Brijabasi Spirit

The North America Temple Presidents meeting was held  in Dallas, TX on the weekend of Jan. 13 to 15 this year.

(New Vrindaban Temple President Jaya Krishna das and New Vrindaban GBC member Tamohara das)

An overall very positive and uplifting mood prevailed last weekend at the North America Temple Presidents’ meeting in Dallas.  There were more than fifty leaders from Canada and the U. S. present. Some of the young Dallas school children opened the weekend with kirtan and prayers.

(On the left, New Vrindaban GBC Malati dd)

The seminars then began with Srila Prabhupada disciples relating some  instructions that Prabhupada had personally given them regarding management and preaching.  One devotee said that Prabhupada told him “a temple president is blessed to be given the honor to serve the devotees. On the other hand, if anything goes wrong in his/her temple, then it is the president’s fault!”

One reason for the positive spirit at the meetings is that the Youth Fund settlement case that had been hanging over all of ISKCON for many years has come to a close.  Devotees can now move on in a big way to fulfill their goals for preaching and serving.  As a matter of fact, the movement is gearing up for ISKCON’s 50^th anniversary in 2016.

Many “bhakti vriksha” groups have been established throughout the country. These are outreach programs organized in people’s homes so that small groups can come together and learn about and discuss topics about Krishna as well as chant together. New Vrindavan’s traveling preacher, Yugal Kisora Prabhu has organized fourteen such bhakti vriksha groups throughout many states.

Some new officers in our movement have been appointed, such as the child protection officer who is Lilasuka dasi from Alachua, FL, and the Divisional Director of Accounting and Regulatory Compliance officer, who is New Vrindavan’s Kuladri das. The new North American Communications Director is Kesava Prabhu, a very fired-up devotee from Toronto, where the average age of the congregation members has interestingly changed over the last few years from 50 years old to 25 years old.

There are many college outreach programs running successfully in Gainesville, Toronto and L.A. to name a few. It was brought up that such youth-oriented activities are important for creating the future leaders of our movement.

The distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books is increasing all over the country.

The care of devotees is very important and there were discussions about the most effective ways to do this.

A highlight of the weekend was a drama headed by Bhaktimarga Swami about Jagannatha Lila.  Maharaja had 3 new actors in his small troup and they did a fantastic job.

The weekend closed with a short memorial for Yamuna Dasi, who continues to inspire us to carry on our service to Srila Prabhupada in a sincere way.

• Leave a comment...

Tapahpunjah will be on WKKX 1600 AM on the Sherrie McCutheon Show Friday Jan. 27th at 10:30 AM.

Tapahpunjah will be representing the Small Farm Training Center (SMTC),  Danny Swan with be representing East Wheeling Community Gardens, and Ken Peralta will be representing Green Wheeling Initiative.

• Leave a comment...

Fridays are special days for the residents of the Dhama who take lunch prasadam at the temple. Last Friday’s all-American-fare lunch was cooked by our Friday cooks, namely Lalita Gopi, her daughters Visakha and Brinda, and also Maha Laxmi.  It was quite gourmet and it went quickly so that those who came late missed out on the pleasure of trying the main course….a shame indeed.

Most of the maha (the special foods directly from Krishna’s plates), sadly, was left behind, untouched!

I noticed, too, that more people tend to come to lunch on Fridays than on other days.  Hmm! I wonder why that is.

There were black bean with salsa burgers served on home-made buns, with guacamole on top.  The menu was creamy tomato soup, good old-fashioned sweet potato fries and Brinda’s famous sweet-can’t-be-beat hot chai tea.  A nice veggie side of simple cauliflower, broccoli and carrots topped off the repast.

A meal fit for the Lord!

We can’t wait for next Friday’s special!

Yes, the “kitchen religion” is alive and well in New Vrindavan.

• Leave a comment...

Hare Krsna Devotees

Tuesday, 24 January will be a Community Vision and Planning discussion in the Lodge.

Prasadam is served 5.30-6.00 pm

Presentation is from 6:00 onwards.

There will be 8 students from WVU attending, along with their professor. They are interested in how our community is doing the master planning process; the Madhuvan Village project undertaken by ECOV; forest management; and human-wildlife interaction.

