ISKCON GBC Representatives Meet With B.V. Narayana Maharaja
A Joint Statement of: The BHAKTI Trust Public Affairs Office and the ISKCON Communications Ministry
October 24, 2009,
Vrindavana, India - On October 17, five representatives of Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founder-acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, forming an official delegation, met with Srila B.V. Narayana Maharaja, founder-acarya of the BHAKTI Trust Mission, near the pilgrimage site of Govardhana Hill, just a few miles from Vrindavana, India. The meeting, which had been planned for several months, was held at Narayana Maharaja's Sri Sri Gauranga Radha Giridhari temple at Giridhari Gaudiya Math.
The ISKCON leaders in attendance were His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja, His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja, Ravindra Svarupa dasa, Badrinarayan dasa, and Anuttama dasa. Besides Narayana Maharaja himself, BHAKTI Trust leaders present were Sripad B.V. Madhava Maharaja, Brajanath dasa and Jalakara dasa. The meeting lasted for more than thirty minutes. It was described by both sides as "respectful and cordial."
Upon arrival at the temple, the ISKCON leaders had a brief darshan of the temple Deities. Afterward, they were escorted to Narayana Maharaja's quarters. There, the participants were introduced to each other and there was an exchange of gifts and garlands.
Narayana Maharaja opened the meeting by expressing his appreciation for Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON's founder-acarya, and for Prabhupada's achievements in promoting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission around the world. Narayana Maharaja reminded those present of the assistance he had offered to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON in the early days of Prabhupada's mission, and after Prabhupada's passing in 1977.
Anuttama dasa, ISKCON's Communications Minister, speaking on behalf of the GBC, offered a formal apology to Narayana Maharaja for "the GBC's failure to communicate properly and in a timely personal manner," to Narayana Maharaja regarding ISKCON policies that were established in 1995. Although the GBC decided at that time the policies were necessary, Anuttama dasa regretted that they had not communicated them properly and the lapse had contributed to further misunderstandings. Anuttama dasa also shared the GBC's mandate from Srila Prabhupada that the GBC guide and manage his
ISKCON institution.
Narayana Maharaja made several proposals how to improve the relationship between ISKCON and himself and his followers. The ISKCON delegation said it would convey those suggestions to the full GBC Body. Narayana Maharaja and the ISKCON leaders expressed their shared desire that the two Vaishnava organizations would like to see cordial relations between them based on mutual respect and understanding.
As the session drew to a close, both sides expressed gratitude to each other for the meeting and its pleasant tone. As the ISKCON emissaries prepared to leave, a delegation of senior devotees serving in the BHAKTI Trust (Jalakara dasa, B.V. Sajjan Maharaja and Jadurani (Syamarani) dasi) formally asked the GBC representatives to accept their apologies for all mistakes and offenses they had committed in their past relations with ISKCON. Obeisances were then exchanged all around.
Anuttama dasa, ISKCON Minister of Communications
Jalakara dasa, BHAKTI Trust Public Affairs Director
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Reader Comments:
Hare Krishna! I'm not sure
Hare Krishna!
I'm not sure much has changed in terms of policies, unfortunately, but there is something to be said about proper Vaisnava etiquette.
YS,
Jaya Sri dasi
Todas as glorias a Srila
Todas as glorias a Srila Prabhupada.
Todas as glorias a Srila Narayana Maharaj.
Todas as glorias a Todos Vaishnava
Hare Krishna...
As far as I know, this is
As far as I know, this is the first meeting between Narayana M. and GBC representatives. I hope this initiative can help both Iskcon and the Bhakti Trust cultivate good relations.
Better than never!
Congratulations!
Yours,
Mukunda-dasa
All Glories To Srila
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories To Srila Narayana Maharaj.
All Glories To All Vaishnava's in the Spiritual and Material universes.
Hare Krsna.
JaiGovindaDas
All glories to srila
All glories to srila prabhupada & Srila Narayana Majaraj..
