Author Archive
Saturday, December 20th, 2008
New Vrndavana overrun by zombies!
In Krishna consciousness, dreaming about the Krishna is a very auspicious thing. Also in Krishna consciousness, serving the devotees is often seen as more glorious than serving the Lord. So naturally, one can draw the conclusion that my dream about zombies and Madhava Gosh is pretty much as auspicious as I’m going to get.
The […]
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
Radhastami at New Vrndavana 2008
As mentioned, I spent a few days in New Vrndavana for Radhastami. I took a few pictures, which you’ll see below.
It was a great time and Sarah seemed to enjoy it too. Rati and Dwija were wonderful and I even got to meet Dwija’s parents. Woo!
The festival itself seemed pretty dead, though we […]
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Saturday, September 6th, 2008
In New Vrndavana for Radhastami
I’m heading, with my friend Sarah, to New Vrndavana for the weekend. We’ll be staying at Rati and Dwija’s, who already have a packed house. I might even be sleeping in a van!
I’m really hoping that this isn’t my last time at NV before moving to Seattle. Hoping that I can get back for […]
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Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Scooter Cannonball Run! (for Krishna - and how you can help!)
It’s been awhile. I thought I’d give the Planet ISKCON community a heads-up about what’s going on in my life.
There is a 3,400 mile, coast-to-coast endurance event for scooters that takes place every other year. It’s called the Scooter Cannonball Run (no affiliation with Burt Reynolds). 20 or so scooterists ride from […]
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Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Trip-trapping along the ridge at New Vrndavana
This morning Madhava Gosh, Soma and I took a walk behind Rati and Dwija’s at New Vrndavana to the Peter Crow cemetery. Now, while this isn’t a devotee cemetery, it was pretty cool.
Gosh knows I’m a sucker for old cemeteries, so when he asked if I wanted to check it out, I jumped […]
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Friday, April 11th, 2008
New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble Reunites for North American Tour
New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble Reunites for North American Tour
NEW VRNDAVANA, WV — The New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble announced their first tour in decades Monday at a rehearsal in the Palace Lodge as a throng of fans crowded near the legendary Palace of Gold.
The group, which led the Sunday feast program with a live performance […]
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
East Meets West: Bhaktipada’s naming of names
Bhaktipada, the guru of New Vrndavana until 1993/94, who seems to have been getting some mention as of late, named many devotees some pretty freaky names (among other freaky things).
In Krishna consciousness, when devotees take initiation, they receive a new name, a name of Krishna with the suffix “das” or “devi dasi” (male […]
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Friday, March 21st, 2008
Happy Happy Happy HAPPY Gaura Purnima!
Happy Gaura Purnima to you and yours!
[Taken in the house of Rati + Dwija on Gaura Purnima, 2008]
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Monday, February 18th, 2008
Happy Nityananda Day!
And in honor of such a festive event, here’s quite a great class given by Varsana Swami sometime in the 80’s. You’ll dig it lots.
Haribol!
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Monday, November 12th, 2007
New Vrndavana recap-a-thon!
Wow! What an incredibly weekend! I’ll tell you about some of it.
I pulled into Rati and Dwija’s lovely little house around 8:30. From then till 2am, we sat and talked. There was a break for the Damodarastikam, of course (it being the month of Damodar and all). Their deities are beautiful! Jaya Nitai-Gauracandra!
It’s […]
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Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Karmi towels are maya!
Sometimes, in Krishna consciousness, we do things a certain way because “that’s how they do it in India.” Our culture originates there and sometimes certain things carry over that don’t really seem to make sense to outsiders (or even to us if we really think about it).
Things that don’t really have a spiritual benefit. […]
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Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
Guess who?s going to New Vrndavana!!
ME! That’s who!
This weekend! I’m pretty jazzed about it.
Anyone else going? Radhanama? Chris? Would be fun. I promise!
I’ll be staying with Rati and Dwija and will be at the festival on Saturday and hopefully at the feast on Sunday.
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Thursday, November 1st, 2007
More on ghosts - facts, ideas and personal experiences from NV
Today is the Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It’s a day when (mostly) Mexicans celebrate the lives of the departed. However, though they may have left their bodies, some may have not exactly departed…
We [Vedic culture], like most indigenous cultures, hold a belief in ghosts. We believe that every living thing […]
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Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
Will the REAL Damodarastakam in English please stand up?
A few days ago, Hrishikesh prabhu posted “An English Version” of the Damodar Prayers as penned by True Peace. As I read it, two really weird things popped into my bald little head.
1) “Oh my GOD! I remember singing the Damodarastakam in English!!” [Totally didn’t remember that!]
and
2) “This isn’t it!”
Way back in the […]
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Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
Two funny Varshana Swami stories
When you say “story” and “Varshana Swami” usually you’re talking about his tellings of Caitanya-lila. They are second to none. But it’s rare to hear stories about Varshana Swami. Well lucky me, I’ve got two. And lucky you because I’m about to tell them.
Both happened last year while I was staying for a bit at New Vrndavana.