Newsletter, June 2025
I hope that you and your family are healthy and well. While winter has truly arrived, bringing with it some chilly mornings and frosty nights, the residents and guests at New Gokula are staying toasty warm, especially in the temple room, thanks to our crackling fireplace and strawbale insulation. It definitely makes those early morning wake-ups easier when you can enter such a warm and inviting space.
If you wish to join us for a day visit, please register on www.newgokula.com where you can also find accommodation options for longer stays.
We hope to see you soon,
The New Gokula Team
Save the date!
Please join us this August to celebrate the appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna, followed by that of Srila Prabhupada. These festivals are the most important dates in our calendar, and we can not wait to celebrate with you all.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kaliya Krsna das on 0488 178 293.
The Sacred duty of cow protection
At New Gokula Farm, cow protection is at the heart of our spiritual life. For Hare Krishna devotees, caring for cows is not simply an act of kindness — it is a sacred duty deeply rooted in our scriptures and traditions.
In Vedic culture, the cow is honoured as one of the seven mothers. Just as a mother nourishes and cares for her child, the cow selflessly provides us with milk, a gift that sustains both body and spirit. To offer love, shelter, and respect to cows is to express gratitude to this divine mother.
Lord Krishna Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is celebrated as Gopala, the protector of cows, and spent His childhood tending and playing with the cows of Vrindavana. He showed the world by His own example how dear the cows are to Him. When we care for cows, we are following directly in the footsteps of Krishna, and we earn His special mercy and blessings.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, cows often suffer neglect and mistreatment. At New Gokula, we are committed to giving them a safe, loving home where they can live peacefully and joyfully for their full natural lives. Our cows are not exploited for milk; instead, they are honoured and protected simply because of who they are, sacred beings dear to Krishna.
When we serve the cows — feeding them, brushing them, speaking gently to them, we purify our hearts and deepen our connection with the Lord. Protecting cows softens our character, cultivates compassion, and brings a deep sense of spiritual satisfaction.
We invite all visitors to New Gokula Farm to experience the joy of serving and caring for our cows and bulls. In doing so, you will not only make them happy, but you will also please Krishna, who watches over every living being with love.
Cow protection is not just part of our farm life, it is part of our devotional life and a beautiful way to express our love for Krishna.
Festival fun
This month, we have been meditating on their Lordships Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra in preparation for the Ratha-Yatra festival. We sang the beautiful Jagannathastakam bhajan, praying that Lord Jagannath may be the constant object of our vision. The bhajan describes how Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and as beautiful as a row of blackish rain clouds.
Finally, on Saturday, 28th June, the big day had arrived – Ratha Yatra! Devotees travelled from far and wide to celebrate the chariot festival, where Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra leave the temple for the public to see and receive blessings. Devotees took turns pulling the cart, dancing and immersing themselves in the ecstatic kirtan. The Vedic scriptures state that anyone who sees Lord Jagannatha or pulls His chariots achieves immense spiritual benefit, attaining liberation from the material world and entrance into the eternal blissful pastimes of the Lord.
Volunteers
For the past several years, New Gokula Farm has welcomed both travellers and locals through our active volunteer program, offering a unique opportunity to work on the land while experiencing life in a spiritual environment.
Recently, a group of dedicated volunteers took on the task of clearing out the barn, making the space far more accessible and functional for a variety of future uses. Their hard work, team spirit, and enthusiasm made a big difference and we’re very grateful to them!
Hasselback potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes, washed and dried
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or thyme, or ½ teaspoon dried (optional)
- Heat the oven to 220 degrees and line a sheet pan with baking paper.
- Place one potato on a cutting board with the long side facing you. Arrange two chopsticks, skewers or wooden spoon handles along the long sides of the potato, sliding them slightly underneath. Cut the potato crosswise into ⅛-inch-thick slices. (The chopsticks will prevent the blade from cutting all the way through and will keep the potato intact.) Repeat with the remaining potatoes and place them on the sheet pan.
- In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave in 10-second intervals. Add the olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary and mix with a fork. Brush the butter mixture over the potatoes, taking your time to pull the slices apart and brush in between them.
- Roast the potatoes, basting between the slices (they’ll open as they cook) with butter from the pan every 20 minutes, until they’re fork-tender in the centre but crisp on the edges, 60 to 70 minutes.
- Season the potatoes with more salt and pepper. Serve to Krishna and enjoy!
New Gokula Farm
83 Lewis Road, Millfield, NSW, 2325
(02) 49 98 1800