CONTENT.. 2. Introduction 3. Quotes on Cows.. 5. Short-term Objectives.. 6. Long-term Objectives 7. Preaching Kits. 7. The Sacred Oath.

Transcription

1 CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE

2 CONTENT.. 2 Introduction 3 Quotes on Cows.. 5 Short-term Objectives.. 6 Long-term Objectives 7 Preaching Kits. 7 Prayer to Mother Surabhi 8 The Sacred Oath. 9 Shareholders with IDVM-India.. 10 Inaugurating Procedures for the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign.. 10 IDVM Statement Go-Puja procedure Prayer to Mother Surabhi Sacred Oath Distribution of Prasadam Charter Membership. 11 Global Goshala Directory 11 Hierarchy and Organization of OM Sri Surabhi Campaign 11 IDVM-India SUSTAINABLE ECO ALLIANCE (SEA). 12 The Official Logo and its meaning. 13 Service Opportunities (Get Involved). 13 Membership.. 14 The Milk Controversy.. 16 Quarterly Reports for Contact and Websites

3 INTRODUCTION OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH! Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE is meant to serve as a guide for those who wish to become active promoters of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. There is a great need to get devotees inspired and involved with the campaign so that people in all the different parts of the world can help us realize one of the longterm objectives of the campaign, having countries around the world, and one day the United Nations itself, adopt Mother Surabhi as our Universal Mother. This global awareness we wish to spread vigorously. This is very much possible if we systematically propagate the various goals and objectives of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign which are meant to help the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, fulfill the mission of respiritualizing the entire world by introducing the Vedic culture, the brahminical culture which begins with and remains dependent upon Mother Surabhi. It is not simply a sentimental and idealistic effort, it is rather based on the most scientific facts and realities (educational, political, economical, ecological, vocational and the list goes on) as anyone will attest by taking even a little time to study the different dimensions the campaign offers to one and all. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE covers a number of areas that will provide the tools necessary for anyone to introduce the basic concepts of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in his or her area. We begin by sharing some most important quotes from Srila Prabhupada as to the urgent need to protect Mother Cow. In addition to Srila Prabhupada s statements, we also present testimonies from other sources, covering both the religious and secular sectors of society. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE then proceeds to explain the different objectives of the campaign, both short-term and long-term objectives. We have deliberately chosen the period 2015 to 2027 to coincide with Srila Prabhupada s Golden Jubilee celebrations that commemorate his illustrious and unprecedented preaching activities from 1965 to August 13, 1965, marks Srila Prabhupada s historical boarding in Calcutta of the cargo ship Jaladuta that carried him five weeks later, September 18, 1965, to the shores of Boston Harbor in America. Devotees have already commemorated these two momentous events, August 13, 2015 (Srila Prabhupada s Golden Jubilee departure from Calcutta) and September 18, 2015 (Srila Prabhupada s auspicious arrival in America). November 2, 2027 will commemorate the 50 th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada s leaving this material world in the most sacred of holy places, Vrindavan Dham and will officially end the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign marking the end of the Golden Jubilee Era. By our united efforts to commemorate all the wonderful achievements of Srila Prabhupada and his earlier devotees during this historical 3

4 period, we can be assured that many more souls will have joined this great movement started by Srila Prabhupada. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE also contains the Sacred Oath to Mother Surabhi as well as the Sacred Prayer to recite on a regular basis so as to nurture this consciousness of Mother Surabhi. The campaign has the potential to reach out to literally hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. By taking the solemn Sacred Oath pledge they will become more committed to the cause of Mother Surabhi. The whole world is greatly suffering and remains in a most precarious condition due to the unparalleled atrocities committed to Mother Surabhi on a daily basis. We cannot fathom the heavy karmic reactions that are building up. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE also lists various items that can be used to make a simple but practical Preaching Kit for those who officially volunteer to become OM Sri Surabhi Campaigners. In that Preaching Kit will be important Videos related to the campaign, some Power Point presentations that will make it convenient for any Campaigner to introduce the notions of Mother Surabhi practically to any audience. Since the whole thrust is on spreading awareness of Mother Cow, we will also have a special section outlining the different species of original pure desi cows. This information can form the core data of different Power Points one may present to different audiences. In addition to Videos and Power Points, we will provide the Campaigner with pamphlets and banners as additional outreach tools. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE will list some of the Continental and National Coordinators of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and how the organizational structure is meant to help individuals and communities take active part in the campaign. There are a number of shareholders involved and our Guide Manual will also explain their respective roles and positions. As the campaign progresses, we expect to increase the number of participants at all levels. Finally, we have included the on-going Quarterly Reports covering activities and developments on a yearly basis. The CAMPAIGNER S GUIDE ends with a few links for those wishing more information on our campaign and desiring to be involved. Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet. Feel free to write to us to share additional thoughts and suggestions how we can improve in our humble service to Srila Prabhupada and the Vaisnavas. Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada, RP Bhakti Raghava Swami Minister IDVM-India 4

