Archive for January, 2008
Friday, January 18th, 2008
The New Vrindaban Conversion Experiences
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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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
All work and No play makes Jack a dull boy…(The Shining)
Bird in a cage, huh? what is that analogy- you know the one… Srila Prabhupada uses it- we hear it all the time- jeez, I don’t remember. Well anyway, I took this photo in the Saint Louis Temple. The devotees there had this life size statue of this guy dressed in a tuxedo polishing […]
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Nondifferent
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 […]
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Death Takes a Holiday
I tried to fast to Death but chose a bad time because He was on vacation.
Here are some other hot spots he caught(it took me a while on the bungee one).
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Radha-VrindabanChandra
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
My India Diary-Part 13
Day 31 Chowpatty 1/6
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja entered the esoteric realm of dreams during his Bhagavatam class this morning, imploring us to “Jiv Jago” from our attachment to so many plans, hopes, and enjoyments in the material realm. Even with some so-called intelligence, we understand the material world is a dream, but we think we can figure out the puzzle like some New-Age Bollywood plot with plenty of cheesy dances thrown in. We even decide to think we’re God, trying to become transcendental to the whole affair, when we are not even transcendental to our own bladder.
Maharaja relates a story of a lot and hot harinama in Italy a few years back that ended with a refreshing dip in the sea. The only problem was that a million jellyfish were waiting to sting the tender skin of the devotees. So, the material world is like that. A shimmering, inviting illusion on the surface that hides a lot of pain below, and there is no escape in the material world from the pain, unless one dives into the ocean of bliss that is Krsna Consciousness.
I can’t place what it is with the kirtans here-it’s actually a combination of the effulgent exuberance of the devotees, the sheer number of jumping spirit souls, Maharaja’s presence, etc…You actually FEEL that this is the Yuga-Dharma. No mental speculation. Just sweat, shouting the Holy Names, and hopefully no bruises or blood. All head games and other various flappings of the false ego disappear. It’s true! This process really works! The devotees here in Chowpatty can show you if you dance with them.
Day 32 Chowpatty 1/7
It feels like we’ve always been here. Driving in the left lane, honking, traffic jams. The way people speak, shouting, holding hands like brothers. Cows in the street, even in downtown Mumbai. Everything’s an austerity. Nothing is glossy except the plastic imported from the West. Krishna is here. He’s on people’s shop signs, in the movies, in the temples and homes, on their tongues and hearts. That’s the nice part. When we touch down in Pittsburgh, PA, we’ll be back in a land, where for now, Krishna is our secret that we need to share. The freeways will be smooth, quiet, and fast. The people not so warm and pushy. The temples instead huge football stadiums, the gods inside named Tom Brady. There will be big cinema screens too, but not even as big as India. Talk about culture shock.
Brahmacari class went on about the qualities of the soul, as described in verse 2:20 of the Gita. The discussion was very lively, and I did my best to keep up. Interesting questions from HG Damodar Gopal Prabhu: What are the desires of the soul? How do these desires become so polluted in our mind? What is the true form of the soul? Is is a spark or our svarupa? How can it change if it is unchangeable? All I know is that we have to re-program our mind through spiritual intelligence and strong sadhana (of which I’m no expert) and that this is the only way to answer any questions about the soul. The great souls here in Chowpatty are the most inspiring examples for me in this regard.
They even take us across town for another late-night dinner at Radhe-Shyam, a restaurant owned by a local community devotee. A nice experience-in the association rather than the cuisine. The microwave-style pizza and Velveeta-cheese pasta congeal in our stomachs, but the glorifications and the friendships made are the real nourishment. May we continue to save the world.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
The Vedic Heritage Seminar Series
Here’s a write-up for a proposed series of workshops we’ll be starting up this spring-geared to the tens of thousands of pilgrims-mostly Indian-who visit New Vrindaban every year. We hope these workshops will broaden the perspectives of all those who participate in them, leading to right and proper action for the sake of the missions of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
Applying Krishna Consciousness to Everyday Life
by Tapapunja das
Welcome to New Vrindaban Community!
