Archive for August, 2007
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
Academia, Here I come!
Well it is pretty much official, I’ve gotten preliminary acceptance from Gopiparanandhana Prabhu and this morning, thanks to the mercy of Anand Prabhu I booked my ticket. What a relief to finally be done with that.
I’m leaving Alachua on August 30th, then I’ll be in New York though Janmastami, and Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja, I’ll leave New York for London on the Sept 7th, then on 14th I’ll fly to Mumbai and be there through Radhastami, and then it’s off to Vrindavan, and then Govardhan.
People keep saying to me, “That’s so great, your going to study Sanskrit.” I appreciate their blessings and well wishes but sometimes it feels like people say it as if I am going to college to pursue a career in academia as a sanskrit scholar.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m not going to study Sanskrit, I’m going to take shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam, Govardhana, and the eternal associates of the Lord residing there.
Although this aspiration is the highest and although I am the lowest nonetheless, being the cheater that I am, I aspire for this and somehow by the causeless mercy of guru and Gauranga I am being given this amazing opportunity.
As Kaviraj Goswami writes in Caitanya Caritamrita, “But for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is so merciful? He has converted a crow into a Garuda. Who could be so merciful?”
“Oh Govardhan, I am a cheater and a criminal, but nevertheless the unlimitedly merciful Lord Sacinandana has given me to you, please do not consider whether I am fit or unfit and simply grant me residence near you.”
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
The MyFace Generation
We had Baby Boomers and lots of generational nicknames. According to the Wikipedia, the last named generation is Generation Z. I think the X-Y-Z nominations are pretty boring.
I propose that the kids coming into college age at this time be called the MyFace generation. For those of you over the voting age, that […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
Is local the new organic?
Article found in Gristmill
Last week, The New York Times ran a feature by Marian Burros on New Seasons Markets, a grocery store chain in Portland that’s banking on consumer interest in local, sustainable food — as opposed to simply organic.
The chain recently completed an inventory of the origins of its stock and has labeled everything grown in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California “Homegrown.” They’ve already got six stores and three more on the way, but remain adamantly opposed to expanding beyond the Portland suburbs — a testament to their commitment to being grounded in the local food economy.
People concerned about health, taste, and the environment have long sought out organic products. Once a cutting-edge concept for gourmets and health-food junkies, organic is now mainstream, with many familiar major food brands launching organic product lines. I bought organic milk at a Seattle Safeway the other day that was packaged under Safeway’s own new “O” label. Organics are the fastest growing segment of the food industry, with sales increasing by some 20 percent per year.
But, as the NYT piece notes, organic alone is not the answer to the question of the fundamental role food plays in our local economy, environment, food security, community vitality, or even health and enjoyment. I don’t know where that organic milk I bought from Safeway came from. I like the idea of sticking with my delivery from Smith Brothers dairy each week. Even though it’s not organic, there’s no growth hormone used and I am supporting the last of the independent dairy farms in my state, Washington.
We won’t be seeing New Seasons outside the Portland area any time soon — but other areas are making progress on the local food front.
In the Seattle area, for example, cutting-edge projects are exploring food as a driver in the local economy and as a focal point for public policies ranging from health and nutrition to urban planning and even transportation.
Sustainable Seattle is launching a first-of-its-kind research project looking at how dollars spent on locally produced food affect the local economy, as a counterpoint to the dollar spent on the average grocery item that has traveled 1500 miles to reach the consumer.
Washington State University’s King County Extension office is leading an effort to establish a food policy council for Seattle and King County that would bring together a broad spectrum of food system participants — from farmers to hunger activists to grocery executives to land use experts — to work jointly on solutions to current challenges like childhood obesity, disappearing farmland, and alarmingly high levels of hunger in our community.
I have always believed in the power of coming to the table together to hash out issues, find common ground, and be reminded of one another’s humanity, but I have most often thought about it in the very personal context of family and friends. In these times of bitter division, can coming to the table in celebration of delicious local-grown bounty help remind us of our many shared values and experiences?
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by AR
Monday, August 20th, 2007
Stop on by for Hot & Cold Chai!
