© 1999 VNN
|
EDITORIAL April 30, 1999 VNN3745 To Err Is Human, But Don't Overdo It BY RADHA KRSNA DASA (MEXICO CITY) EDITORIAL, Apr 30 (VNN) — In a recent article in Fortune magazine, columnist Bob Norton says the following regarding the economy: "Economic expansions don't die of old age. People don't run out of things to buy or suddenly decide to make less money or lose their jobs. Expansions usually end because of economic policy errors." The above seems to perfectly apply to ISKCON. Few would question that ISKCON's global expansion ended long ago, or that its current stagnation is due to a series of theological and leadership errors. The signs of decay have been evident for years. The United States and most of Latin America and Western Europe have long been stagnant, with temples barely surviving or closed down altogether. An illusion of expansion was created from the activities in two areas, NE Europe and India, both operating under the tutelage of old fashioned "acaryas." However, at present even those two have succumbed to the above mentioned errors. NE Europe is experiencing painful withdrawals since Harikesa blooped, while in India the rittviks are giving Jayapataka Swami a run for his laksmi points. In a third area, Eastern Asia, Tamal Krsna Goswami's credibility and qualifications are being put to the test by the followers of Narayana Maharaja, TKG's former siksa-guru. On occasion word circulates about some dynamic new programs, but, inevitably, follow up observations show them to be short-lived and fragile due to ISKCON's greater problems (e.g., beautiful Indian temples becoming rittvik, or nice congregational programs where the guru fell down). To illustrate my point, let me recount an incident a couple of years back when I spoke with some communists at a book fair. I asked them to show me the practical results of their ideology, and they described two remote villages in Nepal where perfect communism had been implemented. Communism, which at one point controlled half of the world, had collapsed; failed as an economic and political system. Still, they expected I'd be impressed by two communist Nepalese villages. Similarly, official ISKCON reports tell of new succesful programs, or that the turning point has finally arrived, or that things are actually getting better not worse, or even that ISKCON is stronger than ever. But after adding the pluses and the minuses the balance remains negative overall. What we actually see is that the leaders of ISKCON have become full-time crisis managers. Local and international crises--most of them self-inflicted--now take most of their time and energy. We know Srila Prabhupada had great plans for ISKCON. He expected book distribution to increase every year, varnasrama to be developed, and ISKCON temples to grow and become strong. He instructed his leaders to work together with love and trust on great preaching and expansion programs, and to take care of all his spiritual sons and daughters. But the leaders have become simply crisis managers and feudal lords defending their turfs. This is present state of affairs. After Srila Prabhupada's departure we saw, for a short time, the Movement continue to expand, even during the excesses of the "acaryas" and the lack of accountability by the GBC. In hindsight, it is obvious that this "flash of glory" was due to the devotees' faith in Srila Prabhupada and a residual spirit of cooperation, a mood that has been blatantly betrayed over the years. Devotees have learned, it is one thing to be good-hearted, and something else to be a fool. Older and wiser, many devotees have walked away from active service in the Movement, recognizing that there exists a point where tolerance becomes collaboration and silence becomes complicity. It is not that devotees don't want to participate anymore or that they happily drift away; they simply can no longer participate honestly and enthusiastically. Unfortunately, blinded by their own interests and concerns, most ISKCON leaders have been incapable of understanding this perspective. Today the question is, can the GBC finally rectify all the theological and leadership errors that have brought on this disaster? I say "finally" because the planned reforms announced this March are not the first that the GBC have attempted. There is a long history of failed reforms in the last twenty years. In 1982 there was a GBC "reform." It dismantled the illicit Acarya committee in the GBC, but simultaneously sanctioned a litter of new "acaryas." On top of that error, it institutionalized a spirit of emnity toward Srila Sridhara Maharaja. Then, in New Vrndavana in 1985, there was yet another "reform." It was a liberal plan, hoping to end the acarya problem by opening up the position of guru to almost anyone who wanted the job. Under this strategy, lots of people became "regular" gurus. However, it also created a de facto two-tier guru system, with "regular" new ones playing second fiddle to the "premium" acaryas, who maintained nearly all their bizarre privileges. Another new "reform" was handed down in March of 1987 on the heels of the falldowns and/or expulsions of Bhagavan, Ramesvara, Kirtanananda and Bhavananda. At that time the GBC was down to 17 members after subtracting the blooped, the expelled and those forced to resign. New members were added among grhasthas and junior sannyasis with hopes that they would transform the Body. As we have seen, this didn't really change anything, as they were acculturated