New Vrindaban Takes Steps Towards Dairy SeIf-Sufficiency

by Administrator | Oct 20, 2015 | Articles

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/11402857_1465253660454265_704505555665254756_o.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]With its new Protected Cow Dairy Initiative, ISKCON New Vrindaban is carefully taking one step at a time back towards dairy self-sufficiency.

Nityodita Das, who spearheaded the Initiative, fondly remembers the early days of New Vrindaban, when ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada was still physically present.

“I remember living at the old Vrindaban farm in 1974 and occasionally milking the cows with Radhanath Swami, then a brahmachari,” he says. “At that time we didn’t buy milk or milk products, except maybe rarely for big festivals. We used to have these big barrels full of ghee, and the Deities were getting opulent offerings.”

Srila Prabhupada, of course, envisioned New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for five things: loving Krishna, spiritual education, holy pilgrimage, self-sufficiency and cow protection.

“Krishna by His practical example taught us to give all protection to the cows and that should be the main business of New Vrindaban,” Prabhupada wrote to his disciple Hayagriva in June 1968.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Over the years after Srila Prabhupada’s passing in 1977, New Vrindaban residents continued to drink milk from their own cows, but eventually reverted to buying butter and other dairy products from local stores.

Recently however, there has been a renewed focus on Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban. In the past two years, devotees have added eight new cows to the herd—four each year—as a major step towards becoming independent from store-bought milk products produced by cow-slaughtering commercial dairies.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]In May 2013, the Protected Cow Dairy Initiative, supported by ISKCON New Vrindaban and sponsored by non-profit Eco-Vrindaban, was launched.

“The idea was to revive a program wherein all food offerings for the Deities would be made with dairy products only coming from cows cared for by New Vrindaban residents,” says ECOV board member Chaitanya Mangala Das.

New Vrindaban has a herd of 47 cows, with six milking cows. In contrast to the cows tortured and slaughtered at commercial dairies, they are all treated with love and care as family members by program overseer Ranaka Das and daily caretaker Chaitanya Bhagavat Das.

All the cows, of course, live out their natural lives. During the summer, they graze upon hundreds of acres of lush, green pastures. During the winter, hundreds of bales of hay are harvested for them to eat. They are protected from the cold in a cozy, clean and spacious barn. And the calves, like three-month old bull Pundarikaksa, are not separated from their mothers as in commercial dairies but are kept close.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vision-poster-high-res-for-printing.-03-11-15.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]”They are given time together throughout the day,” says Ananda-Vidya Das, who milks the cows along with his wife Lalita-Gopi Dasi and heads up production for the Dairy Initiative. “And twice a day, during milking times, we give the calves a quarter of the milk to drink from their mothers.”

Every morning at 7:00 am, Ananda-Vidya makes his way to the milking barn across the street from the temple. It takes him up to two hours to set up, milk Punya, Malati, Yamuna, Anjali, Shankari, and Surabhi, and clean up afterwards.

To develop a personal connection with the cows, Ananda-Vidya milks at least one or two of them by hand every day. As he does so, the others are milked with vacuum bucket milkers, the most subtle type of milking machine on the market today.

“The suction feels pretty much how a calf would,” he says, adding, “When I have help from other devotees, often we can milk them all by hand.”[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/11411796_1467768803536084_4166765528541239542_o.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]After milking, Ananda-Vidya brings the milk to the temple. He then warms up the leftover milk from the previous day, brings it back to the barn, and runs it through a cream separator. This machine produces cream from one spout, and skimmed milk from another.

“I boil the cream, and add a culture to make it into yoghurt,” says Ananda-Vidya. “After the yoghurt process is started, I leave it until the next day. Then in the afternoon, I put the yoghurt from the previous day into an electric blender and churn it into butter. It makes around three or four pounds of butter — it comes out really nice.”

Finally, Ananda-Vidya milks the cows again for a second time at six o’clock in the evening, often with his wife Lalita-Gopi.

Ananda-Viyda’s service takes five or six hours a day, and yields fourteen to fifteen gallons of milk. This is used to make milk sweets, curd, ghee and other dairy products for New Vrindaban’s presiding Deities, Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra.

The Dairy Initiative recently successfully completed its five-month trial period. Now, it’s ready to gear up for a second, experimental phase.

