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EDITORIAL June 15, 2000 VNN6027 Comment on this story About Selecting Temple Presidents BY SRI RAMA DAS EDITORIAL, Jun 15 (VNN) — There's been a certain lack of straightforwardness in presenting Srila Prabhupada's words about selecting temple presidents. Not that those words are false, but when they are incompletely extracted out of context, they can give a wrong impression. I'm not going to take sides, but it seems readers should have the full context of the quotes from Srila Prabhupada so they can see for themselves the essence of the two points of view. So here are the unedited texts that have been previously quoted, along with additional information which should put things in proper perspective: In Srila Prabhupada's recorded instructions, the question of electing the temple president comes up in connection to only one geographical location--London, England (city and Manor). The first reference is from a letter to Guru das, dated 3/2/70: "Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated 20 and 26 February, 1970, respectively, and I am so glad to learn that you have been elected president for this year. In India, when there was congress election among the executive members, each year a person was elected president. I think this system may be followed in our institutions also. Of course it will depend on the local situation, but in a round if each person is given the chance of managing the whole affairs, that means everyone becomes responsible officer." The thread is next picked up in 1974. There is a local dispute about who shall be president at the Manor. Apparently, an agreement has been reached between the local senior devotees and the GBC, Hansadutta das (though it is unclear just what the exact goal of vote was): "I have just now received some letters from London from Madhavananda and others brought by Paramahamsa Swami who was there. Regarding Madhavananda being the president, if he received the vote, why you have opposed? You must be impartial. My recommendation is that he must be the president. He has been chosen by the vote, and I am giving the casting vote for him. He is doing things very nicely there, so he must be the president. Prabha Visnu should go on Sankirtana, and Madhavananda should be president. Everything must go on. The women are doing nicely, so why are they being changed from the pujari to the Sankirtana? These things should be done by the President. These are internal things, and you should not interfere. I do not approve of your changing the women. It should be the choice of Madhavananda who should be the pujari." (Letter to Hansadutta, 9/12/74) "Regarding the election there for President of the temple, I understand that you received the vote. So you should be the president. I am putting my casting vote for you. I have informed Hamsaduta this by post." (Letter to Madhavananda, 9/16/74) "If it was decided by vote that Hamsaduta would select the president then Hamsaduta is right. Without authority Hamsaduta cannot change the election. If the vote was in favor of Madhavananda, then Hamsaduta cannot whimsically change the vote. But, if by vote he was authorized to select the president, then whomever he selects is right. I was not informed by my secretary that Hamsaduta was authorized by vote to make the selection. But, why was Hamsaduta authorized if the vote was already taken? This I do not know. On the whole I understand there are so many contradictions, so in the presence of all members you may take the vote again and decide finally." (Letter to Mukunda, 9/29/74) "Recently at Bhaktivedanta Manor they have held one election for President and Hamsaduta was present. But I am receiving so many contradictory reports as to what was the outcome. So I have advised them to again hold election with all members present, and I request you to go there to see what is the outcome of the election." (Letter to Bhagavan, 9/29/74) "Regarding the election at Bhaktivedanta Manor, as you have suggested an election of all members present should be held to make a final selection. I have already suggested this to Mukunda. Another meeting should be held, and I have already asked Bhagavan das to be present, so there will be two GBC's and all members present. Out of the two candidates whoever is elected by the majority vote, may be the president." (Letter to Hamsadutta, 10/1/74) "I am prepared to give you fair chance, but you cannot criticize Hamsaduta. Let there be re-election in the presence of two GBC men. We should utilize our talents without being envious of others. You should do your best, but you should not be envious of others. In material life there is simply envy of others progress, but in spiritual life one encourages another, 'Oh you are doing very nice.' That is Radharani. She says oh here is a very nice devotee. Please Krishna, you accept him." (Letter to Madhavananda, 10/6/74) The result of the vote isn't clear from Srila Prabhupada's letters. However, over the subsequent months, the situation gradually changes: "Now, considering the European situation in a meeting between Myself, yourself and Bhagavan das, I think Madhavananda should become president of London and Prabhavisnu should become president of Amsterdam and you can arrange this." (Letter to Hansadutta, 12/31/74) "Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 27th, 1974 and have noted the contents. Madhavananda is now being sent to Hong Kong to collect for Krishna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana." (Letter to Patita-Uddharana, 1/3/75) Perhaps that gives a bit more well-rounded view of the time, place and circumstance. While I'm not aware of more references to electing temple presidents, there are plenty of unambiguous statements about not changing them without the agreement of the local devotees: "Regarding the election of President, a president can only be changed by vote. If no vote was taken, then the president cannot be changed. Neither Hamsaduta can change the president whimsically or can anybody else change the president. According the ''Direction of Management'' the GBC cannot change the President but only by vote can it be done. The GBC's