Newsletter Aug 04

Newsletter - August 2004

Murwillumbah Maha Yajna – 24 Hour Kirtana and Bhajans.
On Friday 23rd July at 5.00 pm, the Murwillumbah devotees performed a non-stop Yajna of Kirtans and Bhajans. The motivation for performing the yajna was to invoke the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Krsna to help us in our endeavour to establish a preaching center, school and medical dispensary according to Srila Gurudeva’s instruction. It was a most ecstatic experience for the more than 30 devotees who participated, and culminated in a blissful “whomper-stomper” kirtana that went for an extra hour – the yajna finally winding up at 6.00 pm Saturday 24th July.
After honouring prasada, the devotees held an impromptu meeting to discuss our next steps in the building project. It was agreed that we all meet again the following week to discuss the different options in more detail.
Enthusiasm and determination are increasing in the community. Although it looks almost impossible to achieve our goal, we are quietly confident that Krsna will help our humble endeavour and “everything will come together on the night”..
The general consensus was that we wanted to aim for something that was achievable in the time we have available, and would enable us to host this years festival on our land, as requested by Srila Gurudeva.
Srila Gurudeva stated in Sydney during his last visit, that he would not come to Murwillumbah this year if there was not a start made to the building on his land.

Our Plan
At the recent A.G.M. of the Sri Giriraja Govardhana Gaudiya Math (SGGGM), we decided that the most practical way of achieving this was to pay off the land ASAP, so that the land could be then put in the name of the SGGGM. This would then give us the collateral to get a bank loan. We could then buy a pre-fabricated, re-locatable building which could be built and delivered on-site within 6 weeks.
This building would enable us to host Srila Gurudeva’s festival on our own property and it would give us a facility to operate from so that we did not have to rush into developing the plans for the permanent structure. We would need to borrow about $80,000 (with repayments of about $135/week) to pay for the building, kitchen, toilets and car-parking etc..
Our first goal is to encourage all disciples of Srila Gurudeva to make a donation on Radhastami to go towards paying off the land. If 50 devotees donate $1,000, it will be done. Many devotees have said they will borrow the money on their credit card if they have to, but somehow they’ll get it so they can give it on Radhastmi.

The Temporary Building
What we plan to get is a building about the size of a portable classroom with a wide verandah down one side. There would be double sliding doors opening onto the verandah and Srila Gurudeva would sit against the side wall facing the verandah, so that those devotees outside will feel included. The building would be situated running east-west, with the alter at the western-end facing east. We would have the block securely fenced for the festival so that small children could not wander onto the road or car-park.
The building would take up less than half the block, so it could stay on-site while work begins on the Permanent structure.

Up to Now
Since Srila Gurudeva has been coming to Murwillumbah in 1997, the devotees have been holding programs in different rented properties around town as well as in devotees homes. The down-side of this is that it has been difficult to develop a community spirit and there has been no proper facility to implement prasadam distribution and other preaching programs which have the ability to create income.

The Future
With the establishment of our own Preaching Centre, we will be able to develop a number of projects that will not only enthuse and unite the local devotees, but will also enable us to be financially self-reliant, thus ending the need to solicit donations from other devotee communities. In fact it is quite possible, that once we get established here in Murwillumbah, we will be in a position where we will be able to help other communities develop their own projects.

Srila Gurudeva’s Departing Instructions, 10th Feb. 2004
At the end of the final class of Srila Gurudeva’s Festival of Devotion in Murwillumbah, Srila Gurudeva left us with these words…

”very good, very appreciated and ……(not clear) this to collect some piece of land and also to help them, the local devotees. And they are trying, they have taken land in a very favorable place, very prominent place.
So I want that you should all help in this project, that very soon a preaching center should be there. At least basement should be done so that at least five, six hundred devotees may hear Hari-katha, and later on, other part of the second, first stories will be done. And I also want to establish a school, children’s school, there are so many expert teachers they can help.
So, again, if needed I will help some. But you will have to also support and to give some help and donation so that when I will come next time I will sit there and give classes there, I want. Don’t think that, oh, my wish is not to establish this. No, certainly. So I am requesting you to make the preaching centre very soon and give as much as you can do. And donate with what? - generously you should donate and fulfill the desire of Swamiji and Krsna. Gaura premanandi!”