Jaya Krsna asks that the various group leaders present their 1 year plans/ideas for review and understanding, and asks you to prioritize them.

Please come and participate!

YIS
Gaura Sakti das

• Leave a comment...

Tuesday evening’s ladies’ sanga at Malati’s cabin was a grand success!  Several of the women took turns leading kirtan in their own individual moods and everyone loudly chanted the Holy Name of the Lord in ecstasy.  There was then a small feast including a noteworthy “kreplach” chicken-less soup.  (Editor’s Important Note: the “ch” in “kreplach” is pronounced as a Jewish, guttural, throaty kind of sound.)

This kind of association with devotees increases our faith in the absolute power of the Holy Name. Plus what could be a more  fun and uplifting way to spend an evening than chanting and feasting with friends?

• Leave a comment...

Contents

1). Overview
2). Review of Annual Crop Production.
3). How Much Was Harvested? What’s the Wholesale Value?
4). Status of Student Apprentice Training Program.
5). Three Recommendations to Boost New Vrindaban Sustainable Development.
6). Networking, Local Community Outreach and Plans for 2012.

Overview

The Small Farm Training Center’s (SFTC) is an educational center and a hands-on working organic farm. Our mission is to address the looming issue of food insecurity by creating a land based green economic model that functions in both the city and rural environs. With the help of small scale technology, we make organically grown food affordable and available.

Review of Annual Crop Production

The 2011 agricultural cycle was shaped by extremes in weather. Excessive Spring rains, a period of searing summer heat and eighty days of Fall rain showers (typically 3-4 rainy days in a week from August 20th until Nov.15th), all combined to negatively impact crop production. Here are the highlights:

–First Spring planting date, March 16th.
First crops planted: spinach, lettuce, parsnip, radish, carrot, beet, chard, fava bean,
–Second planting May 16th –May 26th. Transplants grown and donated by West
Virginia State Univ. included: tomato, okra, brussel sprouts, cabbage, peppers,
kale, cucumber, basil and stevia.
–Third major planting July 17th-August 1st. Direct seeding of winter squash,
pumpkins, green beans, late beets and summer squash.
–Successes: lettuce, spinach, winter squash, pumpkins, okra, green beans,
cucumber, kale, summer squash, bitter melon and fava bean.
–Failures: cabbage, peppers, beets carrot, parsnip,
–Mixed results: tomato, chard, brussel sprouts.

*notes: Tomatoes did not begin setting red fruit until Sept. 1st. Good yield but late harvest. Six hundred cabbages were destroyed by ground hogs. 1000 pepper plants performed poorly due to wet soil conditions Chard yielded heavily until July when the plants succumbed to an invasion of leaf hoppers. Brussel sprouts did well in the Garden of Seven Gates but were attacked by aphids in the Teaching Garden. Carrots and parsnips plantings were destroyed by groundhogs in the Teaching Garden. Three attempts to grow winter storage beets all failed due to weed pressure The beet beds were too wet to allow either hand or mechanical cultivation.

How Much Was Harvested? What’s The Wholesale Value?
*note: The wholesale value chart below is determined by price comparisons to Jebia’s Market. The quantities are calculated according to standard weights and head counts for a specific vegetable. For example, a waxed box of chard weights approximately 25lbs and contains 20-25 individual chard bundles (tied with a twisty or rubber band). Jebia’s wholesale price for non-organic chard is $23.00 per box. Organic produce is typically 30% more.

ITEM QTY HARVESSTED WHOLESALE VALUE COMMENTS

Tomato 120 boxes $18/box $2160
Cucumber 45 boxes $26/box $1170
Lettuce 20 boxes $27/box $540
Chard 51 boxes $23/box $1173
Bnut Squash 40 bushels $20/bu $800
Pumpkin 70 pcs $3.@ $210
Kale 6 boxes $20/box $120
Spinach 6 boxes $28/box $168
Spaghetti Squash 13 bushels $20/bu $260.
Summer Squash 16 boxes $24/box $384
Okra 14 boxes $27/box $378
Green Beans 9 boxes $22/box $198
Fava Beans 75 lbs $2/lb $150
Red Bell Pepper 8 boxes $30/box $240
Jalapeno Pepper 6 boxes $29/box $174
Red Chile Pepper 3 boxes $29/box $87
Radish and Greens 9 boxes $21/box $189

