Early days After ISKCON's incorporation in July 1966 at 26 Second Avenue, Satsvarupa dasa was engaged as A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's personal typist and ISKCON secretary for the first year. He was one of the few devotees who maintained outside jobs to support the ISKCON temple at the beginning. Later he managed ISKCON Boston, and ISKCON Press which was later registered as
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. After assuming duties of a GBC (Governing Body Commissioner) in 1970, Satsvarupa was asked by Bhaktivedanta Swami to accept the order of
sannyasa in 1972. He accepted sannyasa along with other GBC members, all of whom were originally married men, such as
Tamala Krishna Goswami and
Hridayananda das Goswami. At the time A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami awarded him and other followers the title "
Goswami" with the single line instruction: "Preach, preach, preach!" He has been listed among active promoters of
ahimsa and vegetarianism among other Eastern religious teachers. ceremony in 1979
Preaching and traveling Main preaching activities by the means of traveling
sankirtana parties were centered in United States. BBT (
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) Library Party headed by him in the mid-1970s was active in establishing distribution network mainly to the Universities of the United States, with some members of the team such as
Bhakti Tirtha Swami and Suhotra Dasa traveling as far as Eastern Europe. In 1974, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami was requested by Bhaktivedanta Swami to join him as traveling GBC servant, replacing previous servant Srutakirti Dasa and travelled as a menial servant around the globe.
Managing BTG From the early days of ISKCON, the
Back to Godhead was project required a lot of both contribution and supervision. Satsvarupa dasa Goswami was editor in chief and one of the main contributors to this magazine till 1991, when assisted editor
Jayadvaita Swami took over as the editor in chief.
Dealing with early "zonal acarya" days In accordance with
ISKCON GBC Governing Body Commission resolutions March 1978 Satsvarupa dasa Goswami along with other eleven Governing Body Commissioners assumed duties and services of initiating disciples in assigned zones after the death of
Bhaktivedanta Swami. Initial preaching areas in the United States and Caribbean were expanded with an addition of Ireland in 1982 where he became a zonal acharya. The assumption of equal status to Bhaktivedanta Swami and the title of "Guru-
Acarya" are still surrounded in a controversy. While following the direction of Governing Body Commission, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami was one of the pioneers who attempted to reform the system, by assuming more humble and appropriate role of a guru as per recorded instructions of the "Founder-
Acarya."
Later years In years 1978–1985 he took part in a controversial zonal acarya system in a position of an
Acharya while initiating reform of a high standard of worship. In 1986–1987 a number of senior members and newly appointed GBC members with the support of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami reformed ISKCON guru system, lowering unprecedented level of worship reserved to initiating gurus in ISKCON. He was called as the "most vocal in the cause of reform" in ISKCON. Satsvarupa dasa Goswami recorded this period in his book
Guru Reform Notebook (1987). Throughout the years that followed, up until the end of the century, new ISKCON guru system was further developed. In 1999 Governing Body Commission confirmed GBC Emeritus status of his membership of the Governing Body of ISKCON. , summer 2009 His extensive traveling in Europe in 1990s included areas of Scandinavia, Eastern, Central Europe and Italy, but mainly centered in preaching in Ireland and UK. In following years, his devotional life has included the creation of hundreds of paintings, drawings, and sculptures that capture and express the artist's vision of
Krishna consciousness. His latest literary work is centered on his commentary on
Bhagavata Purana known as
A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam. With the GBC consultation, he retained his
Goswami title and continued in the
sannyasa order and as an ISKCON guru. Following a period of health recovery, at the age of 68, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami took residence in the East Coast United States where he is engaging in a number of preaching activities, such as regular lecturing and traveling to the holy . All of the associated preaching and traveling is complementing his main service of commenting and answering disciples' questions on the Bhaktivedanta Purports being published as the volumes of
A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam and daily online journal. ==Select bibliography==