What is the yearly revenue for the BBTI? According to the IRS, in 2016 (the last year posted), the BBTI had a total revenue of $838,859. The World Sankirtan Newsletter reports that there were over 8 million books sold that year. According to the Newsletter, a large book of 300-500 pages is equal to one book point and the total book points for 2016 was 8,146,115. What is the price that temples are charged for a large book from the BBTI? Their price list has a variety of prices, but seem to show average price of about $2.50
A little basic arithmetic shows that the income for all of Srila Prabhupada’s books for 2016 should have been well over $20 million! 8,146,115 x $2.50 = $20,365,287.50. Srila Prabhupada’s instructions about how the proceeds from his copyrights are that half the income goes to printing more books and half goes to a Building Fund to build temples or maintain existing temples. Of course some of the money from these 8+ million books would come from foreign BBTs, but the contribution to the Building fund, whether from foreign or the BBTI should be half of the $20,000,000, if Srila Prabhupada’s instructions are being followed.
This is not a philosophical or emotional issue: it is mathematics. As beneficiaries of Srila Prabhupada’s Book Trust, we have the right and the duty to insist that the BBT Trustees become transparent about where our spiritual master’s money is going. There should be $10 million/year for building temples. While hopefully some of the money is going to the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, even if every penny that was spent on the TOPV in 2016 came from the BBT, there is still $6 million unaccounted for.
What can be done? The first thing we need to do is to spread this information. There is a psychological phenomenon called “learned helplessness”. Let’s not fall victim to learned helplessness and do something about this huge injustice! Another odd psychological phenomenon is that some people refuse to believe anything that goes against a previous belief. So if someone believes that the BBT Trustees are sincere, even with solid evidence in front of their eyes, the phenomenon called cognitive dissonance will not let them see it.
The people in control of this money are the same people in control of the policies that have resulted in our children being horribly abused. Their policy in the past has been to simply ignore any complaints and continue as usual. We should not tolerate this.
I have some ideas. Please e-mail me for more information: anuttamadd@gmail.com or call: 360-496-0058
http://990finder.foundationcenter.org/990results.aspx?990_type=&fn=bhaktivedanta&st=&zp=&ei=&fy=&action=Search
http://www.wsnl.net/hist/wsnwrec.htm#pageWorld
http://audiokrishna.com/news/BBT_Mass_Distribution_List.pdf
https://tovp.org/donate/financial-report-2016
My name is Anuttama and I was initiated in 1977. My husband and I have a simple living, high thinking project in Washington State:
https://newnandagramcowprotection.wordpress.com/
https://patreon.com/simplelivinghighthinking
What difference would it make to the suffering masses of the world if the Prabhupadanugas received access to all of Srila Prabhupada’s first printing books?
What difference would it make to the world of the Prabhupadanugas received a great deal of money from the BBT after they found out that the BBT had allegedly hidden vast sums in their private coffers?
The Prabhupadanugas have all the first printing books that they need to save the planet. The Prabhupadanugas have all the money they need to help Srila Prabhupada save the planet.
First answer the first two questions in depth to the point of creating a thesis. Then real answers to the real problems facing humankind may proceed. One must first understand that one is lost before one can understand how to free oneself from that lost condition. We are looking outside for solutions that already exist right there is the very books we are demanding and already have!!
That we need to demand anything of the BBT and the GBC is an excuse to blame our lack of progress on their interference while we interfere with our own progress by not understanding how lost we are. Seek out Srila Prabhupada’s solutions to the problems we and the world have not the BGC and the BBT.!
Ys Hasti Gopala dasa
History has clearly shown that these miscreants will only react with indifference and arrogance to any demands made by Prabhupadanugas and although we are in no way dependent on these rascals for anything, our voice for them to adhere to Srila Prabhupada’s order is necessary for the benefit of others and to expose their mendacity and hypocrisy. So in this endeavor Annuttama Mataji’s sincere efforts in this regard are well founded as she is carrying the banner on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and this is appreciated by Prabhupadanugas.
Self realization is NOT a collective process (by definition) so it my look as though ‘collectively’ we are lacking somewhat in strength and purpose. It may not be possible to ‘save the world’ as all indications are that it is rapidly declining, but by adhering (and broadcasting) to Srila Prabhupada’s message we can save ourselves and open the door for others also by Srila Prabhupada’s pure mercy.
Exposing the mendacity and hypocrisy of these miscreants is a very noble service no doubt. A great time waster at this point in our history and not a service meant for everyone but the experts in our movement. It is far easier to go on and on about the bad guys in our religion exposing their warts than it is to address the daily crimes and miseries suffered by those Srila Prabhupada is still directing us to save while creating practical solutions based on our understandings from his books. In a series of Bhagavad Gita classes from February 1969 in LA Srila Prabhupad emphasized ( paraphrase mine ) ” We want to re spiritualize the world’s economic position, scientific and political position, educational position, actually that is not possible but the idea is like that”
This service that Annuttama prabhu is doing is laudable. It should go hand in hand with the creation of a community of devotee pundits to simultaneously present practical solutions to the worlds ills created by the actions of the BBT and others. Not just go after the money which is a one track partial solution if any solution at all. What pray tell is the money to be used for? Let us all know the plan now. How long are we to wait? Who will control the funds once they are acquired? Will those paying for the court case get their funds returned? All over the world there is a great deal of mistrust right now. TRUST is the key. Well we can save a lot of mistrust by simply going to Srila Prabhupada’s books for the solutions to the worlds ills for free, agree on plans and then go out collectively or individually and get the job done. Share your notions and ideas spreading your own brand of enthusiasm. Who wants to go first to present a solution from Srila Prabhupada’s books.? Books only.
