Being built on a beautiful mountain cliff, with thoughtful architecture and layout, the Designers have embedded the message of Buddhism to the temple complex. The commitment of the monks to keep the place worship-worthy needs special mention. The temple in every way has contributed to enhance the fame of Sri Lanka.

It is when one is away from the motherland for some time the feeling of being homesick sets in. You gradually begin to feel that you are missing the relations, the friends, the environment you lived in and the traditional food and the culture you were brought up.

As one who had been regularly away from the country during past decade I have personally experienced this situation and also have met hundreds of Sri Lankans and others who have migrated from other countries who share my experience.

For any such community that has migrated out of the mother land, I could vouch without hesitation that the religious center of their faith in the community is the place that becomes a meeting place. It is these religious centers that contribute to make the migrant's life easy and better and give them some relief filling the vacuum of missing the motherland.

It is in the light of this background that the Buddhist Vihara of Queensland, Goodna, Australia, popularly known as Goodna Temple came in to existence in 1998 and is being discussed in this article. The Sri Lankans in Brisbane are fortunate to have one more Buddhist temple in Forest Lake in addition to the "Goodna temple".

The elegance and the serenity of a temple of worship depend greatly upon its location. Knowing well of this fact, the chief priest of the Buddhist Vihare, Ven. Sitinamaluwe Sugathasara Thero had been looking for the most suitable location for the temple with great patience for a long period. "I spent hours, months and years exploring the internet looking for the most suitable location for the temple that was in my mind to be built. Once you are committed to buy a substandard location the whole idea is lost. I did not want to compromise for a sub standard location. I was aiming at a specious block of land on a hill top and when my eyes set on this location on the Eric Street , I knew that the most suitable location has been found." the Ven. monk explained.

Two and a half acres of the hilly land with a well maintained large bungalow constructed in the Queenslander style, a special form of architecture typical to Queensland for buildings of the post war period is now used as the shrine room and the residence for monks. The temple premises are located on a hilly area of Goodna with tall trees creating shade to make the environment peaceful and give it the natural atmosphere of a meditation center. Three items that make a temple complex complete are the "Stupa", "Bodhi Tree" and the "Shrine room" and within this short period the temple has established all these features and more.

The beautiful "stupa" was completed only an year ago and had been ceremonially opened in September 2013.

The "Stupa" has been built on a high flat form with a fleet of steps leading to it and with the few tall pillars around it creates the atmosphere of the "Thuparamaya" in Anuradhapura. What adds to its serenity is the simple white colour of the complex with the surrounding floor area in plain white cement. The magnificent simple lighting makes the "Stupa" looking very serene at nights.

The "Bodhi Tree" at the temple has a special unique story. It had been "root lifted" from the place where the temple was earlier located and transported and replanted here at a cost of eight thousand dollars. With all the huge investment and care the Bodhi tree had died due to drought but the arborist assured that its root system would bring out a new plant.

Originally posted here:
Brisbane's exemplary temple