Kirtananda Swami | The Hare Krishna Movement

Farming With Krsna in Mind

13 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Back to Godhead, Cow Protection, Taru das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead Magazine, BTG, bull as father and symbol of religion, bull protection, cow protection, devotional service, farming for Krsna, Farms, gigantic industrial enterprises, godless civilization, Kirtananda Swami, Krsna conscious farming communities, oxen, Srila Prabhupada

Farming With Krsna in Mind
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine Vol. 12, No. 11 1977

I just spent the day here at New Vrindavan farm community, discussing plans for the future cow protection program, which will include an Ox barn and training for teams of young oxen, for use in plowing, wood harvesting, and pulling carts and wagons. It was all very inspiring and I am very much eger to become more deeply involved in this important aspect of our philosophy. Personally I have plans to work with some young oxen, build an ox cart, and put them to work. What is that saying…”when the father is employed the family will prosper”…so it is time to engage the bulls in some meaningful activity so the family will prosper and they will become joyful once again.

With this idea in mind, we post this older article from the Back to Godhead Magazine.

“Naturally, cow protection includes bull protection. The bull is our father and the symbol of religion. At present a few boys are working the oxen and hauling wood, plowing fields, and cutting hay. Of course, we do have tractors, but we want to develop skill working the oxen. They are our future.”

“Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts, and not by gigantic industrial enterprises, “says His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has founded many Krsna-conscious farming communities all over the world. “The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life…. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service to Him. “Here’s a look at two ‘ ISKCON farms in action.

New Vrindaban, West Virginia (Chapter 14)

24 May 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion Tags: ashram, Hayagriva dasa, Kirtananda Swami, Krishna's name is chanted, New Vrindavan West Virginia, Satsavarupa das. Srimad bhagavatam, Swamiji, the hare krishna explosion, Vrindavan

The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva Dasa

Part III: New Vrindaban, 1968-1969
Chapter 14

New Vrindaban, West Virginia

When Kirtanananda phones from West Virginia, I tell him that Prabhupada wants Mr. Foster converted to Vaishnavism.

“Impossible,” he replies. “We don’t agree on anything. I’ve just moved out to the back farm for some peace and quiet.”

“What about selling? Is he interested?”

“No, but he still favors five year leases on small parcels.”

“But we require the property!”

“Patience,” he says.

Impatient, I begin looking at real estate in the Poconos, near Wilkes-Barre. Prices, however, are prohibitive. Still, letters from Prabhupada keep pushing the conception of a rural ashram in West Virginia:

“We should always know that Vrindaban is not localized in a particular area, but that whenever Krishna is present, Vrindaban is automatically there. And wherever the holy name of Krishna is chanted, Krishna is present. There is no difference between Krishna and His holy name. So now Krishna is blessing a nice piece of land, resembling Vrindaban, to be a new place of pilgrimage for you Western devotees. So you must try for it.”

Satsvarupa has opened a fourth ISKCON center in Allston, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. From there, Prabhupada writes Kirtanananda, May 23:

“If this piece of land is turned into New Vrindaban, I shall forget to return to Indian Vrindaban. I am getting older and older, so actually if I get a peaceful place, as you describe, the rest of my life will be continued translating Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Goswami literatures, assisted by some of my disciples like you. So anytime you take me to your new hermitage, I shall be very glad to go there.”

Ritvik Initiation Simply Explained

13 Apr 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Disciplic succession, Guru & Disciple, Siksa Tags: Iskcon, Kirtananda Swami, Radhanath das, ritvik, Ritvik initiation, Srila Prabhupada

Ritvik Initiation simply explained

There was a very simple and straight foward method which most of the early members of the Hare Krishna Society (ISKCON) were initiated, as explained in the following letter…

Letter to Kirtananda Swami
Los Angeles
7 January, 1974

Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your requests for initiations of devotees at New Vrindaban, contained in your letter of December 30, 1973.

Upon your recommendation I am glad to accept the disciples for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows:

Susan Burchell—Madanalasa dasi
Jim Newsham—Jayanta dasa
Evelyn Newsham—Candrarekhika dasi
Sandra Chiefa—Kunjari dasi
Haynes Busby—Hari-dhama dasa

You may chant on their beads and instruct them seriously to always chant at least 16 rounds daily and obey the regulative principles. Only in this way is spiritual advancement possible.

Your recommendations for second initiation, Taru das, Radhanath das and Parambrahma das are accepted by me and their sacred threads and gayatri mantras are enclosed. See that they hear the mantra from the tape I have made, and have them hear it in their right ear. Give them further instructions on standards of a Brahman. Thank you for the daksina check for one hundred dollars.

Go on developing New Vrindaban: next month I am coming there. Is my apartment completed?

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami