May 28 2009, Sedona, Arizona, USA: “If you can get some positive action you will encourage thousands of devotees who don’t want to fight or just have given up hope. Good for you and your right. HDG is pleased with your efforts”.
This was written by a North American ISKCON Temple President, encouraging me in my fight against the recent NA GBC corruption played out in the Phoenix temple. I have no business fighting with godbrothers. I do stay pretty busy preaching and trying to expand the Krishna consciousness Movement in my own little area here in Arizona.
Srila Prabhupada did want a GBC who makes the ultimate managerial decisions in our movement. But, it is clear, self-evident, and understood by all, that he didn’t want them to use diverse techniques of intrigue and deceit that would undermine his pure preaching mission and the faith of the prabhus in following or participating in the formal ISKCON organization. That is a crime that should not be committed, and if so, compensated for and corrected. That’s all we were asking for in our communication with the GBC.
There was little hope on my part, as I repeatedly received uninterested statements in emails back from the GBCs I wrote, in which I requested a neutral investigation of the wrongful overthrowing of the GBC and temple management in Phoenix, supplying them clear evidence to the fact that corruption was indeed used by NA GBC members, with good temple devotees resigning from the temple board of directors as fallout from the NA GBCs actions. I stated that this reflects ill on the other NA GBC members who may have had nothing to do with it, and that it also reflects badly on the international GBC body. I thought that these were viable arguments to warrant some divine intervention. I wasn’t exactly naive as to what to expect from the GBC. I was hopeful that some members of the GBC would have some feelings and vision for the ramifications if this mistake in Phoenix was not corrected. I was obviously wrong.
The local NA GBCs who were involved in the Phoenix mess consistently avoided the claim and evidence that their tactics were not “above board” and honest. They would not even address the charges and exhibitions, but rather would attack me personally for my flawed past, in hopes to divert the blame and circumvent the case of the “missing cookies”. They also sometimes used another familiar tactic – “ignore them”.
They were slightly opposed in the recent GBC/Temple President’s meeting in New Vrindavan by Hridayananda Maharaj. He even brought up the point there, with paper and signature proof, that the person now managing the Phoenix temple part time on behalf of the new imposed GBC Hari Vilas, had only a few years back illegally removed temple board of director names from State filed legal documents, scratching off even the Temple President, and replacing them all with a lot of outside persons, the numbers of which could imbalance the decision vote in temple matters. Very dangerous indeed! The information brought up was of no consequence to their decision or admission for an investigation of the GBC’s wrongful maneuvering.
The retort we heard that was made in New Vrindavan by the new NA GBC Chairman, Tamohara das, in lieu of evidence and protest presented, was that there had simply been a “lapse of communication”. Clearly so, but the implications and green light given to such persons as themselves, the NA GBC, to be able to use sanctioned and corrupt techniques to achieve their addendum, threatens even more the safeguard of our Spiritual Master’s Movement.
No, we are not attacking persons, devotees or even godbrothers that have been accepted by their own, to act as official representatives of Srila Prabhupada’s GBC. We are attacking corruption and the watering down of the purity of ISKCON leadership, in allowing such events to go on unchecked. As I pointed out to one of the international GBC Executive Committee Vice Chairman, “Devotees are not so stupid that they will support corruption and those who promote and protect it”. I never heard from him again.
At first I was introduced to “stonewalling”, in my attempts to bring some attention and correction to the unfortunate events that descended on the Phoenix temple. Finally, I have run into the “proverbial block wall”. The fight doesn’t have to be over however, if some good members on the GBC and related committees will stand up for the integrity of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Otherwise, lots will be lost, now and in the future.
The following are some excerpts I received from various GBCs, involved by me in our communication regarding the Phoenix temple matter:
At this point, the North American GBC feel that Hari Vilasa is competent to handle the management situation in Phoenix, and he has our support. I have spoken with Hridayananda Maharaja, and while he may have some questions about the process, he wants this dealt with as an internal matter, and not through public forums. He will be meeting with the North American GBC in May at the NA leaders meeting, and we will thoroughly discuss the issue. (by Tamohar das; April 23rd)
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Yes we received your complaint, and we are working on it. (by Madhusevita das, Vice Chairman GBC Executive Committee; May 1st)
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I am not directly involved in the Arizona situation. We all have multiple responsibilities and this is not one of mine. So, my unofficial response as your friend, would be that it may be best for you to go back to square one, and see what shortcomings may have come from your side. (by Anuttama das, May 6th)
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There is a need to start this investigation as soon as possible and we think that ISKCON Resolve can help greatly in this investigation and based on their reports we will than act accordingly. (by vice chairman GBC executive committee, Hrdaya Caitanya das; May 10th)
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Just a note to say “thank you” for sending me this information. All I can say is “Man, I am so glad that I’m not involved in this stuff.” It makes my stomach turn to read about these kind of exchanges between Godbrothers. It’s sure not the stuff you read about in Caitanya caritamrta in the exchanges between devotees. (by ex-GBC and sympathizer; May 11th)
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Thanks for your call. I am going to the NA GBC meeting later this week and as far as I know, they have scheduled a discussion on the procedure by which the Phoenix GBC was changed. I plan on presenting relevant information at that time. (by Hridayananda Maharaj, deposed Phoenix GBC; May 11th)
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Wow Prabhu, I am sorry to hear what has happened. North America has always been a problem from a GBC point of view, and the current leaders are the 2nd string of the old guard so the disease doesn’t seem to go away, and thus the problems continue with no one in the temples and very little expansion since the 70’s.
