GBC report before Sri Sri Radha Madhava 12-3-02 Mayapur

[Guest guest]

Dear Devotees.

 

PAMHO&AGTSP

 

MAYAPUR 12-3-02

 

We had a very unique program this mornign where prescense of the Deities

were greater than ever, many semior devotees leaders in our society presente

their reports to the Deities, basicaly the GBC memebrs and the ministers.

 

HH BHaktivaibhava Swami represented the GBC body for this ocassion and here

is the text.

 

we will be posting the report of few more devotees with pics in

www.mayapur.info

 

ys

 

tmkd

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GBC 2002 Meeting Summary

 

The 2002 GBC meetings began in Srila Prabhupada's service on March 1st in

Mayapur. Chairman Ramai Swami arranged substantial help for the GBC body

from the GBC Deputies, headed by Braja Bihari and Aniruddha Prabhus, so the

Body could concentrate on broad issues for the development of ISKCON. These

broad issues included:

 

1. Study of Guru/Disciple issues. Should a qualified devotee accept

disciples in the physical presence of his spiritual master? What is the

relationship between the disciple and his or her siksa and diksa gurus? What

should be the standards for gurus and disciples in ISKCON? The GBC devoted

two days to discussing these and related questions in light of guru, sastra,

and sadhu. The results will appear in the form of position papers from the

newly formed Sastric Advisory Committee and sections from this year's

resolutions that clarify and refine ISKCON policies.

 

2. Strategic Planning. What are the priorities for ISKCON preaching over the

coming five years? With the help of Bob Kovacevich, president of Avatar

Company, a respected non-profit consulting firm, the GBC defined the

following six goals: I) Develop a global vision for spreading Krsna

consciousness. II) Educate, Train, and Care for Devotees; III) Better

Organize ISKCON Leadership; IV) Create and Sustain an Effective Outreach

Program; V) Develop an Effective Fundraising Program; and VI) Counter

Threats to ISKCON.

 

3. Mediation. Arnold M. Zack, a Harvard professor and renowned expert in the

field. The GBC studied the value of setting up systems to resolve disputes.

Such systems will allow ISKCON devotees and life members to express concerns

with confidentiality and to use a trained, neutral third party to help

disputants reach an agreement.

 

4. Mayapur. The GBC reviewed the Sri Mayapur Project Development Committee's

plans for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and Mayapur Project

development. The main design upgrade is the inclusion of glass in the main

shikhara, or temple spire, greatly reducing the temple's weight and adding a

versatile design element. The temple design and master plan are nearly

complete, and research is underway about subsequent development steps.

 

5. Child Protection. The GBC heard a report from North American leaders

regarding the Chapter 11 reorganization plan and efforts to resolve the

Turley lawsuit by both protecting the temples and setting up a significant

fund to assist young people who may have been abused.

 

6. GBC Reports. The body invested a day listening to dozens of enlivening

reports from GBC Zonal Secretaries and Ministers. The reports made it clear

that the tide of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement continues to swell in

ISKCON with thousands of empowered devotees preaching on behalf of Srila

Prabhupada in every corner of the world. Some highlights:

 

- Bhaktivaibhava Swami opened preaching in Mongolia, where 15 people are now

regularly chanting Hare Krishna. - Pragosh Prabhu and the Irish devotees

bought a house to serve as a preaching base in Dublin and sold 10,000 medium

books. - In Mermansk, Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja reports that the devotees

produce thousands of prasadam cakes (such as the Mayapur cake, the Vrindavan

cake, the Radhe Shyam cake) which are incredibly popular. Sales support the

entire temple. - In Delhi, Balabhadra Prabhu presented verses from Srimad

Bhagavatam at a conference of a 232-member cow-protection organization. - In

Ukraine, 1200 devotees attended a Srila Prabhupada festival, featuring talks

by Sruti Kirti Prabhu. - In Kazakasthan, the wife of the country's president

invited B.B.Govinda Maharaja to a two-hour personal meeting. Maharaj brought

45 devotees for an Indian parikrama this year, the first time any of them

have been out of the country. The country is poor, but this year the

devotees sold 10,000 books with good collections. - In Southern California,

Badrinarayan Prabhu reports the LA temple increased BBT remittances by 25%

and hosted 4000 paying guests in the first few months of its reopening. In

San Diego, devotees have purchased a 24-acre lot as the site for their new

temple. - At the meeting of an anti-cult group, Anuttama Prabhu showed a

Chinese government film on how to "free" members of the Falun Gong religious

organization. - Bhakti Vijnana Maharaja reports that Moscow temple increased

book distribution during the marathon by 58%. Bhagavatam class attracts 200

devotees per day, and city tour buses regularly stop with busloads of

guests. Russian leaders set up bhakti sastri courses for leading devotees,

and over 100 attained their degrees this year. - Prabhavishnu Maharaja

reports that all 15 temples in Malaysia held Rathayatras this year. - Gopal

Krsna Maharaja reports that the Russian ambassador visited the new temple

museum, loved it, and now sends all VIP guests there. In Bombay the

congregation bought out all the old tenants in the 100 flats on Hare Krishna

land. - At the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Bombay, Radhanatha Swami reports

that an orthodox Muslim recently died. The family had been so impressed with

the staff's care that they allowed the devotees to perform last rites

according to Vaishnava tradition. - Jayapataka Maharaja reports that the

Congregational Ministry is publishing a new book, Free to Preach, that

details the story of a single householder couple who built up a

congregational network of 2000.

 

In addition to broad issues, with the help of the GBC Deputies, the GBC

addressed dozens of proposals and resolutions of various issues of

management. These resolutions will be released shortly in the annual GBC

Resolutions.

 

The GBC elected the following executive committee for 2002 and 2003: H.H.

Giridhari Swami as Chairman, H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami as vice-chairman,

Pragosh Prabhu as second vice-chairman, H.H. Gopal Krsna Goswami as

Secretary, Bir Krsna Goswami as Duty officer.

 

The GBC welcomed back to the meetings H.H. Tamal Krsna Goswami and H.H.

Bhakti Caru Swami, both returning from leaves of absence. The GBC sends its

prayers to HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami and Mother Malati who were too ill to

attend. And the GBC welcomes new members H.H. Bhakti Purushottama Swami and

H.H. Bhanu Swami. The GBC also gave its blessing to Gaura Narayana Prabhu of

Govardhan and Gauranga Prema Prabhu of Mayapur to take sannyas during the

coming year.

 

The GBC members deeply appreciate the gracious hospitality offered by the

devotees of Sridhama Mayapur for this year's meeting. The GBC body offers

its humble respects to all the devotees in ISKCON who are carrying out Srila

Prabhupada's vision, assembled here in Sridham Mayapur. And the GBC offers

its eternal dandavats at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who has so kindly blessed the world with

Krishna consciousness.