Since Srila Prabhupada’s passing away in 1977, the GBC has sought to codify ISKCON’s ongoing relationship with its founder. The GBC wants to preserve Srila Prabhupada’s legacy and ensure that future generations do not lose sight of Prabhupada’s historical, religious, philosophical and institutional stature — as well as his importance in the personal spiritual development of every ISKCON member.

Srila Prabhupada himself took on the title of Founder-Acharya (acharya meaning one who “teaches by example”) and mandated that it be placed on all ISKCON Temples and publications, as well as all publications of his Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Prabhupada was concerned to ensure that ISKCON remained firmly fixed on teaching and upholding the standards of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, as originally presented by the 16th Century saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and handed down through a chain of spiritual preceptors to Srila Prabhupada, and from him to the ISKCON society.

“This GBC Statement on Prabhupada’s Preeminent Position is part of an ongoing effort to better educate ISKCON devotees about Srila Prabhupada’s unique stature and contributions,” said Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s Minister of Communications.

“Prabhupada taught us that his books would be the law-books for the next ten thousand years,” said Anuttama. “During that time many spiritual leaders and gurus will come and go within ISKCON; however, Prabhupada will be the Founder-Acarya and preeminent instructing guru for ISKCON for all times.”

The GBC Statement words it in this way:

“Its not that Srila Prabhupada is meant to be a guru only for his immediate disciples,” said Anuttama. “He is the preeminent spiritual authority for all ISKCON devotees and that will never change.”

The Statement also clarifies the role of ISKCON leaders in relationship to Srila Prabhupada:

“All members accepting leadership roles within ISKCON, including diksha gurus and siksha gurus, have the duty of serving together under ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s instructions as he has given in his books, lectures, and personal communications. Overall, the primary duty of all diksha gurus, siksha gurus and others in leadership positions is to assist Srila Prabhupada in his service to his Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, and our Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.”

The Statement has this to say regarding the spiritual status of gurus coming in the line of teachers after Srila Prabhupada. It stresses the need for such gurus to keep strong in their spiritual practice and to be careful in the execution of their duties:

“Those who accept the service of diksha or siksha guru within ISKCON are mandated to be strict followers of the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, and, as long as they follow, they are acting on the liberated platform. Thus they may serve, as Srila Prabhupada ordered, as bona fide representatives of the Lord and the Guru Parampara and be a via medium of Their mercy. Yet it should be clearly understood that if such diksha or siksha gurus deviate from strictly following, they may fall down from their position.”

The new GBC Statement, which is just three pages in length, notes that while it is “conclusive” it is “not exhaustive” and that the GBC may release additional papers regarding Srila Prabhupada’s position, the role of gurus in ISKCON, and the duties of ISKCON members to Prabhupada and the ISKCON mission.

The GBC, which has been developing global strategic plans since 2006 to strengthen the society and its outreach efforts, has recently released other position papers on foundational principles for ISKCON.

A major GBC document released in 2012 entitled, “Lines of Authority,” confirmed that all members of ISKCON, regardless of their spiritual status or seniority, are to serve cooperatively under the ecclesiastic direction of the GBC, which Srila Prabhupada stated in his will is the “Ultimate Managing Authority” of ISKCON.

“Lines of Authority” also affirmed that those serving in the role of gurus, or spiritual teachers, must work under the direction of ISKCON authorities in their respective areas of jurisdiction, and that ISKCON managers must strive to work cooperatively with those serving as gurus within the society.

In 2013, another publication is also anticipated. Ravindra Svarupa, a senior GBC member and religion scholar, is working on a book on Srila Prabhupada to further explain his historic role and analyze the meaning of “Founder-Acharya” within the Gaudiya tradition. A draft of that book was presented to the GBC members this year for their feedback.

The just-released GBC Statement on Prabhupada’s position was felt to be of such importance that the GBC mandated its distribution and implementation:

“All GBC members must distribute this resolution to all ISKCON temples, communities and congregations via all appropriate means of communication for the education of all ISKCON members. This statement shall also be studied in ISKCON courses including introductory courses, the ISKCON Disciple Course, the Spiritual Leadership Seminar, and other relevant venues. Reading this statement, and affirming it has been read prior to initiation, shall be part of the test for all prospective initiates.”

- ISKCON News

To read the full statement, please click here.

