His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Founder Acharya: International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Hare Krishna Community and Cultural Centre coming up!
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), more popularly known as the “Hare Krishnas”, has announced a new temple and cultural centre to be built in Vineyard (near Windsor), approximately 50 km northwest of Sydney CBD. The construction project is expected to be completed by 2022 and will be known as the Hare Krishna Community and Cultural Centre (HKCCC). The centre will house a cultural, social and community hall, ideal for cultural performances like dance, music, dramas, weddings, conferences and festive functions. There will also be a pure vegetarian restaurant serving delicious world famous Hare Krishna cuisine. The full size commercial kitchen will serve as an outlet for Hare Krishna Food for Life program, the world’s largest vegetarian charity, serving free, nutritious vegetarian meals to the public.
In addition, there will be a 12rooms guest house for giving visitors the opportunity for enjoying a spiritual retreat on weekends and holidays.
It is anticipated that the local community will benefit from a variety of community programs such as food charity, yoga retreats, spiritual counselling and Sunday school for the kids, along with the celebration of myriads of festivals in the Vedic tradition. The main attraction of the centre will of course be the temple with its glamorous Deities Sri Sri Radha Govinda, Sri Sri Sita Ram Lakshman and Hanuman and Sri SriGauraNitai and of course founder Acharya His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!
Often we ask ourselves about a need for a temple if God is present everywhere. While it is accepted that God is omnipresent, the temple acts as a spiritual haven amidst a world full of material entanglements and sensory pleasures. The temple and the HKCCC in this case, will provide a sanctuary for those who are seeking something more in this mundane life. It will help the patrons achieve devotee association, which is one of the key avenues for awakening our dormant love of God, love for Krishna.
The Founder Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda strongly advocated the construction of temples throughout the modern world. His purpose was to make mankind realise that they are eternal parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, and that our true home is not here, but the spiritual world. By practicing a simple life devoid of lust and greed, and chanting the holy names of the Lord, Srila Prabhupāda showed the world how one can find true and eternal happiness in the love of God. By having temples and Krishna centres embedded in our modern society, Srila Prabhupāda has given us a priceless benediction – a transcendental place in this material world to seek out the spiritual truth and further advance our journey back home – back to Godhead.
Right now there is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and support the construction of this new centre. Either through donation of funds or helping in-kind, it is said that constructing a temple is an extraordinary activity that purifies one’s self and sets him or her steadily on the spiritual path of devotion or Bhakti. To find out more, please contact HG Vijay Gopikesh Das on 0410 076 030 or by email vijayjps1@iskcon.com.au.
Chant and Be Happy …
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
ISKCON Sydney
180 Falcon St
North Sydney NSW 2060
