Zonal Supervisors, an important leadership role created by the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to improve management in ISKCON around the world, was the first topic of today’s GBC meeting. Working directly under an individual GBC member, a Zonal Supervisor assists that GBC member by supervising a number of temples and projects within a particular geographical zone.
Members were presented with a 94-page document or “Meetings Manual,” and a second 23-page guide on “Decision Making.” Both texts were drawn from research conducted by the GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT). In preparing the manuals the SPT underwent a detailed analysis of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on management as well as a review 40 professional studies and books on meetings and decision-making.
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) began its “Mid-Term Meeting” this morning in Ujjain, India. Approximately thirty GBC members, and fifteen other leaders and guests will be meeting in this historic and holy city for nine days, until October 17.
On Monday May 15th ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission hosted a Town Hall Meeting to explain why it is opposing the pending sale of Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir, and what it plans to do about it.
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) recently completed a special three-day session during which the GBC Body considered whether or not this worldwide Vaishnava community should endorse and implement the policy of having women serve as diksa-gurus, or initiating spiritual masters, within the ISKCON society.
The local ISKCON temple, Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, a picturesque project shaped in the form a temple on top of a lotus is the host for this year’s meetings. More than seventy ISKCON devotees from different parts of the world were greeted upon arrival with flower garlands and rapturous kirtan by the resident devotees. The GBC Strategic Planning Network (SPN) meetings continue upto October 18th.
The arrival of devotees from around the world - among them senior devotees like Niranjana Swami, Radhanath Swami and Malati devi dasi has added to the already spiritually sweet, enlivening atmosphere of ISKCON Tirupati. ISKCON News readers able to read the highlights of initiatives adopted through these meetings over the next few days.
ISKCON has seen considerable global expansion since its birth in 1966. To ensure that as ISKCON grows, its organizational systems and process remain relevant to a growing ISKCON, the Organizational Development Committee was established and mandated to thoroughly review ISKCON’s current leadership model.
“Spiritual Leadership: Being a Guru in ISKCON” seminar wiill be offered once in 2015, at Mayapura from February 22-25. Per ISKCON Law this Seminar is mandatory for devotees who take up the service of diksha guru and for sannyasa candidates. The GBC also “highly recommends” it for siksa gurus, senior managers and other ISKCON leaders.
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has recently increased its focus on succession; on the need to identify and develop new leaders. As a result the GBC has asked three of its committees to focus on ways to speed up the selection and development process without compromising the quality of the training.
ISKCON's Governing Body Commission (GBC) began its strategic planning work to help ISKCON grow into a healthy, sustainable, world-class organization. Srila Prabhupada wanted the GBC to lead ISKCON through good governance and to establish global policies, and he wanted an expansive, thriving movement that served both the public and those who accepted its shelter.
On Thursday, June 12th at 12.30 PM EST ISKCON Communications Minister and Governing Body Commission Chairman has released an updated report about the tragic bus accident that claimed at least two lives of Russian ISKCON devotees who were visiting holy places in Northern India. In the meantime, ISKCON Russia has confirmed the names of the deceased devotees.
“Srila Prabhupada: The Founder-Acarya of ISKCON,” was written by ISKCON scholar Ravindra Svarupa Das and published by ISKCON GBC Press. “Our main concern [in writing this book] was that, in the very near future, our movement faces a time when all the devotees who had direct experience of Srila Prabhupada will no longer be on the planet,” says Ravindra Svarupa. “And I know from the history of religions that this is always a critical time.”
The final plenary was scheduled for two hours, but went on for three, with devotees longing for more. As a perfect ending, the very last plenary for the ISKCON Leadership Sanga 2014 ended as the first one started – with a very sweet and loving Guru puja for the founder acarya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Throughout the entire ILS, Srila Prabhupada and his teachings were at the center.
Devamrita Swami took to the stage to deliver a powerfully relevant class on Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and the topic of innovation. Maharaja spoke as to the numerous ways by which Saraswati Thakur utilized the technology and resources of his time to spread Krishna-consciousness.
The ILS serves as a forum for devotes to not only learn about the work being done to push forward the ISKCON’s Governing Commission’s (GBC) strategic plan, but provides leaders with the tools to help implement it in their own communities.
Day 3 of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Mayapur, India, was dedicated as Devotee Care Day.The day was filled with presentations where devotees had the opportunity to attend five seminar slots and choose between forty-eight presentations! As the day was devoted to Devotee Care the majority of presentations focused on this important topic.