During the quieter winter months, there will be a test-run expansion of the program so that meals served to devotees at the temple will also be made only with dairy from protected cows.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]This will not involve an increase in milk production. Rather, kitchen staff, cow protection staff, and New Vrindaban management will work together to make sure that the available milk is used wisely.

There are different ways that this can be done. For example, cooking of excessively dairy-filled dishes can be regulated. And skimmed milk, rather than whole milk, can be used to create delicious curd or yogurt. Of course, whole milk will always be offered to the Deities and be honored later by devotees as maha-prasad.

To make this transition successfully, Nityodita Das notes that “there must be a raising of consciousness to understand that when we go out and buy milk products, we’re basically supporting the slaughter of cows.” The small amount of austerity required to change this, it follows, is worth it.

Of course, there are plans for some expansion of New Vrindaban’s herd and milk production in the future. But having learned from over-ambitious attempts that proved unmanageable in the past, this time devotees will expand in a very humble, careful and sustainable way.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]There are plans to gradually grow the overall herd from 47 to approximately 70. And there is space in the current milking barn to expand the amount of milking cows to eight.

Beyond that, there are long range plans to build another barn on the pasture behind Srila Prabhupada’s Palace, which will be able to house up to ten milking cows. This will also be designed to function as a teaching farm, where guests can better observe and participate in the daily cow protection activities.

Behind all this is the cow care team, which meets regularly under Ranaka Das’s leadership to discuss overall improvements in cow care as well as required upgrades of the barn and pastures.

In the meantime, milking the cows at the temple barn in New Vrindaban, Ananda-Vidya Das doesn’t worry about any of this. Life is simple for him: it’s hard work, but serene, too.

“There’s some austerity,” he says. “You have to be regulated and on time. You have to lift heavy things and shovel manure. Sometimes it gets really cold, sitting there in an unheated building.”

“But it’s also meditative. Sunrise and sunset are peaceful times. There are not a lot of people around. You can listen to a lecture, or chant verses.”

Genuine fondness warms his tone. “And the cows are just really loveable creatures. They all have their unique characteristics and personalities. It’s nice being with them.”

“Most of all, it’s such a rewarding service,” he concludes, “Because it’s really at the heart of what Srila Prabhupada wants for New Vrindaban.”[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/11411796_1467768803536084_4166765528541239542_o.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Reported by: Madhava Smullen, New Vrindaban, USA.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

New Vrindaban Mengambil Langkah Menuju Swasembada Produk Susu

by Administrator | Oct 20, 2015 | LatestNews

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Dengan Inisiatif Perlindungan Sapi Perah / inisiatif perlindungan produk susu sapi (the Protected Cow Dairy Initiative) baru-nya, ISKCON New Vrindaban dengan seksama mengambil langkah kembali pada swasembada produk susu.

Nityodita Das, yang memimpin inisiatif , dengan penuh harapan mengingat saat-saat awal di New Vrindaban, Ketika Acharya pendiri ISKCON Srila Prabhupada masih hadir secara fisik

“Saya ingat ketika tinggal di perkebunan Vrindaban yang lama di tahun 1974 dan sesekali memerah susu bersama Radhanath Swami yang saat itu masih brahmacari,” dia berkata “saat itu kita tidak membeli susu atau produk susu lainnya, kecuali mungkin ketika ada perayaan besar. Kita biasanya memiliki ember besar penuh dengan ghee, dan Arca pun mendapatkan persembahan yang mewah. “

Srila Prabhupada, tentu saja, membayangkan New Vrindaban sebagai tempat suci yang dikenal di seluruh dunia untuk lima hal: mencintai Krishna, pendidikan spiritual, tempat suci, mandiri dan perlindungan sapi.

“Krishna dengan contoh nyata-Nya mengajarkan kita untuk memberi segala perlindungan kepada sapi dan ini harus menjadi tujuan utama dari New Vrindaban,” Prabhupada menulis kepada muridnya Hayagriva bulan juni 1968.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]

Tahun-tahun berikutnya setelah berpulangnya Srila Prbhupada di tahun 1977, penduduk New Vrindaban masih minum susu yang dihasilkan dari sapi mereka, tapi pada akhirnya kembali membeli mentega dan produk susu lainnya dari toko-toko lokal.

