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.

Today saw the conclusion of three days of Organizational Development Committee (Org Dev) meetings which culminated in Org Dev’s meeting with the full GBC body.

ISKCON News readers able to read the highlights of initiatives adopted through these meetings over the next few days.  One of them, the Sanga for GBC’s, Gurus, and Sannyasis, or the SGGS, as it has come to be known, was launched in 2013 in Mayapur and will again take place in Mayapur in February 2015. 

Sivarama Swami speaking to the members of the Organisational Development Committee in the ISKCON Tirupati temple, India.

The SGGS has several objectives. It helps ISKCON fulfill Srila Prabhupadas desire for his followers to serve together in a spirit of co-operation. Srila Prabhupada particularly wanted his senior disciples to work together to improve ISKCON. In a letter to Babhru dasa on Dec 9^th, 1973, he instructed, “The test of our actual dedication and sincerity to serve the Spiritual Master will be in this mutual cooperative spirit to push on this movement and not make factions and deviate.” 

The SGGS also seeks to facilitate the development of a shared vision amongst its GBC and non-GBC spiritual leadership and harness the huge reservoir of skills, talents, and energy available and consolidate it in the service of ISKCON.

In honoring ISKCON’s diversity, the SGGS will help the organization to also awaken to what unifies it – to value those things and protect them through open, clear communications.  The SGGS offers a forum for all participants to hear and be heard, resolve differences, and discuss the important issues that affect the ISKCON movement. Ultimately, the Sanga also facilitates moving things from dialogue to an action plan.

Braja Bihari Das listening intently during the recent GBC meetings in Tirupati, India.

All the participants agreed that devotional service is infinitely more effective, joyful and attractive when performed in the association of devotees where loving, trusting relationships are valued. 

“… if you all agree to my directions and cooperate in the right spirit then everything will turn out, but it will require everyone involved to be responsible and cooperate in executing and following the instructions of the Spiritual Master.”   (Letter to Gurukripa Dasa and Yasodananda Dasa, Dec 25^th, 1973)