Devotees had the opportunity to attend talks such as Unity in Diversity, Being Trusting and Trustworthy, Harmonizing Lines of Authority, Srila Prabhupada: The Living Bhagavatam, The Avanti Schools Model or a Theatre Arts Workshop (VANDE) which were among the twenty two seminars offered in the morning.
The 2014 ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) was inaugurated on February 16 in Sridham Mayapur. Day 1 consisted of three sessions during which at least ten seminars would run in parallel per session. Seminars such as Effective Outreach, How to Implement the 5 Steps of Succession and Identify Future Leaders, Devotee Care Through Cow Care, Invest in the Future, and To Love is to Cooperate were just a handful of the numerous seminars devotees had the opportunity to attend.
GBC Stategic Planning ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Mayapur, Feburary 2012.
Nearly 1,000 ISKCON leaders from around the world are confirmed to attend the second ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) in Mayapur, West Bengal from February 16th to 23rd. The event was created by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to provide leaders with a forum where they could share best practices and learn from each other.
Badrinarayan Dasa has been a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) since 1987. He became a member of ISKCON in 1970, and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada the following year in Los Angeles. An eloquent speaker, he is noted for his discourses which link current affairs with spiritual matters in a very relevant and practical way.
Every year, ISKCON's European Governing Commission choses and awards the best performing devotees in many different fields, including book distribution, outreach, pujari service end event organizing.
Radhanath Swami has been a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) since 1996. For the past twenty-five years, besides guiding the development of the ISKCON Chowpatty community in Mumbai, Radhanath Swami has directed a number of acclaimed social action projects including Midday Meals, daily serving over 250,000 plates of pure vegetarian food to the children in the slums of Mumbai. He has also worked to establish missionary hospitals and eye camps, eco-friendly farms, schools and ashrams, an orphanage, and a number of emergency relief programs throughout India. A valuable member of the Strategic Planning Initiatives, he is a part of the Devotee Care Committee. Hear what Radhanath Swami has to say about the Strategic Planning Meetings and how it brings leaders together from around the world to come up with solutions for real issues in our society.
Anuttama Dasa has been a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) since 2000 and is also the Minister for ISKCON Communications. His vision for the future of ISKCON is that it will mature and grow to be a respected and influential culture and religion around the world. A valuable member of the Strategic Planning Initiatives, he is involved in both the Communications and Succession Committees
Inspiring and thought-provoking presentations were given on a variety of topics, including book distribution, communications, education, and creating effective temple management systems.
Between October 14 and 19 in Juhu, Mumbai, India, ISKCON's Governing Commission holds its Strategic Planning Team meetings. Their task is to anticipate and address present and future concerns on relevant issues within ISKCON, such as the need for increased devotee care, improved and innovative outreach activities and succession planning by identifying young leaders.
A Letter to All Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC).
The topic of “Lines of Authority” is a heritage or legacy issue. By “heritage” or “legacy” issues we mean those topics that are of core importance to the future of ISKCON. These are the issues that are going to be relevant for generations to come. How to address them in a way that reflects Srila Prabhupada’s intent and purpose will be expressed in papers like this one.
GBC Statement on Srila Prabhupada's Preeminent Position
The 2012 Governing Body Commission and Strategic Planning midterm meetings for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were held from October 21–26 in Tirupati, India. The GBC mid-year meeting reports and podcasts are now available on the GBC website.
Bhakti Caitanya Swami, the ISKCON Governing Body Commission Chairman for 2012, addresses the community from Sridham Mayapur, March 2012.
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC), during its international meetings this past week in Mumbai, selected personnel to fill four new and historically important positions as part of gradual unfolding of the GBC Strategic Development Plan.
On May 13-15th, ISKCON`s North American leaders held their by-annual meeting at New Vrindaban. They have discussed various strategies to increase book distribution, attracting new devotees, and enhancing the experience and mood of the existing members of the organization.
The North American GBC is looking for future leaders, intelligent and devotionally-inclined young men and women who would like serve Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan movement by making a career of full time service in ISKCON USA America. To help fulfill this aim, the North American GBC is offering a two-year scholarship to Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesa, Belgium.
Zonal assignments for all secretaries.
ISKCON leaders and temple presidents will gather in Dallas, Texas this weekend for the annual North American leaders meetings.
