By Jhulan dasi
About two years ago at New Govardhana, I met Govinda Vallabha dasi, who was visiting from Mayapur. She told me of her plan to visit Korea, so we shared our ideas and exchanged contacts.
When Govinda Vallabha made it to Korea, we held a yoga and meditation class in my hometown Jeju. But soon we realized it was not easy to do on our own. As I was thinking about the next steps, I was surprised to learn that Krishna consciousness had been steadily building up in Korea.
Patanjali Muni dasa, a Korean devotee who currently resides at Bhaktivedanta Manor in London, has been at the center of this growth. Despite long distances and heavy responsibilities as a kitchen manager in the Manor, he has actively served Korea ISKCON since 2005.
As a representative director of ISKCON Korea, amongst other activities he has been fundraising, teaching Korean yoga students, organizing the annual Ratha-yatra festival, translating Bhagavad-gita, attending debates on a regular external panel, looking after general affairs in the temple, and communicating with the public. In 2019, he traveled from the UK to Korea five times!
Last year was special for ISKCON Korea, with an October 2019 opening of the beautifully renovated temple in Pochen, a grand plan conceived by Patanjali Muni, Sanjay Yadav, the temple president and Sunil Dewnani, the vice-president. And Govinda Vallabha was there to perform an Odissi dance!
Various guests were invited: His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Swami, locals, members of the Indian community, Christians, Buddhist monks, even Korean police officers. After this ceremony, Korean ISKCON gained attention from the public and was interviewed in six news magazines to date.
The cost of such renovations, of course, was very high, and unfortunately a group of sponsors who had promised to provide funding changed their minds. So I am appealing to all my friends in New Govardhana and Australia for their prayers for the Korean temple. If it is possible, please help with a financial contribution towards the required funds.
If you would like to assist ISKCON Korea by way of any donation, small or large, please send your PayPal contribution to: iskconkorea108@gmail.com