The Vedic Heritage Seminar Series is designed to stimulate dialogue about life’s everyday practical challenges. People of Indian descent, who now live in America, are often faced with tough choices. “Do I follow my Indian spiritual heritage or conform to “less spiritual” Western codes of conduct?” Like it or not, everything we do is subject to karmic consequences. Making smart spiritual choices now guarantees a bright spiritual future later.
Equally important is the fate of our children. As parents, we’re accountable for transmitting higher values to them. Have we taught them why and how to preserve the sanctity of Indian culture in the West?
The Vedic Heritage Seminar Series carefully explores these issues in a simple format—the 20 minute workshop. Each workshop topic is presented for twenty minutes followed by ample time for your questions, insights and experience. Fact sheets are distributed so you can take the information back. Make the most of your pilgrimage to New Vrindaban Comminity by taking home the gift of transcendental knowledge. Hare Krishna, Hare Rama.
Topics for Discussion:
1). Food Labeling: How Much Do Labels Really Tell You?
Unfortunately, the current rules for food labeling leave a lot of room for vague claims. Here’s how to take the mystery out of reading those confusing ingredient lists. You’ll learn to distinguish between what’s really grown organically versus foods with just a few organic ingredients. You’ll also learn the difference between organic foods which deliver real nutrition to your body versus nutritionally deficient organic foods, produced by companies cashing in on an uninformed public.
If you’re following a strict vegetarian diet, don’t miss this workshop. Did you know that it is completely legal for food manufactures to add meaty ingredients to their foods without mentioning it on the ingredients label? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows them to disguise the presence of slaughter house by-products by using ingredient names such as “natural flavors.” See you there.
2). Bhumi’s Gift of Good Soil
Soil is a lot more that dirt. It’s a gift of grace from Lord Krishna, brought to us by His servant Bhumi or Mother Earth. Why is it important to understand soil metaphysics? No civilization has ever prevailed once its soil base has been eroded and de-mineralized. Good soil is 45% minerals and one teaspoon of non-chemically treated soil contains more living creatures than there are people in the world.
Most of us live in urban setting and are forced to buy food from sources who are waging chemical warfare against the Earth. Now, one out of every 150 children born in America is stricken with autism. Are neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and autism connected to our intake of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides? When you make an enemy of your mother by poisoning her, she makes an enemy of you.
3). Spiritual Yoga:
There’s one kind of yoga for the body and there’s another kind of yoga for the soul. The yoga of the body is the kind most people know about. In the yoga of the body you can stretch your muscles and feel good for some time.
With the yoga of the soul you stretch your soul muscles and feel good forever. Is there a connection between physical yoga and spiritual yoga? This workshop describes the eight rungs of the yoga ladder and explains the techniques which lead to liberation from the bodily concept of life. Did you know that different types of yoga are recommended for different ages of time. Find out why.
4). Holy Cow! I Didn’t Know That!
For centuries, cows and bulls were the ecological cornerstone of Indian village life. As India races towards modernization, many people now view cow protection as a silly and superstitious remnant of the past. Recent scientific findings, however, identify animal agriculture—especially beef production—as the chief culprit behind climate change. Yes, you read it right—animal agriculture is more destructive than all the car and truck emissions combined.
Amazingly, both the main stream media and the government are silent about this most inconvenient truth. Let’s talk about it. Come hear about New Vrindaban’s Community’s fascinating 38 year old history of goraksha-seva.
5). The Six Myths of Modern Education
The generation now being educated will have to do many things that we, the present generation, have been unwilling to do: prevent climate change; protect biological diversity; reduce levels of consumption etc. The skills, aptitudes and attitudes that were necessary to industrialize the Earth are not the same as those that are needed to heal the Earth.
Is the current Western education model preparing students for anything other than an urban existence, and dependence on fossil fuel and global trade? Our kids are taught at an early age how best to compete, but they are not taught how best to live in a truly sustainable society.