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A panel of six devotees concerned with the BBT – trustees/directors Gopal Krishna Maharaja, Naresvara Prabhu, Madhu Sevita Prabhu, and Hanuman Prabhu, GBC Badrinarayana Prabhu, and book distribution leader Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on a number of related topics. Gopal Krishna Maharaja spoke with some energy about Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on book distribution and assured the participants if they remained enthusiastic and constantly encouraged book distribution, they would see great results.

Badrinarayana Prabhu described the BBT-GBC team meetings that have been going on for some years now–to build cooperation between the two organizations and to set and achieve the related goals of both. Vaisesika Prabhu concluded the presentation by encouraging all leaders to actively promote book distribution in their preaching fields. “We’ve barely scratched the surface,” he said, “on what we can actually do to further distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. By a collective effort, we will see significant, enlivening results.”

Badrinarayana Prabhu gave the second presentation of the day addressing the paper produced by the GBC’s Lines of Authority committee. The paper addresses issues of multiple lines of authority existing in ISKCON, specifically the line between guru and disciple and the line between devotees and their local managing authorities. In this paper the committee addresses the principles associated with the issue, such as proper education of disciples, conduct of gurus, duties of ISKCON managers, etc. The goal is to set guidelines and cultivate a cooperative, mutually respectful spirit between ISKCON’s various lines of authority for the benefit of everyone involved. Additionally, the Lines of Authority committee desires to develop educational material to support this paper and are proposing to make the paper required reading for any devotee aspiring for initiation.

After the presentations, SGGS members thanked the GBC’s Strategic Planning Committee for their several months’ of work spent organizing the SGGS. GBC Chairman, Bhakti Caitanya Swami, then spoke a special thank you to Gopal Bhatta Prabhu for leading the SGGS efforts. In response, Gopal Bhatta Prabhu and all the participants concluded the SGGS by offering their humble obeisances to one another.

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Following this presentation, four additional breakout groups reported their results to the SGGS body. Topics included “Becoming a Guru in ISKCON,” “Caring for ISKCON Leaders,” “Congregational Development,” and “Relevant and Innovative Preaching.” Anuttama Prabhu presented on behalf of the second group discussing “Becoming a Guru in ISKCON.” In summary, the group suggested that the GBC’s involvement in endorsing initiating gurus be eliminated and instead, endorsement be limited to a local ten-person review committee for candidate gurus. This is not to say there needs to be a lower standard for becoming an initiating guru – the criteria can remain the same or even increase – however, the analysis of a candidate’s qualifications should remain on a local level. In addition, the group suggested identifying more senior devotees as possible initiating gurus, educating devotees on the importance for disciples’ responsibility in choosing their gurus, and asking the GBC to research and write a paper justifying the current system of becoming an initiating guru in ISKCON.

Tamohara Prabhu presented on the “Relevant and Innovative Preaching” breakout session. His group spoke on the importance of not losing the essence of the message and standards of Krishna consciousness. They also reminded us that in any preaching, devotees should give their association rather than take the association of nondevotees. A review process for preaching activities was suggested coined “Always Better Service” (ABS) on the basis that in any preaching we do – innovative or traditional – there is always room for improvement. Such a review process could help mediate any shortcomings in a preaching project. Also, the group pointed out that we need maturity to apply Krishna consciousness to a specific time, place, and circumstance. As with the first group exploring this topic, Tamohara Prabhu’s group also suggested that the GBC produce guidelines on how to engage in innovative preaching while remaining faithful to Srila Prabhupada.

March 2 marks the last day of the SGGS. The GBC strategic planning sessions then begin on March 3, continuing through March 6. GBC members will resume their regular Annual General Meeting plenary session on Tuesday, March 4.

Due to technical reasons the compiling of day three would be added shortly.

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The majority of the day was spent reviewing submitted proposals and casting straw votes. Several weeks before the GBC AGM begins, GBC Deputies organize and review all proposals sent to the GBC by ISKCON members. These proposals are then presented to the GBC for an initial discussion and a straw vote. Later in the AGM, the proposals with any necessary modifications are again presented to the GBC body for a final vote. Those proposals that receive a majority vote then become official GBC resolutions.

