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EDITORIAL February 18, 2000 VNN5503 Comment on this story To Those Who Would Lead Us (As It Is) BY PARATRIKANANDA DASA EDITORIAL, Feb 18 (VNN) — I was a little shocked and disheartened to see a recent posting on VNN called 'To Those Who Would Lead Us In 2000', attributed to Bhakta Peter. Bhakta Peter's submission is (except for an additional verse at the end) nearly identical to a piece I originally wrote in 1992, entitled simply, To Those Who Would Lead Us. At that time I sent a copy of the first draft to my friend, Brajendranandana prabhu, in Badger, California. Although it was unfinished and only intended for Braj, it somehow got into other hands and was soon being circulated by Yasodanandana prabhu, and later appeared in the PADA newsletter. This was done without consulting me and against my wishes.
Since then a number of people have read the piece and expressed appreciation for what I now consider a crude early effort. I've spent literally hundreds of hours refining this work over the years, with additional editing efforts of Krsna Balarama Swami and Bhava prabhu, and it was about ready for release when I discovered Bhakta Peter's submission. Though I want to believe his action represents a well-intentioned (albeit improper) attempt to express appreciation for my work, this incident has compelled me to preserve the integrity of my writing. At the same time, I will try to remember that nothing is really mine, anyway. Body, mind and words-all belong to Krsna. What follows is the final version of To Those Who Would Lead Us. All rights are reserved to the author, and it may be reproduced only by express permission. To Those Who Would Lead Us ©2000 by Patrick Hogan When the harsh become mild and the proud become meek, when truth subdues hypocrisy, when more concern is shown for people than for buildings and bank accounts, when leadership by qualification displaces leadership by ambition, when the call for love and trust is put forth by those who are loving and trustworthy, when minions of the four defects no longer pose as pure and absolute, when respect is earned and not demanded, when those who seek the truth are not seen as enemies of ISKCON, when those who uncover a crime are not considered criminals, when those who've committed unspeakable acts are brought to justice, when you abolish the use of harassment, battery and eviction as weapons against dissent, when you express more compassion for the victim than for the victimizer, when you learn that the first duty of a leader is to protect his dependents, when you stop citing directives on cooperation to justify and abet corruption, when you refrain from invoking the "ultimate managing authority" to defend malfeasance, when you desist from using the assets of your spiritual master for your own pleasure and livelihood, when you demonstrate accountability for the resources placed in your care, when you strive to recover the untold millions squandered and embezzled, when you are no longer selective in the instructions you follow, when you cease inventing laws that contradict sastra, when you realize that a perfect philosophy cannot be adjusted by imperfect people, when you see that the problems we face cannot be resolved with secular solutions and bureaucracy, when you understand that those who control corporate ISKCON do not have a patent on Prabhupada's mission, when you end the self-deception and admit your culpability, when you feel remorse for your actions and find the courage to apologize, when you win the forgiveness of those you've put in distress, when you reverse the exodus of uncountable sincere devotees, when you think of yourselves as servants rather than masters, when you acknowledge Srila Prabhupada's preeminence, when selfless dedication to Prabhupada again becomes the purpose, only then will Prabhupada's family be reunited. On behalf of the disenfranchised and disaffected, Paratrikananda dasa Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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