Namun belakangan ini, ada fokus baru pada visi Srila Prabhupada untuk New Vrindaban. Dalam dua tahun terakhir, para penyembah telah menambahkan delapan sapi baru —empat setiap tahunnya– sebagai langkah besar untuk menjadi bebas dari produk susu yang dibeli di toko yang diproduksi oleh perusahaan susu sapi komersial yang membantai sapi.

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Di bulan Mei 2013, Inisiatif Perlindungan Sapi Perah, didukung oleh ISKCON New Vrindaban dan disponsori oleh non-profit Eco-Vrindaban, diluncurkan.

“Idenya adalah untuk membangkitkan kegiatan yang mana semua makanan yang dipersembahkan kepada Arca dihasilkan dari produk susu yang hanya dihasilkan oleh sapi yang dirawat oleh penduduk New Vrindaban,” kata anggota dewan ECOV Chaitanya Mangala Das.

New Vrindaban memiliki 47 kawanan sapi, dengan 6 sapi yang sedang bisa diperah. Berbeda dengan sapi-sapi yang disiksa dan dibantai di perusahaan produk susu komersial, semuanya di rawat dengan cinta dan kasih seperti anggota keluarga oleh pengawas kegiatan Ranaka Das dan pengasuh harian Chaitanya Bhagavat Das.

Semua sapi, tentu saja, tinggal dengan cara alami mereka. Selama musim panas, mereka merumput pada ratusan are padang rumput hijau yang subur. Selama musim dingin, ratusan tumpuk jerami dipanen bagi mereka untuk dimakan. Mereka dilindungi dari dingin di kandang yang nyaman, bersih dan luas. Dan anak sapi, seperti Pundarikaksa, anak sapi jantan yang berusia tiga bulan, tidak dipisahkan dari ibu mereka seperti yang dilakukan di perusahaan susu komersial, namun dijaga tetap dekat.

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“Mereka diberi waktu bersama sepanjang hari,” kata Ananda-Vidya Das, yang memerah sapi bersama dengan istrinya Lalita-Gopi Dasi dan mengepalai produksi untuk Dairy Initiative. “Dan dua kali sehari, pada saat memerah, kami memberikan anak sapi seperempat dari susu untuk diminum dari ibu mereka.”

Setiap pagi pada pukul 7.00, Ananda-Vidya menuju ke kandang pememerahan di seberang jalan dari temple. Dia membutuhkan waktu hingga dua jam untuk memerah susu dari Punya, Malati, Yamuna, Anjali, Shankari, dan Surabhi, serta membersihkannya sesudahnya.

Untuk mengembangkan hubungan pribadi dengan sapi, Ananda-Vidya memerah setidaknya satu atau dua dari mereka dengan tangan setiap hari. Saat ia melakukannya, yang lainnya diperah dengan pemerah ember vakum, tipe yang paling halus dari mesin pemerah susu yang ada di pasaran saat ini.

“Hisapannya terasa cukup sebagaimana anak sapi yang melakukannya,” katanya, menambahkan, “Ketika saya dapat bantuan dari penyembah lain, sering kita dapat memerah mereka semua dengan tangan.”

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Setelah memerah susu, Ananda-Vidya membawa susu ke temple. Dia kemudian menghangatkan susu sisa dari hari sebelumnya, membawa kembali ke kandang, dan memasukkannya melewati pemisah krim. Mesin ini menghasilkan krim dari satu corong, dan susu skim dari corong lainnya.

“Saya mendidihkan krimnya, dan menambahkan bibit yoghurt untuk membuatnya menjadi yoghurt,” kata Ananda-Vidya. “Setelah proses yoghurt dimulai, saya meninggalkannya sampai hari berikutnya. Kemudian pada sore hari, saya menempatkan yoghurt dari hari sebelumnya ke sebuah blender listrik yang mengaduknya menjadi mentega. Proses ini menghasilkan sekitar tiga atau empat pon mentega – hasilnya pun keluar dengan sangat baik “.

Pada akhirnya, Ananda-Vidya memerah sapi lagi untuk kedua kalinya pada pukul enam sore, sering dibantu juga dengan istrinya Lalita-Gopi.