Approximately fifteen proposals were sent to the GBC for review at the 2013 AGM, and several were evaluated at today’s meeting. Proposals include ensuring Srila Prabhupada has a prominent place on the home page of every ISKCON temple website, making the new GBC paper on “Parallel Lines of Authority” mandatory reading for all those aspiring for harinama initiation, encouraging current ISKCON sannyasis and mandating sannyasa candidates to attend the ISKCON Spiritual Leadership Seminar, creating placement programs for engaging ISKCON youth who have graduated from ISKCON educational programs, and licensing the GCal Vaisnava calendar program.

On March 1, the GBC members will rejoin the other SGGS.

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The SGGS breakout session identified several pitfalls of the current system. For example, having senior devotees and the GBC give no objection to a devotee initiating can tend to decrease the responsibility aspiring disciples should have to properly examine their prospective gurus; “no objection” is tantamount in many devotees’ minds to “approval.” The current system also has the potential to imply that siksa-gurus – usually an aspiring devotee’s first spiritual caregivers – are in some way less than diksa-gurus in importance or spiritual development – an impression ISKCON does not want to give.

The advantage, however, in maintaining the current system of recommendations and “no objection” is that it may help reduce the risk of unqualified persons becoming initiating gurus and ensure that ISKCON initiating gurus and their disciples are indeed following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and mood, and that they remain within his mission.

The second group, facilitated by Gauri Prabhu, discussed “Redressing the ‘Hinduization’ of ISKCON.” Gauri Prabhu first delineated the issues, which included an overdependence on the Hindu community for service and financial support – something that can lead to temple leaders narrowing preaching agendas; that there is a potential for an interpolation of beliefs and practices; and that those not of Indian ethnicity may not feel comfortable in predominantly Hindu congregations. The group did not have immediate solutions to these issues but felt that solving them required more discussion.

Lastly, Kalakantha Prabhu presented on behalf of a group discussing the Sannyasa Ministry and the GBC Resolution on sannyasi deployment. In October 2012 the GBC resolved that for at least a few months a year newly initiated sannyasis should remain available to be sent to areas of the world needing special attention or to serve in other ways necessary for ISKCON’s well-being and expansion.

ISKCON currently has eighty-eight sannyasis, twenty of whom have zonal responsibilities. At the moment there are thirty-two sannyasa candidates. Given that some areas and temples attract many visiting sannyasis while others very few, and that sannyasis could contribute significantly to a number of special projects, the group agreed with the GBC resolution for the strategic placement of sannyasis. More specifically, the group recommended to the GBC that sannyasis be strategically engaged eight months of the year since ISKCON’s need is great in so many places; they felt the remaining four months were adequate time for sannyasis to visit disciples, attend retreats, or do whatever other preaching inspires them. The eight months of strategic placement would include sannyasis’ current service and preaching zones – the intention is not to disrupt current preaching programs but to cover more areas of the world. This eight-month requirement would apply mainly to new sannyasis and sannyasa candidates and not ISKCON’s senior sannyasis. Details of how this will be set into motion are being worked out.

For the remainder of the morning, SGGS participants rejoined their breakout sessions for further discussion, then met again in plenary after lunch to hear two additional group presentations, starting with “Assessment of Leaders.”

This group’s facilitator, Naresvara Prabhu, explained that the idea of assessing leaders’ performance was meant to help develop a sense of stronger accountability. Initially the GBC wishes to begin these assessments with their own members and to perform them annually. These assessments will be done sensitively. The idea is to help leaders identify their strengths and weaknesses and to help them overcome any deficiencies by providing them additional support, training, or, in some cases, an adjustment of service. Before these assessments can take place, the GBC has to clearly define what is expected of a GBC member, a definition that’s been in development for some months as devotees cull all of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on the matter and write an actual service description for the GBC.

Rather than try to decide what is a bona fide ISKCON outreach program and what is not, the group suggested we be supportive of anyone who maintains the above standards whether their outreach programs tend toward the conservative or the innovative. The group also suggested that the GBC form a subcommittee to produce a guidelines and standards paper for devotees designing outreach programs.

The remainder of the day was spent in breakout sessions. Since the GBC meetings officially begin on day three of the SGGS, the third day of the Sanga will be reserved for an exposition on the GBC’s strategic plan. The GBC will rejoin the SGGS for the final fourth and fifth days.