5 QUOTES ON COWS Mahabharata tratavyah prathamam gavah/tratah trayanti ta dvijan gobrahmana paritrane/paritratam jagat bhavet First of all cows should be protected. Cows thus protected, will in turn protect the brahmanas. Thus when protection of cows and brahmanas is achieved, then the whole world is protected. Harivamsa Parva, Srila Prabhupada This Krishna consciousness movement is for the protection of brahminical culture and cows. Then automatically the peace of the world will come, if (these) two things are done. This is Vedic literature. They pick up the essence of the things, and all other things follow. [Lecture, December 4, 1968, Los Angeles] The killing of cows by human society is one of the grossest suicidal policies and those who are anxious to cultivate the human spirit must turn their attention first toward the question of cow protection. [Light of the Bhagavat, 27] Therefore the world is suffering, so much sinful activities. The greatest sinful activity is cow slaughter, and they are committing. They do not know what will be the result. Such brain, stool-bound brain. Thorough overhaul is required. That we are doing. Otherwise the stool cannot be cleansed. February 19, 1977, Mayapur There should be a thorough overhauling of the social system, and society should revert to the Vedic principles, that is, the four varnas and the four asramas. SB Gandhi Cow is the source of progress and prosperity. In many ways it is superior to one s mother. Thomas De Quincy Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them; and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures. 5

6 SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES 1. Personal Oath Take a lifelong pledge to always protect our Mother Surabhi (Standard pledge to be taken at some official ceremony) 2. Family Practices * Play Surabhi Mantra daily at home * Cow photos on altar and walls at home * Using cow products such as soaps, incense, ghee * Daily recite prayer glorifying our Mother Surabhi * Go-Seva: weekly visit and seva to nearby Goshala * Go-Puja: daily offer incense and flower to Mother Surabhi 3. Green City Temples Hold regular seminars that can help promote good health and a balance diet for inmates/congregation Teach about and encourage community gardens in cities Inspire temples to lease or purchase land for the purpose of growing organic food, maintaining cows and developing selfsufficient communities. Organize yearly fairs sharing development among temples Help set up curriculum for Home Schooling and Varnasrama Colleges as desired by Srila Prabhupada. 4. Ahimsa Milk Take milk only from protected cows 5. Cooking in Ghee Avoid commercial oils, cook only in pure ghee. 6. Adopt a Cow Adopt a cow by supporting a goshala or purchase/maintain a cow 7. Adopt a Village Support Village Development by adopting a Village 6

7 LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES 1. Work towards having the United Nations and Countries adopt our Mother Surabhi as our universal mother/national emblem. 2. Help introduce legislation to stop cruelty to animals, especially the cows. 3. Encourage devotees/congregational members to take up important posts in the government administration in as many countries as possible. 4. Educate organizations and governments about the merits of A-2 Category Milk as found in indigenous breeds (desi cows) and the demerits of A-1 Category Milk as found in non-indigenous breeds. Encourage more in depth study on the subject. 5. Demonstrate the benefits of an agrarian lifestyle, the superiority of a cow driven economy Agrarian Revival through traditional technologies for a sustainable economic growth. 6. Promote Yoga, Vegetarianism, Organic Foods, Organic farming. 7. Teach the harmful effects of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hybrid seeds and machinery. 8. Promote traditional occupation through traditional education 9. Help re-establish the concept of gochar bhumi providing ample grazing for cows. 10. Assist governments in reverting the critical global problems such as desertification and climate change by promoting natural large scale grazing of animals, especially cows and showing examples of a more simple and natural way of living in keeping with the concepts of simple living and high thinking. PREACHING KITS Each OM Sri Surabhi Campaigner will receive a small Preaching Kit that will have additional information such as Videos, Power Points, Pamphlets, etc., that will help facilitate his/her preaching efforts. The Preaching Kit will also have the Sacred Oath card allowing individuals to take a solemn oath to protect Mother Surabhi. The card will have on its backside the Sacred Prayer to Mother Surabhi that can be recited daily for invoking auspiciousness. 7

8 8

9 ***We plan to have both the Oath to Mother Surabhi and the Prayer to Mother Surabhi in a Card Format that can easily be distributed at any function or event centered on cow protection. This will help generate interest and participation in the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign by connecting people to the campaign. 9

10 SHAREHOLDERS WITH IDVM-INDIA In addition to IDVM-India and the Ministry for Cow Protection in India, the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign will also work closely with its own global outreach agency called Sustainable Eco Alliance (SEA.Inc.), an official legal entity that is particularly meant to reach out to the secular world. SEA.Inc. will have its own website and its own membership system but will work totally in synchrony with the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign will also network with other Agencies, in particular the GBC/SPT global initiative called Sustainable Vaisnava Communities committee that also aims at reviving principles of Simple Living and High Thinking. OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN INAUGURATING PROCEDURE OM Sri Surabhi Campaigners are encouraged to perform the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign inauguration wherever devotees or others show interest to become actively involved with the campaign. The simple sequence to follow will be 1) the performance of Go-Puja (if possible arranging for a live cow either in the premises or close to the premises) before the official OM Sri Surabhi Campaign Inaugurating Ceremony begins. After the Go-Puja, the official inauguration begins with 2) the Master of Ceremony (MC) welcoming any special guests (ideally you should invite a Chief Guest and other dignitaries) and the general audience. You may then 3) request the Chief Guest and other guests to briefly speak. This will be followed by 4) the main speech from a devotee who will introduce the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and explain the general purposes of the campaign to the audience. After this presentation, 5) the MC will invite everyone to recite in unison the Prayer to Mother Surabhi getting all those present to stand. After reciting the Prayer to Mother Surabhi, 6) the MC will ask everyone to formally take the Sacred Oath to Mother Surabhi by repeating after him the sacred oath. Ideally, you should have the card with the words for both the Sacred Prayers and Sacred Oath in the local language. The ceremony will end with 7) prasadam distribution and 8) inviting guests to take books, literatures, cow products that will have been displayed at a book table nearby. The event should have been advertised and there should be a large banner announcing the event. 10