Pelayanan Ananda-Viyda ini membutuhkan lima atau enam jam sehari, dan menghasilkan 14-15 galon susu. Ini digunakan untuk membuat permen susu, yoghurt, ghee dan produk susu lainnya untuk Arca di New Vrindaban, Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra.

Dairy initiative baru-baru ini berhasil menyelesaikan masa percobaan lima bulan nya. Sekarang, sudah siap untuk persiapan tahap percobaan kedua.

Selama musim dingin yang tenang, akan ada ekspansi program percobaan jalan sehingga makanan yang disajikan untuk penyembah di temple juga akan dibuat hanya dengan susu dari sapi yang dilindungi.

Ini tidak akan melibatkan peningkatan produksi susu. Sebaliknya, staf dapur, staf perlindungan sapi, dan manajemen New Vrindaban akan bekerja sama untuk memastikan bahwa susu yang tersedia digunakan dengan bijak.

Ada berbagai cara sehingga hal ini dapat terlaksana. Misalnya, memasak hidangan yang menggunakan susu berlebihan dapat diatur. Dan susu skim, hasil proses dari susu murni, dapat digunakan untuk membuat yoghurt lezat. Tentu saja, susu murni akan selalu dipersembahkan kepada Arca dan kemudian dihormati oleh penyembah sebagai maha-prasad.

Untuk membuat transisi ini berhasil, Nityodita Das mencatat bahwa “harus ada peningkatan kesadaran untuk memahami bahwa ketika kita pergi keluar dan membeli produk susu, kita pada dasarnya mendukung pembantaian sapi.” sejumlah kecil kesederhanaan diperlukan untuk mengubah ini , jika berjalan maka, sangat berharga.

Tentu saja, ada rencana untuk penambahan beberapa sapi dan produksi susu New Vrindaban di masa depan. Tapi setelah belajar dari upaya yang terlalu berambisi terbukti tidak terkendali di masa lalu, saat ini penyembah akan menambah dalam cara yang sangat sederhana, hati-hati dan berkesinambungan.

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Ada rencana untuk secara bertahap mengembangkan kawanan keseluruhan dari 47 menjadi sekitar 70. Dan ada ruang dalam kandang pemerahan saat ini untuk menambah jumlah sapi yang bisa diperah menjadi delapan.

Di luar itu, ada rencana jangka panjang untuk membangun kandang lain di padang rumput di belakang rumah Srila Prabhupada, yang akan mampu menampung sampai dengan sepuluh sapi perah. Ini juga akan dirancang untuk difungsikan sebagai sebuah peternakan pengajar, di mana para tamu dapat mengamati dengan lebih baik dan berpartisipasi dalam kegiatan perlindungan sapi setiap hari.

Di balik semua ini adalah tim perawatan sapi, yang bertemu secara rutin di bawah kepemimpinan Ranaka Das untuk membahas perbaikan keseluruhan dalam perawatan sapi serta peningkatan yang diperlukan untuk kandang dan padang rumput.

Sementara itu, memerah susu sapi di kandang temple di New Vrindaban, Ananda-Vidya Das tidak khawatir tentang hal ini. Hidup sederhana baginya: itu kerja keras, tapi juga tenang.

“Ada beberapa pertapaan,” katanya. “Anda harus teratur dan tepat waktu. Anda harus mengangkat hal-hal berat dan menyekop kotoran. Kadang-kadang itu menjadi sangat dingin, duduk di sana di sebuah bangunan tanpa pemanas. “

“Tapi itu juga menenangkan. Matahari terbit dan terbenam adalah waktu yang damai. Tidak banyak orang di sekitar sini. Anda dapat mendengarkan ceramah, atau melantunkan ayat-ayat. “

Kecintaan tulus menghangatkan nada bicaranya. “Dan sapi benar-benar merupakan makhluk yang menarik. Mereka semua memiliki karakteristik dan kepribadian unik mereka. Sangat menyenangkan berada bersama mereka. “

“Yang paling penting, ini seperti pelayanan yang bermanfaat,” ia menyimpulkan, “Karena ini benar-benar inti dari apa yang diinginkan Srila Prabhupada untuk New Vrindaban.”

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”http://www.srisurabhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/11411796_1467768803536084_4166765528541239542_o.jpg” style_type=”bottomshadow” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Reported by: Madhava Smullen, New Vrindaban, USA.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]