The days are HOT, the nights are COLD, it’s very very DRY on the Playa,
so come on by for Krishna Camp Chai just like in the Himalayas!
To find your way to come and stay we’re at 9:00 and Estuary,
so bring your mug, be warm and snug, sing and come make merry!
To find our spot click […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Krishna Camp
Monday, August 20th, 2007
24 hour Kirtan Festival Report
The first annual 24 Hour New Vrindaban Kirtan Festival was amazing. It is hard to describe the incredibly joyous experience of chanting the holy names with such wonderful devotees. The love that they share for each other and for Krishna erupted in a volcano of transcendental sound vibration that seemed to expand and cover the entire universe.
The day started off with a bang with Vishwambar leading an ecstatic gurupuja kirtan.
Opening ceremony to invoke auspicious and take vows to complete the vrata of 24 hour continuous kirtan (akanda harinam).
Ananta Prabhu started us off, and from then onwards it was non stop ecstatic kirtan.
Vishwambar was absolutely amazing from 9:00 am to 1:00 am he was either playing mrdanga or leading kirtan.
Madhava Prabhu was the special guest, this was his first time to America. Everyone was extremely inspired by his heartfelt devotional kirtan.
Mangala arati at the Srila Prabhupada’s Palace. For me this was the most beautiful scene of the entire festival. You could just see that Srila Prabhupada was so pleased to be with his grandchildren. Forty years after inaugurating Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in the Western world the children of his disciples, who have grown up to be wonderful devotees and incredible musicans in the traditional style of Maharaprabhu’s sankirtan, organized the North America’s first ever 24 Hour Kirtan festival. How pleased must Srila Prabhupada be?
After mangala arati we headed down to the temple to do kirtan in the courtyard for the rest of the morning. By this time the crowd started to thin out. Madhava Prabhu brought the vrata to a close with another beautiful kirtan. By this time I was beyond tired, the last few hours were a struggle and I spent a good portion of the time dozing off, but i did complete the vrata, and then I head up to the room to crash out.
Then we got up around lunch time and had time some time to hang out. Then around 6:00 PM, in consultation with Ananta Govinda Prabhu, I decided to come down for Alachua for a visit. I had been wanting to come for sometime and since Maharaj is going to be here for visit what better time could there be? It will be like the good old days. Alachua holds so many memories of much mercy that was bestowed upon me here. Of course the new days are also pretty good, I cannot complain, Maharaj continues to bestow his mercy upon me.
I told Ananta that I felt like I didn’t want to bother Maharaj and he chastised me saying that Maharaj will always be happy to see me and that I should take advantage of every opportunity for association because it is so precious and one never knows how long it will be available for.
In addition to Maharaj being here I will also get to be with my very dear friend Kartamasa and his Krishna Balarama dieties for Balarama’s appearance. That will be a special treat to be with them again. We lived together and served those deities together and shared many special times and for two years we were all together in Sharanagati with Yamuna Devi for Balarama’s appearance day.
And of course there are so many wonderful devotees here who I have not seen in quite sometime. Somehow recently Krishna has arranged alot of association with many friends that I grew up with, first LA Ratha Yatra, then the NV Kirtan festival and now Alachua.
The plan for getting to Alachua was to jump in the car with Haribhakti, Bali, Priya, and Govinda. As I was getting packed for the trip I realized that if I am going to Alachua it doesn’t make sense to come back to New Vrindaban because I can just fly from Jaxsonville directly to New York and save myself some money, if I were to fly back to New Vrindaban it would be more expensive and then I would still have to get to New York. So I jump on the internet and booked a ticket with Jet Blue, Jaxsonville to New York.
Now the only problem was that I had to pack all my stuff for the India trip and put whatever stuff that I ever wanted to see again into storage. By this time it was quite late and they were all ready to leave, after all we did have a fifteen hour journey ahead of us.
I was pretty impressed with myself, within about two hours I had my two metal trunks filled with whatever personal affects, some legal documents (birth certificate, social security card).
The other trunk I filled with whatever books I wanted to keep.
