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| | Enviado Sábado, 22 de Febrero de 2003 - 05:19 am: |  |
First Day of GBC Meetings - February 20, 2003
The GBC Chairman, Giridhari Swami, is ill with pneumonia, so this year's meeting is being chaired by Praghosa Prabhu. The other Executive Committee members are Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Gopal Krsna Goswami, and Bir Krsna Goswami.
After introductory ceremonies the GBC passed this resolution:
The sudden and premature departure of Tamal Krsna Goswami to join Srila Prabhupada's eternal pastimes has left a void in ISKCON that will be extraordinarily difficult to fill.
Today, a year after his departure, we reflect on his many accomplishments in Srila Prabhupada's service. During his thirty-four years of service, Tamal Krishna Goswami:
- Organized the first wide-scale hari-nama and book distribution in ISKCON.
- Helped pioneer Krsna consciousness in America, Europe, India and the Far East.
- Was appointed by Srila Prabhupada to the first GBC.
- Accepted and maintained vows of sannyasa for thirty years.
- Served as ISKCON's first GBC in India for four years.
- Secured ISKCON's first property in Mayapur and participated in the development of Mayapur for the rest of his life.
- Organized the Radha Damodar party, one of the most successful preaching and book distribution team in ISKCON history.
- Opened China for Krishna consciousness and preached there successfully for over twenty-five years.
- Cared for Srila Prabhupada as his personal secretary for the final year of his manifest pastimes.
- Initiated over one thousand disciples in America, Europe, India, Fiji, the Far East and elsewhere, exceptionally well-trained devotees noted for their dedication.
- Published Jagannath Priya Natakam and several other valuable and important books.
- Achieved outstanding success in the academic field, earning top honors at Southern Methodist and Cambridge Universities.
Tamal Krishna Goswami's departure from this world was clearly Krishna's will, coming as it did at an auspicious hour in an auspicious place. He left this world without suffering and immediately after completing a period of deep loving exchanges with his Godbrothers and disciples.
We, the Governing Body Commissioners of ISKCON, express our profound bereavement at his passing. We miss him deeply as we glorify his exemplary life and service to Srila Prabhupada.
Next the members gave their annual reports, most summarized in about five minutes. The remaining reports will be published as they are given.
Bhakti Marg Swami
Canada: Book distribution has increased. One strategy that helped was to set up a book table next to the speaker at the Sunday feast. Training seminars in several areas were held, along with well-received reunions.
The Canadian national TV channel is going to do a special on the Trans-Canada highway centered on Bhakti Marg Mahraja's second walk across the country.
New centers opening in Winnipeg and St. John's, Newfoundland. A new temple building is planned for Vancouver. Toronto temple is being refurbished.
Kavichandra Swami
Indonesia: after the terrorist bombing devotees received invitations to perform kirtan in various homes every night for a month. There are three major temples in Bali. The number of devotees is increasing rapidly. In Sumatra, Bhakti Raghava Swami is having great success developing a rural project. BBT Indonesia is producing Krsna Book and Science of Self Realization. Book stores in Jakarta sell as many books as do devotees.
West Africa: In Ghana, books were donated by Lokavarnata Prabhu and distributed by grateful devotees. Preaching was going well in the Ivory Coast but is held down by the current civil war.
Japan: The temple is going on despite a downturn in the economy.
Israel: Devotees are being invited to perform kirtan at festivals. Guna Avatara Prabhu is increasing the number of devotees.
Thailand: Nrsimha Maharaja is starting a new center and printing books.
Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos: volunteers welcome.
Paramgati Swami
France. Book distribution minister Vijaya Prabhu is planning to visit to help increase book distribution. Food for Life will begin after Gaura Purnima.
Portugaul. The devotees have developed Food for Life and a restaurant to preach in this conservative Catholic country.
Brazil. Rasananda Swami is taking responsibility for book distribution. Several other sannyasis are taking other key responsibilities.. New devotees are joining. Congregational preaching has increased.
Sesa Prabhu
Alachua: The 700 devotees in Alachua have been honored by visits from many senior sannyasis and GBC members. They welcome such visits and encourage more.