Total……………..$8401
Total if paying organic wholesale prices………….…..$10,921

Status of Student Apprentice Training Program
–Number of inquires via email and phone……………………17
–Number of apprentice participating…………………………….7
(Brandon, Brian, John, Laslo, Yogadeva, Tracy and Ben)

Needs: The most urgent need for boosting apprentice participation is website development—specifically, a dedicated person to handle content management and recruiting. In short, we’re under-communicating what we have to offer. Target audiences include ISKCON social media outlets, animal rights organizations such as PETA and Farm Sanctuary, food activist organizations, universities and colleges, gardening clubs etc. For a comprehensive view of SFTC’s apprentice opportunity see www.farmeducation.org. Look for ‘training” in the top menu bar of the home page.
The apprentice program has mentored 30 plus full time participants and dozens of weekend helpers over the past five years.

Three Recommendations to Boost New Vrindaban Sustainable Development

a). Follow the lead of New Vraja Dhama (Hungary).
At New Vraja Dham, all devotees supported by the temple—from temple president to pot washer, yes even pujaris!—are available for 3 hours of farm related service per week. Devotees often fulfill their obligation by dividing the 3 hr. time slot into two days of 1.5 hours. The farm manager arranges work assignments knowing that each day he can expect a team of helpers. By sharing the chores in the garden, barn and fields, the whole community gains insight into the value of the cows, the land and the joy of shared sacrifice for Lord Krishna’s pleasure.

b). Restore brahminical standards in Krishna’s kitchen.
Our farming and gardening should be guided by the purity of the offering to Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chanda. Foods planted, nurtured, and harvested by devotee hands are, in the words of Srila Prabhupada, “One hundred times better” than bhoga purchased from the outside. Implementing that standard of purity should be expected in the place Srila Prabhupada anointed as a holy tirtha and ISKCON’s first farm community.

Adopting a higher standard begins with connecting the dots between the garden, the kitchen and the Lord’s altar.

c). Incentivize farming, farm culture and farm related occupations
Not only are New Vrindaban’s original settlers aging, but the ones who are experienced farmers—who can successfully grow food in large quantities—can be counted on one hand. Farming is not just ”another” manual trade. Organic farming, in particular, demands a diverse set of skills, the most important of which is the ability to accurately read and quickly adjust to the rhythms and mood swings of mother nature.

How does New Vrindaban attract the next wave of agrarians? How do we convincingly present the case for “plain living and high thinking” when the only occupations that offer a living wage revolve around Hindu fund raising, guest facility maintenance and internet administration? In the past seventeen years—that’s the number of consecutive years the Teaching Garden has been productive—we’ve purchased over one million dollars worth of outside bhoga. Imagine if that money had stayed within the community to create a local food economy.

Networking, Local Community Outreach and Plans for 2012

What began six years ago as a genuine effort to share surplus produce with area food pantries and soup kitchens has blossomed into a burgeoning grass roots movement called the Green Wheeling Initiative. The Small Farm Training Center has played a leading role in local networking efforts to bring about a unique collaboration of academia, social service agencies, city government and urban gardeners.

SFTC is currently pursuing the following initiatives outside of New Vrindaban

-A grant funded study to explore how Wheeling spends its food dollar.
-A grant funded mandate to form a business plan to shift food production
and consumption by 10% over a three year period.
-The expansion of a Community Garden Network, now comprised of fourteen urban
gardens as well as New Vrindaban’s ‘Teaching Garden’ and ‘Garden of Seven Gates.’
-The creation of a downtown Wheeling ‘Green Zone’ in partnership with West
Virginia Northern Community College.
-Regular interaction with seven local colleges and universities to stimulate dialogue
and debate about a local food economy.

Within New Vrindaban, SFTC’s 2012 plans include:

-Completion of the artisan bakery.
-Renovation of the Small Farm Training Center Guest House facility.
- Opening the Center for Preventative Medicine (inside SFTC Guest House).
-Construction of the Children’s Learning and Play Center (the Teaching Garden).
-Enhanced Student Apprentice Program, including a written curriculum.
-Irrigation and drainage for the Garden of Seven Gates (ECO-V grant funded).

• Leave a comment...