Then I packed my backpack, my regular travel bag, and a duffel bag with a warm sleeping bag and some warm clothes for winter in Vrindaban.
Everything was packed up by 8:30 and we went down to the temple for my last darshan with Thier Lordships.
I said my goodbyes to Chaitanya Prabhu and then we quietly slipped away in the darkness of night. And just like that my stay in New Vrindaban is over for, at least for sometime. I will always be grateful fro the opportunities to perform devotion service there and for to all the devotees who tolerated me.
The ride was pleasant, lots very intimate conversations along way, the boys had lots of very sincere questions. I did manage to get about four hours of sleep along the way, which was about four hours more than the previous night.
We dropped Bali off, I took a shower at his place and headed over to the temple in time for Raj Bhoga arati.
Radha Syamsundara are as beautiful as ever. Seeing them has inceased my eagerness to see Radhe Syam in Vrindaban.
Jay Jay Radhe! Jay Jay Shyam! Jay Jay Shri Vrindaban Dham!
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Monday, August 20th, 2007
“Jaya Nara-Hari!”
This is HG Janak Mahajana Das, who does so many different, needed, and wonderful services here at New Vrindaban. To me, he is a very dear friend, spiritual guide, and always so blissful to see me and offer me such services as cleaning up in the Snack Bar. Jai?!
Janak very very hard at work….
A lot of us in ISKCON know Janak and know his immense worth as a devotee, so there is no need to embarrass him by glorifying him further. But, in an effort to please the devotees, I offer a series of photographs showing you, the humble servant of the servants, his wondeful Deities, including a Deity of Lord Nrshima with Prahlada Maharaja that is over 200 years old, and is currently the oldest Deity being worshiped on the grounds of New Vrindaban.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Bhakta-Chris
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Tour Guides Needed…
Club 108, a preaching branch of ISKCON New Vrindaban is currently working on two projects involving tours, one virtual and the other in-person.
The virtual tour is being produced for portable video players which our guests will carry around as they watch their guide on the screen tell them about the history and beauty of the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Arya
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Remodeling their consciousness…
Be on the lookout America! Lord Caitanya’s remodeling team will soon be rolling through your town or village to repair your consciousness.
The warp tour is nearing its end with ongoing unbelievable success! Every year the devotees are given press passes and even allowed back stage to mingle with the “rockstars.”
Fortunate for New Vrindaban […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Arya
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Radha-VrindabanChandra
With Radha-Vrindabanatha and Radha-Madhava (respectively)
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by jm
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Living Donor Requested
The following is excerpted from this article on Dandavats:
“In a fast evolving turn of events, His Grace, Shyamasundar Prabhu, initiated in Jan. “67 in SF, who carved the original Jagannath deities that are still worshipped to this day in Berkley as well as three other sets,who was the beloved personal secretary for Srila Prabhupada during […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Saturday, August 18th, 2007
“Spring Evening” by Tran Nhan-tong
I understood nothing, in my youth;
When spring came my mind wandered in flowers.
Now, knowing who this Ruler of the East truly is,
I sit on my cushion, I sit on the meditation board,
And watch red petals fall.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Saturday, August 18th, 2007
Does Krishna Like Milk From Unprotected Cows?
By Radhe Radhe devi dasi
I just read this article on Dandavats and it encouraged me to hurry up and write an article that I’ve been wanting to write for a long time. Most of the information in this article is from Peta, the vegan society, and http://www.milksucks.com/ (I know, not a nice name, but they have some good info).
One of the first things I heard when I met the devotees was “you can’t be a vegan devotee.” This is because Krishna loves milk and milk products and devotees love to offer them to him.
The problem is that the milk we (in the cities) are offering to Krishna is not pure. As Jahnava mataji said last Saturday, actually all foods in Kali Yuga are considered to be impure.
Krishna doesn’t just love milk, Krishna loves cows. So how does he feel if we are offering him grocery store milk that is laden with antibiotics and growth hormones—milk that comes from cows that are abused and mistreated and finally sent to the slaughterhouse?