The community continues to grow due to the presence of four active devotee-run schools.
The community is led by a board of directors elected by vote of the supporting members. The board recently surveyed the community and held a full-day strategic planning retreat to prioritize their duties in service to the community.
Laxmimoni and Akuti Matajis of the Girls Vaishnava Academy are offering to train young female devotees in Bhakti Sastri, management, and all types of devotional skills and arts.
Gainesville: Savyasaci Prabhu runs the Student Center and distributes prasad to 500 students daily along with book distribution and harinam. The devotees hold regular classes and programs at the Hare Krishna Student Center.
Romapada Swami
Chicago: This year the temple received help, training and encouragement from Bhakti Caru Swami and Svavas Prabhu. After purchasing an adjacent parking lot to accommodate visitors, the temple has been able to re-open a restaurant in the building. The temple is looking to purchase nearby housing for grhasthas. There are now nine bhakti-vrksa congregational programs held regularly in Chicago. Prthu Srava and Danakeli, a senior grhastha couple, have opened a preaching center in the college town of Champaign-Urbana.
New York: Rathayatra keeps getting bigger and better every year. This year Ramabhadra Prabhu has hosted a very enthusiastic team of book distributors from Argentina. Plans for a new building are under consideration.
New Jersey: The temple has outgrown its facility and is looking to relocate. A branch temple is being developed. Bhakti Marg Swami visited and inspired a vigorous youth drama program.
Bhakti Caru Swami
Calcutta is presently his only zonal responsibility. The temple is doing much better after being retrieved from legal assault. Now the temple is packed with devotees and local people are enlivened to come back and participate in temple programs. The Rathayatra was a great success. The youth program is going very well.
Years ago Sriman Radhapada Prabhu bought a prime piece of land in Calcutta for a new Radha Govinda temple. He passed away this year, but his son, Radhe Shyama, has taken initiative to construct the new temple. In late December Ambarish Prabhu attended the ceremony laying the cornerstone.
Maharaja has been encouraging devotee businessmen to establish businesses to support ISKCON. In South Africa one group has opened a food shop dedicating 25% of the profit to the local temple, 25% to the GBC body, and 50% to local prasadam distribution. They have been running successfully for eight months. Last month they opened a second shop in Johannesburg. Maharaja hopes to open 20 such stores around the world to give $120,000 a year to the GBC.
Guru Prasada Swami
Mexico: The temples are continuing through many ups and downs.
Columbia: War and revolution continue in this difficult country. ISKCON has two restaurants, but no temple. New devotees are coming, and the leaders are trying to buy some land for a temple.
Venezula: Lots of setbacks. No temple. Difficult situation. No economy. Everything has gone wrong.
Trinidad: This year the number of devotees has increased in the two main temples. Some bhakti briksa programs are underway.
Arizona: Mother Sanadmani works very hard. They are making new devotees and the beautiful restaurant is going well. Pheonix temple is also going strong.
Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu
France: A very tough country. Anti-cult groups are subsidized by the government. Three GBCs are needed.
Bhakti Purusottama Swami
Puri: Nice building and restaurant in town. A 30 acre parcel of land on the outskirts of town is tied up in a court case.
North Orissa: lots of preaching. A Gaudiya Math temple was donated to ISKCON. Lots of nama-hatta. Nama hatta 4 day convention. 300 attended.
Mayapura: Mayapura no longer maintains through Life Membership gifts, but earns maintenance through tourism, guest houses, etc. This year the temple had a very good book distribution marathon. Lots of students are getting involved in ISKCON. Guest house in Ekachakra is going well. New center in Habibpura is going well. New Deities were installed in Haridasa Pur.
Calcutta: Now no restriction to preach there. Preaching is going on in different circles, including ladies, students, youth and middle class Bengali families through the Bhagavad-gita Academy. Great Ratha-yatra. The temple changes vice-presidents every few months as is done in Chowpatti. Gauranga prabhu visited from Chowpatty and held a successful bhagavat-saptaha. Ambarisa's visit very helpful.
Siligiri: The new temple has opened. It cost Rs. 12 crore (3 million USD). The temple is very attractive and has been well-received by the local people.
