My first trip to New Vrindaban West Virginia was brief. I had driven my friend on a one way trip to this new area way up in the mountains. She actually would continue to reside there to this day, even being initiated. As I was leaving, I felt this tug as if I was leaving behind a Love that I was resisting. I couldn’t get the place out of my mind. I had to go back. So I did go back again and again and again and…..

New Vrindaban

The holy dham. What a beautiful place. The spiritual feeling of awe is unmatched.

From Prabhupada Palace of Gold to the massive Gaura Nitai statues to the beautiful carving and architecture of the temple, it’s the most beautiful spiritual spot. A town like of devotees everywhere. The enormity and entirety of the area is full of peace and serenity. I find it unmatched in the entire continent of North America.

Yes, the temple has a history and no they don’t hide from it. They bear the scars of the story out in the open, on story boards. Owning mistakes and celebrating growth.

The peace and beauty though. You can hike for hours and not spend any time with humans. You can sit at the lake and pray with quiet beautiful serenity. Have brunch at the Palace of Gold Rose Garden. Participate in morning, noon, and evening arti. Dance Kirtan with devotees for hours on end. Finally of course, the prasadam; sanctified food. The delicious mounds of food touches deep in the soul. Food first offered to God then distributed among everyone else.

It’s the only place in the world that I can actually say that I personally sat and had lunch with a deer, a squirrel, a beaver and a peacock, all at the same time.

Varsana Swami

When leaving to visit, my friend Gopal suggested I should meet Varsana Swami who lived there. An actual Swami and Disciple of Srila Prabhupada himself.

Living in a small, small building near his beloved projects at Radha Kund. Varsana Swami has lived in New Vrindaban for over 50 years

I was so nervous meeting him. More nervous than any person I have met in my life. He was quiet, gracious, and steadfast. His theological intelligence across many religions is one of the things I was not expecting.

I spent many hours listening to Varsana Swami speak. For every two stories of Krishna he would give me a story about Jesus. Here I was going to a very pious man expecting to hear all about the glories of Krishna, but once again Jesus has stepped forth in my path. As someone growing up with a negative outlook on Christianity this just threw me for a loop.

But then he shared a story with me that changed my life.

Jesus and the Adulterer

The stories told by Varsana Swami to me are some of the most cherished pastimes I will always remember. The stories he told to me in private I will not share with anyone. As to me when you are sitting with someone sharing their knowledge and telling a story from the heart, it’s supposed to be meant only for your heart and ears.

But the most profound story he told me actually was around another witness so I will share this one. The other reason to share it, is because it’s the story that Varsana Swami himself took and swung a sledge hammer over the concrete walls I built up around the Christian Faith tables.

He told me in exquisite detail the story of the Pharisees trying to do a gotcha on Jesus with bringing forth an adulterer caught in the act needing punishment. Pointing out that the man who was also caught, wasn’t brought forth.

Varsana Swami was so detailed in his story that at one point I literally felt like I was in a dirty cobblestone street standing next to Jesus and watching the entire story unfold.

As he told how Jesus used the opportunity to bring forth one of the oft quoted “cast no stone” part of the story I felt as if I could feel the Love and distress of Jesus as if I was standing next to Him and can see the pain and Love in His eyes myself as He spoke.

These men are here to “trick” Him into something so they can arrest Him. Here these men are constantly sinning and here they amass sin after sin just to bring this woman before Him to judge her single solitary sin.

I saw no evil or anger or retribution in the eyes of Jesus from the story of Varsana Swamis words. Only a hint of tears and an abundance of Love for both the woman AND the Pharisees.

As the Pharisees walked away and Jesus spoke to the woman He ended the conversation with “sin no more”. I felt it wasn’t a command; but a heartfelt plea to her, to the Pharisees, and most importantly, to all of us.

Everything I had been told about Christianity from family to the television was wrong. None of those tables on the Maya Express got it right for my Path. Jesus walked the Path of Love as well. I saw now He also has been an image of my Spiritual Guide along the way.

The Illusion of Maya Express Theology Tables

Everything deployed by the Maya Express is sent out for one goal. To keep us from our path. To keep us from Love. The Path of Jesus and the Swami taught me that just because one lesson is taught at one theological table doesn’t mean I can’t learn lessons from God at other theological tables.

It also taught me that just because a set of theological tables preach about fear, anger, and wrath, doesn’t mean they represent our actual Spiritual Paths; it is meant to dissuade us from it.

While this Path was one of the most life changing it wouldn’t fully manifest itself for another few years. In the meantime I fell into one of many of Mayas traps. The Path of Complacency.

Yours Forever Grateful