Archive for June, 2007
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
First impressions.
Mother Kaulini asked me to travel with her to “upstate” NY where her services were requested to lead two grain ceremonies. Grain ceremonies, according to my neophyte understanding, are one of the samscaras (basically means a ritual intended to create a favorable impression) that most children brought up in the Vaisnava tradition undergo at 6 months when they receive their first taste of grain. Turns out the ceremonies were for the triplets I saw in NY and another little boy named Yogi.
After the kid takes his first bite, tradition holds that three plates are put in front of the baby, one full of books, another with coins and jewelry, and the third with soil. The idea is that whichever plate the child reaches for, becomes an indication of their future inclinations. Nice pick Yogi!
Our last night was spent in Styvescent Falls, NY with the nice Kayle & Saci family. Their kids impressed the heck out of me. All three attend a Waldorf school in the area. We spent the following morning looking through pictures of their school’s annualperformance of The Mahabarata, an ancient Vedic text that describes in detail the full history of The Bhagavad Gita. Little Laxman here officialy qualifies as a super rare allstar.
My favorite moment of the entire trip was late afternoon after the first grain ceremony which was only the beginning of a larger Panihati festival to be celebrated for the rest of the day. Upon departure, I noticed our tires were low but neither I nor Mother Kaulini could remember the proper tire pressure for an SUV nor did we have a tire pressure gauge. A seasof Hindus stood before us. Outcome unlikely. A moment later, however, Mother Taruni spots His Holiness Varsana Maharaja. She ran over, he nodded his head, and, sure enough, came back with an answer and a tire gauge. He said we could keep it. And that’s how one lucky tire gauge found itself on my altar.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by strictlymedicinal
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
Hello strawberries, I’m home.
I’m finally at home. Gita Nagari is magical. Nestled in between thriving Mennonite and Amish communities, she holds her own as a religious place of pilgrimage and refuge. The Radha-Damodhara temple here is the most beautiful temple I have had the opportunity to worship in. Simple yet elegant, her giant windows spill in the morning sunlight and illuminate the otherwise invisible waves of incense hovering above. Today I washed these giant windows and was practically out of breath when I finished.
Gita Nagari has a down-home, comfortable, family atmosphere. The Sunday feasts feature the finest in vegetarian, home-baked soul food, infused with loving devotion. One is surly blessed to experience the honor of tasting Mother Kaulini’s curd and zucchini sabji. In fact, with so few temple residents, the two cows we milk every day provide the ashram with an abundance of fresh yogurt and curd. So much for my urban, vegan aspirations.
Day and night, Mother Kaulini milks two beautiful brown swiss mothers, named Kisore and Saloni. I usually tag along and watch in amazement at Mother Kaulini’s gentle yet steady and strong milking grip. The cows are literally dripping milk and stand patiently, legs untied, while we sit on either side of one cow, harvesting their priceless donations one at a time. Evening milking is the best. Sometimes we linger and watch the eastern storm clouds roll in or observe the reddish hues of sunset illuminating the western sky. Full bucket in tow, we head back to the ashram, day well spent and ready to take rest.
I quickly plugged in here as a groundswoman. There are infinite hidden perennial beds and future gardens waiting to be discovered. I arrived just as the strawberry patch ripened up and spent the first two weeks picking strawberries early mornin’ style so as Krishna could enjoy freshies for breakfast. In one week there will be a big celebration here marking the simultaneous two-year anniversary of the death of H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami and the completion of his samadhi memorial, being dressed in white marble as we speak. At the request of Mother Kaulini, one week gives me just enough time to finish decorating the holy dhama with as many sunflower, watermelon, sweet pepper, and tomato plants as possible.
This here is Gopa. He’s my pal. Yesterday while sitting underneath the back porch awning of the old farm house, we chanted japa together and watched the greatly anticipated rain quench the garden’s thirst. I guess I’m partial to three-legged beings. The kittens with extra toes pass as well. Srila Prabhupada compares our relationship with Krishna as that between the caretaker and the dog. The sane caretaker (Krishna) gives the dog (living beings) freewill to roam and explore, play and do what she wants, but the ultimate purpose of the dog is to obey the master’s orders. The way I figure, there is nothing more annoying than an untrained dog, so I’m getting myself potty trained.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by strictlymedicinal
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
Evolution of a Circumstance
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 […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
Saving One Ear At a Time
Here is a picture of the ridge across the hollow from Gopa’s. Shows part of the Vrindaban farm and part of Snyder’s. Similar to the view I was meditating on the day of my bike trip, but without the crowd or deck.
