International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)

Founder/Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE


Children’s Playground. Taken at the Sunday feast on the 21st October, 2007


NOVEMBER 2007

The New Govardhana Hare Krishna Community

525 Tyalgum Road, Eungella, NSW 2484. Phone 02 66723047

E-mail: ad@in.com.au or newgovardhana@aapt.net.au Website: www.newgovardhana.net

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

   Previous issues:  August 07    September 07    October 07  

The New Govardhana Community Shop

The shop is open every Sunday from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm and for all festivities. The manager of the shop, Amber Devi, (right) assisting her is Bhakti Devi holding her daughter. The shop stock consists of the complete collection of Srila Prabhupada’s books and books from other Acaryas. Tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, incense, clothes, paintings, pictures and various items are also available.

Amber has been associated with the New Govardhana community since she was two years old. She lives on the farm with her husband Shyam and their three sons, Aja, Dhruva, and Manu, with a fourth child due very shortly. Her parents also live on the farm.

She has travelled to India several times. With all this activity going on in her life, Amber says: “Only when I can maintain my connection with Lord Krishna in whatever I do will I be truly satisfied”.



 

The Yoga Retreat

The first cabin, to accommodate up to four people, has made progress but it still requires fitting out. The foundation for the second cabin is also ready. You will be kept informed of the progress of the Retreat. Mahamantra the builder has gone to visit the temples and devotees in India with his family.




Wwoof it up at Krishna’s Farm

What is wwoofing? (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is an organization that links individuals with organic farms. Working hours – a four hour day - five days a week - in exchange for food and accommodation – is the basis for all wwoofing.

The New Govardhana Hare Krishna Community is a 900 acre property with orchards, vegie gardens, cows, peacocks, streams and swimming holes in abundance. Wwoofers stay in a simple guest house room with shared bathroom facilities. Enquiries welcomed.

 

The Snake season

Contributed by George – aka The Snake-man.

The Snake season is upon us once again, and with the onset of warm weather, snakes are well and truly on the move. Coming out of their winter slumber they are hungry, (They have not had a meal for a few months), in search of a mate, and in no mood to be interfered with.

Being exothermic creatures they need sunlight and warmth to be comfortable, so are often seen basking in the sun. In deciding what they can eat, they go by scent, not by sight so if something smells like food they will try to eat it. Of course, after their meal, they will seek out a warm spot and stay there until it is time for the next meal.

It is this time of year when male snakes seek females or are in combat with other male snakes. The rest of the time they do not socialize with each other. In this area the most numerous of the truly dangerous snakes is the Eastern Brown (Pseudomonad Textiles) the second most toxic snake in the world. Over the last 11 years I have caught over 2000 of them and I have never dealt with any other snake that is so fast and so easily agitated. All snakes will do their best to avoid contact with us, mostly because we are not food to them, we are bigger than they are, and therefore they will not pick a fight with us unless acting in self defence. All snakes will seek good hiding places to rest such as piles of rubbish, garden mulch, roofing tin, or black plastic lying on the ground, etc.

Truly dangerous snakes such as the eastern brown, red bellied black, death adder, and rough scaled snake are all ground dwellers which means they do not climb up trees, veranda posts, or roofs, etc. (Thank goodness!) Please keep the grass around your home short; clear away all loose rubbish and keep your screen doors closed (I have had plenty of dangerous snakes indoors)

Please familiarize yourself with first aid for snake bite. If you should suddenly come face to face with a dangerous snake, stand perfectly still, like a statue, because if there is one thing that can agitate a snake it is sudden movements. Most importantly of all, remember to chant Hare Krishna (It helps me a lot) especially since you may be in a state of shock with the sudden encounter, and liable to act inappropriately.

P.S. Snakes are deaf; that is to say they have no ears, so you can chant the Maha Mantra as loud as you like

Hari Bol!

George was in service to Srila Prabhupada as his bodyguard in the seventies. George still serves the Deity of Srila Prabhupada at the festivals held outside the farm community and remains at his side to be able to protect him. George says that Srila Prabhupada said to him, “You rascal, first do the work that needs doing, then do your Japa”.

George has so many stories of his life with Srila Prabhupada and his devotees. At present George is living at Mullumbimby with his partner Kelly, who is a nurse at the hospital. At the Sunday feasts and at the festivals George can be found in the kitchen, cleaning the large pots and utensils, which are there in abundance because there are always 200 plus devotees to feed.