11 CHARTER MEMBERSHIP In addition to the various types of membership described on the website, the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign offers groups, organizations or communities to be officially connected with the campaign for which such a group/organization will receive a Membership Charter. Information is available on the website regarding the Charter Application, the Charter Guidelines and the Charter itself. For more details and for download of the templates, one can visit our Home Page on the website, GLOBAL GOSHALA DIRECTORY The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign encourages individuals, temples, organizations, and other entities to register their Goshala online by visiting A Global Goshala Survey template will be sent to those who register their Goshala online so that we may have a better idea about our Goshalas for devotees interested to visit or render some service. HIERARCHY AND ORGANIZATION OF OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign is a joint initiative of the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM-India), a national ministry established by the ISKCON Bureau (2009) whose appointed Minister is HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami and of the ISKCON India Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture (established in 2014) whose appointed Minister is Sriman Damodar Dulal das. The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign is being directly overseen by the IDVM-India Minister with the help of all the appointed Continental Surabhi Campaign Coordinators along with the Webmaster for the dedicated website created in the year This core group oversees the management and development of the campaign by regular Skype Conferences and submitting regular Bi-Monthly and Quarterly Reports. Under each Continental Surabhi Campaign Coordinator are National Surabhi Campaign Coordinators who help introduce and coordinate the goals and objectives of the campaign. Within each country, individuals, temples and various organizations may become involved through various schemes, one being direct membership, another being Chartered Membership. These are all explained in the Campaigner s Guide Manual and on 11

12 IDVM-INDIA SUSTAINABLE ECO ALLIANCE (SEA) OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Years of ISKCON 2015 to 2027 To support and revive agrarian lifestyle globally To create awareness of the Surabhi Cow as our Sustaining Universal Mother To re-establish balance and harmony in individuals, society, nature & God To raise funds during its 12 years campaign to support the above To establish the IDVM-India Eco Alliance The ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry of India (IDVM-India) invites intentional communities (including individuals, families, villages, groups, from both private, public and governmental sectors and for the purpose of this document all referred to as applicants ) who support the universal principles of food production through localized economy, who value the protection of our mother cow and our father bull, and who advocate a lifestyle based on traditional simple living and high thinking to become members of IDVM-India Eco Alliance. IDVM-India Eco Alliance is a program conceived by IDVM-India in collaboration with the Global Village Initiative Committee (GVIC), also known as the Vaisnava Sustainable Communities (VSC), for the purpose of promoting universal peace, prosperity and enlightenment through the establishment of intentional communities and revival of traditional education and traditional village development based on the holistic protection of our mother the Surabhi Cow. PRE-REQUISITES The following pre-requisites are needed to become a recognized bona-fide patron: 1. Each intentional community (or applicant) will fill in the Application Form requesting formal partnership/patronship into the IDVM-India Eco Alliance. 2. Each intentional community (or individual) will fill in the Survey Questionnaire providing information about their (his/her) community (or person). 3. Each intentional community (or applicant) will renew its membership yearly from the date of acceptance by IDVM-India by writing to the IDVM-India Secretariat. 4. Each applicant must be a member of any ISKCON recognized project/temple or favorable to the mission of Srila Prabhupada recognizing him as the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON and the main inspiration behind the concept of simple living and high thinking. 12

13 THE OFFICIAL LOGO AND ITS MEANING The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign officially launched its logo on the auspicious day of Gopastami, celebrated October 30 th, 2014 in both Sri Dham Mayapur and Sri Vrindavan Dham. Readers can avail of the booklet that explains in details about the meaning of the logo. The booklet is available online for free download. SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES (GET INVOLVED) There are innumerable opportunities for one and all to get-involved in the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and there is a need to engage various individuals, at whatever level may be suitable for them and in whatever activity they may be inclined or qualified to perform. To provide such opportunities to devotees having some affinity, interest and desire to help develop some particular aspect of the varnasrama mission, the Surabhi Campaign has identified 15 Service Categories that one can take up in order to participate in fulfilling Srila Prabhupada s unfulfilled mission. The categories listed below provide an initial choice of possible engagements for interested persons (more can be added or amended). All such services are purely voluntary and should be performed essentially for the pleasure of the Lord and His devotees. More than one service category can be chosen also. Each Service Category is described under the sub-divisions (whose full details can be downloaded from our website): 1. Definition, 2. Duties, 3. Qualifications and 4. Application. Various Service Categories are: 1. Consultants 2. Coordinators 3. Donors. 4. Editors 5. Farmers 6. Helpers 7. Instructors 8. Managers 9. Moderators 10. Monitors 11. Proof Readers 12. Researchers 13. Skilled Labor 14. Writers 15. Reporters If you feel you can be part of this glorious mission and can take up any of the above services, or want to know more about the description of the above service categories, kindly write to us. 13