Recently I have attended a couple of home programs co-anchored by Radhanath […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Friday, June 29th, 2007
Absolute fashion.
After the GBC meetings, the van was again packed up Ratha Yatra bound. NYC, here we come! Again.
We arrived in Brooklyn around 9 pm. With just enough time to catch a quick shower and powernap, we headed down to Washington Square Park for late night set-up starting at midnight. Good times with the local entertainment and four hours of tent and pole placement later, we jumped on the subway around 4am, got back to the temple just before mangala arati, but slept through the morning program anyways. We were up and showered, however, by 8am and in the van soon after for a quick stop at 26th & 2nd Avenue, the historic site marking the first Hare Krishna pad and bhajan kutir in North America.
The Ratha Yatra began in Central Park at noon. The crowd was in the thousands, all scrambling to help pull Lord Jagannatha’s chariots some 50 blocks down 5th Avenue. I think the pictures say it all. Check out this rockstar Vaisnava mama keepin’ it reals with triplets.
H.H. Praladananda Maharaja (who weeks ago in Srimad Bhagavatam class explained how we all worship a deity, meticulously dress, bathe, and feed them nicely and very opulently, but in most cases the deity is our own bodies), and H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja led great sessions in the question & answer tent at the festival landing site, where I proceeded to help serve out free vegetarian prasadam to what seemed like thousands of folks. I kept on asking myself, as the line grew longer and longer, “How to go about feeding NYC?”
In all the excitement and madness, I left my backpack in the Brooklyn temple and was forced to leave it when my ride to Gita Nagari informed me that it would be too far out of the way to retrieve it. What to do? Me, my sari, and my humble fanny pack arrived in Harrisburg three hours later and spent the night at Motha’ Lila Katha and Tamal Krishna Prabhu’s lovely new home. Lila geneoursly hooked me up with some necessities so that I arrived at Gita Nagari in Port Royal, PA, the following afternoon, with a fresh sari and toothbrush in hand.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by strictlymedicinal
Friday, June 29th, 2007
Radhanath Swami in Athens
Maharaj really bestowed some mercy on us. He decided to visit Athens to see an old friend and he agreed to also do a program for the college students that were still around.
It was surreal driving to Athens with Maharaj, the same drive that he did every week for seven years and the same drive we have been doing every week, we were now doing together.
Maharaj drove the whole way as he told stories of his preaching experiences many years ago. It has been about twenty since college preaching was his main service.
It was just so wonderful to in the car with him, he really went out of his way to give us his time and attention. He could see that we desperately needed it.
When we got there he spent some time with his old friend, then he showed us around campus, he showed exactly where he used to sit and chant and where his original cooking classes were.
It was amazing how many people showed up for the program. About twenty five students came, it was a long, long awaited moment for us.
Unfortunately I had to say my goodbye to Maharaj, it was bittersweet to hear him say “we wont see each other again this year,” but he did say, “Unless you come to India.” So that option is available. Let us see.
Maharaj spent the night in Athens and the next day he went to Columbus, but I had to leave early because I had a flight early the next morning out of Columbus to Kansas City to meet up with some devotees, who wanted to go to Rainbow Gathering. There was a little change in plans. We will go to the Rainbow Gathering, we won’t have a big camp like the last years but at least we will be there to meet people, and chant the holy names, and we have been on a cookie making marathon so we will lots of delicious cookies to pass out once we get there.
It was sad to be parting but of course the real meaningful connection is through service, service in separation is what makes the meeting sweet.
Since we are leaving early morning tomorrow for the gathering I will not be posting anything until after July 4th.
Here are some picture from Maharaj’s visit to Athens.
Maharaj driving, it a very unique experience with all of us in the car and Maharaj driving.
Evening Program in Athens
Meeing with students afterwards
Bryan Hall, the place where the original cooking class in Athens was
Sitting in the same spot where Maharaj used to do kirtan and meet students to invite them to the cooking class
Walking through campus
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, June 29th, 2007
Divine Nature
“How does Man attain to a real union of love with his neighbor? Not merely by abstract agreement about truths concerning the end of all things and the afterlife, but by a realistic collaboration in the work of daily living in the world of hard facts in which everyone must work in […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Friday, June 29th, 2007
Water Emergency
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 […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Thursday, June 28th, 2007
His Holiness & Hoops.