To give milk the cow must be pregnant and then have a calf. On both organic and non-organic farms, cows are kept continuously pregnant. On non-organic farms mother cows are treated like machines, chained by their necks in concrete stalls for months at a time, their udders are swollen so large that they sometimes drag on the ground. Cows give milk for the same reasons humans do—to feed their babies. To keep milk production high, cows are kept pregnant by artificial insemination and their male calves are taken away at 1-2 days old and chained inside cramped dark crates to be killed for veal. The milk meant for them is what we buy on the grocery shelves. They are not even given a chance to drink their mother’s milk.
It is too easy to turn a blind eye to what goes on behind the grocery store shelves. After all, how can we not offer milk sweets to Krishna? How will the Sunday feast go on without sweet rice?
But how can we offer milk sweets to Krishna using milk that (unless organic) contains hormones, antibiotics, disease, blood, fish and who knows what else? Cows are so dear to Lord Krishna that I just cannot imagine he would want to taste milk from cows so horribly abused, or even if not abused (organic cows), nevertheless sent to the slaughterhouse.
The ideal is, as Sivarama Swami says, to support the Iskcon farms in their efforts to protect the cows and offer pure milk to Krishna. But for those of us who live far from farms and must buy milk from the store, it seems that abstaining from milk products is the only choice. A vegan diet is the only option for cow protection living in the city.
Find the full article at http://namahatta.org/nh2/en/node/5535
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by AR
Friday, August 17th, 2007
24 hour Kirtan Festival Pre Festival Report
Thanks to the hard work of Chaitanya Prabhu and others the temple room is beautifully decorated with Mahamantra banners.
Gopal Prabhu has been here in and out for the past couple of weeks making the necessary arrangements.
The first car load of kirtaniyas arrived this afternoon. Here you can see Bali taking some much need rest after the all night drive. Vish and the rest of the Alachua gang should be arriving soon.
Madhava Prabhu will be flying in later today, Ananta Govinda, Gauravani and all the other devotees will be arriving sometime before 9:00 AM tomorrow.
24 Hour Kirtan Festival Schedule
Saturday August 18 to Sunday August 19
IN THE TEMPLE ROOM
9:00 AM–12:00 PM: The New York Kirtan Party lead by Ananta Govinda Das
12:00–3:00 PM: The Alachua Kirtan Party lead by Visvambhar Das
3:00–4:00 PM The Washington DC Kirtan Party lead by Gaura Vani Das
4:00-7:00 PM The Vrindavan 24 Hour Kirtan Party lead by Madhava Das
7:00-7:30 PM Sandhya-arati kirtan lead by Parampara Das (New Vrindaban)
7:30-9:00 PM The Vrindavan 24 Hour Kirtan Party lead by Madhava Das
OUTSIDE
9:00-10:00 PM Swan Boat Festival
AT SRILA PRABHUPADA’S PALACE
10:00 PM-1:00 AM: The Washington DC Kirtan Party lead by Gaura Vani Das
1:00-4:30 AM: The New York Kirtan Party lead by Ananta Govinda Das
4:30-5:00 AM: Srila Prabhupada’s Mangala Arati in the Palace
AT THE YAJNASALA
5:00-6:00 AM: The Pandava Sena Kirtan Party
6:00-8:00 AM: The Alachua Kirtan Party lead by Visvambhar Das
8:00-9:00 AM: The Vrindavan 24 Hour Kirtan Party lead by Madhava Das
Harinam Sankirtan ki Jaya!
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, August 17th, 2007
Radhanth Swami Kirtan in Seattle
Balaramachandra Prabhu just sent me the link to these videos of Maharaj’s recent visit to Seattle.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, August 17th, 2007
24 Hour Kirtan Festival Schedule
Saturday August 18 to Sunday August 19
IN THE TEMPLE ROOM
9:00 AM–12:00 PM: The New York Kirtan Party lead by Ananta Govinda Das
12:00–3:00 PM: The Alachua Kirtan Party lead by Visvambhar Das
3:00–4:00 PM The Washington DC Kirtan Party lead by Gaura Vani Das
4:00-7:00 PM The Vrindavan 24 Hour Kirtan Party lead […]