Pandal Program: Gauranga Prema Maharaja took 50 brahmacaris for 60 days of consecutive pandal programs all over Bengal. Every day five to ten thousand people attended. Every day there was harinama, and the evening festival included bhajan, kirtan, pravachan, cinema, drama and prasadam.
Prabhavisnu Maharaja
New Zealand: A Yoga preaching program has been very successful in Wellington. Loft program (a sort of Krishna conscious drop-in center) is going well. Another temple in Wellington is run by an Indian devotee. Two restaurants there.
Auckland: ASB Bank has agreed to give $200,000 to complete the temple. In July it will open.
Australia: Good festivals at the end of the year. Two Ratha-yatras were very successful. Byron Bay on New Year's eve. Great kirtans with BBGS and Indrayumna Swami. Lost a court case against New Govardhana. Large bill there.
Brunei: Islam country. Dangerous place to preach. There are Bangla and Nepali devotees there.
Malasyia: Big yatra. 15 temples. Mainly grihasta devotees. Many festivals. 12-15 R-Y. Gov't is Islam, and don't want new Hindu/Christian centers build. So when we get land, we get a house, and convert it into a temple. But Gov't has given permission for a real temple to be built. ISKCON is well managed there.
Burma: Tough country. Harsh military gov't. 1 million hindus. It's not up to speed with the rest of the world. No internet. Very restricted. To get an e-mail address is tough. Four centers, two gurukulas.
Bagladesh: Chaotic, but solid preaching. 15 centers.
Bihar: We sold the land there. The temple is on Radha Jivan Prabhu's land. Radha Govinda Maharaja had a program with L. Prasada Yadav.
Allahabad: Interim temple will be finished soon. Magh Mela preaching is going on.
Nepal: Steady. Good R-Y.
South Russia: 8 temples. A new temple is under construction with a beautiful temple room. 2500 devotees come to the festival there. One feels the power of the movement in Russia.
Bhanu Swami
South India: Many permanent properties. 6 acres of land in Madras, purchased. Permanent center in Madurai. Sri Rangam land donated. Many preaching centers run by congregation. Legal problem in Bangalore. Belgaum is very well run. Good book distribution.
AP: Hyderbad is under new management. ecundarabad: mainly preaching to students.
Tirupati: Building a temple there. Going well. 40 devotees doing book distribution. 2nd in the Marathon, and 1st for the year in all of ISKCON. Very well organized. Temple being built by money from book distribution.
Bhakti Swarup Damodara Swami
Myamar has very big Rathayatra.
Vijayawada: Attendence increased rapidly.
Tirupati: Going very well. Built only be book distribution.
Manipur: Difficult place. Student community is inspired in KC. SP said to make it a Vaisnava state.
Bhuvanesvara Temple: Going through struggles.
Maharaja has a small zone and remains active with interfaith programs. He is also overseeing the creating of the Sarvajna journal.
Malati Mataji
NV, Columbus, Miami, Detroit, Turley case legal team and NA Strategic Planning.
NV: Now snowbound. Active year. More pilgrims. Tour buses full of Hindu pilgrims and western tourists. Part of a tour package. We are advertised in magazines. 48 room guest lodge is full to capacity on spiritual and three-day holidays.
Kuladri has organized a good friend raising team. Nice glossy monthly newsletter. Good cow protection program. 200 cows. Developing devotee businesses. Sunday school has opened. Great festivals. TP/GBC meetings. Holy Name festival. Ravana was burned at a festival this year. Great prasadam.
Columbus: Devotees coming to get education. Congregation growing.
Cleveland: A center without an address.
Miami: in spite of all odds, Miami is progressing. Last month, the court order Kesava Swami to pay the money to the temple. Balavanta and Hariscandra helped.
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu
Used to have a contigious zone, ruined by this GBC body. Dealing with emergencies in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Things are working out. The first crisis was the German farm. A tax case that was resolved. Prithu pulled out, but devotees got together, and got support financially. Now working on a future there at the farm. Make it a tirtha for Indians in Europe.
Next crisis: Weisbaden. Huge project started and abandoned. Two devotees legally responsible for the payment. Germany has taken responsibility for those loans.