I returned to New Vrindaban after Cleveland Ratha Yatra to the International GBC meetings. Basically, all the top administrators of the ISKCON universe blessed the community with their stay for practically one whole week. At least three days in a row, morning program was attended by over 25 sunnyasis along with some of the most well-respected devotees in the movement.
The highlights of my weekend include playing basketball with H.H. Hrdayanada Goswami. Instead of P-I-G, we played A-S-U-R-A (literally means “demon” in Sanskrit). After several evenings of darshan and two morning japa walks, Acharya Deva’s humor and intelligence has given me an even greater appreciation of Krishna consciousness and has reinforced my decision to pursue bhakti yoga as a lifetime aspiration. His blissful enthusiasm and love of Krishna is totally infectious.
Other highlights include serving fresh cow urine to H.H. Jaya Pattaca Swami every morning in the barn. What a fabulous lila. I admire his ability to reach out to so many people with his full attention, heartfelt kindness and compassion.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by strictlymedicinal
Thursday, June 28th, 2007
Editor and/or Reporter For Brijabasi Spirit Needed
by Madhava Gosh
New Vrindaban needs a reporter to share with the world what is going on. rRght 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 […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Thursday, June 28th, 2007
Longest Bike Ride of the Millenium
Thanks to Balaramacandra prabhu and Bhakta Vince, my bicycle has been salvaged from the hook it was gathering dust on in the basement and is once again road worthy. One aspect of the needed maintenance was changing a tire that was so old it was dry rotted.
The last time I remember riding it was […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
?The Groundhog? by Richard Eberhart
In June, amid the golden fields,
I saw a groundhog lying dead.
Dead lay he; my senses shook,
And mind outshot our naked frailty.
There lowly in the vigorous summer
His form began its senseless change,
And made my senses waver dim
Seeing nature ferocious in him.
Inspecting close his maggots’ might
And seething cauldron of his being,
Half with loathing, half with a strange […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
Radhanath Swami New Vrindaban Brahmacari Darshan
Maharaj is spending this week in New Vrindaban specifically to spend time with the local devotees.
One of the things on his plan for the week was to give some mercy to Brahmcaris. We met at Varshana Maharaj’s bhajan kutir and had wonderful darshan with Maharaj, he chanted two of Prabhupada favorite bhajans, “Hari Hari Viphale” and “Bhaja hunre Mana” and gave beautiful purports.
Then we had a saffron cloth awarding ceremony for Chaitanya Prabhu. There is no official vow but it is an acknowledgment of a persons sincere desire to dedicate himself fully to the service of guru and Gauranga.
Tommorrow Maharaj will fulfill a long awaited dream of ours. He will go to Athens. It will be wonderful to go with him as he again travels to Athens. It has been twenty years since Maharaj used to go every week, he used to travel to five different colleges on a weekly basis and there were a number of other programs that he used to attend regularly.
He will be visiting with old friends, one of the students who attended his cooking class in now a professor at Ohio University, he will get to see our new place, he will show us around and tell lots of wonderful stories from his days as a college preacher, and in the evening there will be a program with whatever students are around for the summer.
It is quite a special blessing that Maharaj is going so far out of his way to show us this mercy. A number of years ago when Balaramachandra Prabhu first started the college preaching he had a dream that there was a house in Athens and Maharaj randomly showed up towards the end of one of the programs. Balarama asked Maharaj what he was doing there, and Maharaj replied, “I had a desire to preach to the young boys and girls of America.”
Here are some pictures from today.
Varshana Maharaj’s dieties, Shri Shri Radha Syamsundara and Ananga Manjari.
At Varshana Maharaj’s abode there is replica of Radha Kunda, Syama Kunda, and Lalita Kunda, to protect this sacred place Kundesavara Mahadeva is residing there.
Radhanath Maharaj reads the translation to “Hari Hari Vipahale.”
I love watching Maharaj play mrdanga, today instead of playing harmonium he played mrdanga.
Radhanath Maharaj listens as Varshan Maharaj speaks.
Radhanath Maharaj, as well as Varashana Maharaj and everyone else with saffron blessed the cloth.
The big moment.
Chaitanya Dasa Brahmacari ki jaya!
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
Phone home.
