themselves on yet another pilgrimage, this time to the sacred pastime spots of Old New Vrindaban. HH Varsana Swami led us on a tour of inspiration in order to fire us up and show the need of the many restoration projects he wants to lead in the year ahead as part of the Dham Seva agenda-to preserve and make useful all the aspects of New Vrindaban, past present and future.

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By Bhaktin Lacie

Hare Krsna,

I woke up at 4am today, 30 minutes before planned and head downstairs for yet another beautiful mangal arti. I have been to mangal artis all over the place, but New Vrindaban’s are always the sweetest. It’s like waking up on Christmas morning with your family… whether it’s Christmas time or not.

When people complain about New Vrindaban they are overlooking many facts… I have not seen so many senior devotees attend mangal arti at any other place, I have not seen so many hugs amongst men, nor the dancing that happens here before the sun rises. I have never seen so many people stay for all of japa period nor have I seen the dancing that happens here for Guru Puja.

New Vrindaban is truly an inspiring temple and the love for the deities here, it is truly hard to fathom much like their mercy…

(Click here to see rest of this article with lots of photos )