New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

First Annual North American Patron-Leaders Weekend of Bhakti

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“Watching Holy Cow Swami last week made me want to take another trip to New Vrindaban. I thought about a few people that might enjoy such a trip, and put out some invitations. M. definitely wanted to go (she had never been there), and my friend Mike desired a return visit.

“He had accompanied me during my visit of three years ago, when we met Tapahpunja Dasa – who gave us a very informative tour of the organic community garden. Our whole group was impressed by this elder devotee’s knowledge base, commitment and worldview.

“When I saw the younger version of Tapahpunja interviewed by Jacob Young for the documentary, I felt inspired to return to see how things were going with the community. I showed Mike Holy Cow Swami, and we had a lot of quality conversation about the way events were portrayed and about faith and religion in general. We could have stayed up talking far into the night, but we wanted to have some energy for our day trip…”

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Snan Yatra was celebrated in New Vrindaban yesterday.

Eternal New Vrindaban resident Vedavyas Swami returns home to bath Lord Jagannath.

Kirtan swirled around the ceremony.

A cameo appearance by Parampara prabhu.

Pure unalloyed dancing transpired.

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You can see and download several photos from the recent New Vrindavana GBC meetings here.

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By Srila Jiva Goswami dasa

Has anyone ever deliberately spit in your face? In early 1967, I was a twenty-one year old African American in my home town of New York City. Having just spent four years in the military, I’d never heard of the Hare Krsna Movement. I was heading across 23rd Street for the 8th Avenue Subway. I’d just been informed by doctors at the VA’s Regional Office on 9th Avenue that my vision acuity was below the level which marked legal blindness (20/200) and would continue to decline.

In a doorway ahead, I saw a solitary black woman. She was very slight. Her hands were up over her face. We thousands milled all about her. I supposed it was the New York way: “Don’t ask for trouble.” I was concerned though. I saw a cop, up on the corner ahead. Someone would attract the cop’s attention and bring him down to assist this lady, I thought. Then I considered that someone might as well be me. I’d find out what was wrong and go tell the cop and then get on the train and contemplate my own situation: Blind and getting blinder.

I stopped in front of the lady, who did not lower her hands. I reached out and touched her lightly. “Are you OK?” I asked. Fellow New Yorkers continued to swirl about us.

The woman slowly brought down her hands and then suddenly spit at me. She caught me full flush in the face. I could smell her spit; it was vaguely like metal or rust. I pivoted and stepped quickly away. I heard someone in the crowds all over gasp out loud. I did not move to wipe away the spit, as if by ignoring it, I thought subconsciously, that it had never happened.

Fast forward 10 years. Now, I’m a Bhakta in Columbus Ohio where New Vrindabana supported a satellite temple. I’m walking up the west side of High Street with Vahna Prabhu, who has introduced me to Krsna Consciousness. Vahna was wearing jeans and a shirt, but I am wearing a dhoti. I am chanting on beads, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”

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Dear Devotees,

As we are experiencing difficulties with our water production due to the drought, we again request everyone to be very conscious about water usage.

If you live in the RVC temple, temple compound or apartment buildings, it will be wise to boil your water before drinking. We also request that you take shorter baths and try to save water in any way you can.

At the beginning of May, the wells were producing 25 gallons a minute. They are now producing 10 gallons a minute and the driest time of the year is ahead.

Summer rains normally are insufficient to recharge wells so devotees need to take this seriously.

ISKCON Water & Sewer Department,.

Janaka Mahajana Das
(304) 843 1600 ext 105

by Madhava Gosh

New Vrindaban needs a reporter to share with the world what is going on. Right now, the Brijabasi Spirit is barely scratching the surface.

I have been trying to encourage devotees to write for the Brijabasi Spirit for almost a year now, and have had limited success. I clearly lack the motivational skills to help this achieve its full potential by getting more devotees to write about more aspects of the community.

As I feel I have taken it as far as I am capable of going, I am going to stop working on the project. I will continue to post submissions, but will no longer actively pursue getting others to write, nor will I contribute myself.

