InternaEonal Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. BhakEvedanta Swami Prabhupada Change your Life ISKCON Connect KZN Make a Difference Feel Inspired /iskconza @iskconza Stay Connected www.iskconza.com info@iskconza.com
ISKCON Connect KZN MeeEng Report The end of August brought with it the inaugural ISKCON Connect Programme, which was held at the Sri Sri Radha Radhanatha Temple in Kwazulu- Natal. Over 180 devotees from throughout KZN avended the event. ISKCON Connect is an inieaeve led by ISKCON South Africa s NaEonal Council (SANC) to ensure ongoing engagement and dialogue with devotees across South Africa. It was an opportunity for all the devotees in KZN to come together and focus on increasing and improving our service to Srila Prabhupada, and each other. The theme emphasized throughout was loving co- operaeon with quotes from Srila Prabhupada on this mater serving as constant reminders and a compass for our service endeavors. Key avendees at the programme included the co- naeonal secretariats, the SANC general secretary and leaders from the respeceve projects in KZN. The programme began with Guru- Puja to our beloved Srila Prabhupada. His Grace (HG) Govardhana Prabhu then kicked off proceedings with a whirlwind tour of ISKCON s aceviees around the globe and the many landmark preaching programme s, temples, and successes and then brought it closer to home showcasing ISKCON in Nigeria, Ghana and finally South Africa where ISKCON s footprint is rapidly increasing with new centers in Sandton, Midrand, Stellenbosch and Umtata.
ISKCON Connect KZN MeeEng Report HG Swarup Damodar Prabhu followed preseneng the role and mandate of the SANC and refleceng how the SANC is an extension of the appointed governing body commissioners and exist to performs certain managerial funceons on behalf of the GBC co- Zonal Secretaries to conduct of the affairs of the ISKCON society within the region of South Africa. He then introduced the respeceve departments and bodies that exist in the SANC. HG Haridev Prabhu then presented on each of the SANC focus areas elaboraeng on the progress made, areas where we are falling short and ended with a plea for devotees to come forward and get involved so our colleceve service offering can be increased. HG Govardhana Prabhu then introduced Raghunath BhaVa Prabhu as the new regional secretary for ISKCON KZN. He emphasized the importance of this role in unifying our endeavors in KZN. Raghunath BhaVa Prabhu then shared his inspiring vision for ISKCON in KZN and the various sub- commivees that are being insetuted to support the preaching mission and how these aligned to the focus areas for ISKCON in South Africa. He made very important points in relaeon to purity being the force and that our regular chaneng of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra accompanied by reading on Srimad Bhagavatam would give us the spiritual strength we need to change our hearts and impact the hearts of others.
ISKCON Connect KZN MeeEng Report Vibhu Caitanya Prabhu then led the devotees in loud chaneng of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra with upraised arms in the manner made famous by HH Partha Sarathi das Goswami.
ISKCON Connect KZN MeeEng Report The programme then moved to the Connect segment where there was frank and open dialogue around issues close to devotee s hearts and the expectaeons of management accountability and transparency, and the steps ISKCON needs to take to play the leading role envisaged. Devotees had submived queseons in advance and there was opportunity for live and wriven queseons. Some of the main themes raised were in relaeon to devotee care, financial transparency, expansion of faciliees, ensuring managerial structures are suitably representaeve and broader opportuniees for service engagement and enhancement. Many devotees raised that meaningfully addressing these points requires involvement and leadership from all devotees and not just the managers. A short anonymous survey followed focusing on inspiraeon are we inspired, what inspires us and our frustraeons that hinder inspiraeon? Devotees then collecevely read Markhine Bhagavat Dharma, Srila Prabhupada s prayer on board the Jaladuta steamship as he was arriving in America acer suffering two heart avacks and praying to be an instrument of Lord Krishna s grace as he embarked on his mission to give Krishna Consciousness to the world. Devotees then all offered their obeisances to each other and the programme ended with a resounding kirtan and a wonderful feast.
ISKCON Connect KZN Real Unity Since the sons of King Pracinabarhisat were all united in Krishna consciousness, the Lord was very pleased with them. Each and every one of the sons of King Pracinabarhisat was an individual soul, but they were united in offering transcendental service to the Lord. The unity of the individual souls a2emp5ng to sa5sfy the Supreme Lord or rendering service to the Lord is real unity. In the material world such unity is not possible. Even though people may officially unite, they all have different interests. In the United NaEons, for instance, all the naeons have their parecular naeonal ambieons, and consequently they cannot be united. Disunity between individual souls is so strong within this material world that even in a society of Krishna consciousness, members someemes appear disunited due to their having different opinions and leaning toward material things. Actually, in Krishna consciousness there cannot be two opinions. There is only one goal: to serve Krishna to one's best ability. If there is some disagreement over service, such disagreement is to be taken as spiritual. Those who are actually engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be disunited in any circumstance. This makes the Supreme Personality of Godhead very happy and willing to award all kinds of benedic5on to His devotees, as indicated in this verse. We can see that the Lord is immediately prepared to award all benediceons to the sons of King Pracinabarhisat. SB 4.30.8 (Ac,vi,es of the Pracetas) Purport
ISKCON Connect KZN Outcomes SANC AcEon Items Assist KZN Team in ensuring follow through of respeceve regional aceon items FinalizaEon of guidelines and approvals on capital expenditure FinalizaEon of travel policy guidelines for temples FinalizaEon of list of SA based local preachers to further promote KZN AcEon Items for Regional Secretary and Temple Leaders Ensure ongoing engagement with all devotees to further develop a deep spirit of community and shared responsibility for the preaching aceviees in KZN Engagement of 40+ volunteers in respeceve regional sub commivees and aceviees Review and incorporaeon (as far as possible) of suggeseons made Address survey and meeeng outcomes All Devotees Stay inspired and increase inspiraeon for ourselves and others Create a culture of shared pride in ISKCON
ISKCON Connect KZN Outcomes * Based on a sample of 70 respondents
ISKCON Connect KZN SANC Focus Book DistribuEon African Preaching Includes Twinning IniEaEve where large temples are paired with townships Governance & Compliance Devotee Care Food For Life Outreach preaching Includes University Preaching
ISKCON Connect KZN SANC Members