New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Last week, thirty students from West Virginia Northern Community College visited New Vrindaban. These first-year culinary students visited in two groups. Fifteen came on Tuesday, and another fifteen came on Thursday. The students were most interested in the teaching garden (across from the Palace Lodge) and the Garden of Seven Gates (above the cabins). They also visited the temple, barn, ISCOWP, and Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold.

The culinary students heard that ISKCON is the “kitchen religion,” and they learned the difference between bhoga and prasadam. They also heard that the consciousness of the cook effects the final product, and that the most important ingredient is love. One student took home a Higher Taste. With both groups, the instructor nodded toward Tapahpunja dasa and said, “This is the guy to come to. He’s the one who knows about farming.”

At ISCOWP, the students met the oxen that are used in agricultural work and learned how they are trained. They were completely charmed by the friendliness of the three Brahman oxen at the farm. Their hair coat was so soft and beautiful that the students could not stop petting them. One student told another, “I will never look at a hamburger the same again.”

A few students stayed behind after the program and visited the home of Balabhadra dasa. The students saw how Balabhadra dehydrates and cans ISCOWP’s garden vegetables. They visited ISCOWP’s root cellar, where the vegetables are stored for the winter.

Half a dozen students signed up to receive the ISCOWP newsletter. The instructor told Balabhadra that he would be back the same time next year, with a new group of students. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!