Am very happy for this news....is the moment of stop this fhigt unless...Togheter we are invencibles.... lilanatha das
Vanca Kalpa ! Hare Krsna !
Vanca Kalpa ! Hare Krsna !
Ohh My God Krsna , it is the best informacion .. divina .. Jai Sri Radhe Radhe Radhe ...Love ....
Dandavat Pranams to
Dandavat Pranams to all.
This is good and hopeful news.
If this conflict can be respectfully resolved then we will really see the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus movement and the glory of Srila Prabhupada spreading like wild fire once again!!! Offenses are always the greatest obstacle, and to forgive and be forgiven is a great vaisnava quality that can only empower this movement worldwide.
This is WONDERFUL news.
This is WONDERFUL news. Vaisnava unity is the need of the hour. The Sankirtan movement needs all vaisnavas to join hands to strengthen it. The planet is torn by violence, strife, unrighteousness, unjustness, unfairness leading to environmental degradation. Only unity of Vaisnavas around the world will restore spiritual balance and usher in an era of love and peace.
Hare Krishna !!
May Sri Krishna Bless everyone.
Warm regards,
Rudra Prasad
This is indeed great news
This is indeed great news and befitting the spirit of Vaishnavism.
If we are taught to respect even an ant, surely we must offer all respect and appreciation to persons all over the world who connect their energies and talents with the service of Krishna.
This action happened, in a way long overdue in my opinion, but luckily still in time and perhaps it could not have happened sooner than this.
Very inspiring, may we all live together in service of Sri-Sri Gaura-NItai and Radha-Govinda!
Love,
Rati Manjari devi dasi
Amsterdam,Holland
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE:-) So nice to hear:-) Srila Narayana Maharaja is a Pure Devotee of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna:-)
All Glory to Sree Guru &
All Glory to Sree Guru & Gauranga!!!
All Glory to Srila Prabhupada!
All Glory to S.Narayana Maharaj!
My dandavats for all Vaishnavas - this is very good News for all.
Thank you.
(First aparadha of Sri Harinam - aparadha for Sri Vaishnavas...)
_akhilanand das (SMM)
_sadananda das (SNM)
_madana gopal das (Sri Chaytanya Saraswat Math)
_vaninath das (SNM)
_vrishabhanu das (SNM)
_nandi mukhi dd (SNM)
_shyamsarovar,radhasarovary (ISCKON)
& more gaudia vaishnavas...
***
SREE CHAYTANYA GAUDIA MATH
YOGAPITH
Kharkiv Ukraine
27.10.2009 y.
Very nice. Let's hope that
Very nice. Let's hope that this is the beginnings of a much better relationship between all concerned.
My dandavat pranams to all the vaisnavas in both missions.
Anantakoti vaisnava vrnda Ki Jai!
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!
Srila Narayana Maharaj Ki Jai!
the insignificant
bvk sraman swami
Hare Krsna! Dear
Hare Krsna!
Dear Vaisnavas,
Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! The foremost acharya and loving servant of the Lord in this age.
You have no idea how much this article warms the heart. Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live together peacefully and certainly Vaisnavas should be able to live in this house together -- peacefully. Our beloved guru showed by his example and through his teachings that we should not only tolerate but honor and love other servants of God whether they be called Christians or Muslims or Jews -- so what to speak of other Vaisnavas. He also wrote in a letter to me that sometimes Vaisnavas disagree but they patch up their disagreements for the sake of Krsna.
Please continue this dialogue. May we show our love for our dear Srila Prabhupada by cooperating with Vaisnavas and servants of God everywhere to spread the message of loving service to God as the only remedy for all of our ills.
Thank you again Anuttama for sharing this story. Many, many devotees around the world will relish it.
With warm regards,
In service of Sri Sri Guru & Gauranga
Srila Prabhupada's daughter,
Krsnanandini devi dasi
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