Six key myths—fallacies we have come to accept without question—underscore today’s increasingly global education system. Don’t mistake the information explosion as an increase in knowledge and wisdom. Education begins with understanding the difference between the body and soul….and the owner of both!
6). The Fast Food Monster Meets The Kitchen Religion
This is a workshop about the Hare Krishna contribution to the modern vegetarian and animal right movements. The fast food industry—and the values it embodies—has made an enormous impact on America’s social and cultural landscape. In many cultures, the family meal, provided by the father and prepared by the mother remains the essential family bond.
Conversely, on any given day in the United States, one quarter of the adult population visits a fast food restaurant. In vivid contrast to this trend, New Vrindaban residents are teaching the art of preparing wholesome Krishna prasadam, vegetarian dishes offered in love and devotion to Lord Krishna.. We regularly cook and distribute prasadam on college campuses, at inner city soup kitchens, and in the privacy of people’s homes. Find out why we are jokingly referred to as the “kitchen religion.”
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Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
“God” by Tupac Shakur
when I was alone and had nothing
I asked 4 a friend 2 help me bear the
pain no one came except…GOD
when I needed a breathe 2 rise
from my sleep no one could
help me except…GOD
when all I saw was sadness
and I needed answers no one
heard me except…GOD
so when I am asked who I
give my unconditional love 2
look […]
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
My India Diary-Part 12
Day 29 Chowpatty 1/4
Finally had a chance to read today, as I am a long-time nerd and this is my pleasure. I hang out mostly in the Vrndavana Gardens area, a picturesque replica of the Dham with many blooming and flowering plants, and a wonderful kadamba tree, which is right next to the Mandir building. HH Radhanath Maharaja would wander in every once in a while, so I tried to look like I was studying extra hard and not spacing out.
Had a nice talk with HG Karuna-Sindhu Prabhu, from Montreal, after an opulent Ekadasi feast. Lots of nice nectar, helping em to get beyond some misconceptions of brahmacarya. Brahmacarya is not just celibacy and no speaking with the ladies. Rather, it’s pure, humble service-attitude, a great desire to give Krsna to others, and seeing all living entities as souls, especially by distributing books. I’m eternally grateful for devotees like him for helping me find out my own misconceptions that I didn’t even consciously know I had. I look up to him and all the brahmacaris here with all humility.
We also went to a nice home program this evening at the home of another Caitanya Prabhu, a congregation member and architect who also spends time in NYC. Our Caitanya Prabhu, in his own American transcendental way, even got the big atheist doctors on the couch to chant the Holy Names. I’ve never heard such a transcendental motivation speech from Caitanya. Must’ve been his hunger, exhaustion, and exasperation when people don’t chant during programs. I wish I would’ve recorded it. Anyway, after some nice, simple prasad, and cultured Mumbai association, it turned out to be a very warm and gracious experience for all involved.
Day 30 Chowpatty 1/5
It has been another successful year, for I am here celebrating my appearance day in the company of Vaisnavas. My gift to myself was another day of chanting Hare Krsna, which I did today on japa beads, playing guitar, through headaches and painful foot problems, etc.
HH Radhanath Maharaja spoke in Bhagavatam class on enemies the devotee has, which may seem like a contradiction since a devotee is not supposed to have any enemies. Of course, our only enemy in devotional service is our mind. Great demons like Ravana and Hiranyakasipu performed all pious deeds and austerities to gain what they desired, and once they gained what they desired their mind took over, and all inauspiciousness happened. Arjuna says that the mind is harder to control than the raging wind, like a hurricane. The mind is like a tiger, always looking for an opportunity to escape its pen and wreak havoc, because we don’t build our fence high enough. What hope do we have?
Our only hope is constant absorption in Krsna, attentive chanting of the Holy Name, and surrounding ourselves always with the association of strong like-minded devotees who can inspire us and lift us up beyond the mundane.
We celebrated with a late-night feast at Govinda’s, despite our previous stomach problems. The Vyasa-Puja offering was not words of appreciation, but gigantic slices of cake. Forced to make a speech, I said that the only measure of success in my life is that I always spend my birthdays filling my gourd with pizza with the devotees. Maybe after a few more slices of the chili paneer, I may come to some level of self-realization. In any case, please pray for my digestion.