14 MEMBERSHIP There are five types of membership available to those who wish to support the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. Please fill in the Membership Registration Form at the end of the pamphlet. Thank you for your kind participation. 1- Basic Membership - Receive a Monthly Newsletter and access to promotional material for starting a campaign locally. - Ideal for someone who can t contribute financially but can support through his time and expertise. - Receive a Welcome Kit. Free 2- Campaign Supporter Membership - Receive a Monthly Newsletter and access to promotional material for starting a campaign locally. - Ideal for someone who can begin to support financially. - Receive quarterly a small Surabhi Products Basket. - Receive a Welcome Kit. Donation - $ 11/month 3- Adopt a Cow Membership - Become a Cow Protector through Adopt a Cow Membership by actually supporting those who are actively protecting and taking care of Mother Surabhi. - Just $ 1/day can help support one cow. - Receive quarterly a large Surabhi Products Basket. - Receive a Welcome Kit. Donation $ 31/month 14

15 4- Adopt a Village Membership - Become a Village Protector through Adopt a Village Membership by actually supporting those who are actively protecting and taking care of Mother Surabhi and trying to implement the principles of Simple Living and High Thinking at the grass root levels. - Less than $ 10/day can provide necessary support for the development of one entire village. - Received complete details of the adopted village with photographs. - Receive quarterly a Village Products Large Basket. - Receive a Welcome Kit. Donation - $ 251/month 5- Patron Membership The ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry of India (IDVM-India) invites intentional communities (including individuals, families, villages, organizations, groups from both private, public and governmental sectors and for the purpose of this document all referred to as applicants ) who support the universal principles of food production through localized economy, who value the protection of our mother cow and our father bull, and who advocate a lifestyle based traditional simple living and high thinking to become Patron Members of IDVM-India Sustainable Eco Alliance. Yearly fees correspond to a fixed percentage of your net annual income in cash or kind, the minimum being 2% (two percent). Please enter the amount during registration. Leave the default value if you are not sure and select Pay by Check. Donation 2% of your net annual income 15

16 AHIMSA MILK & THE A1 vs. A2 CATEGORY MILK In addition to the milk controversy regarding ahimsa milk and non-ahimsa milk, there is also a serious controversy over milk that is called A1 and A2 milk. There seems to be a need for more research in both of these issues, but there is sufficient concern to direct us towards taking a close look at these two matters. For those not familiar with A1 or A2 category milk, we refer you to a book published called THE DEVIL IN THE MILK by author Dr. Keith Woodford, Professor of Farm Management and Agribusiness at Lincoln University in New Zealand. The Devil in the Milk A1 or A2? How Beta-Caseins Are Changing the Dairy Industry There s a devil in the milk, says agricultural scientist Keith Woodford, and it has little to do with production methods. Woodford s startling thesis, backed up by a pile of research, is that a mutation many years ago created an aberrant protein in some European cows, called A1 cows to set them aside from all other cows, which are called A2. As a result, the milk from these cows has been linked to a host of maladies, including Type 1 diabetes, autism and heart disease. Still virtually unknown in this country, the A1-A2 question is prominent enough in New Zealand, where Woodford lives and works, to have spurred public controversy and the creation of a successful company that markets only A2 milk, the a2 Corporation. For growing numbers of Americans who have noticed that milk seems to attack their systems even though they are lactose- tolerant, Woodford s work, collected in his book, Devil in the Milk, offers vital illumination. To read the full article, please go the the following link:. 16

17 OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY REPORT (1) January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015 OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH! The first three months of our OM Sri Surabhi Campaign have been filled with many exiting developments where more and more devotees and well-wishers are becoming introduced to the main theme of our campaign, i.e. a much needed awakening and growing awareness about Mother Surabhi as an integral part of our lives and as our mentor towards a more natural, simple and sustainable lifestyle. During this short period of three months, we have been hearing more and more testimonials from devotees around the world, some of whom are influential leaders within the ISKCON society, as to the need to move in the direction of cow care and sustainable living. Increasing our outreach to devotees, temples, and congregational members and beyond is the key to get more people connected and involved with the campaign. What follows is a brief summary of various events, many of which have become landmarks of the campaign, where IDVM-India was able to successfully introduce the Surabhi Campaign. We plan to come out with Quarterly Reports on the progress of the Surabhi Campaign to keep everyone updated and motivated. Many of these events have already been reported on our main website, January saw the launching of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in Hyderabad (and we came to know later at the New Mayapur Farm Community in France as well as in Mayapur and Vrindavan) where over 250 devotees gathered to attend a formal function that began with a Go-Puja to Mother Surabhi at the residence of one of our IDVM-India members, HG Gour Gopal das and family. Special guests were invited for the ceremony that included both activists and professional people very much involved with the protection of mother cow. During the event, the booklet explaining the OM logo (Our Mother) was distributed. In addition, the official IDVM Press Release was read out. All the participants were then asked to take the solemn Oath to Mother Surabhi by repeating the oath raising their hands. The local newspapers covered the event in the next day s edition. During the month of January, a core team of devotees based in North America began holding regular conferences planning how to introduce the campaign in NA. Our first Continental Coordinator for the Surabhi Campaign thus emerged in the person of Sri Krishna Purusottama das who is based in San Jose, California. As a result of such endeavors, two major achievements took place in NA, setting in motion the pace for the Surabhi Campaign. The first development was in connection with the registration of a non-profit called Sustainable Eco Alliance [SEA.Inc.] reaching out especially to the secular world. The second major 17

