The four legs of a cow represent the four pillars of religiosity: mercy, austerity, cleanliness, and truthfulness.
Srila Prabhupada instructed his students to follow four regulative principles of freedom: No meat eating, no sex outside of marriage, no intoxication, and no gambling. By practicing these corresponding regulations, I am developing a foundation for a strong spiritual life. A strict vegetarian diet is most favorable for obtaining the quality of mercy and compassion for all living beings.
Throughout my life I have gone in and out of the vegetarian lifestyle. Initially, my freshman year of college, I became a veggie for ethical, environmental, and political reasons. The health benefits were a bonus, along with the friendships and connections I began making with others striving for a similar lifestyle of awareness and conscientiousness. However, while studying abroad in Mexico, travelling to small villages where the occasional chicken was slaughtered in honor of my arrival, I thought it was best to be gracious and accept the hospitality. I thought, "Who am I? Some middle-class, white
gringa, so proud and privileged that I can survive without eating meat." The veggie thing was off.
After graduating with an environmental science degree, I began a period in my life where I apprenticed at several small, organic family farms. I learned how to raise goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, rabbits, chickens, you name it, for the self-contained sustenance of the farmer and his family. The last step in animal husbandry, however, is killing, butchering, and storage. I learned it all. It was never easy but somehow empowering. I even felt quite proud about it. Enough so that if I were to eat an occasional piece of meat that wasn't family-raised, I thought I paid my dues and an exception here and there never hurt anyone.
While living in New Mexico, at one point I started working for a
schmancy restaurant that, in addition to catering to vegans and vegetarians, only served organic meats. By the end of my employment there, I found myself eating meat practically every other day. But enough was enough. I felt my moral fiber slipping like anything. I thought to myself, I used to have strong beliefs and political orientation. Now what am I doing for humanity?
I came to the temple seeking refuge, renewed spiritual life and direction. The New
Vrindaban devotees have provided me with this and so much more, beyond my wildest imagination. It has been eight months now for me, meat-free. This means no eggs, no fish, straight-up herbivore. It is more apparent to me now than ever, why it is essential to practice vegetarianism. Even from a platform of good health, healthy environment, and moral integrity, what to speak of an understanding of the karmic reactions one brings to themselves and others, a vegetarian lifestyle is the key to wellness. Yet so many of my loved ones still just don't get it. What to do but pray that one day I will be given the
intelligence and ability to help them understand.
I just got back from a transcendental weekend road trip. Unexpectedly, after finishing a batch of speculation sweet potato kicheree for breakfast, I was rescued in time to miss Memorial Day weekend madness and thrown into Malati Prabhuji's van last Friday. Our first destination was Towacco, New Jersey. Ahhh Jersey. I am astounded by any good you have to offer and yet I seem to be surrounded by your byproducts wherever I go. Traveling with Malati Prabhuji is a unique experience. Two things are guaranteed. Passengers never experience a moment of hunger and passengers never experience a moment of hunger. Transcendental smarties and caramel chews lofted liberally to the back seat...I find it simultaneously hilarious that originally my intention was to move to the temple so that I could renounce, and, slightly sickened by the opposite extreme that seems to have presented itself. But, whatever, different strokes for different folks. The only truly important thing to recognize is that we are all sleepy, conditioned souls in temporary, human bodies.
After an early darshan and bhajan with Sri Sri Sita Rama, Laxman and Hanuman, the blue chariot headed north to Brooklyn and arrived just in time for the ceremony on Saturday evening. The assembled devotees were more brilliant than ever. The initiations were profoundly moving and inspiring. I have to admit, however, that after everything, I was most fascinated by my newly found detachment to the ever attractive lure of NYC. Upon departure, I didn't feel a single tinge of hankering or lamentation. My stays in the past have always revolved around a show, an exhibition, a culinary rendezvous, a vinyl mission, etc. NYC has for many years been a utopian abode of curiosity and unlimited potential. A piece of my heart has always hankered to live in a funky Brooklyn neighborhood, surround myself with a tight crew, open up a small vegan soup and sandwich joint, make big rooftop community gardens, and play ball in the streets. I guess for now, the company of cows and devotees is all I'm hankering for.
Which brings me to the best part of the trip. Gita Nagari Dhama ki jaya! Gita Nagari, located in Port Royal, PA, is my home. I feel alive and compelled to serve enthusiastically without inhibition whenever I visit. Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj disciples feel like my true brothers and sisters, so it's like a big reunion from lifetimes ago whenever I go there. The Thursday after the Festival of Inspiration, Mother Salini gave birth to lady Premunjana, pictured above. Both are doing well and in good spirits.
Mother Kaulini is my inspiration. She has lived at Gita Nagari for over 30 years. She milks the cows day and night, dresses the deities, cooks for the devotees, cleans the temple, organizes the accounts and serves as temple president. It is imperative I spent more time in the company of this saintly soul. My desire is to be her right hand milker.
The nice folks opened up a great little dinner down the hill from the farm. Complete with Kraft macaroni & cheese and soft serve ice cream, this joint distributes the goodness. These kids are really living the dream. Of course it's all prasadam and lovingly served with big ol' compassionate Vaisnava smiles.
Soul sista' Deva Deva is one of my favorite residents in the greater Gita Nagari community. The first time I ever visited, she invited me over for popcorn and tea at her new home, an old refurbished 19th century stone house. We were friends instantly. This weekend I crashed at her place and decided to walk to the temple the next morning rather than drive. What should have been a half hour walk turned into two and a half hours and I still never made it. The adventure was a blessings, however, and only reconfirmed in my heart the love I feel for this area. John & Joan Fry, an old covered bridge, and Dame's rocket bouquets were the high lites of my stroll.
At present count, Gita Nagari's cow protection program gives shelter to 16 cows and oxen. Two mothers are milked daily by hand. Mother Kaulini told me a story about one cow they cared for named Vishaka who gave birth to one calf and continued to give milk for 14 consecutive years! At one point she was sent to a hospital for eye surgery and the veterinarian took Mother Kaulini aside and explained that in his 20 years of practice, he's never met such a trusting animal. She replied, "Well that's because she knows we will never kill her." The vet was moved to tears.