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Preceding this year’s meetings was the much anticipated “Sanga for GBCs, Gurus, and Sannyasis,” (SGGS) – five days of meetings between the GBC and ISKCON’s initiating gurus and sannyasis to discuss a variety of issues as well as to introduce to the GBC’s strategic plan.

The GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) organized the SGGS on behalf of the GBC body in recognition of the responsibility each ISKCON leader has toward the devotees under his care and for making sure ISKCON’s outreach remains dynamic into the future. The Sanga also creates an opportunity for the GBC to hear from ISKCON’s senior leadership and foster a shared vision of what Srila Prabhupada wanted for ISKCON and how best to develop it.

The SGGS began on Tuesday with an inspirational reading on the central theme of the Sanga:

Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali-yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful. (Srila Prabhupada letter, October 18, 1973)

• Describe what an ideal ISKCON would look like thirty-five years from now.
• Who will be leading to this ideal ISKCON and what qualities and qualifications do you want them to have?
• What could you be doing now to help realize this ideal ISKCON?
• What will happen if you don’t do the above?

After taking a few moments to record their reflections, participants met in small groups to discuss their ideas before sharing highlights with the entire Sanga.

As the participants began to speak their vision to the group, a sense of urgency developed. We have to begin whatever improvements are necessary to put us on track to achieve the high standard we know Srila Prabhupada wanted for his ISKCON.

With this urgency in mind, participants were then asked to select one of thirteen topics to discuss in breakout sessions over the course of the next day and a half. The thirteen topics addressed the most pressing issues brought up in a series of surveys sent out by the SPT to all ISKCON sannyasis, initiating gurus, and GBC members over the past year. Some of the topics:

• 
  Accountability, and how to assess the performance of ISKCON’s leaders.
• The system of becoming guru in ISKCON. Should it be improved? Changed?
• How the GBC can better serve ISKCON.
• Care for leaders. How to make sure our leaders have time for their own spiritual development and that the expectations of them are realistic?
• Succession – our leaders are aging! How to identify and empower the next generation of ISKCON’s leaders?
• The move from a temple-centric to a congregation-centric movement. What should we be doing to support the reality of how our movement has developed?
• Sannyasi deployment – Srila Prabhupada said that sannyasis should travel both to preach and to help maintain purity in the movement. Should the GBC be sending our sannyasis to areas that are in need of help or otherwise off the beaten track?
• Healthy and unhealthy methods of dialogue.
• And an especially popular choice – relevant and relatable outreach.

Each topic was assigned a facilitator, who later presented the essence of his or her group’s discussion to the plenary.

Participants have brought good energy and enthusiasm to the SGGS, and are taking advantage of the opportunity the Sanga provides to discuss topics that matter to them and to ISKCON. The dialogue is inspiring, and, of course, the association (and kirtanas!) are wonderful.

-Prepared by Sraddha devi dasi and Kaisori devi dasi

Please click here to view the photos

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Year of Establishment: 1994

Website: http://www.iskcon.net.au/iskconhealth/

Our health is something we don’t often think about, until it gets worse – and that’s why we have reminders coming to us from different organizations to remember to stay fit and healthy. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness recognizes this need, and caters for both the material and spiritual requirements of devotees. With an obvious and strong emphasis on cultivating the spiritual and devotional dimension of devotees, the ISKCON leadership also attempts to support its members other material needs. It is in this interest that the ISKCON Health Ministry was set up – to assist the devotees in obtaining appropriate health care. Of course, while the health and welfare of each devotee is a personal matter, local temples do have a responsibility for the welfare of the devotees under their care.  Current ISKCON Health Minister, His Holiness Prahladananda Swami outlines this in the mission statement of the Health and Welfare Ministry:

“The Health and Welfare Ministry according to its ability will assist members of ISKCON  to obtain adequate medical assistance and other basic material necessities and help educate members about the appropriate preventive medicine to maintain ones health.”

Since ‘prevention is better than the cure’, the Health and Welfare Ministry educates devotees within ISKCON on how to best maintain ones health. Maharaj also echoes these thoughts, and mentions how generally in ISKCON (and outside of ISKCON too) devotees only seriously begin to care for their health once they become ill, so one of the main aims of the ministry is to try and encourage devotees to take more care and interest in their health to prevent serious illnesses in the future. ‘Birth, old Age, disease and death are the natural inspiration to take it seriously’, explains Maharaj.

