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EDITORIAL March 24, 1999 VNN3401 GBC Should Take Ultimate Responsibility (2) BY GADADHAR DASA EDITORIAL, Mar 24 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus: PAMHO, AGTSP, and Hare Krishna. This is the part two of my message "GBC should take the Ultimate Responsibility, not Ultimate Authority". Here I want to share more light on history of "Uniting Srila Prabhupada's Family" and need for the ISKCON leaders to change their thinking from being masters to being the servants. By 1972, Srila Prabhupada had already become concerned about devotees leaving the movement for personal reasons or because of the management problems. In each case Srila Prabhupada advised the devotees to continue and rectify the situation. Srila Prabhupada, till his last days, continued to guide, admonish, and at times heavily blast the leaders that they manage things properly and not ruin such huge establishment that he had put together with great efforts and difficulties. To this end, in 1977 yearly GBC meeting Srila Prabhupada proposed a resolution that "It is the responsibility of each GBC to bring back the devotees who have gone away from their zones". This resolution was passed by the GBC in 1977. However, after Srila Prabhupada's departure this resolution was conveniently forgotten for next 17 years. Not only nothing was done to bring back the devotees who had already gone away but more devotees left or were intentionally driven away. Around 1992 few leaders were talking about "Uniting Srila Prabhupada's Family". In 1994 Naveen Krishna Prabhu accidentally found the 1977 resolution that Srila Prabhupada had proposed and GBC had passed at that time. So in 1994 GBC was reminded of this resolution and the GBC body re-affirmed that they must do some thing to bring back the devotees who have gone away or driven away. Now it has been 22 years from the date the resolution was passed and 5 years from the date when the resolution was re-affirmed. One may ask what the self proclaimed humble, sincere, and bonafide ISKCON leaders have done to bring back the devotees who have gone away? Except lip service not much. In fact 100s of more devotees have left or have been driven out by the leaders since 1994. This is a sad history of ISKCON. The devotees who gave their blood, sweat, and tears in helping Srila Prabhupada to launch and spread ISKCON movement are no longer welcome in their father's own house while the leaders make the false propaganda that the whole world can live in it. What can be more hypocritical then this? Where is the humility and sincerity of these leaders? Are they all conscious? Do they have a heart? Yes, even now we find that you are ever ready to threaten, intimidate, and throw out any body who questions your sincerity or honesty. Yes, you have the ultimate authority to do so but where is your ultimate responsibility and accountability? I hope you keep your mouth shut and do some thing to bring back the devotees who have gone away. But that is not going to happen until the leaders change their thinking. ISKCON leaders' current thinking is that they are the masters of masters of all masters. This control mentality is controlling the leaders. Of course, the control mentality comes from their desire for profit, adoration, and distinction. In other words lack of purity is the cause of all the turmoil the leaders have caused and continue to cause. The following verse makes quite clear the dangers of administrative control: Yauvan dhan sampati, prabhutvam ca aviveko eka ekyam api anarthaya, kim yatra catustayam Young age, wealth, position or administrative control, and indiscriminate behavior are very dangerous. Even one of them can pollute one's mind with many anarthas and can cause great havoc. What can happen when one has all the four? Young ISKCON leaders had full supply of all four assets. The turmoil that has occured over the last 22 years is witness of how leaders became polluted with anarthas that caused great amount of destruction within and outside of ISKCON. ISKCON leaders got the administrative control of the movement at very young age and through the use of the administrative control the leaders gained "absolute control" over the affairs of the movement. They used their position and knowledge of sastra to ruthlessly subdue any one who questioned their authority, sincerity, or honesty. What the leaders need to learn is that these four assets can be very dangerous when one does not know how to use them. They have become the victims of their own control mentality. When this control mentality is replaced with the thinking that we are the servants of the servants of the servants of the Supreme Lord then there is a chance that change will come. Leaders will exibit true humility, tolerance, and respect for other devotees of the Lord as advocated by Lord Gaura Sundar. Until that happens further tyranny of the administrative control will exibit its ugly fruits some where. I hope that the leaders come to their senses and make a complete "U" turn from the madness of their administrative control mentality and start cultivation of some true humility, tolerance, and respect for other devotees of the Lord. I hope that ISKCON leaders give up their Guru Bhogi mentality of enjoying the assets of the Guru and once again truely become the humble servants of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and regain their own self respect. Thank you and hare Krishna. Your friend and humble servant, Gadadhar Dasa Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9903/ET24-3401.html
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