18 development was in the formation of a website that has been named taken up by a very enthusiastic and gifted devotee named Shantibhushana. The official site of the campaign was later officially launched on the auspicious day of Gaura Purnima, March 5, The month of February saw many significant events taking place directly and indirectly related to the Surabhi Campaign. The Sanga for Gurus, GBCs and Sannyasis held in Sri Dham Mayapur from February 2 to 5, the Strategic Planning Network from February 7 to 10, the Annual Global Varnasrama Mission Conference from February 11 to 14, the Varnasrama Training Course from February 14 to 18 were all opportunities to share the Campaign Logo Booklet and special DVD. It was during this time that we worked on the cow documentary introducing the milestones event of a 12 year Marathon with a 15 minutes Video Premier in Sri Dham Mayapur at the Prabhupada Samadhi Auditorium to a crowd of some 100 devotees on March 4 th. The video received a warm reception from all those attending. After the documentary release in early March, some local outreach programs promoting the Surabhi Campaign were conducted in W. Bengal covering the village of Aamjam in Midnapur District, the village of Gajankol in Howrah District and the ISKCON Kolkata Temple. One of the most positive responses was from students attending the ISKCON LEADS program in Vallab Vidyanagar, Gujarat, where the cow documentary was highlighted. Some 30 students happily shared realizations about the courses, most of which related to the importance of Mother Surabhi. March also gave an opportunity to visit Avanti Village, a fledging community near Baroda in Gujarat where a number of families under the inspiration of HH Bhakti Vikash Maharaja have been developing their self-sufficient community since the last few years. The month of March culminated in a two days festival at the Vrindavan Goshala where a group of enthusiastic devotees conducted the BLISS Festival (Bhaktivedanta Learning Institute for Self-Sufficiency) with some 75 devotees attending the event which was reported in our srisurabhi website. During this 3 months period the preliminary planning was formulated for the next few months with expected Yatras in Indonesia in the month of May, a Yatra in Cambodia in June, a Yatra in Switzerland in July and a Yatra in Ukraine and Russia in August. Various other festivals in North America as well as an extensive tour of the French countries of West Africa will also provide opportunities for devotees to join in the Surabhi Campaign. We expect to get more and more exposure as we begin to introduce various branding techniques that will help to spread the glories and importance of Mother Surabhi. We invite devotees to share information about their projects and for this we will be introducing a new section called Project in Review thus gradually listing all the rural projects and how they are developing. 18

19 We also plan to come out with a practical way for devotees to become connected and involved through the Sustainable Eco Alliance program thus giving an opportunity to more and more people to become connected. We are looking for National Managers as well as State Managers. If you are interested please contact your Continental Campaign Coordinators. We also plan to introduce the Eco Alliance program giving an opportunity for more and more people to receive the mercy of Mother Surabhi. We are still looking for National and State Campaign Managers as well as Campaigners to help promote the mission of the campaign. If you are interested in any way or would like to recommend someone, please contact us. We hope to report more important developments in the months to come. Krsne matir astu. Yours in service to Mother Surabhi, RP Bhakti Raghava Swami 19

20 OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY REPORT (2) April 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015 OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH! This is the second Quarterly Report summarizing the on-going developments of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS (Kanpur, Mysore and Chirala) At the beginning of April 2015, I attended two leadership conventions in Kanpur, one being the India Continental Committee (ICC) meeting (April 5 th and 6) and the other being the mid-term ISKCON India Advisory Committee (IIAC) meeting (April 7 to 9). At the ICC Convention I presented our video documentary and briefly explained about the Surabhi Campaign. The reception was very positive with many devotees wanting a copy of the documentary and inviting us to visit their temple. At the IIAC meeting, on behalf of IDVM-India I presented a formal proposal requesting that all temples in India help promote the ideology of sustainable living for which a resolution was adopted requesting all temples to establish a department in their temple for such. Also, I informed all leaders about the Surabhi Campaign and met the National Coordinator for ISKON s Golden Jubilee Celebrations, His Grace Suradas prabhu whom I interviewed as well. I also met with the global Chairman of ISKCON s Golden Jubilee Celebrations, His Grace Pancharatna prabhu. Both Chairmen s were very supportive and encouraging in our efforts to promote this 12-year campaign. On April 19 I attended a National Conference on Sustainability in Mysore and was able to deliver a short message about our OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. Details of that conference have been published on our Surabhi Campaign website at There were mid-term leadership meetings for IDVM-India held from 24 th to 26 th of April in Chirala where I summarized some of the information about our ongoing developments of the Surabhi Campaign. On April 27 th, a large gathering of devotees and congregational members officially took the Sacred Oath to Mother Surabhi thus making ISKCON Chirala the very first temple to take the formal pledge. 20

