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WSOPP Governing Body wsopp.org | Professional Associations & Governing Bodies hypnosisdirectory.net | Chief executive appointed on governing body of University of York - The theretreatyork.org.uk | Spectrum Striders Running Club - Governing bodies, retailers etc spectrumstriders.co.uk |
 The Governing Body Commission (GBC) is the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, created the GBC in 1970 and since that time it has met on an annual basis, usually in Mayapur, India.[1] The GBC is organised largely through a "zonal" system, with regional representatives attending to local matters, and the entire GBC ruling on issues that affect ISKCON as a whole.[2] At the GBC's first annual meeting in Mayapur Prabhupada guided the proceedings, "showing how the GBC should strictly follow parliamentary procedure". Zones of the world are assigned to one or more secretaries, whether or not there is currently an ISKCON community in the zone.[2][3] The GBC is entrusted with both spiritual and secular leadership of the ISKCON communities, as well as the power to appoint new gurus. According to a GBC confidence survey "those holding critical views of the GBC were far less committed to ISKCON."[4] As of February 2009, His Holiness Romapada Swami is elected GBC Chairman.[5] He succeeded Ramai Swami as the chairman of the Governing Body Commission.[6]
[edit] Original members of the Governing Body CommissionAccording to the letter of 28 July, 1970 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appointed the following members to the commission, all of them non-sannyasis (non-renunciates): 1. Śrīmān Rupanuga Das Adhikari This letter outlines the following purposes of the commission:
[edit] ISKCON leadershipShortly after establishing the GBC Prabhupada asked his newly appointed leaders to renounce the everyday world and become sannyasis (renunciate monks). Indicating that those who set policy would not be involved with financial dealings. However, after Prabhupada's death many GBC members adopted lavish lifestyles. A number of schisms tested the notion of the supreme authority of the GBC. Some of these scandals involved GBC members Hans Kary (Hamsaduta) and James Immel (Jayatirtha), as well as one of the leaders of the New Vrindaban community, Keith Ham (Kirtanananda), who surrounded himself with opulence and declared himself the only true successor to Prabhupada.[9] In 1982 the GBC began the slow process of adding new gurus to original eleven. In 1983 it was announced that the GBC is the highest ecclesiastical authority of ISKCON.[10] In 1985 the decision was made to lower the standard of living for ISKCON leadership. After much heated discussion, the GBC decided to "relieve" a number of leaders and new leaders were selected. The young leaders of the GBC sought the advice of one of Prabhupada's Gaudiya Math godbrothers, and endeavored to become more integrated in the broader Hindu community.[10] After years of discussion and reforms, a general consensus emerged to accept women as leaders and initiators in ISKCON, overriding the former GBC supposition that "unprotected, 'women leaders become subject to various forms of mistreatment and abuse'". Since 1996 Malati Devi Dasi became the first woman appointed to the GBC.[11] The second woman leader Dina Sharana was selected in 2009. However similar proposal was discussed quite a few years previously.[12] Current GBC members, gurus and ISKCON sannyasis include: Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Bhakti Caru Swami, Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami, Bhakti Narasimha Swami, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami, Bhakti Vikasa Swami, Devamrita Swami, Giriraja Swami, Tamala Krishna Goswami, Gopala Krishna Goswami, Mukunda Goswami, Hanumatpreshaka Swami, Hridaya Caitanya Dasa, Hridayananda dasa Goswami, Indradyumna Swami, Jayadvaita Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Kadamba Kanana Swami, Malati Devi Dasi, Param Gati Swami, Pragosha Dasa, Radhanatha Swami, Ramai Swami, Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, Sacinandana Swami, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, Sivarama Swami, Romapada Swami, Smita Krishna Swami, Prahladananda Swami, Krishna Ksetra Dasa, Vedavyasapriya Swami, Urmila Devi Dasi and Yadunandana Swami. [edit] Anuttama DasaAnuttama Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1976 and since 1993 he has served as Director of Communications for ISKCON in North America.[13] He is also a member of the faculty at Bhaktivedanta College.[14] [edit] Bhakti Dhira Damodara SwamiBhakti Dhira Damodara Swami, a Nigerian swami, was initiated by Bhakti Tirtha Swami in 1983 and is a leader among the disciples of Bhakti Tirtha Swami.[15][16][17] His mission within ISKCON covers West Africa, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Mauritius and Nigeria.[18][19] Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami was a leader of the samādhi ceremony for his guru in Mayapur, India on the 28th of February in 2006.