The world needs Prabhupdanugas leaders to step up with a multi pronged approach now. If the money comes in then it is a bonus. To wait for money to be the solution is not the solution but a distraction. Leading means to get everyone involved with sankirtan, prasadam distribution, book distribution and on line sastric classes for new comers. Save others while you are saving yourselves. Saving ourselves first has become a fashionable excuse to stay home. Like we used to say as bhaktas in the temple when ordered by the temple Commander to get our service done..”I have rounds”
More in Part 2.
Hasti Gopala dasa
Part Two. Article by Hasti Gopala dasa
That Lost Divine Nature
What is the use of continuing to spend valuable time exposing the theft of the movement from Srila Prabhupada along with the various actors as well as the continued exposing of the book changes if we are not going to give the world the chances they deserve to associate with Srila Prabhupada, his devotees and understand his books? After all isn’t that the sole reason why we are fighting to get the original first printing books out?
We are supposed to be the teachers are we not? We all claim to be first class examples of Vaisnavas yet we do not utilize in practical ways for the world the knowledge the books contain. The very books we say we are trying to protect in order to solve the worlds problems. Perhaps we do not really value or fully understand what Srila Prabhupada has presented to us over the years. If we did and we cared then we would be acting in a much more generous manner toward everyone. You know, like Vaisnavas, right? Where are all of our Prabhupadanugas practical thinkers and teachers? I do not mean just repeaters but those thinking and writing for others what they have understood so far in their lives. If we can manage wonderful web sites then we can set the example of teaching to those in need in a personal manner. There are far more bogus gurus and so called teachers in ISKCON than there are of us and still we cannot talk to each other to set up world wide programmes.
The Internet’s availability for open and free speech is under very serious attack right now from some of the demonic cousins of ISKCON. If we do not open up our services and understandings of what vast knowledge Srila Prabhupada has given us and do it now then we should not be surprised if one morning it is no longer available. Of course would that really make any difference at this point to most if not all of us? As it is we are not reaching out to others the way Srila Prabhupada ordered us to do. Our lack of enthusiasm for teaching from the books, sankirtan, prasadam distribution and one on one book distribution on the whole is certainly not up to the original standards set up by Srila Prabhupada. All web sites should be far more user friendly for those we say we care about. They should be staffed 24/7 to answer any inquiries and questions within a 24 hour period no matter who it is.
The spiritual world is infinitely expanding. We are supposed to be engaged in the same aim and services as the spiritual world. Yet we have corralled ourselves by being seriously distracted with concerns that are no longer necessary. Those of us who feel they cannot lead as well as others should understand what leadership is by Srila Prabhupada’s example. Then support those who are qualified to lead and lead now before it is too late.
Ys Hasti Gopala dasa aka Charles Dowson
Bhagavad Gita As It Is 1972 Edition by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures
TEXT 24
tasmac chastram pramanam te
karyakarya-vyavasthitau
jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam
karma kartum iharhasi
SYNONYMS
tasmat—therefore; sastram—scriptures; pramanam—evidence; te—your; karya—duty; akarya—forbidden activities; vyavasthitau—in determining; jnatva—knowing; sastra—of scripture; vidhana—regulations; uktam—as declared; karma—work; kartum—to do; iha arhasi—you should do it.
TRANSLATION
One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.
PURPORT
As stated in the Fifteenth Chapter, all the rules and regulations of the Vedas are meant for knowing Krsna. If one understands Krsna from the Bhagavad-gita and becomes situated in Krsna consciousness, engaging himself in devotional service, he has reached the highest perfection of knowledge offered by the Vedic literature. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu made this process very easy: He asked people simply to chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and to engage in the devotional service of the Lord and eat the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Deity.
One who is directly engaged in all these devotional activities is to be understood as having studied all Vedic literature. He has come to the conclusion perfectly. Of course, for the ordinary persons who are not in Krsna consciousness or who are not engaged in devotional service, what is to be done and what is not to be done must be decided by the injunctions of the Vedas. One should act accordingly, without argument. That is called following the principles of sastra, or scripture. Sastra is without the four principal defects that are visible in the conditioned soul: imperfect senses, the propensity for cheating, certainty of committing mistakes, and certainty of being illusioned. These four principal defects in conditioned life disqualify one from putting forth rules and regulations.
“”Therefore, the rules and regulations as described in the sastra-being above these defects-are accepted without alteration by all great saints, acaryas, and great souls.””
In India there are many parties of spiritual understanding, generally classified as two: the impersonalist and the personalist. Both of them, however, lead their lives according to the principles of the Vedas. Without following the principles of the scriptures, one cannot elevate himself to the perfectional stage. One who actually, therefore, understands the purport of the sastras is considered fortunate.
In human society, aversion to the principles of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all falldowns. That is the greatest offense of human life. Therefore, maya, the material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always giving us trouble in the shape of the threefold miseries.
“”This material energy is constituted of the three modes of material nature. One has to raise himself at least to the mode of goodness before the path to understanding the Supreme Lord can be opened. Without raising oneself to the standard of the mode of goodness, one remains in ignorance and passion, which are the cause of demoniac life.””
Those in the modes of passion and ignorance deride the scriptures, deride the holy man, and deride the proper understanding of the spiritual master, and they do not care for the regulations of the scriptures. In spite of hearing the glories of devotional service, they are not attracted. Thus they manufacture their own way of elevation.
“”These are some of the defects of human society, which lead to the demoniac status of life. If, however, one is able to be guided by a proper and bona fide spiritual master, who can lead one to the path of elevation, to the higher stage, then one’s life becomes successful.””
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Sixteenth Chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavad-gita in the matter of the Divine and Demoniac Natures.