21 OPENING OF GIFT SHOP AND OFFICE The month of May saw the official opening of the Sri Surabhi Gift Shop cum OM Sri Surabhi Campaign Office in Hyderabad under the leadership and inspiration of Sri Rama prabhu. This initial undertaking will serve as a model to inspire other devotees serving in different cities to establish outlets where panca-gavyah products and other materials can be easily made available to interested persons. In many ways it is part of the much-needed propaganda that our campaign needs to develop in order to involve more and more devotees and the public at large. The ceremony was reported along with photos on our campaign website at TOURING INDONESIA, CAMBODIA AND GULF AREA The next day after the opening of the Sri Surabhi Gift Shop in Hyderabad, I left India for a one-month tour of Indonesia. One of the highlights of the tour was the visit of our Surabhi Campaign Yatra, a group of 20 devotees who visited both Bali and our small village community on the island of Sumatra. Devotees flew all the way from USA, India and the Gulf countries to associate with devotees in Indonesia and visit the Gaura Hari community in Bali that consists of some 20 families as well as the village of Gita Nagari Baru consisting of some 35 families. Close to 300 devotees attended the festivities at GNB. For the rest of the month of May, prabhu Kisora who is the National Coordinator for the Surabhi Campaign and I toured various centers in Yogyakarta, and then toured both Kalimantan and Sulawesi islands introducing the art of making simple incense and natural soaps from pure cow dung. The month of June was divided between Cambodia June 1 to 12 th ), with a return visit to Indonesia (June 12 th to 16 th ) before leaving for a tour of some of the Gulf countries (June 17 to 27 th ). During my Gulf tour, I was gifted a cow by two children of our congregational member as well as some pure ghee from another devotee who had received this ghee from his father s cows in South India. On the 27 th of June I travelled to Canada arriving on time the next day, June 28 th, to give the Sunday Feast lecture at the Montreal temple. I made a presentation of our Surabhi Campaign showing our documentary video and met with our newly appointed Provincial Coordinator for the campaign, His Grace Vedavyasa prabhu who I interviewed briefly as well. 21

22 NEW PAMPHLETS During this three months period we were able to finalize some important pamphlets to help promote the campaign. Those pamphlets include the general pamphlet entitled OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN, giving a general introduction to the campaign. The other pamphlet is entitled IDVM-India SUSTAINABLE ECO ALLIANCE explains how individuals can become connected with our Surabhi Campaign. The third pamphlet in print is entitled MEMBERSHIP FORM gives information about the five types of memberships available. There is a fourth print out just about ready entitled SACRED OATH to MOTHER SURABHI. This should soon come out and will allow for individuals to take the formal pledge to protect mother cow. WEBSITE Shantibhushan prabhu has been busy updating and improving out website in various ways. We now have the opportunity to view more easily various documentaries. We have also received the first PROJECT PROFILE from Yamuna Prana prabhu in Ukraine. We hope to receive more and we invite readers who are connected with a rural project to fill in the template we have provided to share news of their community developments. UP-COMING TRAVELS For the month of July I will be visiting Sweden to attend the yearly Scandinavian Bhakti Sangam Festival to be held from July 11 th to 20 th. After spending another week in Montreal side, I will likely travel to our Saranagati Village community in Western Canada till the end of the month. For the month of August, I plan to visit both Russia and Ukraine to spend time with our Continental Coordinator for Europe, His Grace Yamuna Prana prabhu who is based in the Ukraine. UP-COMING EVENTS Devotees in India are organizing a one month Go Gram Yatra, visiting some 108 villages bringing a revival to the local residents underlining the importance of preserving our villages and protecting Mother Surabhi. This program is being organized by a group of IDVM-India members headed by Sripati prabhu. IDVM-India along with the Ministry for Cow Protection will be organizing the First National Farm and Cow Protection Convention at the Neelachal Dham community in Talasari on the outskirts of Mumbai. Devotees involved with the Sustainable Vaisnava Communities initiative committee are discussing plans to hold a proposed Global Farm Symposium as part of ILS-2016 in Sri Dham Mayapur. More details of this will be available on our website in the weeks and months to come. A wonderful platform to promote the aims and objectives of our campaign. 22

23 PROMOTING PAMPHLETS AND GARDENS We also plan to promote our Surabhi Campaign by inviting devotees to submit samples of any pamphlet or literature they have promoting their project. We will also invite devotees to send photos of their gardens so that other may see what they are doing. Viewers will soon see more information on this on our website. APPOINTING NEW COORDINATORS We are still in the process of appointing individuals to the post of Continental, National and State/Provincial Coordinators. Description of duties is given on our website. We invite devotees interested to take up such positions to contact us giving us details of their situation. NETWORKING There have been many other activities taken up by our Continental Coordinators as well as Coordinators at other levels, including our Webmaster. We are working on some reporting system so that more information can be shared with our viewer to keep everyone as informed as possible. I wish to invite our viewers to contact devotees appointed at different levels. We will soon be posting such contacts on our webpage. Thank you for your support and participation. Krsne matir astu. Yours in service to Mother Surabhi, RP Bhakti Raghava Swami 23