business is to see that the President and the members are doing nicely, following the regulative principles, and chanting 16 rounds and that other things are going on nicely." (Letter to Mukunda, 9/29/74) "Regarding the agitation to remove Tejas: No, Tejas must not be removed. Stop this. This is a clique. I don't want this. Why has Subala Maharaja gone there. He is an outsider, why are they interfering. Subala left India now why has he returned without permission? This removal of the president is very unconstitutional. The devotees who do not like to work with Tejas should immediately go away from the temple. But he may not. Those who feel against him can go away. Devotees come from the outside and interfere. No, they cannot change the president. Who sent Janmanjoya there? Why is he taking to politics? So you opinion is also mine, that Tejas is the most sincere worker of the lot. Please stop this." (Letter to Tamal Krishna, 1/1/74) "N.B. Regarding replacing Abhirama and Damodara I refer to the 'Direction of Management' as follows: 'Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members.' Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple members and do the needful. A.C.B.S." (Letter to Rupanuga, 11/7/74) "I do not want that Sukadeva be removed from his position as I can see that he is sincerely following the principles at present. The GBC can not whimsically change the temple president, there is a resolution to this effect. Why have you threatened to remove him and unnecessarily created this situation? Please be very sober in your dealings with these temple presidents, they are undoubtedly rendering a valuable service and are worthy of respect and encouragement." (Letter to Gurukrpa, 5/11/76) So how does one become a temple president? During Srila Prabhupada's presence we have examples of: -- an election -- Srila Prabhupada appoints the president himself -- the local GBC selects someone of his choice -- the issue is decided by the GBC body -- Srila Prabhupada confirms a local preacher -- the local GBC selects someone and Prabhupada approves -- a local preacher's own initiative is recognized -- Prabhupada or the GBC sends a preacher to a new place "Yes, your appointment as the new president of the Miami Temple is completely approved by me, now take advantage and preach among all the young people there and recruit some good men. For some time now I have been thinking to have a nice place in Florida and now it looks like you are trying for it." (Letter to Abhirama, 3/6/73) "Yes, Srutakirti he is a good boy, so he can be made the President as you suggest." (Letter to Gurukrpa, 8/26/75) "Regarding Washington temple yes Brisakapi can be now recognized as the temple president." (Letter to Rupanuga, 9/25/75) "Yes, so you keep an eye on things there in Laguna Beach, and see that whoever takes over as temple president is trained up." Letter to Jayatirtha, 11/20/75) "Recently I visited Africa and I could see that the management was not going on properly. So now I have given Nava Yogendra sannyasa order and am sending him back to Africa. He will be the president of the Mombassa temple, so please help him to make our mission there very solid." (Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Bhatia, 11/23/75) "Madhudvisa Swami has come here from Australia and as he is free I am sending him to New York. I have discussed with him how I want my rooms to be. As things have generally not been so well managed there I have asked him to be ad-hoc President of New York Temple until the coming GBC meeting." (Letter to Rupanuga, 1/23/76) "In connection with our ISKCON project in Fiji, I beg to inform you that we are managing our Krishna Consciousness Movement by the Governing Body Commission, GBC. We have got about 20 GBC's looking after the whole world affair, and above the GBC I am there. Below the GBC there are the temple president, secretary, treasurer in every centre. So the temple president is responsible to the GBC and the GBC is responsible to me. In this way we are managing. But why are you proposing a separate trustee for Fiji. We have up to now no separate trustee. If this is for security purposes, that we can discuss. If you have got some new idea please explain to me how you want to manage. But I think Fiji Temple cannot be managed in a separate way. But still I will entertain some idea if you have difference you can write me explaining. The deed for the property and temple should be made in favor of 'His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.' It cannot be dedicated to any of the office bearers. So I suggest that you become the president of the temple and Upendra become the secretary, and either your brother or your wife can become treasurer. There is no need of trustees." (Letter to Vasudeva, 6/30/76) "What happened to Jagat Purusa in Bombay? He is an experienced man in Bombay so why he should be changed to Delhi? This change of Presidents is to be made in the GBC meeting. In the middle of the year there is no question of change. Tejyas can continue as President. Three times changing president is not good. It should first be conjointly considered by the GBC." (Letter to Gopal Krishna, 7/11/76) As we have seen in so many areas of ISKCON management, there is no all-inclusive absolute principle. Which system is to be applied is a practical issue for the managers to decide. However there is one over-riding principle to be applied everywhere--no politics. Here is one more letter about the London situation: "There have been many letters coming from different quarters regarding the election; therefore I have called for a re-election in the presence of all members and two GBC men. You can have a written ballot, and whoever receives the majority vote, he shall be the president. You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my god-brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj. He gave me his blessings, and I was saved from any implication. Now I am trying to carry out his instructions strictly, and it has come out successful." (Letter to Gangamayi, 10/18/74) SriRama@pamho.net Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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