Mayapur GBC Meetings: Day 6
Governance of ISKCON’s managerial bodies was the main topic of discussion for the sixth day of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission’s Annual General Meeting in Mayapur, India.
At present, ISKCON not only has an international Governing Body Commission (GBC) which is responsible for the overall management of ISKCON, but in some regions there are additional lower level governing bodies such as Regional Governing Bodies (RGBs), National Councils, and Continental Committees. What was at question is how these bodies, which hold regular meetings and pass resolutions, interact with and report to the overall managerial authority, the GBC.
Given the intricacy and importance of the topic, the GBC proposed to form a Rules of Order committee composed of representatives from the lower-level managerial bodies who will explore the topic in greater detail. The committee will consider not only practical issues of management, but also the desired management structure of Srila Prabhupada. The issue will then be discussed with more information and in greater detail during the GBC meeting next fall in Juhu.
The following day, another complex topic was brought to the GBC Body for discussion by Sivarama SwamiSwami. This was the topic of membership in ISKCON—who should be considered a member of ISKCON as a spiritual society and by what standards?
Romapada Swami, the GBC Chairman, made clear that Sivarama Swami’s presentation is not the official position of the GBC, nor is it a formal proposal to the GBC. Rather, the intention of the presentation was simply to reflect on the question and engage in thoughtful discussion.
Sivarama Swami initiated the conversation regarding the definition of ISKCON and ISKCON membership by first exploring the notion of “society.” He pointed out that in general, citizens within a society hold common rights and individual rights. For example, there are general laws to be followed in a country, but individuality can also be expressed within the country as long as a citizen acts within the constraints of the common law. Therefore, a citizen is someone who allows his or her individuality to be subservient to the common law of the society.
Following this logic, Sivarama Swami asked if ISKCON, a spiritual society, should require devotees to follow defined standards in order to be considered a member of ISKCON. Such standards could include anything from following the four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily to perhaps even not watching television for enjoyment. More general standards would be loyalty to Srila Prabhupada, following the GBC as the ultimate managerial authority of ISKCON, and actively engaging in some service within one’s local devotional community.
Sivarama Swami suggested that if we clearly define rules of membership for ISKCON, there is still a place for those who are not at the point of complying with the common laws of the spiritual society and yet who still hold faith in Krishna consciousness. Those who are not official ISKCON members, Sivarama Swami suggested, would share some of the same rights as ISKCON members, such as attending the temple functions, but would not receive the same benefits as official ISKCON members, for instance being allowed to reside in ISKCON temples or farms, serve in official leadership positions within ISKCON, or take part in ISKCON initiative projects.
Gopal Krishna Swami pointed out that in ISKCON we have members at various levels in their spiritual life. Creating strict membership guidelines for ISKCON could exclude from ISKCON a substantial number of sincere devotees who are not practicing at such high levels.
Sivarama Swami responded with understanding to this point and again explained that his intention was simply to present ideas to consider and discuss, rather than a fixed idea on how ISKCON membership should be defined. However, he did express that a clear definition of what it means to be a member of ISKCON should be further discussed and explored.
Following Sivarama Swami’s presentation, Radha Krishna Dasa and Radhradhya Dasa gave an inspiring update on the Eco Valley project in Hungary, a model village working toward self-sustainability. Eco Valley, through its Sustainable Science Research Center, recently began a program where university students live at Eco Valley for two months to study and train in developing self-sustainable communities. Radha Krishna Dasa also reported that Eco Valley now has eight university affiliations and eleven university students writing dissertations on the Eco Valley project. For more information on the Eco Valley project, visit www.ecovalley.hu.
Hari Sauri Dasa concluded the evening with an enlivening presentation on the new Bhaktivedanta Research Centre located in Kolkata. The Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, dedicated to gathering, preserving, and making available Vaishnava and Vedic Cosmology texts, officially opened in June 2009.
The Bhaktivedanta Research Centre initiated from a need to house and make available texts related to Vedic cosmology for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium’s Cosmology Project. The building, kindly donated to ISKCON by Mr. MC Shamsukha in 2000, was completely renovated to create an excellent library space for 15,000 books along with comfortable guest rooms for visiting devotees and scholars. Suitable space is also available in the building to function as a temple and lecture hall.
Most astonishing was a recent library acquisition that contained many rare and valuable pieces including a personal diary of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, a postcard written to Bhaktivinoda Thakura by his daughter, and a 400-year old manuscript of the Madhya Lila of Caitanya Caritamrta. The Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, under the academic direction of Pranava Dasa and Krishna Abhiseka Dasa, is currently working to catalog and professionally preserve this acquisition before the texts disintegrate even further.
