The 2013 GBC Resolutions have now been published on the GBC website and Dandavats at the below links:

http://gbc.iskcon.org/gbc_res/GBCRES13.html

http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/GBCresolutions/GBCRES13.html

Please visit either of these links to view the Resolutions, Zonal Assignments, Harmonizing ISKCON's Lines of Authorities paper, and updated Child Protection Policy Manual.

GBC Corresponding Secretary

I was stopped by a police man while distributing books in Daley Plaza in Chicago. He said "What's in the bag?" My heart rate went up and I thought I was going to be harassed and told to move on. Then this big burly cop asked "Got any of those sweets?"

Turns out he had received some prasadam sweet at the Chicago Ratha yatra and had never forgotten the taste. I did have some excellent mangal aroti burfy in my lunch bag. I gave it to the cop who immediately popped it into his mouth. He smiled, shook my hand, and walked off saying "Don't be caught out here without some of those sweets".

During the fall, one rainy morning I find myself distributing books in Kansas City at the corner of Troost and 63rd, perhaps a mile from the temple. This part of town is a little shaky, to put it lightly. There are chicken bones strewn everywhere, and creepy looking hobos constantly give me bad looks.

I approach a young African American gentleman smoking a cigarette outside the local gas station and strike up a conversation (he later buys a soft-bound Bhagavad-Gita). The manager of this particular gas station has a real antagonism towards me because I distribute here about three times a week to all the locals who come to buy their blunts and alcohol. So she frequently threatens to call the police.

Please find herewith a link to download the latest pdf newsletter from the BRC. It gives a glimpse into the exciting developments from August 2012 - March 2013 including the discovery of

* 20 post cards sent to Srila Prabhupada from 1949-1950
* 50 pages of letters and articles handwritten by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
* a library in Bangladesh with 60,000 books and 9,000 manuscripts
* scanning of 40,000 pages of Nadia Prakash
and much more...

Simply paste this link into your browser and hit enter (make sure there are no spaces in the command line):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29683641/BRC%20Newsletter%20%237%20A...

Bhaktivedanta Research Centre - BRC

110A Motilal Nehru Rd.

Kolkata 700029

WB India

HH Radha Govind Maharaj mentions this incident on his flight from Kenya to India his flight had a transit via Kuwait. Due to some delay he had to wait for 4-5 hrs at Kuwait. While chanting Hare Krishna in the airport lounge, 1 airport official watching the Indian swami became intrigued and called himover to speak.

At first Maharaj was feeling somewhat reluctant to go as he was in a country which may not appreciate his path. Gathering courage with faith in his Lord, Maharaj went to meet the man.

Srila Prabhupada: ...you are part and parcel of Krsna; that is our original state. Now by contact with this material nature we have forgotten. Just like I come from India. Suppose I remain here for many years, so I may forget about my home. But it is a fact that I was Indian, my home was India; therefore I am called Indian. I may forget. Similarly, actually we were with Krsna, but we do not know when we have left our home, or that Krsna, and come to this material contact; that is another thing. But it is a fact that we were with Krsna. Because we have got little independence. Just like a very rich man's son, sometimes gives up home life, his father and mother, he loiters in the street -- that is his choice.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Text 37 says:

O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination and fight. 

The historic gathering of GBC’s, Gurus, and Sannyasis (SGGS) recently concluded in Mayapur. The daily reports, photos, and videos are available on the GBC website:

http://gbc.iskcon.org/

The AGM from the GBC meeting is also available.

Please find the same on the ISKCON GBC Facebook site:

https://facebook.com/IskconGbc

Prabhupada celebrated the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in Gorakhpur. At the morning gathering he said, "We should honor this day and very respectfully pray to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami that "We are engaged in your service, so give us strength. Give us intelligence. We are being guided by your servant.' So in this way we have to pray. And I think in the evening we shall distribute prasadam. There will be so many guests coming, so they can be distributed prasadam."

Prabhupada said life members and other friends should be invited for the flower offering at noon. One of the devotees asked about the feast.

Prabhupada: "Feasting means puri and halava and a vegetable and chutney. That's all--four things. Make it simple."

News from Kumbha Mela: The devotees distributed 150,000 Bhagavad Gitas! On one of those days they distributed 11,000. The higher liberation for the people that attended the Mela and got a gita will be that they read and put in practice the teachings of Lord Sri Krsna.