Governing Body Commission

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An example of zonal regions for North America
An example of zonal regions for North America

Governing Body Commission (GBC) is the name for the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada , created the GBC in 1970[1] and since that time it has met on an annual basis. It is organised largely through a Zonal system, with certain members looking after specific locations, and then group decisions being made in regards to general issues. [2] Thomas A. Forsthoefel, Cynthia Ann Humes writes: At the GBC's first annual meeting in Mayapur Prabhupada guided the proceedings, "showing how the GBC should strictly follow parliamentary procedure. Zones are assigned to one or more secretaries.[3] A certain section of the world usually falls into the jurisdiction of a specific zonal secretary even if there is no ISKCON center there. [4]. Membership of ISKCON is guided by GBC and according to a GBC confidence survey "those holding critical views of the GBC were far less committed to ISKCON." [5] As of March 2008, Ramai Swami is the chairman of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission.[6]


Contents

[edit] Original members of the commission

According to the letter of 28th July 1970 Prabhupada appointed following members to the commission, all of them non sannyasi: [7]


  • 1. Śrīmān Rupanuga Das Adhikary
  • 2. Śrīmān Bhagavandas Adhikary
  • 3. Śrīmān Syamsundar Das Adhikary
  • 4. Śrīmān Satsvarupa Das Adhikary
  • 5. Śrīmān Karandhar Das Adhikary
  • 6. Śrīmān Hansadutta Das Adhikary
  • 7. Śrīmān Tamala Kṛṣṇa Das Adhikary
  • 8. Śrīmān Sudama Das Adhikary
  • 9. Śrīmān Bali Mardan Das Brahmacary
  • 10. Śrīmān Jagadisa Das Adhikary
  • 11. Śrīmān Hayagriva Das Adhikary
  • 12. Śrīmān Kṛṣṇadas Adhikary

Letter outlines following purposes of the commission: 1) improving the standard of temple management, 2) spread of Krishna consciousness, 3) distribution of books and literature, 4) opening new centers, 5) education of the devotees. [8]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ iskcon.com - structure
  2. ^ ISKCON GBC First Meeting - Gurus in America - Page 89 by Thomas A. Forsthoefel, Cynthia Ann Humes. 2005
  3. ^ Zonal sytem - History - Gurus in America - Page 89 by Thomas A. Forsthoefel, Cynthia Ann Humes. 2005
  4. ^ ISKCON GBC site
  5. ^ GBC confidence survey - Hare Krishna Transformed - Page 245 by E. Burke Rochford, 2007
  6. ^ GBC Meetings 2008 ISKCON News 21 Mar 2008, Retrieved on 2008-05-05
  7. ^ Das Goswami, S. (1982), Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, Vol 4: In Every Town and Village, Around the World, 1968--71, Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust 
  8. ^ A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Letter of 28th July 1970. "As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the G.B.C.) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard."[1]

[edit] External links


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