Thousands of Vaisnava manuscripts and texts have yet to be located and preserved, and due to the effects of time, these texts are disappearing. Hari Sauri Dasa thus conveyed the important work the Centre is already doing and the immediate need to support furthering the work of the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre. For more information on the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, please contact iskconbrc@gmail.com.
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Reader Comments:
Dear Maharajas, Matajis and
Dear Maharajas, Matajis and Prabhus
PAMHO All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga.
In regards to the point raised by H.H. Sivarama Swami at the last GBC meeting, whether the GBC body should establish a list of different criteria by which one could be acknowledged to be a member of ISKCON or not, several levels of consideration are to be addressed. At the outset, the example of a citizen of a country having to abide by the laws of the country doesn’t really serve the purpose of Maharaja, as a citizen doesn’t loose his citizenship by braking the laws. Besides, in order to explore the topic raised further, one may have to first define what ISKCON means and what is the purpose of the Movement created by Srila Prabhupada. Another important point would also be to analyze whether or not, Srila Prabhupada established such distinctions as those proposed to define who is eligible or not to be part of the Movement he founded, which is meant to host the whole world. Here we may also have to address a distinction in between full time residents of an ashrama or temple and devotees practicing Krishna consciousness at home, the same way one may establish a distinction in between the congregation of devotees and clergy members, moreover within the global context of establishing Varnashrama. One may also have to define whether the most important criteria, is being a devotee, i.e. having some devotion for Srila Prabhupada, Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna or being a strict obedient of some rules and regulations, the appreciation and number of which may fluctuate, as “watching TV for enjoyment” is also suggested as a sufficient cause for not being in a position to be considered as an ISKCON member. Besides, another main question occurs: how will one decide and judge of who is fit to be a member or not? Can we count on each and every postulant to be truthful or should the practice of denouncement (as well as trials and inquisition) be encouraged? Should some secret police force be created, in order to spy on devotees, in order to check whether they comply with the set of rules and regulations, or not? Besides, should their membership card be withdrawn from members facing temporary difficulties? And ultimately, what would be the measuring rod to define the degree of Bhakti of one another? Or would Bhakti be no more a criteria and then, wouldn’t there be a risk for our Movement, to miss its real target, which is to develop love of God…?
Funnily enough, the next topic brought up that day, concerned a so-called eco-valley in Hungary, run under the supervision of Sivarama Maharaja, where students come and live for 2 months on an ISKCON property in order to study – not Krishna consciousness or any spiritual topic – but a self-sustainable community!
Of course the later part of my comment, in regards to hosting non devotees on an ISKCON property, which was apparently going against the set of rules which Sivaram Maharaja had envisionned, is to be understood, from my humble angle of vision, as another opportunity for preaching and attracting souls to Krishna consciousness as well as getting some recognition for some valuable contribution to society, which is the case both for Sivarama Swami and local devotees in Hungary. Congratulations for that !
Krishna is all attractive and their developping Krishna consciousness can develop on whatever aspect they may start with and be attracted by initially, just as fire may start from some live embers… which a Krishna conscious preacher is expert at fanning…
All glories to your preaching… via Srila Prabhupada’s program of “simple living and high thinking” !
Your menial servant
Puskaraksa das
who is a member
who is a member who is not
Allow devotees to be heard instead of allowing the Higher level devotees to speak for them ?
When you read this article is makes me feel sad, there are many devotees who are very dear , kind and deeply sincere to Srila Prabhupada and his movement ISKCON.
They live among us , in our streets , suburbs and towns you might meet one you might not, but they are there willing to share something about Prabhupada and his movement and you can see and feel them shine and glow in there eyes and heart when they ask you to have a book or come along to our restaurant and so on .
These devotees have a voice if you care to listen to them , there not asking to have positions in official leadership positions or take part in initiative projects.
Krsna brings people to this movement who have the right mentality and leadership skills for that.
But these devotees are quietly and with conviction serving Srila Prabhupadas quest to bring the jivas to Krsna. Thats serving 16 rounds or not .
And believe me they make alot of devotees too.
I have met only a few of these so called lower devotees or lesser ,however you like to Title them and some of them are loving , soft and gentle souls who listen and respond with affection and consideration.
And thou they might not have the full standards they still follow many dont take intoxication , eat meat and so on .
Some of these quite devotees are souls who assisted in the foundation of this great movement . And will continue, to there last breath, but you might not no them .
I would open my door and greet them with full grace and love and affection and listen to them and hear there journey.
We need to acknowledge them and welcome all who comes to there doors of ISKCON.
Remember we have a history this movement and we got caused alot of pain so step out of your meetings reach out and sincerely spend time to listen and hear from these devotees as a family where strong we do respect positions its needed but we do embrace kindness love and affection.
Thank you for reading . All glories to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.
ISKCON is in devotees hearts and it inspires devotees to achieve amazing things.
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