Vrindavana, India - On October 17, five representatives of Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founder-acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, forming an official delegation, met with Srila B.V. Narayana Maharaja, founder-acarya of the BHAKTI Trust Mission, near the pilgrimage site of Govardhana Hill, just a few miles from Vrindavana, India. The meeting, which had been planned for several months, was held at Narayana Maharaja's Sri Sri Gauranga Radha Giridhari temple at Giridhari Gaudiya Math.
The following statement was issued in response to a proposal submitted earlier by Madhu Pandit Dasa. For an explanation of the background and underlying issues it discusses, please read Bangalore Splinter Group Proposes Truce, GBC Responds.
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission have added a new member to their ranks. Dina Sarana Dasi joined the GBC by unanimous vote on February 21 -- day 10 of the ISKCON management entity’s Annual General Meetings in Mayapur, India.
The GBC North American Leadership Succession Committee announced the launch of the Leadership Development Program, an extensive course of study and practice for current and upcoming ISKCON leaders. Beginning in March, North America will be the first region to open this newly developed path for preparation and further training of the movement’s leaders worldwide.
The 2009 Annual General Meeting of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission commenced with arati and guru-puja kirtana to Srila Prabhupada, who is present in murti form in the meeting hall. Apart from the large murti, this year there is a small murti of Srila Prabhupada fixed on a beautiful altar near the Chairman's seat. After the reading of Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.16, Ramai Swami, Chairman, began the proceedings by explaining the absence of several members, mostly due to health issues. He also gave a brief summary of the Executive Committee's work during the year.
It may be that instituting a bicameral system for the GBC could help to continue a healthy and dynamic managerial process for ISKCON into the future; allowing for the preservation of ISKCON's strength and traditions, while facilitating the next generation to take responsibility for expanding the mission.
Members of the Brazilian Governing Council of ISKCON (Conselho Governamental do Brasil, or CGB) met this November 29 - 30 at the Vrajabhumi temple near Rio de Janeiro to plan a revolutionary new management strategy. Until now, Brazil has been overseen by two international members of ISKCON’s Governing Body Comission (GBC), Param Gati Swami and Hridayananda Dasa Goswami. Four other sannyasis who reside in Brazil – all initiating gurus – acted as representatives of the GBCs and managed different geographical areas of the country.
It is with great shock, outrage, and sorrow that members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, (ISKCON), have learned of the horrific terrorists attacks in Mumbai, India, against hundreds of innocent people.
The 2008 GBC Meetings dedicated to strategic planning are underway at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India until the 23rd of October.
ISKCON’s GBC (Governing Body Commission) was founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1970 to manage the movement. The main GBC meetings are held annually in Mayapur, India during the Gaura Purnima festival.
Today we live in a world that is full of war, strife, hatred and exploitation between people. It is a world based on a bodily conception of life that categorizes and then mistreats living beings on the basis of race, gender, national origin, religion, etc. The Krishna consciousness movement teaches a higher guiding principle based upon the soul.
GBC member and ISKCON guru Bhakti Charu Swami suffered a mild heart attack recently, but is now in a stable condition at Apollo Hospital in Indore, India. Dr. Sujata Bhargav, who cared for him at the hospital, allowed devotees to visit his room when appropriate. Despite his condition, the Swami spoke to various disciples and students, saying that he was “tired of taking rest,” and that talking to devotees enlivened him.
A mock debate between GBC members on the topic of “Unity in Diversity Across the Continents” ended in intriguing circumstances during the annual GBC Retreat day on March 2. The debate was one of various activities on a day devoted to kirtana and krsna-katha in novel forms in the tranquil setting of the Jagannath Mandir.
Tension was in the air as GBC member Praghosa Das traded insults and criticisms with ISKCONResolve Director and meeting facilitator Braja Bihari Das during a presentation by Praghosa. As the debate got uglier and began to resemble a “Daksa-yajna”, worried attendees looked to the Chairman to pacify the situation. Some considered leaving. Some were considering removing the two antagonists before the situation got out of control.
Sesa Dasa presented the reason ISKCON needs a constitution: ISKCON is a complex international society with many projects and people bound by a grand mission given by Srila Prabhupada. To give shape to that, a constitution is necessary. Srila Prabhupada has also talked about a constitution for ISKCON. The present paper is not intended to be a legal document; but is rather more inspirational and foundational.
Anuttama Das, a member of the Guru Services Committee, reported that the committee had been studying how to help prepare devotees to serve Srila Prabhupada as initiating and instructing spiritual masters. The committee also considered how to offer support and peer association for devotees currently serving as gurus.