by the GBC. Still, things muddled along. In March of 1998--after Jagadish had left ISKCON with a married female disciple--Chakra.org showed us pictures and texts of a very human GBC Body in harmony and with a clear vision of the future. Harikesa was appointed Chairman for three years. Yearly reviews of individual GBC members began and Chakra stated: "The GBC body is in a position to correct its members... the GBC members understood this was the GBC body correcting them." "The present mood in ISKCON is very encouraging. Devotees want to resolve differences and work with each other." "The GBC members benefited from the assessments." But contrary to this mood of optimism, 1998 saw more of the bottom fall out from under them. Now, in 1999 we again hear about reforms in three areas: Guru reform, GBC reform, and the ISKCON Constitution. 1) Regarding guru reform, it is not enough to write some edicts stating the new rules. The correct process requires a program of reeducation for both gurus and disciples so that everyone finally understands that we are all followers of Srila Prabhupada. For the disciples some sort of affirmative-action program will be needed so that they can learn to claim their rightful role as primarily sisyas of Srila Prabhupada. For many gurus a full-on rehab program will be needed to teach them to act like normal human vaisnavas, to overcome their sense of greatness, their dependency in the adulation of followers, etc. 2) Regarding GBC reform: it is very simple. The GBC has managed to take the worst of both worlds, East and West, and apply it to their anemic understanding of reality. Spiritual leadership in India is absolute, but it is also supposed to be perfect (either by actually being perfect or by following perfectly). In the West institutions prevail, but with a division of powers (this not only applies to governments but to businesses and associations--all of which are subjected to votes, external audits, etc). But in ISKCON you have 1) a very imperfect GBC claiming absolute authority and 2) an institution wherein those to be checked are the same ones doing the checking (much like appointing the rabbit to guard the lettuce patch.) In ISKCON, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches all are part of the GBC!!! (Stalin and Milosevic could pick up a few lessons here.) Is it any wonder why so many problems? 3) Regarding the ISKCON Constitution, it sounds fine, but you need to start at the beginning. I personally contacted some people involved in drafting it and pointed that in the original resolution there is not one single representative from Latin America. They say that this will be corrected, but the problem remains that, good intentions aside, a real Constitution is the work of bonafide Delegates representing all parties involved. It cannot be a down-your-throat Constitution made by "delegates" assigned in a hurry by a GBC resolution. Have we not learned anything after all these years? When the U.S. Constitution was written, delegates from all Colonies arrived and received equal treatment and rights. It is a fundamental principle of fairness and a key element in gaining a broader perspective. In the case of the ISKCON Constitution, have the rightful delegates been selected or was it, again, an imposition? Better to take the necessary time to select delegates who actually represent the whole scope of Srila Prabhupada's family in ISKCON. The 1999 reforms, if correctly implemented, should produce an ISKCON in which everyone truly acts like a follower of Srila Prabhupada, one in which the GBC is primarily a Legislative Body that elects an Executive Committee (like in Parliamentary societies). The individual GBCs are not appointed for life (like Soviet bureaucrats) but are subjected to continuous elections, rotation and scrutiny by the members of each zone. Most of the executive work and decisions should come from local Councils in which the local GBC can't act like a feudal lord. Sannyasis should concentrate in asceticism, education and priestly functions and stop behaving like power-hungry mullahs. The GBC Body can establish a temporary affirmative-action program to enrich the composition of the Body so that women, non-Americans, non-Indians, plenty of householders, professionals, and post 1977 initiates get the opportunities that they rightfully deserve as GBCs. Emphasis should be made in cultivating local leaders for GBC positions. There is also an urgent need for a functional Judicial system completely independent from the GBC (no member of the Judicial Body can be simultaneously a GBC) to deal with issues of constitutionality, internal disagreements and the enforcement of accountability. Civil and criminal issues should be dealt with the local authorities. The healing of the ISKCON family should continue. Recent resolutions regarding Pradyumna and Gurukripa Prabhus seem like a good start but there is much more to do. Finally, great care should be placed on rectifying the stupid and childish offenses committed towards many non-ISKCON senior vaisnavas. Forgetting the offenses committed doesn't mean that the reaction will go away. ISKCON cannot keep committing the same errors and waste its limited resources and energy until the movement is consumed. By demanding the right actions from the GBC we can all can contribute to the real reform of Srila Prabhupada's Movement. Comment on this Story | Contact VNN regarding this Story
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