These difficulties are good. They have created unity. Berlin preaching is going well.
Sweden: Goethenburg: Restaurant re-opened. It's doing well. What to do with Alvik?
Denmark: New temple in Copanhagen. Good potential.
Philadelphia: two temples. Need to reconstruct the main temple. The restaurant is making money. Vegetarian version of Philadelphia Cheese Steaks is selling well.
Detroit: College preaching is going well. People like spirituality, but not religion.
Hawaii is getting better.
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Sick and confined for a couple of months. Then went to 35 Countries. Many seminars. Didn't go to his zone, and it did much better as a result.
Detroit: Great building. Amazing project for cultivating people. Seminars for the business community.
Nigeria: Crazy place. Somehow going on with 10 temples. A lot of social welfare activities. Presidents are being trained to preach about a spiritual angle on everything. Lots of press conferences, etc. Delivering academic papers.
Ghana: famous school. Good facilities. Like the Christians have done.
Ivory Coast: War.
New temple in Togo.
Croatia/Bosnia: Struggling with war and HKS. We have moved into the temple in Croatia. My books help to build the temple. 20th anniversary happening soon.
Gita-Nagari: Deities in the new temple. Set up a hospice there.
South Africa: Great preaching field. So many nama hattas. Capitalizing on the international attention given there. Great Rathayatras.
Personal goals: I am trying to get the devotees more community conscious and to see the needs of everyone in varna and ashrama.
More Reports To Come.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! |
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| | Enviado Viernes, 28 de Febrero de 2003 - 08:26 pm: | |
GBC Meetings on the 22nd and 23rd of of February
HH Jayapataka Swami and Kaunteya prabhu gave an enlightening report on the
Ministry for Congregational preaching. Significant was the release of a new book, the start of an ISKCON Pastoral School and the publication of the
Bhakti Vriksa manual in Spanish.
Harvard mediation professor Arnold Zack gave a presentation on the
developments of the ISKCON Alternative Dispute Resolution System. More than
seventy-five ISKCON devotees are now trained mediators. The GBC is engaging
some of them to help resolve disputes being considered at this year's meeting. The GBC invites devotees around the world to engage the devotee
mediators to help with disputes of a personal nature or involving the ISKCON
institution. Information will be available on www. Krishnamediates.com.
HH Prahladananda Swami gave a report on the Health Ministry. The
Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai is doing very well. Half of the 130 professionals who work at the hospital are initiated devotees. In every room
one can choose lectures or kirtans by Srila Prabhupada. At each of the three
daily shift changes the staff chants the Siksastika prayers to be heard by
everyone.
On Sunday the 23rd of February, the morning session was dedicated to a
presentation by acting GBC Chairman Praghosa Prabhu entitled "Parallel Structures of Authority," the balance of authority between the ISKCON
institution and ISKCON spiritual masters.
In the afternoon the GBC took straw votes on proposals which have first been
reviewed, studied, and recommended by the GBC Deputies, who have been
working on them for the past five days.
Your servant,
Lilasuka das, GBC Secretariat
HIGHLIGHTS FROM GBC ZONAL REPORTS, FEB 22, 2003 (Unedited)
Ramai Swami
Australasia has seventeen restaurants.
In Australia, the temples are steady, with particular improvement in Melbourne where many new devotees have joined and the temple finances are much improved.
New Zealand has three restaurants just in Wellington. Devamrta Swami has set
up yoga classes with prasadam and chanting that has attracted many new
devotees.
ISKCON is flourishing in Indonesia, as reported by Kavichandra Swami.
Jayapataka Swami
Bangalore legal case: Madhupandit das thwarted ISKCON's motion to remove him after he attempted to shift ISKCON's Bangalore temple in to a separate
society. Now it will take some time to correct the situation in the lower court. Sarvaisvarya Prabhu fought for two years, and Dayarama Prabhu has now taken charge. The case is very weak and surviving by bribery.
Middle East: One country has three temples with 1000 devotees. Another has
14 bhakti vrksas but was recently shut down. The devotees are negotiating
with the Indian embassy for a place to meet. Other states vary, from very
strict to somewhat liberal.