In the April newsletter you would have seen that George managed to relocate a large snake that was caught in the kitchen area. He is well known as the snake man for catching the snakes that invade people’s houses. George can give advice and also relocates snakes to safer areas, away from humans. Just by co-operating with all living entities gives one the experience of satisfaction which can be detected on George’s face. George is now sharing the affinity which he has with the snake families with all of us.


Cooking as a service to Lord Krishna

Garuda informs us that he is just one of the devotees who cook at the Farm Community for the Sunday feasts and festivals. On Friday and Saturdays he cooks at Govindas.

He says that he just wants to follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, which is to give the people good, tasty, vegetarian food, something special, something that they will not forget. Garuda explains “I aspire to do that, and I do get anxious if I feel that I do not meet up with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, because Srila Prabhupada was such a great cook himself and a great example”. Garuda also says that he is very satisfied with his life and that everything just keeps getting better.

 

 

Govindas Veg–o–rama

Pure vegetarian, sumptuous meals,cooked fresh daily, dangerously delicious, eat in, takeaway, and catering.

9.00 am – 9.00 pm, 7days
Hot Buffet from 11.00 am daily.
Shop #134 Centro Shopping Centre,
Surfers Paradise, Queensland.
Telephone: (07)55383788, 0427773407, Govindas.vego@gmail.com

Beautiful Krishna prasadam cooked with love and devotion by our devotee cooks. The restaurant opened 26th December 2006 and has since gained a very good reputation among local people on the gold Coast, many of whom have been waiting anxiously for the devotees to open a restaurant in the area, having tasted our famous food before.

There is also a good variety of sweets and cheese cakes cooked by Mahananda Devi dasi.


Many lessons in Leonardo’s journey to teaching

The story of how a successful Venezuelan electronics engineer has wound up studying teaching at Southern Cross University and living within a Hare Krishna community outside Murwillumbah is an inspiring tale of faith.

Three years ago Leonardo Borsotti was living the high life in the Venezuelan capital Caracas working as an engineer for a South American trans-national company, seemingly with the world at his feet.

“I had everything: a good salary, a new car, promotions prospects and my family was fine, but I wasn’t satisfied,” Leonardo said. “I had everything I was supposed to have, but there was something missing.”

Determined to fill the void, Leonardo quit his job, began studying psychology, even 'dabbled in Buddhism' before taking a fork in the road that led him to Sydney, to study for his Masters degree in Social Ecology. But Leonardo was barely half-way through his year-long course when he sensed it was time to discover his own 'social ecology' – and embarked on a personal pilgrimage.

“I was searching for something that gave a transcendental meaning to my actions; some experience that connected the bigger picture, rather than simply focusing on finding solutions,” Leonardo said. “So I travelled to the North Coast of Australia and set off hitch-hiking from there. I left my laptop and most of my personal belongings behind and just took a tent and some basic gear. I wanted to simplify things.

“In Nimbin someone offered me a ride and I found myself being dropped off beside a quiet road, outside the Hare Krishna rural community. Destiny had fulfilled my desires by bringing me here. I didn’t have a clear picture of what I was looking for but I found it within the community and stayed for almost a year.”

While at the farm Leonardo got to know of the small Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula School (38 students at the time) and so was sown the seeds of his new life. When he returned to Venezuela, he knew that teaching was his destiny.

“I visited schools back home and started observing classes and thinking about how I would like to pursue teaching,” Leonardo said. “Social problems are more evident in my country and through teaching I hope that I can make a difference and address some of the deeper causes of those problems and truly empower students.”

Returning to Australia in early 2007, Leonardo enrolled to study for his Graduate Diploma in secondary education at Southern Cross University’s Tweed Gold Coast campus. He’s been combining study with part-time administrative work at the Hare Krishna school and looks forward to a more hands-on teaching role next year after graduating.

“Teaching with a spiritual basis is my passion now – it has given my personal journey a purpose,” Leonardo said. “To go through sacrifice and discipline one must have a passion. I’m pleased to be following my heart.”

Dr Neville Jennings, an education lecturer at Southern Cross University’s Tweed Gold Coast campus, said people with such diverse backgrounds - like Leonardo - were a vital ingredient of the successful teaching program.

