The Times

Saturday, February 12, 1977, page 10 (of 23)

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An old, abandoned lot turns into a paradise

“God is not a Sears-Roebuck catalog to order from . . . we've got to . . . repay Him by making constant offerings.” Narahari By DOROTHY STEIN Staff Writer An old abandoned mango grove on Coral Way is gradually being transformed into a tropical paradise, filled with the flora and fauna that myths are made of. Consciousness, and the fruits of their labors are not intended for their own enjoyment. “Everything we do is for a very specific purpose—to serve Krishna,” says temple president Narahari, a soft-spoken former pre-med student and jazz drummer, who now accompanies his mantras on the tampura or mandungas. All the flowers, fruits and vegetables grown on the 8 1⁄2 acre property across Coral Way from F.I.U., says Narahari, are eventual offerings to Krishna. “God is not a Sears-Roebuck catalog to order from,” he says. “You can't say ‘Give me bread or I won't worship you.’ We've got to give thanks for what we get from Him and repay Him by making constant offerings.” Through a form of spiritual advancement, called “Prasadam,” says Narahari, one learns to lose the desire to be the enjoyer, and gains the desire to bring enjoyment to Krishna. For example, the flowers grown at the commune are used as altar decorations in their ceremonies, which purifies them and removes them from the realm of mere sensual gratification. “When our members try to give out flowers, people say that we're beggars,” he says, “but we're not looking for hand-outs; what we're trying to do is give these purified flowers to others in the hopes that we'll get them to make offerings to Krishna. We want to help others to serve God. “If we stop serving Krishna,” Narahari explains, “our crops won't grow and flowers won't be in abundance.” As evidence he points out that in the recent severe frost which destroyed so much of South Florida's crops, theirs were barely affected. All of their carambolas were lost, and a few banana trees, but most everything else survived. And how do their gardens grow? With frangipani, jasmine, gardenia, roses, marigolds, amaranth, sacred tulsi (a type of basil, from whose tough stem bases beads for their rosaries are made), pomegranates, lychees, jaboticaba, macadamias, cardamom, ginger, mint, rosemary, wild almond, allspice. . . and dozens of other common and uncommon varieties of fruits and spices, vegetables and trees, many of which are mentioned in the Vedas, the Hindu sacred texts. Cows, swans and peacocks are also raised on the grounds, the first for practical and religious reasons, the latter two for purely aesthetic purposes. “We keep very auspicious animals,” Narahari explains, “those found in the spiritual world.” They also maintain about 50 beehives at an orange grove in Davie, from which they gather the honey which is one of their principal foodstuffs and religious offerings. At present, about 70 people live at the commune, admittedly under very crowded conditions. Narahari says that in the spring they hope to begin expanding the living quarters. “There's somethings for everybody at a commune like this,” he says. “Some people like to farm, others to sew, cook, clean, take care of the business, and the public relations. But the most enjoyable aspect for everybody is the hours spent daily in prayer.” All the members are pledged to a life of asceticism, eschewing drinking, smoking, gambling and illicit sex. Narahari says he very rarely even leaves the grounds, except to give an occasional talk to student groups. “If you want Krishna Consciousness,” he says, “you have to pay a high price.” What about the attrition rate among the members? Do many join out of curiosity or disenchantment, only to leave after a few months? “Some go out,” Narahari answers, “but they all come back eventually—either in this life or in a future life—because once they've joined they've already proven their love for Krishna.” What's wrong with so many of today's awareness groups, he says, is that they all stress self-gratification. “There's no talk of God. . .just ‘me’. When you're actually serving God 24 hours a day, that's when you're living the spiritual life.” Photo by DOROTHY STEIN Temple President Narahari stand next to one of the ponds on the temple's eight acres in West Dade.

UM professor will take sudents to England for religious study

By DOROTHY STEIN Staff Writer At least two summer courses offered at the University of Miami this year—Religion 411 and 412—will be conducted off-campus. Dr. W.an Hoy, department chairman, will take his “classes” to England, to participate in the Cambridge Religion Institute, under the University of Miami's auspices. Since Cambridge was the center of Puritanism, explains Dr. Hoy, it will be a meaningful place for a study of America's religious heritage. “I see it as a kind of epilog to the Bicentennial,” he explains. The two courses offered will consider the personalities and activities of British groups in the development of American colonial religion. Students will also have the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance, as well as places of general interest in England and Scotland. The course will coincide with the second summer session at the University of Miami, June 29-Aug. 3. The cost of the trip is $1,695, which includes tuition, air fare from Miami or New York to London, limited transportation in England and full room and board at St. John's College. The course is limited to 25 students, and since the deadline for enrollment is Feb. 15, Dr. Hoy urges anyone who is interested to contact him immediately. Dr. Hoy has another project in mind for the future, if he finds that it can be carried out at a reasonable cost. His dream is to take a group on a pilgrimage to the holy cities of the various world religions. This tour would include Rome, Jerusalem, the Is'e Shrine in Japan, Benares and Amritsar in India, and Rangoon, among other cities. In place of Mecca, which is off-limits to non-Islamics, Dr. Hoy says he will substitute Bagdad. “But this is still in the distant future,” he says. “I still have visions of doing it, if I find the interest is strong enough, and the cost is not prohibitive.”

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Church Directory Attend The Church Of Your Choice

THE LE JEUNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Le Jeune Rd., at S.W. 4 St. - 448-7481 Dr. Robert C. Duhs, Pastor Sunday Services 11:00 A.M. & 7:30 P.M. SUNSET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 9025 SUNSET DRIVE WORSHIP SERVICE CHURCH SCHOOL 9:30 A.M. OLYMPIA HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3801 S.W. 97 Ave. Pastor Ross M. Geiger Church School—9:00 A.M. Worship Service— 10:00 A.M. & 7:30 P.M. UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH Riviera Drive at Segovia Coral Gables, Florida 8:30 A.M., 11:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. PASTOR — DAN YEARY INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH WESTWOOD LAKE 4301 S.W. 107 Ave. SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:45 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE 10:55 A.M. TRAINING UNION 6:30 P.M. WED. MID WEEK PRAYER SERVICE 7:30 P.M. MARVIN GOCHENOUR, PASTOR FLAGAMI BAPTIST CHURCH 860 S.W. 76 Court Phone: 261-1464 Dr. Charles Horton, Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES! 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 7:00 p.m. GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT IMMANUEL LUTHERAN 1770 Brickell Ave. Paul Anderson, pastor Worship Services 11 A.M. VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS ALWAYS WELCOME FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 121 Alhambra Plaza Rev. Carroll L. Shuster, Pastor Church School — 9:30 A.M. Morning Worship — 10:30 A.M.