I just wanted to reflect on this past month and bring the folks up to speed with my whereabouts. Why have I been so busy that I couldn’t manage to fit in a few phone calls to relay things like hello, I’m still alive, etc. for the peace of mind of my dear parents. What is the difficulty? Communication has always been my weak point.
To start off, a few weeks ago the ladies and I traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for my first kick-off Ratha Yatra of 2007. Ratha Yatra is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Chariots or the Festival of India. These festivals are held annually all around the world at various times throughout the year. The ultimate significance is that we are welcoming Krishna back into our hearts and reawakening our original, primeval consciousness for pure love of God.
Ratha Yatra is something I hold dear my heart. Two years ago, I was traveling through Mexico solo style and happened to find a devotee to hitchhike with into the city of Guadalajara. On the way there he told me the Ratha Yatra festival was that very same weekend. I had no clue what he meant but eventually we caught a ride downtown and made our way to the temple. There they were. Three massive chariots carrying three wooden sculptures with crazy, intoxicating eyes and big smiles. By the mercy of the devotees, I was later formally introduced to the presiding deities, Lord Jagannatha, Lady Subadra, and Lord Baladeva. Two days of festival later, stomach full of prasadam (foodstuffs offered to the Lord), ears ringing with kirtan, and bewildering images of devotees in devotional dress playing bass guitar and Hare Krishna reggae on a massive stage with devotees going nuts in the audience, I was fascinated. What are they so excited about, I wondered. I was curious. I wanted more. That weekend I was gifted my first Krishna book. After traveling for some time with a few devotees who put me up in their casa that weekend, I moved back to New Mexico, started going to a Sunday program and by the following summer I moved into the temple. Thus, I feel strongly about the powerful role Ratha Yatra played in awakening my Krishna consciousness and feel strongly about supporting and continuing this tradition.
By the mercy of Mother Devavati, I was invited up onto the cart to help decorate. Years of birthday parties with crepe paper décor paid off as I successfully went through four rolls to decorate the railings. With Lake Erie as our backdrop, the parade went through the waterfront parkway on a hot and blissful afternoon. H.H. Bhakti Marga Swami led funky kirtan for hours afterwards to the point of almost reaching a salsa groove. I was in ecstasy. Many thanks to the organizers of the festival and to all the Cleveland devotees who helped make it happen.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by strictlymedicinal
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
Srimad-Bhagavatam Meditation: 8.7.44
It is once again time for a guided meditation on the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic knowledge, the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
I humbly ask you to read first the translation and Bhaktivedanta purport to today’s verse, the 44th verse from the 8th Canto, 7th Chapter.
tapyante loka-tÄpena
sÄdhavahÌ£ prÄyaÅ›o janÄhÌ£
paramÄrÄdhanamÌ tad dhi
purusÌ£asyÄkhilÄtmanah
Ì£It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.
Deep within my unconscious. the fear of what needs to be gone through, of what needs to be done, to fully have the realization of this verse lurks like a hungry crocodile, waiting to chomp down on my big comfortable elephant-leg.
It very rarely bubbles to the surface, because if I am expert in anything, I am expert in hiding myself. At the slightest tings of distress or discomfort, looking for the nearest secluded location to sleep it off. Any tendency to future bloom is instantly retracted.
But I misunderstand again…the real meaning of renunciation, of austerity. Prabhupada simply says in the purport that the true realization of this verse is to simply engage in this process of Krsna consciousness for the welfare of the whole world. Nothing else pleases the Lord more.
It is not a matter of cutting off, of whipping oneself, or working or fasting into sickness. This is life?
As my boy Balarama Chandra says “For me as an “American boy”, following the regulative principles, chanting my 16 rounds, reading each day, speaking pleasantly, keeping good relationships, and sharing Kc with others is hard enough. I don’t know what else I can do? All the American comforts keep calling me, emailing me, text messaging me, and standing before me with folded hands begging “how can we serve”.
Dancing and singing and soaring while others sit in traffic jams and offices with stale coffee, relishing the transcendental surprise, clean, fresh air, stepping out on a limb, not sitting in a self-mediated stupor, learning to truly help others, feeding their souls. Breathing deep…
Everyday I pray to discover a little bit more and more about what it really means to live.
Only by bliss, knowledge, and realization can one reach the point of humbly and effectively spreading the mission of sankirtana-yajna, even at the expense of personal comfort and happiness, which is all I’ve ever known. There is no other way. Any other way dries the heart, and causes it to crumble.