By Vrndavana Vinodini dasi
Day 2 of the 2014 ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) began with the full morning program, which was capped off with an insightful class by HG Krsna-ksetra prabhu who continued on the theme of leadership. Krsna-ksetra prabhu offered a very practical approach to successful leadership by offering four basic principles: vision, inspiration, facilitation and continuous self-reflection.
After a hearty breakfast, attendees congregated in the huge pandal tent where the destinations of the two parikramas, as well as the parikrama leaders, scheduled for the afternoon were announced. Devotees could choose to go to Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace and Srivas Angam with HH Lokanath Swami or a join the parikrama led by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami to the birthplace of Bhaktivinod Thakur and Surabhi Kunja. Thankfully, devotees will have the opportunity to go on parikrama again in two days time so that no one will miss out!
Devotees also learned about the hard work and efforts of HG Ravindra Svarupa prabhu who has spent years researching and putting together a small book on the position of Srila Prabhupada called “Srila Prabhupada The Founder Acharya of ISKCON – A GBC Foundational Document”. Before leaving the tent to attend the morning seminars, devotees were presented with complimentary copies to take home.
With only two seminar slots taking place in the morning, devotees had the opportunity to attend talks such as Unity in Diversity (Strategic Planning Team), Being Trusting and Trustworthy (Devotee Care), Harmonizing Lines of Authority (Lines of Authority Committee), Srila Prabhupada: The Living Bhagavatam (Srila Prabhupada Position Committee), The Avanti Schools Model (Education Committee) or a Theatre Arts Workshop (VANDE) which were among the twenty two seminars offered in the morning.
The theme for the afternoon was sanga sanga sanga! As devotees congregated in the two pre-assigned meeting places to go on the two parikramas the sound of the holy name was in the air along with happy smiles, introductions and the sharing of realizations from the various seminars. Tune in for a special report on the parikrama to Bhaktivinod Thakur’s birthplace and Srivas Angam tomorrow!
As happy devotees returned back having made new friends and their feet bathed in the dust of the dham, a healthy dinner was awaiting them after which devotees had the opportunity to continue to associate with one another and attend the evening program in the temple.
Join us tomorrow as we hear about the inspiring activities that take place during Day 3 of ILS 2014!