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
In the mode of goodness
On December 23rd I flew to Puerto Rico. Most of my my family lives there and I grew up there until I left to come study in the US in the summer of 2001. In December last year I met two woderful people, one of whom I actually had seen before from swimmi…
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
Warming Up
After two weeks in the Appalachian Mountains, with temperatures nearing 5 degrees F, we headed out to a warmer climate: Miami. It was a three-day drive with H.G. Malati Prabhu. I get that she most love to travel. She’s been driving down to Miami d…
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
Bhumi’s operation part 3
About a week into the healing process of Bhumi’s operation to remove a cancerous tumor behind her eye, I called the vet since I did not like how Bhumi’s eye was healing and it smelled bad. Dr. Moore called me back within 20 minutes and told me to give her penicillin twice a day for five days. At first he said to give 20 cc but then he said give her 30 cc since she is a big girl. It was a total circus giving her the shots. I am a total wuss when it comes to needles and blood. So, Caitanya Bhagavat volunteered to give her the shot while I tied her up and stayed at her head. It worked really well. After Bhumi got her shot we would then give her apples. She loves apples. This way she knows there will be pain but also something sweet and nice at the end.
One really sweet and interesting thing is that every morning Jaya goes and checks on Bhumi. The other cows stop and see her but no one is as consistent as Jaya. Jaya is the one who has also had the same operation as Bhumi, just on the opposite eye.
Bhumi responded very well to the penicillin. During this whole recovery period we also have been giving her homeopathy. So that also really helped her heal. After just a day and a half the smell left her. I was so thrilled about that. Smell is always a sure sign something is wrong, so for that to leave her was a good sign we were heading in the right direction.
After the 5 days I gave the vet another call. Dr. Moore said that he would come out Saturday to see how Bhumi was doing. It may be time to take out the stitches and see how the healing was progressing.
Saturday was a very nice day. Bhumi managed to take her halter off so she and I had a battle of wills to put it back on. She would not let me put it back on. When Dr. Moore showed up she was very happy to see him. I had a rope hanging around her neck so I tried her to the post with that. We wanted to see if she would let Dr. Moore remove the stitches without the halter on but Bhumi kept moving her head. It was a lot easier putting her halter on since she was already tied up. This way it was a lot easier for Dr. Moore to remove the stitches. Bhumi was still giving him a hard time by shaking her head but she just couldn’t move as much.
Dr. Moore said it looked like it was healed 75% but it was best for her case to remove the stitches. He sprayed some yellow stuff on her eye, I don’t remember the medical name of it. Also he ordered a special salve that will help the healing process. I am supposed to pick it up tomorrow and put a little on her eye.
We had an audience the whole time Dr. Moore was treating Bhumi. On one side you had Asha, Shyama and Dwadasi watching and on the other side you had Krishna, Balaram, Kalki, Bhima, Visaka and Jaya. They were all lending their support to Bhumi. In about a week or two I will take down the fence inside the geriatric barn and let Bhumi in with Gita, Asha, Shyama and Dwadasi so that she can start to learn to move around the other cows. Right now she moves really well by herself. Bhumi is getting close to the point were she wants to be in with the other cows.
Submitted by Lakshmi Devi
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Monday, January 14th, 2008
“Cool Tombs” by Carl Sandburg
When Abraham Lincoln was shoveled into the tombs he forgot
…the copperheads and the assassin . . . in the dust, in the
… cool tombs.
And Ulysses Grant lost all thought of con men and Wall Street,
… cash and collateral turned ashes . . . in the dust, in the
… […]
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Sunday, January 13th, 2008
My India Diary-Part 11
Day 26-27 Puri-Chowpatty 1/1-2
Somehow we survive another journey and arrive back home, at Radha-Gopinath Mandir. We immediately take advantage, and I mean take advantage, of our one free meal at Govinda’s. The only cost is some serious stomach problems the next morning….early the next morning, at 215 am. The added benefit is that I get most of my rounds done before mangal-arati, old NV style.