South America:
Bolivia: Heavy government, must be low key. Two temples, preaching centers,
some bhakti vrksa groups. New restaurant in El Alto at 4500 meters (the
highest in the world).
Ecuador: Two centers, three farm projects. Many nama hattas.
Peru: Three centers, ten bhakti brksa groups.
Bangaladesh: Many nama hatta groups, three temples. More devotees wanting to be initiated here than anywhere else. More gurus are requested to visit.
Sri Lanka: ISKCON has been expanding during the cease fire in the civil war.
Not only are Hindus taking it up but Simhalese Buddhists are as well. The
parliament has recognized ISKCON, a significant event. Due to the many
casualties in the civil war (60,000) there is a huge number of orphans. The
temple president (Maha Kala Prabhu) has obtained a donation of land from a
wealthy Sinhalese family on which his wife has opened an orphanage.
Singapore: ISKCON is banned. The former temple has become a ritvik advocate, but there is much preaching going on nonetheless.
Gopal Krsna Maharaja
Mumbai: (Juhu) The recent 25th anniversary reunion festival was very
successful. It lasted six days. About 40 Godbrothers who helped Srila
Prabhupada establish the temple assembled to recount their memories of Srila
Prabhupada's pastimes. The tenants are nearly all relocated, allowing a major new project to begin. The day school is going to be relocated to a nearby parcel of land, allowing the Hare Krishna land to be fully developed for preaching.
Delhi: The museum is completed as of Feb. 13th, 2003, when the Bhagavad-gita Experience exhibit was opened. The government has declared the temple a
national tourist attraction, putting information about it in all government
publications. Attendance is increasing rapidly. The Federal government is going to develop the 200 acres adjacent to the Temple into a theme park which the government expects will surpass the Taj Mahal as India's number one tourist attraction. There are three temples in the Delhi area, and a fourth is being opened this year in a recently donated property.
Vrindavan: The temple is rapidly improving under a new management team.
Spiritual standards and many other areas of the temple are much better.
Kuruksetra/Chandigarh: Devotees hold ten Rathayatras in this area each
year. The preaching is going on very well. There is delay in obtaining
permission from the government to build a temple on the spot where Krishhna
spoke the Bhagavad-gita.
East Aftrica: Tanzania - the largely Muslim country has finally given
registration and a temple is scheduled to open in three months. Kenya -
devotees run a school for the African children which now has 150 students.
There is an active Food for Life program in Nairobi.
Southern Russia: The preaching is stable. In Moscow the government has
allowed that the devotees may keep their existing temple or, if they are forced to leave, the government will replace it.
Bir Krsna Maharaja
Fiji: Maharaja went immediately to Fiji after the passing of Tamal Krsna Goswami and spent much time there helping his many disciples there in their
grief. There are five restaurants in the capital of Suva, including one in a
mosque. The Muslims say that our food is more pure than anything else they
can find. The restaurants contribute significantly to the construction of the new temple, which will open later this year. Everyone is welcome. There are 800,000 people in Fiji and seven ISKCON temples. Even smaller villages have ISKCON preaching centers.
North Carolina: A new temple is under construction. This year the temple
held its first Rathayatra. There is active preaching going on in nearby colleges. This year there are new satellite centers in Charlotte NC and Richmond, VA.
Atlanta: Hrdayananda Maharaja is working closely with the temple to develop
an educational institute.
New Talavan: The temple has 1300 acres for cow protection.
Slovenia: Book distribution has become reactivated. Plans for a restaurant in the temple are underway.
Serbia: There is no temple at present, but the devotees are working to develop one.
Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja
South Africa: Many senior sannyasis have been coming to preach there. Their
association has picked things up over the past year. In the Christmas book
distribution marathon the country came in ninth, a considerable improvement.
There are four active Food For Life programs in the country, which distributed nearly one million plates of prasadam last year. The Durban beachside Rathayatra, held at Easter, was attended by an estimated 100,000 people. The main tent, which seats 2500, was full from 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM. The devotees are constructing a new temple on the other side of town in the suburb of Phoenix. It has a large prasadam hall and the new temple, which is about 6000 square feet, will open in July. Already there are two Sunday feasts each week, each attended by several hundred.
