GBC Meetings report

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees

 

PAMHO & AGTSP

 

We got the following report from HG Kalakanta prabhu about GBC meeting in

Mayapur 2002

 

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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 bus loads 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.

 

 

YS

 

Tusti Mohan Krsna das