Through seminars, and a regularly published magazine (Hope This Meets You In Good Health), Prahladananda Swami and his team of editors and contributors reach out to thousands of devotees about topics ranging from digestive health, to Ayurvedic Nutrition, and even how to overcome jet lag. It presents the ancient, yet relevant, wisdom of Ayurveda in an understandable way, and supplements these writings with modern scientific research as supporting evidence. The magazine also stresses the importance of our spiritual health, always referring back to Srila Prabhupada’s writings and teachings. With two comprehensive issues per year, the magazine is available for download from the Health and Welfare Ministry website in a multitude of languages.

Apart from Vedic sources of health information, Maharaj also heavily bases a lot of his work on Srila Prabhupada’s teachings that are related to health. Each issue of the magazine, pays due homage to our founding acharya, and lists a variety of quotes from Srila Prabhupada that are associated with health – both material and spiritual.

Prahladananda Swami is also coming out with a book collating everything he could find that Srila Prabhupada said on health, with different stories from the Lilamrita about Srila Prabhupada’s and health, and concluding with essays written by Maharaj over the years on different health topics. Prahladananda Swami has studied Ayurveda extensively and imparts a lot of this knowledge through the newsletters and seminars.

For devotees wanting more specific information about certain health conditions or advice, Maharaj is also instrumental in connecting qualified practitioners to local yatras. He emphasizes how each yatra has a specific duty to ensure the care of their local devotees – the devotees offer their service for a yatra, and in return, the yatra must ensure that the spiritual and material needs of the devotees are well looked after.

The Health and Welfare Ministry is truly all encompassing – looking after both the prevention and treatment side of illness. When asked about any general health advice for devotees, Maharaj gave a small chuckle and replied, ‘don’t eat too much’ – we’ll have to start monitoring what we eat at our Sunday Feasts!

-Niti Seth for GBC Community Relations Office

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Lila Sukha dasi, Director of the North American (NA) Child Protection Office (CPO) explained the role of the office and how it serves local communities and families in ISKCON. Lila Sukha visited 11 NA temples in 2012, and provided on-line resources and other training materials for temples throughout the year.

“It is important to educate all members of our communities about child protection,” said Lila Sukha. “We need to train parents, children, volunteers and administrators. The best protection is to be proactive.”

Dr. Piyush Gupta, MD from Columbus, Ohio said of his temple’s recent experience, “I was apprehensive about organizing a training because families are uncomfortable about the topic. But Lila Sukha gave practical procedures how to better protect our kids. We took her advice right away, including installing a large interior window in the children’s classroom so its always visible and thus safer,” he said.

Lila Sukha stressed the need for every community to apply ISKCON’s international child protection policies including screening procedures, annual training, reporting any allegation of abuse to proper ISKCON and secular authorities, and maintaining a local Child Protection Team.

“We must also assure parents don’t neglect their children while at the temple,” she said. “Sometimes parents bring their kids to the temple and let them play unsupervised while they attend lectures or kirtan. This is not acceptable and potentially dangerous for our children.”

For more information regarding child safety, Lila Sukha guided leaders and parents go to www.safetemple.org. Allegations of abuse must be reported to the CPO at safetemple@yahoo.com or the international CPO office at cpo@pamho.net. She also recommended phoning the non-profit information resource 1-800 4 A CHILD in the US and Canada, for additional information, including how and where to report abuse.

On another subject of importance to North American leaders, Anuttama dasa, ISKCON’s International Director of Communications spoke on behalf of Keshava Sharma, NA Director of Communications, who was unable to attend the meetings, due to a family member’s illness.

Keshava’s accomplishments in his first year as Director were described, including and update of ISKCON media kits (introductory materials prepared for reporters), creating an ISKCON Communications website (to be launched end of January), representing ISKCON at a half-dozen professional conferences, leading a training session at the Festival of Inspiration, updating a NA list of major media contacts, and distributing media releases (press announcements) for eight events during 2012.

“Starter Kits” were distributed to all the Presidents and GBC members with information how to build better, mutually beneficial relationships with five “key audiences”—the Media, Interfaith, Internal Congregation, Neighbors, and Yoga communities.

