Meet Maha Mantra

Another assignment from my photojournalism class was called “Bridging The Gap,” where I did a story on someone that I would probably not every approach. Not only did I learn a lot about Maha Mantra, I learned a lot about the Hare Krishna. It was an enlightening experience to get out of my bubble I live in.

So visible to the public, but an unknown to many, the Hare Krishna are peaceful devotees of Krishna Conciousness, a philosophy of living a pure life with no intoxication, meat eating, gambling, or illicit sex. It is a Hindu Vaishnava organization based on traditional Hindu scriptures to spread the word of Krishna, or God.

Maha Mantra, a student monk from Bolivia, plays the drums as other Hare Krishnas chant and sing September 9 at UNC-Chapel Hill. Every Thursday evening, Krishnas gather their pots and their faith to feed students at UNC. They believe in giving away free food so people do not go hungry. The food is always vegetarian because they do not believe in violence against humans or animals as part of living a pure life.

Maha Mantra meditates before the weekly Sunday program. During his meditation in the temple, a few visitors came to admire the dieties. “It’s so serene, isn’t it?”

Meditation is a daily practice for Maha Mantra as he works his way to being a temple priest.

Maha Mantra serves up apple juice and jokes with Hare Krishnas who attended the worship. “Food is a way of connecting and concentrating to be connected with krishna all of the time,” said Maha Mantra.

After Sunday’s worship program, there is a free vegetarian dinner to members and guests who attended. Usually, about 100 to 150 members attend the Sunday program.

Everyday at 4:30 a.m., devoted Hare Krishnas meet at the temple to worship the deities and meditate. During the worship session, members chant, sing, make flower garlands for the deities and listen to scripture teachings.

For an hour period from 5:00-6:00 a.m., Maha Mantra chants the Hare Krishna on his beads. The beads, which are similar to a rosary, represent a single prayer. There are 108 beads and they are kept in a bag from getting dirty.

Always dressed in his orange robes, tube socks, and some color of Croc-like shoe, Maha Mantra cooks the nightly offering for the deities Wednesday evening.

Giving food to the deites is a form of devotion to Krishna. Members who live at the New Goloka temple splits up daily tasks among each other.

Maha Mantra meditates in front of the deities and the founder of the Hare Krishna religion.

Members dress the dieties and the founder in traditional clothing as if to bring them into real life. For example, during the meditation, the Puja has a bag of beads around his hand just as worshipers have their bags on their hands. The clay on Maha Mantra’s and other worshipers forehead is a symbol of what religion they are in and “to be conscious that the body is an instrument of God’s service.”

24 Hours: This is Goldsboro.

Home to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the F-15E fighter jet, Butterball, down-home cookin’ and a slew of Dollar Generals, Goldsboro, N.C. has more charm than a Baptist blessin’ your heart. Despite the strong military influence, one trend that will always exist in this Southern town is family. From family farms to family reunions, Goldsboro knows what matters most.

“Hey Momma! Look! A turkey head!” screams Marshall, with much excitement, as he scoops up an old, trodden head of a turkey that had been pecked to death.

Everyday at 5 p.m., Marshall, 7, and his dad, Gray Outlaw do their rounds at their turkey houses. Currently, the Outlaw family has two turkey houses holding about 12,500 turkeys. Marshall and Gray walk the houses daily to move their water bowls, remove dead turkeys and give the gobbler’s their daily medication. They raise the turkeys for 20 weeks until they are shipped to Goldsboro Milling, home of Butterball, and put into a deep freeze until Thanksgiving dinner. The Outlaw’s also raise hogs, “‘baccer,” corn and soy beans.

Every other year, the Durham family holds their family reunion in Goldsboro. Descending from Great Grandma Durham, who had six children, and her sister, who had 12 children, over 120 people meet to celebrate thier family in Herman Park, the heart of downtown. Family from all across the South came to Goldsboro September 4 to catch up and relive old memories.

Shermeana Townes was the designated fish-fryer at the reunion. She breaded and dunked whole fish into two deep fryers to keep her family satisfied.

During the spring, summer and fall a popular site for locals to hang out is at All Stars Family Fun Center putt-putt course. Since 1976, All Stars has been a family business bringing wholesome entertainment and recreation to the area.

Earl Hughes, has worked at All Stars Putt Putt since it opened. His smiling face greets customers of all ages everyday, and occassionally he will hand out ring pops to the children. Known to Facebookers as “The Old Man at AllStars Putt Putt,” his facebook page has almost 500 fans. Always speaking his mind, Hughes is very vocal about local schools and college football.

Before noon on September 4, members of Duck’s Unlimited met to celebrate the opening of dove season with McCall’s BBQ and sweet tea in a recently harvested corn field.

Dean Brady, of Princeton, laughs at a joke from his friend Charles Deans, of Smithfield, while the two get their shotguns and other equipment ready for the opening season. Friends and family of Goldsboro’s chapter of Duck’s Unlimited traveled to the cornfield for a day of hunting on farmer John Tyndall’s land.

Sunday mornings may mean church, but in Goldsboro it also means a full breakfast, with your loved ones and sweet tea, of course.

Ruth and Larry Edmundson eat at Michelle’s Restaraunt every Sunday morning. Larry has lived in Goldsboro for 62 years. “See that man up there with the hat on, he would’ve never sat up there in the old days,” said Larry about an African American man sitting at the bar, while talking about the differences Goldsboro has experienced in his time. He also recalled when the shopping center that houses Michelle’s was home to Woolworth’s department store and how he used to ride his bike to the store.

A centerpiece of what used to be old Goldsboro, the water tower along North Center Street is a beacon of hope for a town that revolves around family. Despite the tough economic times and changes the town has encounterd, Goldsboro natives know how to look forward in life, with their families by their sides.

FILMMMM!

It has been way too long! Between finishing up furniture, packing for my junior year of college (I’m getting so old, sheesh), working at The Daily Tar Heel and shooting for class, I don’t know where the last almost-2 months has gone. Phew! First photo project done and lots of media law to read, but figured a good few shots from some film I’ve had for a while would make a good 2 a.m. procrastination post!

The view from Everett during a gorgeous early spring sunset.