Here is an amateur video of New Vrindaban done by a visitor. Includes some Swan Boat shots. Lots of views of Prabhupada’s Palace.

• Leave a comment...

The women will be singing and chanting and burning up the incense big time this week. Tonight, Wed. Jan. 18, there will be a Ladies’ Sanga  from 5:30 PM to approximately 7 PM at Malati’s cabin. They will have bhajans, Krsna-katha and then some ever-popular and addictive prasad to top off the evening.

Due to popular demand by many of the women in New Vrindavan, there will be regular bhajan meetings at different women’s homes.  They will be learning bhajans, one at a time, and will delve into the pronunciation, translation and mood of each bhajan. The first gathering will be this Fri. Jan. 20 at Vani’s house at 6:30 PM. If anyone would like to suggest their favorite bhajan ahead of time, please contact Lilasuka at 304-843-1600 xt 106.

It’s a little thing we like to call “Chanting Hare Krishna Rocks!!”

• Leave a comment...

From “Transcendental Diary” by Hari-sauri dasa

A small but significant incident at New Vrindaban on June 26, 1976 illustrates Srila Prabhupada’s care for devotees:

Shortly after eight thirty he [Prabhupada] brought the meeting to an end. As he prepared to retire to the house, he looked at one of the women, Gopalasyapriya dasi, who was rather under dressed considering the chill of the evening. He was concerned and he turned to Kuladri, the temple president. “Um hmm. This girl? This cloth is sufficient? So you have no covering? They do not require covering?”

Kuladri was casual about it, trying to explain it away to assuage Srila Prabhupada’s disquiet. “It is warm for us, Srila Prabhupada.”

But Srila Prabhupada wouldn’t allow it to be passed off lightly. “No, if they require, they must be supplied. You must ask them what you need, and provide them. Because they do not say, you’ll also keep silent — that’s not good. Every month they should be asked what they need. Necessities, they must be supplied. We have already discussed this point. The women, they require protection, children, women.”

• Leave a comment...

Palace Restoration Committee

 Minutes December 23, 2011

Present:  Gaura Shakti, Gopisa, Jaya Krsna, Malati, Ramesvara, and Tripad

1. Minutes of the meeting December 2, 2011, were approved.

1. Work done on the roof and domes presented by Gopisa:
   1. Status: foam roof recoated, the flat section completely sealed, all the drains opened to the maximum capacity
   2. Sealant applied to all domes, front dome still has small leak, leaking is coming from the domes not from the flat section, especially from the top of the domes
   3. There is still a remaining leak in the front foyer. The front dome has to be finished.
   4. Kayafas Architects – they currently work on the specs for the front stairs this service will be covered by the work paid so far for the bid package for the new flat roof which was not used. We are hoping to additionally receive design and prints for permanent repair of the domes as part of the exchange.

Structure

1. 1. In a small area just loose sand and pebbles have been found around the front dome instead of strong concrete. Concerns have been raised that the main structure of the Palace may be compromised.
   2. Kayafas Architects contacted the engineers who worked on the Palace before. An external company will be consulted by the engineer to check the concrete under the marble with x-ray or ultrasound technology.  There is no quote so far for the tests.

Gift shop

1. 1. Kayafas Architects presented a basic design and estimates.
   2. The activities on the gift shop will be continued once we have assurance that the main structure of the Palace is sound.

Front steps

1. 1. Two bids received for the upper front stairs.
   2. Al’s masonry is the lower bid; about $60.000.
   3. Dave would like to work during the winter on the steps. Samples are at the temple for the new material to use.
   4. Decision to take from our side:
      1.                                                                i.      what kind of material to use – all new material from local source or other?
      2.                                                              ii.      Discuss with Soma or somebody in the area to do the job, or engage Dave from Al’s masonry.
2. It is planned to do the job in spring before the tourist season starts.
3. Proposed material will be sent by Gopisa  to the members of the PRC for a better understanding

1. Next steps
   1. Finish sealing the front dome.
   2. Testing the structure.
   3. Blueprints for the gift shop.
   4. Discuss with Soma if he likes to be engaged at the front stairs.

Miscellaneous

1. 1. Next conf call: January 18, 2012, 4pm.

JKd December 24, 2011

• Leave a comment...

Click here to view video

• Leave a comment...