Mahat-tattva dasa, President of ISKCON San Diego, led the last presentation of the day and spoke about the need to strengthen brahmacari and brahmacarini ashramas. He highlighted the importance of creating a sacred space for those devotees who wish to make a full time commitment to Prabhupada’s society within the brahmacari ashram.

Mahat-tattva noted, among other things, the importance of separating brahmacari/ini facilities in temples from guests and short-term volunteers in order to maintain a sacred environment for that ashrama. He also stressed that brahmacari life must be centered around education and training.

The meetings ended with election of the 2013 NA officers and planning for next year’s meetings, again to be held in Houston in January 2014.

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Romapada Swami led the session and explained that the Strategic Planning (SPT) effort began in 2006 when Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, then Chair of the GBC, called for a special session of the GBC in Italy. That four day meeting focused on the question whether ISKCON, while growing in many ways, was attaining its most important goals, as given by our Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada. Out of that meeting grew a detailed and well-structured international strategic planning effort.

Romapada Swami gave an overview of the key areas of SPT efforts. They include Succession Planning, Organizational Development, Expanding Outreach, Zonal Configuration, Communications, Education, and Devotee Care.

Other highlights of the day include a one-hour presentation by Kalakantha dasa and five second generation devotees about Krishna House, a Gainesville Florida student outreach program that has cultivated the spiritual lives of thousands of young people in Gainesville. Krishna House provides educational seminars, a live-in student ashrama, and the Krishna Lunch program. Krishna Lunch feeds vegetarian meals (prasada) to over a thousand students every day on the University of Florida campus and is now in its fourth decade of service.

GBC member Badrinarayana das offered a one-hour overview of ISKCON’s worldwide progress in 2012. He started with slides of Bangladesh, where ISKCON has multiple centers. In Dakka, Bangladesh’s national capital, ISKCON has several temples and sponsors a Rathayatra Festival that attracts more than 80,000 participants and travels down one of the capital’s main streets. He touched upon highlights of ISKCON’s outreach and development in Africa, Europe, India, and South America.

After lunch, Ambarish das updated the assembly on the progress of the construction of the new Temple of the Vedic Planetarium at ISKCON’s international headquarters in Mayapura, West Bengal. Mayapura is also the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, 16th Century saint, social reformer, and avatara who spread the bhakti movement all over India, and ordered that his followers should distribute the Vaishnava culture and chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna all over the world.

The Temple, a large three domed style structure, will feature the largest kirtan (chanting) hall and Vedic dome in the world. In addition to its 200 ft center dome, the main hall will be 1.5 acres in size and will accommodate 10,000 worshippers. The dome’s interior will be reinforced with special acoustic materials to insure excellent sound quality in the large hall below. The total size of the Temple building will be 520,000 sq feet.

The Temple earned its name because the one of the domes will house a “chandelier” replica of the universe, per Vaishnava traditional understanding. Additionally, a second dome will house scientific exhibits along with a planetarium theatre to explain life and the universe from the theistic perspective of Srimad Bhagavatam.

While it will be several years before the entire building is complete, Ambarish said that the goal is to open the main Temple room (under the large center dome) with the Deities installed for worship by 2016, the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON. [More information can be found at tovp.org]

Kalakantha das, president of the Krishna House in Florida, and the former Development Director of the ISKCON Foundation, continued the TOVP presentation and described the next phase of fund raising for the Temple.

Ambarish, the lead donor for the project has contributed 23 million dollars towards the Temple. Continued construction now depends upon ISKCON devotees and friends around the world to contribute to complete the project. This new development phase will allow devotees to donate $150 to pay for one square foot of the structure. Individuals can pledge for just one square foot, or thousands of square feet, as they are inspired.

“I have been blessed to contribute the bulk of the funding for Temple up to this date,” said Ambarish. “It is now the time to ask devotees across North America and the world to step up and collectively finish this Temple for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, on the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON in 2016.”

“This is clearly a labor of love for all of Prabhupada’s followers,” Ambarish concluded. “The Mayapura Temple was one of Prabhupada’s top priorities. This is our opportunity to show our gratitude to Prabhupada for all of his gifts to us, by fulfilling this special desire to build this Temple for the glorification of Lord Sri Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”

-ISKCON News

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Ravindra Svarupa explained the significance of the term, “Founder-Acarya”, in reference to Srila Prabhupada, and its roots of usage within the Gaudiya Matha. He also presented an overview of the significance of ISKCON’s international headquarters in Mayapura, and its special role in Prabhupada’s plan.

