Aniruddha Prabhu, Costa Rica, July 12 2009:Let’s see what would happen if Guru Prasad Swami, Bhakti Bhusana Swami, Virabahu, and Manonath would enter Srila Prabhupada’s room to consult directly with him. Let’s imagine some possible questions Guru Prasad and company could ask, but let us not imagine any answer from Srila Prabhupada, because we don’t need to imagine his words. We don’t need to speculate about what he would say. We only need to hear with faith what he has already said. We only need hear his direct words, because they are valid for all times. So although the question is a supposition, the answer is his answer.
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, we want to close a project in Costa Rica.
Srila Prabhupada: A center without a Deity can be closed, but a center with a Deity if closed it is a great offense. (Letter Oct 1, 1974)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, we have a great idea. We can steal the Deities in the middle of the night.
Manonath: If the Deities are removed, then there should be no offense.
Srila Prabhupada: No, the large Deities can never be moved, not at all. (Aug 21, 75)
Guru Prasad: We have been in this place for a long time and there have been no positive results at all.
Srila Prabhupada: When our Mexico City branch is open, how can we close it? That building is very nice and we had been there for five years now. I am not at all in favor of closing such a temple. Stay there in that building somehow or other. (May 25, 75)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, I am not talking about the temple in Mexico, I am talking about Costa Rica. And I am not talking about five years; I am talking about my twenty-two years as GBC for this country, and I have to do something because I have difficulties with this temple.
Srila Prabhupada: When you have opened it, it is not good to close it; that will be a discredit for the Society. Try to continue the branch by cooperation. (April 12, 67) Now that you have opened the temple do not think to close it even if there is some difficulty. (Oct 8, 74)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, I did not open it, I just want to close it down.
Srila Prabhupada: To close a temple is a very serious business, as well as opening one. It means that we are calling Krishna to come and reside there. Once Krishna is there, we cannot tell Him to now leave. (Letter to all GBCs, Sep 14, 74)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, the GBC is the ultimate managerial authority.
Virabahu: And the sole ecclesiastical authority of ISKCON by a 2008 GBC resolution.
Bhakti Bhusana: As authority we are supposed to take decisions, we have to.
Manonath: If one day the GBC accepts to be impotent, it’ll be the beginning of the end.
Srila Prabhupada: The primary objective of the GBC is to organize the opening of new Temples and to maintain the established Temples. (DOM Jul 28, 70) Since the temple is started, the temple cannot be closed on any day. (Jun 24, 1968)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, we already sent our lawyers to lock the doors of the temple and to stop the devotees from entering.
Srila Prabhupada: Once a center is opened it may not be closed down. That is very bad. (Jan 1, 71) Our policy should be to open branches as many as possible, but not to close a single one. That would be a degradation. (Jul 8, 69)
Bhakti Bhusana: Before us, another GBC closed the temple in Edinburgh.
Srila Prabhupada: I’m very shocked that he has closed the Edinburgh temple. This is very serious matter. Why has he done this? It is against the principles of devotional service to whimsically close a temple. I have written to him that the temple must be re-opened. (Sep 16, 74)
Manonath: Another GBC also proposed to close down Calcutta for economic reasons.
Srila Prabhupada: The proposal of closing Calcutta center is very inauspicious. Any center we open cannot be closed at any cost. (Nov 13, 76) I am not in favor of closing even a small temple. (Sep 12, 74)
Virabahu: Sometimes we see it necessary to close a temple. I closed Uruguay.
Srila Prabhupada: Closing a temple we cannot do. It becomes a farce and is against the bhakti cult. (Oct 1, 74) No temple can be closed for any reason. You have done a great mistake. (Sep 29, 74) The temple must be re-opened. (Sep 16, 74)
Guru Prasad: We are the appointed officers for ISKCON, and therefore have a specific responsibility.
Srila Prabhupada: Please make it a point that once a center is opened it should not be closed. (Dec 8, 67) Once a center is open it must be maintained. A responsible man for each center must be found out before opening. (Nov 15, 67)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, for opening a temple, yes, we need a responsible person. But to close down a temple we don’t need that. It is easier.
Manonath: Yes, that’s why I have come to help His Holiness.
Virabahu: As the ultimate managerial authority and the sole ecclesiastical authority we have to dictate to others the direction this movement should take.
Bhakti Bhusana: Srila Prabhupada, what else do you want us to do?
Srila Prabhupada: We must always remember that once a center is opened, it cannot be closed at any time. (Jan. 2, 1970)
Guru Prasad: Srila Prabhupada, I have been 22 years the GBC for the Costa Rica Farm, and I have not been able to plant even a lettuce. I have become very exhausted, that’s why I want to sell this farm.
Bhakti Bhusana: I also have been a GBC for 22 years, and for a number of years I have been helping Guru Prasad Swami in Costa Rica, but I have also not planted even a lettuce. Like him I am also very exhausted, therefore I agree with him on selling.
Virabahu: I have been a GBC for 20 years, since 1990 to be exact. I have been the property trustee here, and of course I also have not planted even a lettuce. Like His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami Maharaja and His Holiness Bhakti Bhusana Swami Maharaja, I am also very exhausted. Therefore we all three GBCs and Property Trustees have agreed that this farm should be sold.
Manonath: Your Divine Grace, we have consulted the GBC EC, the RGB, the GBC Chairman, the former Chairman, and other previous Chairmen. We have talked to many senior devotees, and had numerous closed-door meetings in the United States, in Houston. We spent hundreds of dollars and many hours in long distance calls, SKYPE conferences, etc. Your Divine Grace, your three Governing Body Commissioners are very exhausted and in poor health. Therefore they have to sell the farm. What other solution do you have?
Srila Prabhupada: The commissioners will serve for a period of 3 years. (DOM, 1970) Management, everything, should be done locally by local men. Do not centralize anything. Each temple must remain independent and self-sufficient. That was my plan from the very beginning. (Dec 22, 72)
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EPILOGUE:
Guru Prasad Swami and allies are playing with fire. They have been committing offense after offense, but the GBC has chosen to turn a blind eye on their actions. Nevertheless, we, the real Srila Prabhupada’s servants in Costa Rica, the ones who are dutifully implementing his Last Will, the Order of Decentralization, as well as the DOM, are ready to welcome back Nitai-Gourasundar at Their 50-acre most beautiful farm, a green paradise, just a 45-minute drive from the capital city. For us, They are not a “burden”, playthings for political gain, but our beloved Lords Who were abusively taken away from our midst. And just for the sake of paper money.
full article: http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/07-09/editorials4776.htm
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