BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)
Dec 08, 2011 — UK (SUN) —
I am presenting these quotations from HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
They are but a few of the numerous quotations to be found in
Srila Prabhupada Siksamrita, Volume 3, ‘Temple Management – Accounting’.
I remain grateful to Ajamila das and his helpers who put this most invaluable resource together.
I pose this question to the devotee community…
and more specifically the ISKCON management: Does the ISKCON community/public have a right to know how Srila Prabhupada’s money is being used?
Here are Srila Prabhupada’s very own statements…
“On the whole our account should be kept very nicely because we are dealing with the public money”.
SPL to Jayapataka Maharaja, July 28th, 1971
“You can advise to all the branches that such accounts should be kept very nicely so that the public may know that we are very clear in our dealings.”
SPL to Karandhara, Oct 9th, 1971
“My only point is that we are dealing with the public. They are paying us money and we should handle them so carefully so that they may think of us as spotless.”
SPL to Ksirodakasayi, Oct 16th 1971
“Please keep the accounts very correctly so that we may remain always above suspicion.”
SPL to Bhagavan das, 14th Nov 1975
“Yes, the accounts must be kept very clearly. Then everyone will be pleased with us.”
SPL to Vicitravirya das, 10th Dec, 1976
In my recent exchanges with Bhakta Matty,
I have been trying to express the point of financial transparency.
If ISKCON is to be trusted and respected (as expressed by His Divine Grace),
does it not follow that the community/public should expect 100% transparency?
If that transparency is NOT available…
just what are the community/public supposed to think?
Is it NOT then reasonable to ask…
why do you not have 100% financial transparency? Does not 100% financial transparency reassure everyone… we are honest… we may make mistakes along the way… but we are open to community input… we are trying to function as Srila Prabhupada would have us…
we are NOT here to exploit Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON institution… how can we improve?
Of course…
those who have been around ISKCON to personally witness the many financial scandals may see and appreciate the points Srila Prabhupada is making.
In other letters Srila Prabhupada also speaks about “prosecuting” and “stopping the embezzling”.
In a world where financial corruption is rife… even expected…
do we not owe it to Srila Prabhupada
to make His ISKCON “above suspicion”?
How does one go back to Godhead by neglecting or circumventing the order of the Sampradaya-Acharya?
And finally…
until the Bhaktivedanta Manor management become 100% transparent…
I will keep asking the same old questions.
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