By Dina Dayala Das
First day: Education
Update on Education in ISKCON – History; current education in Europe; the strategy of the Ministry of Educational Development; the GBC Succession Committee on leadership training – Jaya Krsna dasa .ppt
The Educational Needs of My Yatra – Synthesis of group work .doc
Self Assessment for Leaders – The self-assessment form, fill it in focusing on two criteria and to define for themselves direct actions for self-improvement .doc
Identifying Future Leaders – Tool to Identify Potential Future Leaders: Assessing an Individual Candidate .doc
Preaching through Education – Matsya Avatara dasa .doc
Goal Setting – Akrura dasa .ppt
Second Day: Social Development
Explanation of and Introduction to Social Development – Kripamoya dasa .ppt
Hungarian Membership Model .ppt
A selection of quotations from Srila Prabhupada – Jiva Tattva dasa .ppt
Third Day: News, Reports and Discussions
Report on ISKCON Communication – Mahaprabhu dasa .ppt
Report on Hindu Forum of Europe – Mahaprabhu dasa .ppt
Cow Protection in ISKCON Europe – Syamasundara dasa .ppt
Germany Update – Dina Sharana Dasi .pdf
Presentation on Simhacalam farm – Vedanta-krit dasa .pdf
Forth Day: Harinama in Venice
Our fourth day was solely devoted to ‘Sadhu Sangha’ which in our case meant a trip to Venice for the perfect Harinam Sankirtan. Chanting with 70 Vaishnavas in the sunshine, through mediaeval city streets, great acoustics, no traffic, surrounded by water, fresh breezes, and eager tourists to listen, clap and sing and dance along with us made Venice into Kirtan Heaven. And the sense of being in heaven continued as we came back to Vicenza for home-made Italian ice cream in a variety of unusual flavours.
Pictures from harinama are available here.
Proposals to Euro GBC, Global GBC and GBC Committees
Appreciation for service done by the GBC Constitutional Committee
At the 2007 ELM, the members unanimously agreed (and the Euro GBC body gave its approval) to express appreciation for the important service of the GBC Constitutional Committee, especially concerning ISKCON membership. To support the Committee, the attendees identified points that legislation must cover:
• Protect the rights and interests of ISKCON, in both our Society and society at large.
• Protect the rights and interests of members, especially the most vulnerable ones.
• Establish standards of conduct for ISKCON members (or categories of members).
• Inculcate within ISKCON members a sense of common responsibility.
• Establish criteria for withdrawal of ISKCON membership.
An ISKCON Constitution
Whereas the leaders in Europe consider it very important to have a constitution;
Whereas membership is the part that needs the most clarification and input from experienced devotees (and therefore the following questions should be addressed: Who is a member? What are the types of membership? What are the rights and responsibilities of members regarding social, economic and legal issues?);
Whereas during the ELM meeting the following devotees volunteered their input: Akrura dasa, Dina Sharana dasi, Gaurahari dasa, Jiva Tattva dasa, Kripamoya dasa, Manohara dasa, Manorama dasa, Nityananda dasa, Visvambhara dasa;
The Euro GBC resolves that the above-mentioned devotees, with Dina Sharana as chairwoman, form a committee and communicate through e-mail, conference calls or meetings. They will regularly post their progress reports on the European Leaders conference, and Dina Dayala, the secretary of the GBC Constitution committee, will communicate their progress to members of the GBC Constitution committee.
Support for the grihasta ashram within ISKCON Europe
RECOMMENDATION
That Euro GBCs do all in their power to support the grihasta ashram in ISKCON Europe by doing the following:
1) As far as possible, ensure that marriage is entered by both parties with sufficient preparation and consideration of the practical realities of an enduring marriage.
2) Not regarding the civil/legal declaration and registration of marriage as the complete samskara of marriage.
3) Celebrating the marriage, as far as possible, with a ceremony conducted and witnessed with due decorum in keeping with Vaisnava tradition.
4) Offer guidance on and endorsement of the sanctity and enduring commitment of marrriage, as far as possible, in classes and personal conversations.
Assisting in a survey of spiritual masters and disciples
The European Leaders request those GBC members who are also gurus to assist Visnu Murti dasa in his survey of spiritual masters and disciples within ISKCON.
This survey has so far helped in understanding the nature of the guru-disciple relationships in ISKCON and how members of our movement are protected, guided, and engaged in service.
Support to ISKCON farms and ISKCON farmers
Whereas ISKCON farms and farmers struggle to make their operations viable;
Whereas the successful establishment of varnasrama and rural life was a key concern of Srila Prabhupada’s;
Whereas the Vedic system was supportive of agricultural and rural communities;
The Euro GBC resolves that all ISKCON Deity kitchens, temples, restaurants and relevant projects purchase all vegetable and milk products produced by ISKCON farms in their country up to a ceiling of their current purchases, provided they are of reasonable quality and can be afforded. ‘Can be afforded’ means purchasing at the price requested as long as it does not result in the temples, restaurants or projects going under (the accounts and cost basis of the farming operation concerned will be available to the purchasers). Where practical, the ISKCON temples, restaurants or projects concerned will explore the possibility of purchasing the land and making it available to farmers to cultivate. Additionally, temples should make available limited space for any farming produce to be sold from their existing outlets at a reasonable cost to the suppliers.
Standards for initiation in Europe
Whereas uninitiated devotees in European yatras have sought initiation by moving from the yatra in which they have been serving to another yatra where the requirements for initiation were more liberal;
The Euro GBC resolves that European leaders require uniform standards for initiation to be met.
A committee in the UK is already developing a relevant document, and after completing it and getting it approved by the ISKCON UK Management Council, the committee should send it to the PAMHO European Leaders conference for approval or amendment; from there it will go to the Euro GBC for ratification.
Potential future leaders in Europe
STATEMENT:
The Euro GBC is concerned about the succession of ISKCON’s current European leaders and strongly supports the GBC Succession Committee in its search for potential leaders. However, before proposing candidates to them, the Euro GBC needs to be assured of the following: what the education would entail, the timing for that, and how to be sure that the candidates will not be exposed to offers from other yatras, international leadership, etc. The Euro GBC needs some sort of guarantee that potential leaders will return to serve with enthusiasm on the local level. The Euro GBC will discuss this issue after getting feedback from the Succession Committee.