24 OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY REPORT (3) July 1, 2015 to September 31, 2015 OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH! JULY 2015 Montreal, Ottawa and Metropolitan Toronto Every year, July 1 is celebrated as Canada Day in the Capital City of Ottawa. After attending this festival I travelled to Toronto for scheduled programs in Brampton, Scarborough and finally at the Toronto temple itself showing our Surabhi Campaign Video Documentary at all three places. At the Montreal temple, we were also able to show our documentary promoting Mother Surabhi. Scandinavian Bhakti Sangam Festival From July 10 th to 20 th I was visiting Sweden having been invited by Devaki mataji to attend their yearly Scandinavian Bhakti Sangam Festival held at the Almvik Village community. After attending the Ratha Yatra festival in Stockholm on July 11 th, I spend the remaining days at the Almvik Village where some 150 devotees attended various seminars during the day and held a three hours Kirtan Mela every evening. The Evaluation Questionnaire circulated at the end of the seminar I presented on Varnasrama Dharma revealed that many devotees were very much supportive of the need to propagate the need for self-sufficient and sustainable communities as being promoted by the organizers of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. Saranagati Village in Western Canada After returning to Montreal on the 20 th, I planned to visit Western Canada and left Montreal on the 26 th to spend a few days at the Vancouver temple and on the 28 th travelled to the largest rural community we have in Canada, Saranagati Village, located some 3 hours east of Vancouver. My host at Saranagati was my Godbrother, Sriman Bala Krishna prabhu who made all arrangements for my comfortable stay in one of his Guest Log Cabins. The main event during my stay was the arrival of a new bull to help populate the small herd of zebu cows the devotees had purchased last year. We held a Go Puja and named the bull Manu. Cambodia Video on Go Puja Devotees in Cambodia are very enthusiastic to protect cows even though till now they don t have their own cows. They produced their first in a series of documentaries performing Go Puja for the pleasure of Mother Surabhi. Although they don t have their own Goshala, they have made friendship with local Hindu 24

25 community who protect cows and have been offering special care and attention to these cows to the great delight of the local owners. AUGUST 2015 From Saranagati Village, I returned to Vancouver on August 7 and attended the Vancouver temple s 42 nd Ratha Yatra Festival on the 9 th of August where we set up a booth promoting various cow products and other varnasrama based literatures. One enthusiastic devotee, disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Radhika mataji, became inspired to make an attractive poster announcing a series of lectures promoting Varnasrmaa College that she will give for the local devotees. Visiting Mother Farms in Moscow and Ukraine I left for my visit to Russia on August 19 th arriving in Moscow the next day, meeting with the Surabhi Campaign Continental Coordinator for Europe, Yamuna Prana prabhu. After spending a few days on his large 1000 hectares farm located some 190 KM from Moscow, on August 22 we travelled to Ukraine by road. The 23 rd being a Sunday I attended the Sunday Feast at the ISKCON Kiev temple speaking on the theme of the Surabhi Campaign and that same evening left to visit Yamuna Prana prabhu s second Mother Farm in Ukraine. Devotees at his farm have their own cows and with the milk from local farmers produce various natural products such as ghee, yogurt, cheese and butter. Ukraine Bhakti Sangam Festival On the 25 th both Yamuna Prana prabhu and I travelled to the Bhakti Sangam Festival located at a special resort place some 200 from Kiev joining some 4000 devotees in their annual Kirtan Mela. For the following few days I gave some seminars promoting our OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and meeting with various devotees eager to know more about our efforts. On the 30 th of August I left for Malaysia where I had to stay a few days to obtain my Visa for Indonesia. I arrived in Yogyakarta on September 4 th. Indonesia Peduli Surabhi Network (IPSN) On Balarama Jayanti held August 28 th, devotees in Bali under the inspiration of Guna Avatara prabhu inaugurated the organization Indonesia Peduli Surabhi Network (IPSN) by having 108 Go Puja ceremonies that day with all the temples and various householders all over Indonesia. Part of their effort is to hold a monthly Go Puja on every Purnima. For more details you may visit the following link on our website: 25