 NEW RESIDENT OF NEW VRINDABAN

 One of Krsna’s new cows, Gomata Anjali Soma, whom you may have read about in a recent  article on the New Vrindaban website,  gave birth to her first calf early Sunday morning, Jan. 8, 2012. 

Both mata and calf are doing well and are resting at the Goshalla  across from the temple.

Little Gandharvika is the first calf born in New Vrindaban in 2012.  The last calf that was born in New Vrindaban was in 2009.  When a cow comes fresh with a calf she has a good flow of milk for the first year but after that her production falls off.  So the arrival of Gandharvika signals an increased milk production for Lord Krishna and His devotees. At present there are no other fresh cows in the barn.

Radha Vrindabanchandra will very soon be enjoying some wonderful milk sweets as a result of this new event.  Srila Prabhupada has called milk “liquid religion”, so the birth of a new calf in Krsna’s own herd of cows is a particularly auspicious birth. 

As their photos were being taken,  Anjali Soma Mata was looking around protectively, just like the good mother that she has become.  But she seemed to also be very trusting as she knows that both she and her baby will have some pleasant days ahead under the protection of Lord Krsna Himself.   Krsna is known as the best cowherd boy in Vrindaban, and Vrindabanchandra is that  same cowherd boy.

• Leave a comment...

“He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die when thou art living still in sound. The Vaishnavas die to live and, living, try to spread the Holy Name around!” – Bhaktivinode Thakura

On the evening of January 5, New Vrindaban Community hosted a memorial celebration for Yamuna devi dasi, one of the earliest disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. During the memorial, Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra temple was filled with nectar about the life of Yamuna devi dasi. Even if you did not know Yamuna personally, by the end of the evening you felt as if Yamuna had been one of your ever well-wishers all along.

The evening began with an introduction by Malati Prabhu, along with the efficient help of Rasikananda das. The congregation then sang “Je Anilo” lead by the beautifully smooth voice of Karnamrita dasi over the telephone air waves.

Then there were three wonderful talks given by Yamuna herself. First she spoke of how each and every one of Srila Prabhupada’s temples is a holy dhama. Then, she emphasized that respect amongst one another is even more important than love. And finally she told “The Rice Story”.

Once in India, Yamuna and Kausalya dasi were traveling with Srila Prabhupada on a train and he suddenly asked them for some hot rice. Seems like a simple request to us, but in an overcrowded dusty, ashy, very long train speeding across India, this was no small task. After walking the full length of 12 cars, they finally found the cook, who flatly refused to let them cook anything for anyone. This conversation took place on the little rickety platform between 2 cars. So Yamuna looked down and declared, “If you don’t let me cook rice for my spiritual master, I’ll jump off this train to my death!!” Well, that worked, and Srila Prabhupada got the rice and everyone (except the kitchen staff) was happy!

After the three talks by Yamuna, Yogesvara Prabhu spoke by Skype. He described the adventures of publishing Yamuna’s famous cookbook, “Lord Krishna’s Cuisine.” Despite all odds and against most conventions, this amazing cookbook won the award for 1986 best Asian cookbook of the year. To top that, later that same year, “Lord Krishna’s Cuisine” received first prize from the panel of the International Association of Cooking Professionals, which is the Pulitzer prize-equivalent in the cooking world. This was an unprecedented decision as they don’t usually award first prize to the same cookbook at both of these presentations.

After Yogesvara, Kausalya Prabhu spoke about how Srila Prabhupada always made sure that the women were carefully protected. He often took them in his car with him when traveling in India. And when one Indian man criticized the devotees for allowing a woman to sing Sanskrit prayers, as Yamuna did, Srila Prabhupada retorted, “You will never know one ounce of the devotion of these women in your entire lifetime!”

Syamasundara Prabhu also spoke via Skype about some of the association he had with Yamuna.

Following all of this nectar through the ears, everyone was very happy to experience some nectar through the tongue. Headed by Radha Prabhu, there was a feast of preparations taken from Yamuna Devi’s cookbook as a perfect end to the celebration of this glorious Vaishnavi’s life.

The evening was very enlivening and, as Malati expressed, Yamuna devi will stay ever alive in our hearts and our minds.

• Leave a comment...