[20] [edit] Bhakti Narasimha Swami Bhakti Narasimha Swami (born 1960, formerly Jagat Guru Dasa) is the first black South African sannyasi of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.[21] Presently, he is the youngest of all current ISKCON sannyasis,[21][22] while historically sannyasa in ISKCON was given to men as early as in their 20s.[23][24] Bhakti Narasimha Swami has been involved with ISKCON for 20 years. During this time, he established a public school and a temple in Uganda.[25] Currently, he is working on temple construction projects in Mozambique, Zambia and other African countries. [25] On April 10, 2008, Prahladananda Swami announced that Bhakti Narasimha Swami (formerly Jagat Guru dasa) had become an ISKCON sannyasi.[22][26] [edit] Devamrita Swami Devamrita Swami was born on October 16, 1950 in New York City. At the age of seventeen, he received a scholarship to Yale University and graduated in 1972. Upon graduation Devamrita Swami began to study the literary works of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1974, Devamrita Swami became an initiated student of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He accepted the renounced order of sanyasa in 1982. For the past twenty-six years, he has traveled worldwide, presenting the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness. Currently he is based in Australia and New Zealand, and frequently travels to India and the Orient on preaching missions. Devamrita Swami is currently the member of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON. [edit] Bibliography
[edit] Malati Devi DasiMalati Devi Dasi was born in San Francisco and became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada in 1967. Her daughter, Sarasvati, was the first child born to an ISKCON member. For several years, Malati was the only female member of Governing Body Commission.[27] Head of the all-female Columbus, Ohio temple since the early 90s, she has often been a controversial figure within ISKCON for her outspoken defense of women in the movement. [edit] Param Gati SwamiMain article: Param Gati Swami Param Gati Swami was born on June 29, 1953 in Pouso Alegre, at the south end of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. He took initiation from Srila Prabhupada in July 1976. In 1983, he took the renounced order of sannyasa at the age of 28. As a member of the Governing Body Commission, he now is the responsible for the Hare Krishna Movement in France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal and Brazil, and has disciples in many countries.[28] [edit] Praghosha DasaPraghosha Dasa is a member of the Governing Body Commission. He was the commission's chairman in 2005.[29] Praghosh presently serves as the editor in chief of the Dandavats Vaishnava news agency.[30] [edit] Vedavyasapriya Swami Vedavyasapriya Swami, (IAST Vedavyasapriya Swami) originally from Gujarat, is an International Society for Krishna Consciousness sanyassi and guru. He is a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.[31][25] The website of the Radha Krishna temple of Hamilton, New Zealand states that, "Since before his first initiation by Srila Prabhupada in 1977 in New York, Vedavyasapriya Swami has served the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in various capacities including personal secretary to the Governing Body Commission, President of ISKCON of Queens, NY, Director of Bharatiya Community Services in New Vrindavan, West Virginia. Vedavyasapriya Swami was initiated into the sannyasa order by Kirtanananda Swami in 1986. He has held the position of ISKCON Governing Body Commission Regional secretary for the North India and took part in associated conferences and meetings of ISKCON leadership.[32] He is one of the ISKCON leaders who endorsed Mayapur Institute of Higher Vaishnava education. [33] He is one of the teachers of Bhakti sastri [34] and Bhakti vaibhava courses in ISKCON ministry of educational development.[35][36] He is also on the list of qualified ISKCON Resolve mediators.[37] His other lecture course is titled: Harinama Cintamani: Begging for the Mercy of the Holy Name. [38] Since 1998 Vedavyasapriya Swami has been serving Srila Prabhupada's movement as a Spiritual Authority in the form of an Initiating Spiritual Master, and has been preaching far and wide throughout the world the message of Guru and Krishna. He is currently free from management duties, making a full commitment to giving spiritual guidance, preaching and teaching to devotees of all levels of advancement in Krishna Consciousness philosophy, sadhana, deity worship and temple seva. Vedavyasapriya Swami travels with his beloved deities Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Whom he has been serving since 1980. Vedavyasapriya Swami is travelling extensively and taking part in general ISKCON activities such as Ratha Yatras both in India and in the West.[39][40] [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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