Throughout the country the devotees hold college programs which have been
going successfully for many years.
Much of the preaching in South Africa has been with the country's 1.5 million Hindus. The temple is now concentrating on preaching among the 40 million Africans and 5 million dutch.
Russia:
In Murmansk the devotees produce and sell at least 2000 cakes each week.The most popular cake is the Mayapur cake. Each cake comes in a box explaining that the cake has been offered to God.
In St. Petersburg a small team of devotees is working to recover from the heavy loss in the temple after Hari Kesa's departure.
In Siberia, a six hour flight from Moscow, ISKCON is flourishing. We have centers in twenty cities. One city has 18 nama hattas with 300 devotees. The
preachers teach a four day course which culminates in participants chanting
japa.
Lithuania: There is a successful Padayatra/festival program with 70 traveling devotees. About 500 devotees attended the annual festival.
Latvia: The capital, Riga, has a massive temple in the heart of the city.
Estonia: In Talin, the capital, there is a nice preaching center. About 100 guests come each Sunday.
Bhakti Vijana Maharaja
Moscow: Increased book distribution by 90% this year. Seventy devotees live in the temple. The temple is struggling to shift to a new temple.
Georgia: The situation is difficult. Moscow is helping train and support the devotees. There is a new restaurant in the center of the city.
Sukhumi: Building up slowly.
Armenia: Very difficult situation.
Urals: ISKCON is growing well in most cases. Book distribution is strong and increasing among the various ISKCON centers there.
Efforts are underway to provide comprehensive training in strategic planning for the Russian leaders.
Bhakti Bhushana Swami
Due to health problems he had retired from the GBC and GBC duties for some years. This year he was able to resume his traveling and preaching in South America and Europe, and he traveled extensively this year. He is feeling enthused to be back in the association of the GBC and ready to take more responsibilities as his health allows.
Praghosa Prabhu
Spain: Madrid and Malagha are going well. The Sunday feasts are well attended.
France: New Mayapur is becoming more of a tourist stop and is developing. The local authorities finally agreed to do it, and this is a good step in this rigidly 'anti-cult' country.
Ireland: Sale of the Inis Rath has been approved by the GBC but there were no good offers on the property this year. Now the devotees are reconsidering and planning to construct a new temple and link it to the mainland by a road.
In Dublin, the devotees are opening a second restaurant. The original restaurant is just not large enough to handle the crowds. Last Saturday the restaurant collected 2600 Euros in a single day, its all-time best.
The devotees have permission to distribute prasadam at the local college two days a week. However, the colleges catering manager does not like it a bit, but the program is so popular that the administration allows it. Recently, when the devotees arrived with prasadam, the angry catering manager stole a pot of subji and distribution was delayed. When the students showed up for prasadam, they learned about the situation and sat, en masse, at the college entrance to protest. The college administrator had to be called to resolve the situation. When confronted by the angry catering manager, he exclaimed, "if you would cook food as well as these people do we wouldn't have this problem."
GBC Reports - February 24, 2003
Next, Anutamma prabhu gave an annual review of the the ISKCON Communication Ministry. The main focus of the Ministry for past year was training and education of ISKCON leaders and asspiring leaders through a four day Leaderships course. The course was taught first in Los Angeles and will be
offered again just after the Mayapur festival.
Sesa prabhu gave a presentation of the report 2003 of the Ministry of Education, including developments of educational projects in Mayapura and
Vrindavana. There are both the MIHE and Pastoral school in Mayapura. VIHE in
Vrindavana is going on, Including work on the Bhaktivaibhava degree program coordinated by Bhurijana prabhu and mother Narayani.
In Europe, the new Bhaktivedanta College is developing into an exciting
project. It is in a process to become an actual degree granting institution
in cooperation with Birmingham university. The first class began in September. Many well known devotees have taught there. Yadunandana prabhu, a
brahmacari from Spain, principal.
The Oxford Project is also doing well.
After hearing the Ministry presentations, the GBC discussed some proposals
for resolutions.
Your servant,
Lilasuka das |
|