Bhakti [devotion] means cooperation with the Lord,” said Srila Prabhupada in a Seattle lecture in the 1970s. “This emphasis on cooperating together to serve the Lord and spread His message,” explained Ravindra Svarupa, “is a theological and philosophical statement for Srila Prabhupada.”

“The more I research this history, the more it amazes me how Srila Prabhupada imbibed the mood, style, intention and intense desire of his guru, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Thakura, to spread Lord Caitanya’s movement,” said Ravindra. “Prabhupada modeled so many details of his society on the foundation and vision given by his guru.”

The next presentation was by Vaisesika dasa, NA Minister of Book Distribution. NA leaders, at their 2012 meeting in Dallas had pledged to increase the annual sales and distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books by 20%.

Congregational book distribution in Toronto, Canada

Vaisesika announced to the assembled leaders that the 2012 goal, while challenging, was not just met but surpassed. The total sales of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust books actually increased by 28.6% over 2012. The announcement brought rousing applause from the assembled leaders. The total sales for North America were greater than any year since 1996.

Several devotees offered testimonies of their local success. Syamala Kishori dasi of ISKCON North Carolina and Maha Sundari Madhavi dasi of Austin, Texas reported that by setting goals as a temple community, and organizing carefully, they had results 3-5 times greater than projected.

“In 2011, we increased our books by almost 1,000% from a small amount of books to something substantial,” said Tukarama dasa, President of the Laguna Beach Temple in California. “In 2012, we weren’t sure how much more we could increase but we tried our best and distribution was up by 33%.

“Distributing Prabhupada’s books is spirtual ecstacy,” said Tukarama. “Vaisesika is a pied piper of book distribution who inspired our congregations to take up Prabhupada’s order to help humanity by giving them knowledge about the soul and God.”

“Our motto last year was ‘Goals are Potent,’” Vaisesika told the NA leaders. “This year, 2013, our motto is ‘Tax your Brain.’” This same instruction was given by Srila Prabhupada in a 1971 letter instructing his followers to “tax their brains” in order to increase book distribution.

The North American Governing Body Commission and Temple Presidents’ Meeting enthusiastically endorses a pledge to increase book distribution in 2013 by 20%

Svavasa das, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Trustee and Los Angeles Temple President (a top book distribution center) told the leaders that the key to increased distribution of Prabhupada’s books is to inspire our congregations by educating them about the importance of book distribution and the BBT.

“LA’s success in book distribution was historically based on our temple devotees and monastics,” said Svavasa. “This year we found the secret to expanded distribution is to inspire our congregational members to take up Prabhupada’s order. In December alone, we distributed 23,000 Bhagavad-gitas.”

“Many of the challenges we faced in the last few years taught us of the need to work together,” Svavasa said. “This year ISKCON communities worked cooperatively across North America and great things were achieved.”

Vaisesika asked the devotee leaders what goal they will set for 2013. “I propose another 20% increase,” he said. Without hesitation the leaders unanimously and enthusiastically accepted the goal.

Vaisesika then reviewed new methods of distributing Prabhupada’s books, including using smart phone technologies for accepting donations, focusing on non-English language distribution, and the “Motel Gita” project, which he explained by means of a video clip from a CBS News Story about an ISKCON project called Motelgita (Motelgita.com), which has ISKCON devotees putting Bhagavad-gitas in motel rooms across America and Canada.

The leaders were also reminded that the BBT spends 25% of NA revenues to support international temple projects. Badrinarayana das, GBC Representative for much of the western United States, clarified that “North American temples, through the BBT contributions, are the largest donors in the world among ISKCON communities in the building of the Mayapura Temple, ISKCON’s international headquarters.”

“Every time we go out to meet people it’s a new challenge and a new opportunity to please the Lord by distributing these transcendental books,” concluded Vaisesika, “Keeping our focus on the distribution of Prabhupada’s books all over North America is good for everyone.”

The GBC/TP meetings will continue for three days, and end on Sunday January 13.

-ISKCON News

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