Hare Krishna lifestyle wins over initially reluctant GLC participants

Great coverage of New Vrndavan from an outside perspective at The Ohio Post

The Hare Krishna-focused life of New Vrindaban aids in followers’ spiritual journeys, Chaitanya told his GLC interviewers.“The philosophy and lifestyle can’t be separated,” he said.

GLC’s Pesek, who said she wasn’t raised religious, agreed that the surroundings at New Vrindaban were conducive to worship.

“You can’t walk into the temple and not have some kind of spiritual feelings,” she said.

During religious services, followers dance among the temple’s stained glass windows and 24 columns, swaying towards the altar adorned with Hindu deities and surging back to the quickening tempo of the drum beat.

Followers also raise and prepare organic vegetarian food, mostly Indian, on the grounds to keep with a self-sustained and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Under the weight of fresh milk, chai tea and homemade cheesecake, GLC participants’ complaints about the food faded as the weekend wore on.