GBC meetings - 7

[Guest guest]

Day Seven of the G.B.C. Meetings

Sunday, February 11, 2007

 

(Reporting: Tattvavit Dasa)

 

Today the GBC members went on all-day spiritual retreat at the Jagannatha

Mandir. Although your reporter did not go along, he gathered the following

report from several participants.

 

The retreat began in front of Srila Prabhupada in his puspa-samadhi, after

the GBC members and several dozen senior devotees ate breakfast on the

samadhi veranda.

 

While the GBC members stood before Srila Prabhupada in the samadhi, each

received a colorful pavitra, and together they recited a statement of intent

of service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.

 

After they arrived at the Jagannatha Mandir, Lokanath Swami led a lengthy,

sweet bhajan, and later, during the noon arati, Bhakti Caru Swami led a

kirtan that had all the devotees dancing.

 

The GBC offered a prayer together on behalf of the devotees in Kazakhstan,

since Lord Jagannath is known to grant boons.

 

B. B. Govinda Swami asked that the prayer be that those causing trouble to

the Kazakh devotees will have a change of heart. Considering that the local

government had recently announced that it will destroy two more devotees'

houses, this prayer was compassionate.

 

Praghosh Prabhu arranged for impromptu dramas as a creative, spontaneous way

of holding krishna-katha. Radhanath Swami narrated the pastimes of Chand

Kazi (Sivarama Swami) and Kholaveca Sridhara (Sesa Prabhu) and Lord Caitanya

(Bhaktimarg Swami).

 

Jaya Pataka Swami narrated the pastime of Jagai and Madhai. Everyone liked

the exceptionally good, comical acting of Ravindra Swarupa Prabhu as Jagai

and Praghosa Prabhu as Madhai. Paramgati Swami played Lord Nityananda, who

was preaching with Haridasa Thakura (Hrydayananda Goswami) when they met

Jagai and Madhai. Kavicandra Swami played Lord Caitanya. Hridayananda

Goswami also played Chandra Gupta, who was detailing the sins of Jagai and

Madhai to Yamaraja (Badrinarayana Prabhu.

 

Finally, Prahladananda Swami narrated the pastime of Dvivida gorilla (B.B.

Govinda Swami). Anuttama Prabhu played Lord Balarama, and His gopis were

played by Malati Prabhu, Dina Sarana Prabhu, and Asesa Sandhini Prabhu.

Dvivida grabbed Hridayananda Maharaja and swung him around, even though he

was just part of the audience. Balarama and Dvidida threw rocks (pillows) at

one another. Finally, Balarama hit Dvivida on the collarbone, and Dvivida

was history.

 

Next there was a debate about the best way to serve and honor prasadam.

Hridayananda Maharaja's team defended eating on the floor and using one's

fingers. Devamrta Swami's team argued that a Western style of eating (at a

table, with silverware) is essential for effective preaching. The argument

that a pizza is a self-realized capati got a lot of laughs. Much amazement

was caused by the astute debating skills of Bhakti Vijnana Swami, Bhanu

Swami, Madhu Sevita Prabhu, Bhakti Caru Swami, Badrinarayana Prabhu, Gopala

Krishna Goswami, Bhaktivaibhava Swami, and Ramai Swami. When the debate

ended, the audience unanimously voted in favor of the devotees' way of

eating, and the prasada-seva began.