“We have people from all over the world studying with us,” Neville said. “They have experienced a variety of previous careers and hold amazing world views. This brings wonderful cultural diversity to our classes. When these student teachers go out, schools and students draw on those vast experiences and an additional cultural exchange takes place.”

Photo: Southern Cross University teaching student Leonardo Borsotti.
Extract from the Southern Cross University web-site. Updated 27 September 2007.


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His Holiness Vedavyasa Priya Swami


During the month of October we were privileged to have a visit from His Holiness Vedavyasa Priya Swami who stayed for a few days. He gave several classes and met with many of the devotees and visitors to the Farm. Thank you for your visit to the Farm Community which proved to be a source of inspiration to us all. Obeisances unto you


 

His Holiness Ramai Swami - GBC Member

Also during October we had a visit from His Holiness Ramai Swami, a member of the GBC. He stayed for a few days, giving inspirational classes and talks before continuing with his travels which will take him to many different places around the world.

Thank you for coming and sharing so much with the Farm Community.

Obeisances unto you

 

Quote
Divine means spiritually advanced, and Devil means materially advanced.

(Taken from the Make Vrndavana, Page 353)

 


COMING EVENTS

Go-Puja, Govardhana Puja and Diwali Celebration

Sunday 11th November 2007

Programme:

3.00pm: Bhajans

3.30pm: Go–Puja

3.45pm: Children’s Drama

4.15pm: Class

5.00pm: Govardhana Puja

Arati Kirtan

Maha Govardhana feast

If you would like to take the opportunity to sponsor any of the following in full, or part of the total amount, please contact:

Gaura Shakti Devi on 0415276757

or email gaurashakti@aapt.net.au

Flowers and Altar Decorations $508
Maha Feast $1008
Temple Decorations $151
Making of Govardhana Hill $651
Temple Grounds $151
Abhisheka $251
Feeding the Cow $51


His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada

Disappearance, 14th November

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, who showed us through his example what it is like to understand one’s constitutional relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna.

Through example he showed us how to be a Vaisnava (one who knows the meaning of God’s Laws), which can only be given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna Himself.

Vaisnavas live by God’s Laws and if they are successful they can return home. All this is stated in the Vedas (Books of Knowledge) which Srila Prabhupada translated into the English language for everyone to read and learn what God is, and what God Himself is instructing us to do. This is necessary knowledge if we desire to return home, back to Godhead.

Obeisances to Srila Prabhupada


Vaisnava Calendar – November 2007


Masam Date Tithi Paksa Yoga Naksatra

Mon 5th Nov    Suddha Ekadasi    K    Indra     Purva-phalguni     Fasting for Rama Ekadasi
Tues 6th Nov     Break- Fast 05:50 – 09:17
Wed 14th Nov   Caturthi Dhriti Mula    Srila Prabhupada - disappearance    Fast Till Noon 
Wed 21st Nov    Suddha Ekadasi     G    Vajra Uttara – bhadra    Fasting till Noon
Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji – Disappearance, (feasting is done tomorrow), Bhisma Pancaka, Fasting for Utthana Ekadasi
Thur 22nd Nov    Break – Fast 04:43 – 09:16
Sat 24th Nov    Caturmasya ends

 

For all your Vedic style
Fire Ceremonies and Pujas

please contact

Weddings, Houses, Birthdays,
Last Rites and other Samskaras

Govinda Caran Das

Purohit (Indian Hindu Priest)
Australian Registered Marriage Celebrant

P.O. Box 930, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484.

Phone/Fax: (02)66726385

Mobile: 0403874097

E-mail: pujasamskaras@aapt.net.au

govindacarandas@aapt.net.au


Questions


Question: “You say back to Godhead, but when one is situated in pure, transcendental love for Krishna, then that’s wherever he may be, that’s Back to Godhead.?”

Srila Prabhupada: “Yes”

Question: “So then we should desire not to go back to Vaikuntha (spiritual world) but to be situated in our pure service to Krishna?”

 Srila Prabhupada: “Yes, Pure devotees do not aspire anything, simply to be engaged in loving service of the Lord, wherever it may be, it does not matter.”
 

( Taken from the Make Vrndavana, Page 347)