The franchise of the Holy name has been stymied by poor GBC leadership. I have heard Hari Vilasa has been a problem for over 25 years with many people. (by a sympathizer and North American Temple President; May 11th; different from the TP quoted at the onset of this article)
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Thank you very much for sending the relevant documents. At the meeting, I will definitely pursue the issue of procedural irregularities. Thanks! With best wishes, Hridayananda das Goswami
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Yes, I did read your impassioned plea regarding the Phoenix center. I definitely sympathize with you. I know Hari Vilas from years past…. The administration sacrifices their standards to get financial support. So much for “na dhanam na janam na sundarim…” Yoga-nastha! Keep me informed how you are doing, and know that you have performed your duty to Srila Prabhupad, and now must leave the result to Krishna. (by senior ISKCON sannyasi; May13th)
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On my part, I am very sad about your inability and unwillingness to get along with your god brothers and others who have tried working with you over the years. (by Malati dasi; May 21st, to which I replied, “believe me I am trying pretty hard”)
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> Nice to hear from you also Prabhu. Of course I say it is “less” of an
> issue but still some kind of issue. It would seem that the devotees in the
> zone and temple should be offered an explaination as to why their GBC man
> in good standing was removed unceremoniously without his knowing it and
> without their being informed or consulted about the change.
Dear Trivikrama Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. A process of enquiry is being set up with the consent of Hrdayananda Maharaja.
Hoping this meets you in best health, I remain
Your servant,
Madhusevita das (written May 26th)
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Dear Dasaratha Prabhu, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. On behalf of the GBC EC I am sending you the following information.
We have received your letter, dated 24 April, 2009, and have noted the contents.
As per standard policy, we have asked the current GBC for Phoenix, Hari Vilas Prabhu, to investigate your point #8 (#8 of the Formal Complaint written by Dasarath to the Executive Committee of the GBC: Whereas under the knowledge and supervision of the newly appointed Phoenix temple GBC, Hari Vilas, persons who are title to liquor lounge and beef restaurants, are being allowed to manage an Iskcon temple, namely the Phoenix Iskcon temple, having at their disposal and discretion, all managing authority and check signing capacity, a separate investigation should commence into the matter as to why a GBC representative is allowing for this plain and flagrant breaking of Iskcon management principles, in regards to the qualifications of an Iskcon board of director’s member), wherein you have requested a separate investigation. This is the policy followed in all such cases. An independent Justice System is a work in progress and for now we keep this policy.
We hope that you can address any further concerns to Hari Vilas Prabhu. If that is not satisfactory issues can be taken to the NA GBC EC. If they cannot help you then the GBC EC can be approached.
Thank you for your concern for the welfare of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON society.
Your servants,
Madhu Sevita das
Hrdaya Caitanya das Kavicandra Swami
krsne matir astu (written May 24th)
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Author’s comment: What happened to addressing the other eight points of complaint that targeted the corruption used by the NA GBC in Phoenix? And so it goes. Life goes on. The North American GBC goes uncorrected and the imposed GBC in Phoenix is deputed to carry on some investigation of a matter he was originally party and privy to. Does this make any sense?
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My final and unanswered email to the GBC Executive Committee on May 26th:
Dear Madhu Sevita prabhu,
Please accept my obeisances at your feet.
Yes, HDG relented to their behavior. And as many devotees predicted, it looks like the GBC will go ahead and condone and support the devious way in which the GBC was changed in Phoenix. Even you have been careful all this time during our correspondence to avoid the discussion of the proper protocol not followed by the NA GBC in Phoenix. And that devious way the NA GBC members carried on in “changing up” Hridayananda Maharaj and the other good devotees in Phoenix, who have since resigned from temple management, is a fact. It is undeniable by all the evidence, and neither have the perpetrators denied it.
It is very uninspiring for the integrity of the GBC that you and others will overlook the manner is which all this was carried out, setting up a very bad precedent and green light for corruption in the future. But that seems to be part of the legacy of the present GBC. I do say, just partial. Until there is a checks and balance system in place whereby the Movement will just not tolerate or allow such behavior, especially from the GBC, no one is surprised by what the office of the GBC endorses these days. Most devotees believe we are deprecating Srila Prabhupada’s pure name by leaning towards any corruption, although perhaps viewed by some engaging members of the GBC as slight or meaningless.
Thank you for at least considering our plea. I am sorry if this was any botheration to you. Despite a few errors I have made in my spiritual life in the past, for the most part I have always remained very enthusiastic in being Krishna conscious and preaching, despite what Malati and a few of her colleagues may paint me up to be. Be that as it may, I accept that stigma as my punishment for my foolishness.
We will always canvas for a pure and accountable GBC leading the Movement that belongs to Srila Prabhupada. Personally I cannot accept a person who has been installed by corrupt means as GBC anywhere, nor have much faith in the persons who engineered such nonsense. I hope you can forgive me for that. Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Dasarath das
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