New Gokula Village, Australia

Established originally on the Colo River on the outskirts of Western Sydney, and then moved to the Hunter Valley in the late 80’s due to flooding problems at Colo, devotees wanted a larger property to develop the village concept.

Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda therefore re-located in Their present facility in August, 1989. Since that time there has been a struggle to revive commitment and interest in such a vision, but now the community appears well established and steadily growing.

Currently Need

There is need to inspire and cultivate the ideals and lifestyle associated with cow-culture. Serious efforts need to be focused on training with cows and bulls, training teamsters to take responsibility for the bulls so that cow protection takes practical shape and shows practical worth of having a cowherd.

Future Plans

New Gokula aims to gradually establish sustainably built dwellings that don’t cost the earth to build, and where we can constantly hold retreats to reconnect both devotees and public to the land and cows. Looking at short term, we are currently building more dwellings to house the staff. As for longer term, we aim to solidly establish weekend programs whereby Bhakti Yoga can be promoted through the medium of our beautiful natural setting, especially taking advantage of the association of Mother Cow to help soften the hearts of those blessed with her association.

How one can assist/support your project?

Well, I feel for us, the crucial moment has passed and now things are going forward slowly but surely.

Personally, I see an opportunity where Varnasrama oriented devotees could inter-connect as exchange students/teachers/facilitators. Thus everyone will benefit from each other, just as the non-devotees do in contemporary institutions. And just as the Om Sri Surabhi Campaign is creating a bridge to help unite the ISKCON farms, we could further the connection by interchange of devotees.