• Organizing regular pujari meetings
• Instituting systems for maintenance and cleanliness of the Pujari room and Krsna’s paraphernalia
• Implementing the updated (2011) Deity Worship Manual which has been authorized by the ISKCON Minister for Deity Worship
• Making proposals for overall improvements of the Deity worship
• Ordering supplies
• Other related tasks

• Leave a comment...

Thursday 22 December 2011Community Vision and Planning Team  Report to joint Board of Directors meeting

* 7 groups work report: each group was requested to have open meetings to discuss how to expand their specific category, and develop the following:

o Vision statement that’s harmonious with the overall NVC vision statement;

o 10 year vision

§ 3 and 1 year plans on how to achieve the 10 year vision

o Here are the various vision statements:

New Vrindavan Community Vision Statement

“New Vrindavan” is an intentional spiritual community centered on the practice of Bhakti yoga expressed as the Brijabasi Spirit, emphasizing simple living and high thinking, vegetarianism, agriculture and cow protection, places of pilgrimage, and the propagation of the teachings of the founder-acharya of the International Society of Krsna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Addendum

‘Bhakti yoga’ is the reciprocation of loving service in different rasas (moods) between the eternal individual living entity (jiva, or soul) and the Supreme Lord, Krsna.

The ‘Brijabasi spirit’ manifests abundance through the synergy of loving relationships with Krsna in the center. It is a mood of simply loving Krsna and giving ones’ very life in humble service to the Supreme Lord Krsna, His intimate followers, and associates in any of the rasas, or mellows.

‘Founder’ means he established the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON).

‘Acharya’ means “one who teaches by example”. Srila Prabhupada taught us how to become Krsna conscious by his own personal example.

Srila Prabhupada is in the disciplic succession of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya, one of four authorized Vaishnava sampradayas. A ‘sampradaya’ is a tradition of strict philosophical and cultural doctrine, wherein the conclusion is known and not deviated from, and the teachings are passed from teacher to disciple. There is no English equivalent word.

By ‘vegetarianism’ we mean foodstuffs that are offered to Lord Krsna for His pleasure. No meat, fish, or eggs are consumed. The principle is we eat what Krsna wants us to offer to Him.

His teachings are based on revealed scriptures, including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Nectar of Devotion, Sri Isopanisad, and others. He is the author of more than 70 books that explain the science of devotional service, or loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

The ‘International Society of Krsna Consciousness” (ISKCON) is a world-wide organization founded by Srila Prabhupada for the following purposes:

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to Society at large and to educate people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3. To bring members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the Prime Entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4. To teach and encourage the Sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.

7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of God Who appeared about 500 years ago, predicted “prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama/ sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama”. “In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard”. (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126)

Education, Arts & Culture Vision Statement: The Education, Arts & Culture group empowers the individual to develop and express their natural talents in the devotional service of the Lord, and His devotees.

“Culture” we define as the expression of the eternal individual souls’ relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in devotional service. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

Revealing the Dhama:

Vision Statement: “To award a voice to the Dham to facilitate Her in revealing and identifying various tirthas, and to participate in the development and maintenance of the holy places and temples. To facilitate devotees’ developing relationships with the Dham, by visiting and serving the holy places, as well as discussing, writing and contemplating Their lilas, glories and benefits.”

Devotee Care and Relations:

The mission of Devotee Care and Relations is to strive for the spiritual, mental/emotional and physical well-being of ISKCON devotees so that they are encouraged, inspired, and empowered to be happy and make progress in Krsna consciousness, and thus be enthused to expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Agriculture, Cows and Self-reliance:

The New Vrindaban Community

§ produces locally the necessities of life

§ demonstrates a practical example of self-reliance and

§ engages and protects the natural resources, cows and the oxen.

Economic Development:

New Vrindaban’s community members are

* either employed directly by the Community or devotee businesses or

* are self-employed in the greater New Vrindaban area to maintain themselves.

