770129 - Letter to Ramesvara from Satsvarupa

January 29, 1977

Nayapalli, Bhubaneswara

From: Satsvarupa

Dear Rameswara Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I spoke to Srila Prabhupada today about a suggestion Jayatirtha had for the upcoming annual GBC meeting. I explained that last year the presidents were dissatisfied with the GBC resolutions and there was a great uproar and a kind of vigilante meeting of temple presidents. No sooner did I have the idea out when Srila Prabhupada informed me of the procedure we should use this year.

The GBC members will meet and vote on their proposals. After they have passed decision, it will go immediately to the presidents committee. The presidents may agree, reject or amend—and then the proposal, with disagreement stated or fully agreed, goes to His Divine Grace for final decision. In this way the presidents will have a say in matters. Srila Prabhupada said this was superior then their simply be handed down the dictums from the GBC. I am sending this right away to you in hopes you can disseminate it. If nothing else, at least it could be disseminated on the airplane over, and the presidents could consider their organization and schedule a meeting. I myself do not exactly remember the schedule but I heard you say it was that the GBC meeting begins 10 days after arrival in Mayapur. Sounds rather late to me. Also, is there a GBC secretary for March?

I also spoke to Srila Prabhupada about exams. He said this year there will be bhakti shastri test open to anyone who attends the festival. Only next year will the more advanced bhakti baibhava test be held. Bhakti sastra is mostly the Gita, also NOD and NOI.

Hope you are well.

Your servant, Satsvarupa das Goswami