26 SEPTEMBER 2015 Yogya Surabhi Goshala Inaugurated In Yogyakarta devotees have a small Goshala with one bull named Kisora that has been care for by the devotees for over 12 years. To help increase awareness about care and service to cows, we held a special Go Puja ceremony giving an official name to the Goshala Yogya Surabhi Goshala. All the student inmates of Since close to 20 years Yogyakarta, known as the Student Capital of Indonesia, has been the home for the temple s Narayana Smritih Asrama where devotees from all over Indonesia come and stay. All the students participated in the Go Puja function with great enthusiasm. First Farm and Cow Conference in India, September 22 to 24 Devotees from IDVM-India and the Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture joined forces to organize the very first all India Farm and Cow Conference held from September 22 to 24 at Nilachal Dham, a rural project under the ISKCON Juhu Temple overseen by Sriman Damodar Dulal prabhu who happens to be the Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture. One can read about the successful event at the following link on our OM Sri Surabhi Campaign website: Historical Go Puja in Denpasar, Bali On August 23, I travelled to Bali staying at the Gaura Hari Ashram in the district of Gianyar meeting with prabhu Kisora who is the National Coordinator for the Surabhi Campaign in Indonesia. I also met with prabhu Guna Avatara who is the Co-National Coordinator for Cambodia. I came to know that the following day, Ekadasi, a special Go Puja was being organized as part of the yearly Ganesh Puja held for the last 9 years at the ancient Jagannatha Pura. A few devotees along with myself arrived just in time for the ceremony. We had an opportunity to meet Dr. Arya Vedakarna, one of the prominent and outspoken figures in Bali, who is Senator and referred to as The King of Bali. He was officiating at the ceremony attended by various dignitaries. During his speech he strongly spoke for the protection of cows declaring that Bali should become the first province in Indonesia to put a total ban to cow slaughter. Gaurahari Surabhi Goshala Inaugurated While in Bali, we performed Go Puja at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda temple in Gianyar and gave an official name to their Goshala, GAURA HARI GOSHALA where three cows are protected. 26

27 Global Surabhi Go Sevakas During the month of September we inaugurated the Global Surabhi Go Sevakas group on WhatsApp asking devotees to send the names of their Goshala as well as the name of the Go Sevaka. All devotees having cows are encouraged to make a banner naming their Goshala with the name Surabhi. Devotees from Indonesia have very enthusiastically taken this project to heart and have already designed 7 banners for the following Goshalas in Indonesia: Lalit Pura Seva Kunja Goshala (3 cows) on the island of Kalimantan Gaurahari Surabhi Goshala (3 cows) on the island of Bali Kanai Puri Surabhi Goshala (3 cows) on the island of Sumbawa Prabhu Jatayu Surabhi Goshala (1 cow) on the island of Sumatra Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara Goshala (9 cows) on the island of Bali Nitai Gauranga Surabhi Goshala (4 cows) on the island of Bali Dharma Vaisnava Surabhi Goshala (1 cow0 on the island of Sumatra Yogya Surabhi Goshala (1 cow) on the island of Java By the end of next month, Indonesia should have a head count of all the cows being care for by devotees and all places will have their banner announcing the name of their local Goshala. We are in the process of expanding this initiative to the entire Asian continent and then globally. I am sure there are many more activities that took place during this period. For example, a lot of new changes and innovations to our website has been made by our Webmaster Syamananda prabhu. Also, Sri Krishna Purusottama prabhu has been working on the Sustainable Eco Alliance (SEA.Inc.) for which we expect some important news in the months to come. We have been in contact with the four current Continental Coordinators and hope that we can find devotees who can help cover the two remaining continents, namely South America and Australasia. I request those who have positions as Surabhi Campaign Coordinators (either continental or national) to send in your Bi-Monthly Reports so that all such information can be shared to all concerned. Thank you for your kind attention. Krsne matir astu. Surabhi Mata Ki Jaya! Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya! Submitted October 3, 2015 RP Bhakti Raghava Swami 27

28 OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY REPORT (4) October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH! This is the fourth Quarterly Report summarizing the on-going developments of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign 2015 to INDONESIA PEDULI SURABHI NETWORK (IPSN) Devotees in Indonesia continue to expand the work of the newly established Indonesia Peduli Surabhi Network (IPSN) that translates in English as Network for the Protection of Mother Surabhi in Indonesia to help propagate the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. Sriman Kisora Krishna prabhu, National Coordinator for the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in Indonesia, with the assistance of Guna Avatara prabhu and Yadhava Hari prabhu, oversees the activities of the organization. During its early formation, the members of IPSN identified 28 Goshalas throughout Indonesia and for each Goshala they helped put up a colorful banner giving the name of the Goshala and photos of cows. In addition, on every Purnima day, each Goshala performs a Go Puja. On each Ratha Yatra festival conducted in different parts of Indonesia, members of IPSN set up a Surabhi Campaign booth promoting cow products and books related to the varnasrama mission. Devotees are encouraged to produce various cow products to help raise the awareness of Mother Surabhi. SURABHI CAMPAIGNERS VISIT HONG KONG Two of our young Surabhi Campaigners from Indonesia, Guna Avatara prabhu and Yadhava Hari prabhu, attended the Ratha Yatra Festival in Hong Kong to promote of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. They conducted a Go-Puja and gave a seminar on the importance of cows thus inspiring the Hong Kong Yatra devotees to install a permanent figure of Gomata on the altar. In this way, Mother Surabhi is nicely worshiped every day at the Hong Kong temple. GOMATA BLISS FESTIVAL 2015 The Gomata Bliss Festival was conducted for the second year at the Balaram Hall in Sri Vrindavan from November 15 th to 19 th with various speakers covering different aspects of the varnasrama mission. Close to 12 speakers from different parts of the globe shared their realizations, all of which were recorded and are now available on the Devotees representing IDVM-India displayed banners and set up a book table where they distributed pamphlets and other literatures on Varnasrama Dharma. 28