[As we heard about Budhha birth place misinformation in the biggest Buddhist temple – Nan Tian Temple, last year we decided to try our best to correct the misinformation there. I requested Consulate General, NSW HE Deepak Khadka to write a letter to the temple to create favourable environment to our team to have authority to take video inside the temple, however; the team found that the misinformation was already corrected. We were happy but also surprised. When I met Mr. Manoj Pant he shared his story and I asked to write at least few paragraphs. On behalf of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement, I would like to thank Mr. Pant for the information and this small article.]
By Manoj Panta
Nan Tien Temple known as “Southern Paradise” is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. It is situated at Berkeley – a suburb of Wollongong in the state of New South Wales. It is one of the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan, founded in 1965 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, which has over 200 branches worldwide. Since the opening of the temple in October 1995, it has become a new venue not only for local but also for international tourists and also acts as an important cultural centre bridging different cultures.