Later in the morning we are there for the revival of the brahmacari class, led by HG Govinda Prabhu. He speaks on speaking, on knowing how to speak the truth, how to speak it sweetly, and how to speak it absolutely. He says that we should understand that to correct someone on an equal platform is a subtle art that depends on our relationships, and the trust we have developed in these relationships.
As a preacher, we can either use the rose or the thunderbolt, depending on the personalities involved or the situation, but it is best not to imitate the heaviness of Prabhupada, as some devotees may be wont to do. HH Radhanath Maharaja joins us to add his ever-flowing nectar, saying that Prabhupada always used his chastisements to lift devotees up further in their bhakti. If we cannot lift people up through our concern or corrections, then we have no other alternative but to speak sweetly.
We also rendezvous with Govinda Prabhu for some katha in the afternoon. Govinda can do nothing but share and speak the Absolute Truth, so we are beyond fortunate. He speaks about the importance of proper training, applied strongly and consistently in order to make sure our preaching and sadhana is not just like a quick fire in the frying pan. I ask him about the difficulties of maintaining brahmacarya coming from a Western background, and Govinda gets lovingly heavy with me, saying there are hundreds and hundreds of examples of people, like Catholic monks, who have kept similar vows living in the West.
It is a mistake to think that because I’m a Western body that I cannot keep such vows, and if I am thinking in such a way, I am instantly disqualifying myself. He also says that the needed mental discipline for this process comes from sticking to the process with sincerity, faith, and above all effort. HH Radhanath Maharaja kindly interrupts us, and ends up asking Ghanashyam Prabhu to one day make bagels NYC style for the assembled Vaisnavas. When, oh when, will that day be mine??
Day 28 Chowpatty 1/3
Today we braved the hellish ride through the billboards of Mumbai to briefly visit the Gopal’s Garden school, a very charming institution where the Vaisnavas of tomorrow are blooming. We then made the long trek to the Govardhan Farm Community. The tranquil, beauteous atmosphere shined this lad up real nice, with memories on New Vrindaban, sans 3 feet on snow.
We took darshan of Gaur-Nitai and the cows and headed to the river for a dip. I’m no Olympic swimmer, but thanks to a few sandbars I was able to be a big boy and swim across. Mauricio, also not a gold-medalist, made it about 3/4 of the way across and then came to a halt, saved by the hero of the day Justin. Never a dull moment with this crew.
We honored prasad and then got a short tour of the facilities, checking out the bio-gas set-up, in which the farm devotees supply their cooking and electricity needs through the methane gas produced by the piles and piles of cow dung. Caitanya and Justin, looking like a potato bandit, then took a spin on the temple motorcycle. Unlike Mauricio, they did not have any near-death experiences.
Tonight at radha-Gopianth there was a wonderful program celebrating the devotees’ selfless service during the book marathon. Exciting stories and experiences were shared about the times in Dadar Stall and the equally hellish coal mines of Bihar. HG Mahamuni Prabhu shared some wisdom from New Vrindaban’s very own HH Varsana Swami, in which Maharaja described the synergy of yoking two oxen together, getting the power of three oxen (via the power of Krsna). he compared this to the combined efforts of all the devotees during the marathon, saying the power of their combined sincerity and effort produced results beyond expectations, and more importantly, connected the devotees deeper and deeper.
HH Radhanath Maharaja shared his impressions of a Prabhupada lecture, in which Prabhupada spoke about the instructions of his Guru Maharaja (”If you ever get money, print books”), and of how deep Prabhupada’s gratitude is towards us for being vessels of his Guru Maharaja’s mission. An incredibly inspiring program. Devotional empowerment was passed freely to all assembled.
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Sunday, January 13th, 2008
“Statute” by Tom Clark
The angel asked, as his shoulders were pressed into the stone
Why me? And taken away from the inhabited body,
Like the lyric voice rustling from memory forests,
Childhood rushes toward death, a wind in those woods,
Crashing through trees, dying out,
Settling like a white mist over everything.