Juhu, Mumbai - 2011

Report to theStrategic Planning Team

of the Governing Body Commission

of ISKCON

Village Initiative Committe

e(VIC)

“We have to create self sufficient farmcommunities. We should produce ourgrain and milk; if we do this thenthere is no question of scarcity. Sodevelop these farm communities asmuch as possible. These communitiesshould turn into ideal societies thatare based on natural resources andnot on industry.”

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

Make Ideal Societies

Srila Prabhupada

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

The Mandate

assist

SPT

implement

DaivaVarnasrama

Culture Varnasrama ministries

Communities

promote

supportcomplementenhance

National committees Rural developmentGBC

Community development

Simple living - High thinking

Sankirtana

Deity worship Spiritual initiation

Classless society

4 movements

Essay of Gita Nagari - 1956 - Srila PrabhupadaLetter to Dr. Patel - Deputy Prime Minister -1949

The Challenges

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

ChangeResponsibility Inflection point•Social transition•Decreasing financial power

•Increasing number of “uncared for” devotees

•Repercussions of changing times

•No compromise

•Influence or react

•Aging “founding” generation

•Second and third generation?

Num

be

r

Time

Sankirtana

Temple worship

Initiation ResponsibilityNumber of devotees

ISKCON A Social Reform Movement

“There should be a thorough overhauling of the social system, and society should revert to the Vedic principles, that is, the four

varnas and the four asramas.” S.B. 4.29.54. purport

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

Global Varnasrama Initiatives

Speaking about

Varnasramabook

Centennialyear

papers

SPT - GBC - VIC

EVFHungary

VarnasramaMinistryEurope

VDC Malaysia

1996

1992

GBC Farm Research Committee

National VarnasramaDevelopment Committee

India

2 GBCResolutions

310, 311

1stVarnasrama

College - India

2007

2009

2010

2011

2008

IRGBPositionpaper

VDCGuyana

VarnasramaMinistry

India

Ongoing Seminars, Media Productions, Community Projects

Achievements

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

• The Eight Petals Newsletter - 5,000 subscribers• Global Varnasrama Mission - PAMHO Conference - 1100 members• 3rd Year Varnasrama College at Sri Krsna Balarama Ksetra - South India• 3rd Varnasrama Annual Seminar – Bali – 110 delegates• 3rd International Varnasrama Seminar in Krishna Valley• 4th Varnasrama Annual Seminar – Sri Mayapur Dhama• Pillars of Sustainability Seminar - Hungary - 15 countries attended• Five day Seminar – Malaysia – Varnasrama College - 30 delegates• Chanakya Academy of Leadership Stratagem - IDVM - India• Parasuram Academy of Martial Arts - Kalari Yoga - IDVM - India• Media Production (Books and DVDs) IDVM - India• 3 devotees elected at local village council - 1 Deputy Mayor - Hungary• New National Varnasrama Development Committees in Guyana, Indonesia

630received trainingreaching out to

5000+

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

VIC Members

RadhaKrishna

das

BhaktiRaghavaSwami

GaurGopala

das

Vrindavanlila

devi dasi

Gokuladas

Gaura Krishna

das

YogeshChandra

das

BharatChandra

das

Bhakti DhiraDamodara

Swami

Sambhadas

DhanesvaradasBalabhadra

das

Shalagramdas

Paramatmadas

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

Key Areas

Awareness

Understand - Identify - Execute

Communities

Facilitate - Advise - Support

VarnasramaColleges

Train - Equip - Engage

Devotees

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

S M A R TUnderstan

dIdentify Execute

•Their role in the Varnasrama Mission and the need for the social reform•The opportunities and the tangible results of the new approach of preaching•Key strategic goals and objectives, and the timeline for the key milestones

•Feel optimistic and positive about the Varnasrama Mission, its culture, strategy and future•Identify themselves with the mission’s goals and values•They are part of a united team with a single set of objectives

•Continue to do their services according to their commitments•Take responsibility for their role in the growth and success of the mission•Seek opportunities to advance the execution and support the mission

Organization Education

Dissemination•Survey & database

•Seminars•Outreach•Training

•Forming ministries•National committees•Global Varnasrama Ministry•Forming legal entities

•Newsletters, bulletins•Book publication•Media production•Publicity

Awareness

SecurityStability, certaintycomfort

RewardsBenefits,

recognition

AffiliationTrust, values,

happiness

SelfAdvancement,

fulfillment

Outcome

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

Varnasrama CollegesEngageEquip

Key activities

Curriculum•Research•Publishing

Training•Teacher training•Leadership training•Farming and commerce•Apprenticeships

Establishing

•Varnasrama Colleges•Communities

Train

Spiritual fulfillment

Nurturing relationships

Save the future generation

Fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s vision

Social securityLocal economy

Economic networks

Providing sustainable livelihood

Providing employment

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

Building, Reviving Communities

Developing a culture based on

values and respect

Lifestyle and thinking in

harmony with the ecosystem

Don’t curse darkness, light a candle!

Social securityLocal economyEconomic networksProviding sustainable

livelihoodProviding employment

Spiritual fulfillment

Nurturing relationships

Save the future generationFulfill Srila Prabhupada’s vision

Facilitate

Support

Advise

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

SMART exampleVarnasrama

Colleges• Goal - build a

curriculum• Personnel - Sambha pr,

Bharat Chandra pr• Time - 2 months• Result - achieved

Building Awareness

• Something from EVF

VIC requests the GBC body to encourage leaders around the world to establish national Varnasrama Committees or Ministries.

E

VICVillage Initiative

Committee

VIC Proposals

VIC proposes that during the 2012 GBC meetings the GBC body endorse the position paper already adopted by the Indian RGB/Bureau, with any needed amendments.

In keeping with the resolutions passed by the GBC “310”, “311” VIC proposes that the GBC body encourage the temple management and leaders around the world to make use of the services offered by the VIC and existing Varnasrama Ministries.

VIC requests the GBC body to empower the VIC and the existing Varnasrama Ministries to help set up and standardize Varnasrama Colleges around the world.

Position Paper Services Varnasrama Colleges

VarnasramaCommittees

ndorseE mpowerEncourage

Juhu, Mumbai - 2011

Thank you for your attention!

Village Initiative Committe

e(VIC)

The VIC team