So how did we utilise this day? With a Vedic fire sacrifice, a double laying of the foundation stone was celebrated, firstly for a Shiva shrine and secondly for a yajna shala, a place of sacrifice. This means that many yajnas can now take place in a permanently available outdoor location (and the temple room needs to be freshly painted much less frequently 😊).

But Shiva should also help us to be more tolerant and united. Like everywhere else in the world, there are also differences of opinion in the temple community, which sometimes become so strong that relationships with one another suffer as a result. The basic need of every soul for connectedness is then not fulfilled. We strive to be connected to Krishna, but we realise that the people he has sent to our "playground" in this life as sparring partners challenge us again and again. But right here is our lesson and the opportunity for change.

Srila Prabhupada has mentioned in countless places in letters, conversations and lectures how important co-operation is to him. He even went so far as to say, "Your love for me is shown in how you co-operate." He emphasised that true cooperation must be based on spiritual values and shared devotion. Co-operation means not only the harmonious working together of individuals, but also a common orientation towards a higher spiritual goal, Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada promoted a management system based on teamwork and collective decision-making, which was ahead of its time. He emphasised the importance of cooperation between temple management and the community members and the various departments to achieve the goals of the community. Goloka Dhama now has an overview of the individual areas of responsibility, which is constantly updated.

In addition to many smaller and larger events in Goloka Dhama, we are particularly busy preparing for the biggest festival of the year: Janmastami. If you would like to get involved with personal commitment or other support, please contact Valentina.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Goloka Dhama soon and thank you for your support.
Best regards on behalf of the community.

Your servant,
Gaura-bhavini dd

Wow, there is so much to say about this amazing place! I was at the temple for 3-4 weeks in November 2023 and had a really enriching time there. First of all, I felt very welcome and relaxed during my stay because all the people are really friendly and make sure that the volunteers' needs are met!

Also, we were a great group of volunteers and I had a lot of fun with them! Olena, who takes care of the volunteers, made many activities possible for us and I am so grateful that I had her by my side!!! For example, we watched a documentary about Krishna consciousness together, went hiking, visited the candy factory "Govinda" and sometimes we met in the library and discussed the Vedic scriptures (Bhagavad-Gita).

I really liked the fact that you could have many philosophical discussions and participate in the temple program, but there was no pressure to do so. However, I would really recommend attending the lectures and chanting from time to time.

The temple is surrounded by a beautiful forest with lots of hiking trails. So if you like it a bit quieter and want to reflect on your life, this is the perfect place for you! I can really recommend this place and will probably come back!

Emma Henrike