I have other projects, including cow protection related ones, that I feel my limited energies will be better served by pursuing.

Another factor is that with the availability of New Vrindaban Bloggers, the Brijabasi Spirit is now only a component of a larger window into New Vrindaban, so pushing for frequent posts is no longer that essential. Between all the bloggers, there is something new daily.

Still, there is a lot of unrealized potential for the Brijabasi Spirit that remains to be tapped, and if anyone has any interest in either writing for the Brijabasi Spirit, or taking on some of the administrative duties, please contact me.

I will continue to be involved so the future of Brijabasi Spirit is not in jeopardy. Fans of Jiva Goswami don’t need to feel worried or anything, and Jaya Murari will continue to post.

See the Brijabasi Spirit and all the New Vrindaban bloggers in one place at a new feed reader called New Vrindaban Bloggers.

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Here is Mother Jayasri prabhu making ghee wicks for all the pujas using a machine designed and prototyped by Rupanuga prabhu.

It is a spindle rotating at a high RPM. She shreds cotton off a roll and applies it. The spindle “grabs” the cotton and winds it tightly. She adds more at the bottom than the top and shapes it as she goes. A ghee wick is formed almost instantaneously.

Rupanuga started with a foot pedal operated motor from a sewing machine and worked from there. He went through different versions, ending up with a prototype model, the spindle fixed in a small box.

It was given to Bhakta Joe, who works as a machinist, and he used first class metal to make the final spindle.

He then gave it to Gopish prabhu who is also a machinist and has a well equipped shop. He built the current sturdy metal box with a butcher block top. This exceeded specs, but he wanted it to look nice because it was for Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Candra.

Jayasri uses a moistening sponge as it helps to keep her finger slightly moist during the process — less “fuzzies” form.

The pujaris like the wicks as they stand up well and burn for a long time.

It is a common sight to see Jayasri making ghee wicks during Srimad Bhagavatam class.

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By Srila Jiva Goswami dasa

Mukta Kasa Prabhu had a funny way of chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. I used to tease him by getting up in his grill and intoning, “Hey ditty ditty,” as if that was what he was actually saying. In thundering tones, he would boom, “Hare Krsna ….” (Pause) “Hare Krsna …” (Another long pause) “Krsna Krsna …” (You get the idea) “Hare Hare.” Here it sounded as if he was done but he’d pick it up again with: “Hare Rama …” (Windows rattle) “Hare Rama …” (Operator will be with you shortly) Then suddenly would come the part I’d tease him about: “Ram Ram Ram, Hi ditty ditty!” The last portion spilled out like a boat popping over a waterfall. Then he’d begin again.

While he chanted so, Mukta Prabhu strode rapidly. I imagined I could see little puffs and jets of smoke at his heels.

We got along wonderfully, I thought. The thing is, like many people, I loved Mukta Kasa Prabhu.

I guess that affection began at the first Mongol Aortik I ever attended, back in the Columbus Temple. Mukta and Loka often led a Kirtan with a Calypso beat which would drive me nuts. I loved to dance when Mukta or Loka led a Kirtan, it was so … New York to me. Lord Caitanya, of course, did what He does, that is, act like a Deity, but I imagined that He was pleased at the Belafonte like tones of Mukta and Loka. I know I was!

We had all made obeisances when the curtain opened, and on this first morning when I met him, Mukta was leading the Kirtan. The subtle beat was infectious, in the best sense of the word. I shouted and sang with such abandon and joy that I accidentally blew the caps off my front teeth. I know … that is moochy, Prabhu. It was an accident. It had never happened before and has not happened since. After Aortik, one of the Devotees actually found and returned my caps to me, and I stuck them back in my skull.

The point I’m trying to make here is that I was of course, very inexperienced, but I was also very very happy. At one point in fact, as I harmonized in joyous abandon, I noticed that everyone had stopped singing. The sparkling Kirtan had come to a halt, and all were looking at me. Everyone was waiting. Even Lord Caitanya seemed to pause, and you know THAT is quite a trick, to see a Deity pause. How did He do that?

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