2nd Day of the GBC meetings

[Guest guest]

February 28 was the second day of the GBC meetings and was devoted entirely

to a presentation by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The purpose of the

presentation was to "improve the relationship between the BBT and GBC."

 

The traditional opening kirtana and Bhagavatam reading were performed by BBT

Trustee Jayadvaita Swami and GBC Chairman Praghosa Das respectively. After

some general announcements from the Chairman, the stage was given to Brahma

Muhurta Das, the North European BBT Trustee who coordinated the presentation

with the technical help of Govinda Das, BBT International Secretary.

 

The rest of the morning was devoted to the highly professional multi-media

presentation of the activities of the BBT, including videos of

 

* Srila Prabhupada stressing the importance of book distribution, as well as

several related humorous clips

* Book distributors in action in Slovenia, Los Angeles and Sweden

* History of the first shipment of Russian books

* Vaisesika Prabhu presenting novel ways of book distribution

* a humorous clip from the popular "Jay Leno" show

 

And charts of

 

* BBT production, including completed titles, recently printed titles,

titles currently under production, and titles to be produced, including

those in exotic languages like Burmese, Korean, Farsi, Kazak, Sanskrit,

Braille, etc.

* the various divisions of the BBT and the BBT's financial situation

* various quotations showing Srila Prabhupada's stress on book distribution

* country-wide increase and decrease in book distribution last year

 

Some notable facts and figures from the presentation:

 

* reported book distribution worldwide increased from 2.9 million books in

2002 and 3.6 million in 2003 to 4.1 million books in 2004

* 15.5 million copies of Bhagavad-gita As It Is have been printed in 52

languages

* phenomenal book distribution in Scotland

* Large numbers of French books donated by the BBT to West and Central

Africa

 

 

Several speakers from both the BBT and GBC body also spoke briefly:

 

* Sivarama Swami encouraged the GBC to put more emphasis on book

distribution

* Gopal Bhatta Das presented the BBT Special Projects division with

particular emphasis on the upcoming Sanskrit school at Govardhan under the

direction of Gopiparanadhana Prabhu. He also requested the all GBC's to

encourage their temples to report book sales to the World Sankirtan

Newsletter.

* Jayadvaita Swami expressed the need for the BBT to adapt to new marketing

strategies and book design. He also spoke about ISKCON Tirupati, where an

entire spiritual community is being developed on the basis of book

distribution

* Badarinarayana Das cited instances of Srila Prabhupada's stress on books,

and on how Los Angeles temple thrives on book distribution

* Manidhar das on his service of European book distribution minister

* Gopal Krishna Goswami on Srila Prabhupada's love of hearing book scores,

and how the congregation can be engaged in book distribution

* Bhakti Vijnana Goswami gave more information on the history of book

distribution in Russia

* Svavasa Das reminisced of his days of book distribution and how Srila

Prabhupada was pleased with his service

* Devamrta Swami on how Srila Prabhupada's books brought him to Krsna

consciousness, and the need to maintain the utmost emphasis on book

distribution

 

 

News from the Deputies' meetings:

 

Yesterday, after the opening ceremony the GBC deputies met separately to

help process the GBC proposals for this year. Of particular interest, the

Deputies rejected the proposal aimed at suspending the GBC resolution

regarding equal facility for Women in ISKCON. Furthermore, on similar lines,

today the first of several meetings took place between devotees serving in

ISKCON India and the Women's Ministry. This dialogue, aimed at increasing an

understanding amongst these somewhat divergent groups, began by each

participant being asked to share his or her realizations on the subject.

Topics included:

 

* To what extent was the establishing of the details of Vedic Culture

regarding women an integral part of Srila Prabhupada's mission vis-à-vis

women preaching and serving alongside men in spreading the sankirtana

movement?

 

* Is there a difference between Vedic tradition and Vaisnava tradition?

 

* How much of what we consider Vedic to be is truly Vedic? How much was

influenced by the British in the 19th Century? How much of our viewpoints

are influenced by our own conditioning?

 

Attendees were Ravindra Svarupa Das, Malati Dasi, Laxmimoni Dasi, Bhaktarupa

Das, Sudharma Devi Dasi, Devakinandana Das, Anuttama Das, Rasaraj Das, and

Basu Ghosh Das.

 

 

--The GBC Secretariat