Blog

By Lila-sakti Devi dasi

2017 was a year full of forward movement and positive changes at ISKCON New Goloka. Established in 1985, our aging temple infrastructure is currently being upgraded and updated to comply with required local building codes. Orange County, North Carolina is particularly stringent with their commercial code requirements, so the renovation process has been long, tedious, and costly. By Krishna’s mercy, however, we are in the home stretch of completing the first part of a multi-phase infrastructure improvement initiative at ISKCON New Goloka, home of Their Lordships Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda. When complete, Their servants will prepare bhoga offerings in a brand new commercial kitchen, and Their paraphernalia will be stored and maintained in a spacious and well-appointed pujari room. All glories to the devotees who have continuously undergone great austerities to wonderfully serve the deities despite so many challenges.

Last year, our temple increased outreach and book distribution efforts, having participated in many well-attended local events. For the first time ever, Lord Jagannatha appeared in downtown Hillsborough during a Christmas parade. Due to the sincere and continual efforts to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books, we experienced an increase of almost 30% in 2017. Harinam Sankirtan events are also plentiful and well-attended, spreading the holy names to many neighboring towns and villages. As a result of the multitude of preaching endeavors, more serious seekers are visiting our temple and receiving the mercy of Their Lordships and the association of the Vaisnavas. And with a well-appointed commercial kitchen nearing completion, prasadam distribution possibilities are limitless. All glories to the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord, who are just like wish-fulfilling trees and are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

And finally, after a long wait, our community now has a brand-new 2500 square foot educational facility adjacent to the temple property. Currently, this is serving the BKG Academy, ISKCON New Goloka’s homeschooling co-op. The co-op is fortunate to be under the guidance of a new Director who is working with the state to become licensed as a private school by the 2018-2019 school year. The BKG Academy will then have the ability to serve children ages 3 and up.

Since it’s inception over 3 years ago, the BKG Academy has honed and crafted a fresh educational approach that blends Montessori and Waldorf pedagogy and a solid academic focus with a Krishna conscious worldview. Within a multi-age framework, students are given autonomy to be independently thoughtful while taking responsibility for the results of their actions. Students are encouraged to collectively apply their knowledge in practical skills and employ time management strategies to complete group and individual projects. The goal is to ignite a passion for lifelong learning and have lots of fun doing it! Engaging creative projects utilize their individual propensities, which allow them to gain confidence, and time in nature stimulates their sense of curiosity and place in the world. Daily Bhagavad-Gita and group kirtan enhance the students’ faith and allows them to realize their unique relationship with Lord Krishna. All experiences contribute to the positive, Krishna-centered learning experience for the fortunate students at the BKG Academy.

If you are inspired by the possibilities at BKG Academy, we need part-time teachers for the 2018-2019 school year. We’d like to hear from you! We are also accepting applications for students – please visit the website for more details and to apply: www.bkgacademy.com