Community Design and Facilities:

New Vrindavan Community Design and Facilities Group develops and maintains New Vrindavan in a environmentally responsible, sustainable manner, using locally sourced quality materials and personnel. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

Outreach, Preaching and Pilgrim Care:

Through outreach, preaching and pilgrim care, we provide the knowledge, education, concern, and training to enable all who desire to develop their spiritual awareness. We empower and assist every member to awaken their relationship with Krsna, to join Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual family, to teach his message and engage all our guests and pilgrims in the loving devotional service of Krsna. (note: this is a work-in-progress).

o 4 groups work is fine

o 3 groups work needs some refining

o New areas are needed to develop into the master plan: Deity, Governance, and Varnashram implementation

* WVU CDT meeting report

o 4 members of WVU’s Community Design Team (CDT) visited and met with 5 devotees. Two professors came for their 1^st visit to see if/how they can work with NVC.  Present from NVC were Varsana Swami, Jaya Krsna das, Gopisa prabhu, Madhava Ghosh prabhu, and Gaura Sakti das.

o The two teams decided upon the following projects:

§ Madhuvan project

§ Landscaping

§ Food storage

*Beans, grains, grinding mill; de-hydration, canning, and different forms of storage.

§ Tourism:

* Hindu

* Palace visitors

* ISKCON devotees

* Eco-groups

* How to market to each group

* How to ‘brand’ ourselves for each group

* On-site readiness; workshops, etc; “what do they want to do here?”

* Kudzayi expressed a strong interest in any guest database we may have.

o She has done consulting work for Marshall County and Moundsville.

§ Hospice project

o How to move forward:

§ Memorandum of understanding will be prepared and agreed upon

§ Each professor needs to decide individually how/if they can fit our needs into their current class.

§ Steve is particularly interested in conservation and community out-reach

§ Charlie is (exceptionally) eager for landscape management, mapping, and “How do we realize the Vrindavan vision?” On a previous visit he expressed enthusiasm for the building of the 7 temples of Vrindavan.

§ Steve  wants to bring his group of students in late January for a community discussion on the master planning. We will schedule a meeting for the 3^rd week of January, accordingly.

* Timeline

o Where are we now

§ See “8 steps…” below. We’re in steps 2 and 3. I’m intending to have this first iteration completed for Gaura Purnima 2012 (March 6 2012). By ‘first iteration’ I mean ‘first draft’, that we will see things that are not included that should be, perhaps the corollary as well, and there will be a process of review, additions, corrections, etc.

* Timeline for completion of 1^st iteration

§ 15 December Group works finished

§ 31 December: 1/3/10 year goals consolidated

§ 14 January 2012: Community Assessment finished (existing land use map, with all necessary data)

§ 4 February: 2 “future land use” scenarios developed: a) assuming no income from gas wells; b) assuming _________ $/year from gas wells. (note: $ amount to come from Gopisa prabhu).

§ 6 March, Gaura Purnima: 1^st iteration of the Master Plan completed.

* Finance report

o (waiting on precise figures from Rupanuga prabhu; approx. $7900+/-)

8 Steps of the Master Planning Process

1. Community Visioning: engaging the public and developing vision statements, goals and objectives.

2. Data collection and inventory: preparing the community assessment and existing land use map.

3. Data analysis: formulating future development scenarios based on vision statements, the community assessment, and land use maps.

4. Evaluating future development scenarios.

5. Selecting a preferred development scheme (the future land use map) and preparing and adopting a plan.

6. Implementing the plan.

7. Monitoring the plan.

8. Amending and updating the plan.

• Leave a comment...

From Lilasuka

Haribol Brijbasis:  I’m back!!

After a 12 year hiatus spent in the nearby land of  Pittsburgh, and after much intense meditation and introspection on the matter over the last 3 years or so, Jesse and I firmly decided to move back to NV.

He had lived here for a month in the summer of 2000, shortly after we were engaged to be married, so he’s essentially moving “back” as well. I’m very excited and enlivened to be back in the flock again and Jesse is looking forward to joining me in a couple of months.

As the kids used to sing (almost): “(New) Vrindavan’s such a nice place”.

I’m still suffering from just a tad bit of re-entry culture shock so I’m asking for all of yinz Brijbasis’ mercy and patience please! Oops…sorry…as you can see, I’ve spent way  too much time in Pittsburgh.

I’m very happy to be here in my new service as Communications Director, which is kind of a journalist whose goal is to report to the various worlds (the NV world, the ISKCON world and the outside local world) about all that’s going on in NV.

I love you all!

Hare Krsna.
Lilasuka dasi

• Leave a comment...