Newsletter

February 2024

Dear friend 

We hope this newsletter finds you, your family and friends in good health and spirits.

The volunteer program is thriving at the moment with up to 15 volunteers from around the world staying at the farm any one time. The volunteers are providing valuable and much needed man/woman power. They are involved in many services including helping in the organic vegetable gardens, doing various cleaning services and assisting with the ongoing meal preparation. The volunteers' service is helping the general overall running of the farm and the devotees are enjoy meeting and co-existing with all of the enthusiastic young people that are staying here. Make sure you say hello to our friendly volunteers when you visit next. 

See you soon, 

The New Gokula Team. 

For guest wanting to visit the farm please book via the website

www.newgokula.com

What's Been Happening at the Farm?

Her Grace Urmila Devi Dasi shares her wisdom!

It was wonderful to have HG Urmila Devi Dasi visit the farm in February. Urmila Devi Dasi gave four lectures on two different topics over the three days she was here. The first topic was focused on meditations on God through the material nature and the second topic was on Career Dharma. Devotees, guests and volunteers found the lectures inspiring and informative. It was really uplifting to have the association of Urmila DD at the farm and we hope that she comes and visits us again soon. 

 New artwork for our temple altar

The temple altar walls have had an upgrade in the last month. Devotee artists Umesh and Reshma from Sydney came and stayed at the farm and within days this beautiful artwork appeared on the walls. We were all so impressed with how quickly the devotees produced this eye-catching work. The artwork actually extends behind the deities so a cloth backdrop is not needed. We still use different types of backdrops but it can also be left without. A big thank you to the devotees who put their hearts into this artwork, making our deities appear even more beautiful as if they are wandering in the forests of Vrindavan. 

 Happy Bulls at Putty!

We keep nine of our big bulls down at our friends, Naveen and Savita's property in Putt, which is about two hours inland from Cessnock. They have a large property which offers a supply of food and nourishment for our bulls. We also regularly take down extra food for them and check on their health. We first took the bulls to Putty about two years ago after the long drought. We really appreciate that Naveen and Savita have done such a wonderful service for the farm by accomodating the bulls for a long time. As you can see the Bulls are looking very healthy and in great condition due to their care. 

Sri Radhe symbols now decorate the grounds!

Volunteer residents Kiran and Sonke busy at work

Our volunteers have been busy creating artworks of their own. They used a stencil to spray paint the symbols onto our brickwork that runs around the temple. They did a fantastic job. The stencil says "Sri Radhe"  and is the same symbol that decorates the trees in Vrindavan. Jayasri Devi Dasi wanted to reproduce the same theme here to remind us that our hearts are always with Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan.

Devotee Spotlight

 Jaya Radhika Devi Dasi

Jaya Radhika Devi Dasi is one busy devotee! Currently working in IT, she also finds time to do service at both the North Sydney and New Gokula temples. Some of her services include cooking, making garlands, dressing the deities, performing arati’s and running a Bhakti Vriksha group. Jaya Radhika loves to serve her spiritual master, Bir Krishna Goswami and travel to holy places of pilgrimage.

She is inspired through devotee association and reading and discussing Krishna Consciousness philosophy particularly Srila Prabhupada’s books. She loves to bring others to Krishna consciousness and spends time coaching and counselling them. Seeing Krishna’s hand in hers and the lives of others around her and chanting the holy names are all ways which Jaya Radhika stays connected in her spiritual life.

From a young age Jaya Radhika was spiritually inclined. She was searching for a life full of simplicity, selflessness and real happiness. When she was only 5 years old she found Srila Prabhupada’s Back to Godhead magazine and this ignited a life long passion for reading books about God and self-realisation. Although coming from a non-vegetarian family, she became a strict vegetarian. In 2006 she attended the Sydney temple and felt that the prayers that were being sung were strangely familiar making her realise that this was the right path for her.

In 2009 Jaya Radhika started attending the Govindas ashram program. Meeting HH Ramai Swami and HH Devamrita Swami had a big impact upon on her spiritual life. This inspired her to read Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Chamarita, Krishna book and Nectar of Devotion, and to also enthusiastically chant the Holy Name. From then on, she began regularly attending different programs and then naturally moved into doing many different services.

Jaya Radhika DD is a part of the team here at New Gokula Farm temple and we appreciate all the service which she does for the deities and the devotees. She does her service with enthusiasm and her service attitude is inspiring for all of those around her. Thank you for your service Jaya Radhika.

Upcoming Events

Gaura Purnima

Monday 25th March

Gaura Purnima is the auspicious appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (who is also known as Gauranga due to His golden complexion).

The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the area of Mayapur in 1486. He appeared in this form to teach us that we can gain full enlightenment by chanting the holy names of the Lord which is the Yuga Dharma for this age of Kali.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

This is one of the most important festivals of the year so please come and celebrate with us. Please book via the website www.newgokula.com

Recipe of the Month

Date Bark

You have to try this!!!

Ingredients

1 packet of Medjool dates

1 bag of slivered almonds

1 bottle of peanut butter or nut butter of choice

1 block of dark chocolate (or carob)

Directions

Place a piece of baking paper on a tray 

Take the seeds out of the dates and lay them on the baking paper

Place another piece of baking paper over the dates and with a rolling pin roll the dates out till they make a uniform flat rectangle. Take the paper over the top away

Cover the dates in peanut butter and slithered almonds

Break up the chocolate in a bowl and melt slowly in the microwave, one minute at a time, checking to make sure it's not burnt. 

Cover the dates in melted chocolate and freeze for an hour.

Break up roughly.

Offer to Krishna and hide it all so you don't have to share!!

New Gokula Farm

83 Lewis Road, Millfield, NSW, 2325

(02) 49 98 1800

www.newgokula.com

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