More Reports from GBC Members

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More Reports from GBC Members
By Kalakantha dasa

Sunday, March 10, 2002 (Mayapur, India): Two additional GBC members gave their reports yesterday during the annual GBC meeting in Mayapur, India.

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, a member of the GBC Body since 1986, reported that in May 2001 he worked with Devi Deva Prabhu to secure ISKCON copyrights and membership marks around the world. In June he finished an article for the Journal of Vaishnava Studies on Radharani. He also worked with college professors in Detroit developing points on how leaders of an organization can assess themselves.

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu also says he spent a considerable amount of time in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. He reported that, although these areas were devastated, there are wonderful Krsna conscious devotees there who welcome senior devotees to strengthen their faith in ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada.

Ravindra Swarupa Prabhu also became GBC of Hawaii, where Mother Kusha is taking many positive steps to strengthen the movement there.

This year he had some realizations about Siksastaka as a means to becoming emotionally involved in the chanting of the Holy Name. He gave a lecture series on the subject at a Gita Nagari seminar.

Jayapataka Maharaja, the most senior sannyasi in ISKCON and a member of the GBC, said that he heads the Congregational Ministry, whose goal is to build congregations both where temples do and do not exist. The Ministry aims to give high quality care and support to congregational devotees. To this end the Ministry has published a handbook on Bhakti Vrksa in English, Hungarian, Spanish, Russian, and Bengali. They maintain a website and have an international congregational development night at the Mayapur Festival. They're publishing another book, Free to Preach, which tells the story of a husband and wife starting out from scratch and building up a congregation of 2000.

Jayapataka Maharaja's zone is South and East India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore. He also shares co/GBC roles in South America and a senior preaching role in Atlanta.

Jayapataka Swami said that in Calcutta, Dayarama Prabhu was able to get an order allowing ISKCON to perform a Rathayatra. Shortly afterwards, the court allowed ISKCON to take the temple.

In Bangalore, four of the senior temple members, including the secretary for 13 years and the head pujari, have rejoined ISKCON. Madhu Pandit das has moved to separate ISKCON Bangalore from the ISKCON society, but so far the courts have ruled strongly against him. There are many congregational members there who welcome ISKCON preachers.

He reported that a spectacular new ISKCON center in Siliguri is opening April 16 – 19.