Dear Devotees and dear Friends, please accept my dandavats pranams. I am praying to Srila Gurudeva to always shower his heartly blessings upon all of us. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga and all glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji.
Many devotees from around the world have approached us with the request to help them understand how Srila Gurudeva's mission will continue. I want to provide and share with you whatever my understanding is and what I have heard from Srila Gurudeva directly:
First and foremost Srila Gurudeva has emphasized again and again that all should respect one another, be very humble and always have loving, affectionate relationships. In this way all will be happy and nourished. Moreover, Srila Gurudeva is always with us, through his instructions, his devotees, and within our heart. We should overlook each other's shortcomings and serve combined to spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
He has approved and clearly indicated that we are an International Society and the name is International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society. Srila Gurudeva is the Founder and Acharya of our International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society. Srila Gurudeva did not want an Acharya to be appointed after him. Just as it was the desire of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, Srila Gurudeva's desire is that we serve combined under the shelter of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas.
He has expressed that there will be meetings twice a year, at the time of Sri Gaura Purnima and Kartik festivals. All the senior Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis are invited to participate in these meetings; especially the Sannyasis are requested to be present. Our first meeting will take place just after Sri Gaura Purnima 2011. More details will follow soon.
Srila Gurudeva wants that there will be a Seva Team that offers assistance with activities such as preaching, book publishing, book distribution, and organization of Kartik and Gaura Mandala parikrams.
This Seva Team will consist of a Chairman and assistants. It is the desire of Srila Gurudeva that Sripad Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja will be the first Chairman. In our meeting we will suggest for what period of time a devotee will be functioning as Chairman. For the time being Sripad Madhava Maharaja will be acting Chairman. This will be approved or improved upon when our meeting will be held at Sri Gaura Purnima, in our Sri Kesavjia Gaudiya Math, Haritala, Sri Navadvip Dham.
Next is initiations. Srila Gurudeva desires that all our Sannyasis will be giving Harinama and Diksa. This has been his order since Kartik 2008. Out of respect for Srila Gurudeva and with deference to his incalculable superior advancement, up till now none of our Sannyasis has performed initiations. Now that Srila Gurudeva has left our vision, our Sannyasis will take up this responsibility. How they will approach this will be discussed and approved in our upcoming meetings.
For preaching, it is Srila Gurudeva's desire that each preacher dedicates him or her self to one area as a base, develops this, and from there preaches in other parts of the world. All this is to be discussed at our upcoming meetings.
I want to clarify that all the Maths and other properties that are facilitating preaching activities in our worldwide Society are registered and safeguarded in local legal entities. There is not one property or Math in India or abroad which is owned by, or registered in the name of one person. The same is true for bank accounts that are used for Srila Gurudeva's mission. Not one account is in the name of one single person. It is Srila Gurudeva's desire that there will be proper and open accounts presented once in a calendar year; this pertains to the legal entities as well as to the sannyasis and other preachers.
In regard to Srila Gurudeva's Samadhi Mandir, this will be dedicated to Srila Gurudeva only. We will make separate arrangements in our Natha Mandir for proper glorification of Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Vaman Gosvami Maharaja and Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikram Gosvami Maharaja. Srila Gurudeva's Samadhi Mandir will be 40 feet wide and 65 feet long. There will be one section on the ground floor where the actual Samadhi is situated, and the first floor will consist of the Samadhi Mandir with Srila Gurudeva's murti form. Devotees are herewith invited to offer designs – kindly forward to brajanath@gmail.com. At the time of Sri Gaura Mahotsava the best design will be selected.
In our upcoming meeting all the above matters will be discussed and favorable proposals will be voted upon. All proposals will be collected and circulated 2 weeks before we have our meeting so as to have an agenda in place which will facilitate a smooth system of decision making.
Thank you for your kind attention.
More news will follow.
aspirant for the service of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas
Brajanath das
