Saturday, January 28, 2012

My visit to the Hare Krishna Temple...

    Today my husband and I visited the Hare Krishna Temple here in Honolulu...I have had yet to visit a temple since embracing Hinduism, mostly due to my inner fear of rejection. I had heard various things within certain communities on the internet that westerners were not always well received. So I looked into the temples here on Oahu and found two, a Hare Krishna Temple and a Shiva Temple. The Krishna Temple had a lovely website so I chose to go there first. I had heard rather negative things over the internet in relation to the ISKCON movement and was a bit reluctant, but I cannot tell you how very lovely it was. Both my husband and I were very warmly received and given a personal tour and delicious food.


     The Temple is actually a beautiful converted Hawaiian plantation on a lovely peace of property set up in the hills of Honolulu, in a very peaceful tranquil neighborhood. In the back of the plantation is a beautiful massive Banyon tree. The wind was blowing and there was such a serene peaceful feeling in this place.


      The founder and beloved guru of the Hare Krishna movement A.C.Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada spent quite a bit of time here on the plantation translating most of his works. All of his translated works are amassed here covering two enormous bookcases on the top floor.



         I plan to return tomorrow for the Sunday Krishna Devotional and Kirtan. This will be my very first Kirtan so I am extremely excited! This is a lovely little community of Hindus who have a great love for their beloved guru and Sri Krishna. I look forward to attending and finally making more contact on a personal level with others of my faith. I do plan to visit the Shiva temple as well at some point.



Hare Krishna Hare Krishna 
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Om Shanti,
Nirvani 

5 comments:

  1. Namashkar,
    I am a saiva Hindu, but I must say that ISKCON devotees that I have come across have been friendly, devoted and sincere.
    Aum

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  2. I don't know that I would ever become a devotee, but will enjoy attending their temple...but I would greatly like to visit the Shiva temple here:)

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  3. :-} I have been to Hare Krishna Kirtan and it was a joyous and freeing experience. I do love the Hare Krishna's. I can't imagine any better place to do a kirtan than this temple!

    Not to mention they always find their way into movies somehow or another!

    Lorraine

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  4. //Not to mention they always find their way into movies somehow or another!/

    haha ... that was unexpected :)

    @Jennifer - i hope you had a good experience. sometimes, what happens is that our own individual thoughts are so deeply defined that we find it odd to "fit" into a particular community - especially true in case of religion. so you go to group and see them doing something a little differently, it can be an odd moment for 'some' (not all, thankfully)

    i've put that down very clumsily, but I guess you understood what I was trying to say.

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  5. Thank you for your comments:) I am going to attend again...yes everyone is so lovely and welcoming there! A wonderful spirit! I think I need to have a more freeing experience...quite different from my former religious life;)

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