Guru Maharaja vs "the cost of silence"

[Ananta Gauranga dasa]

Haribol, dear godfamily, please accept my dandavat pranamas, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. 

Dear godfamily, about a week ago the site and pressure group "krishnachildren" published "the cost of silence", a reportage on how former and current child abusers are protected within ISKCON by prestigious gurus and by the indecision of the GBC. One of the gurus implicated in the film is our Guru Maharaja. It is claimed (without proper journalistic confirmation, by the way) that at least one person is protected by him and can continue to sit on the vyasasana to teach, e.g. at Bhaktivedanta Manor and in Bhakticenter NY.  

I must say I'm having a hard time with it, among all the triumph surrounding Maharaj's new book. On the one hand I can see that the video is part pamflet, part reportage. There is a phone, or skype conversation with Maharaja in there, that is inconclusive, and muddles the issue. On the other hand, the pattern of shielding known abusers in a religious organisation repeats itself again and again, in the catholic church, in the jewish haredi society that I know well, in buddhist organizations over the last few decades. 

There is the CPO, but apparently, this is organization is ineffectual because it is limited by ISKCON's power structure. 

Elsewhere I said that I feel that guru yoga is the hardest of all. This I know from experience. Like a good number of people I also have a personal stake in the subject. 

My intention is not to stir the pot or to add to unfounded rumors. However, the whole issue weighs heavily on me. As a disciple, and also as a devotee who wants ISKCON to be the best that it can be, I'm confused. 

What are your feelings? 

[miso vukotic]

Dear Ananta Gauranga prabhu and others
Please also accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you for starting this discussion because I also have hard time since yesterday morning when I saw the documentary.
It looks like to me documentary is honest attempt to try to make stop with child abuse in Srila Prabhupada’s movement.
For me is not new that Maharaja is involved in some way in this issue, but this was much worse that I ever thought.

Since samadhi ceremony of Kirtananda I was confused about his role in all that,but I kind of didn't want to deal with it and suppress my feelings about it and pretended everything is alright. But now after seeing this documentary I cannot ignore it anymore.
What I saw in documentary and know from my own observation is not that Maharaja is involved in only protecting one person,like you said Ananta Gauranga, but almost all of them showed in the movie.
Bhavananda (Bhav the beast how he use to call himself in his best days of molesting children and destroying devotees life's) was one whom he allowed to sit on vyasasana in Mumbai calling him affectionately Bhavanadiji according to his formal female disciple whom he discouraged to write book about her experience with Bhav the beast.
Dhanudar Swami (for whom I am not sure how much quilty about accusations and how much pointed quilt from GBC at the time) is one who is allowed to speak in Bhakticenter in NY.
Laksmimony Devi whom I personally heard Maharaja honoring like anything in front of his congregation in Mumbai for doing wonderful service for Srila Prabhupada with her girls gurukula somewhere in America (now I hear in the movie she did also bad things with girls there)
Kirtananda who is well known for  what he did. Maharaja stayed his admirer until Kirtananda so called samadhi ceremony.
Bhakti Vidyapunya Maharaja with whom Maharaja have very close relationship.
Also others in movie,whom I don't know personally except Gauri dasa and I have heard about his negative involvement in Vrindavan gurukula some moths ago, who is now big shut in Bhaktivedanta Manor, are on some or other way in favor of Maharaja above children which suffered under their torture.

I am at the moment quite confused and do not know what should I do next or in which direction I should look for my spiritual life future. I don't want to lose my faith in Maharaja, but at the moment I don't feel bowing down to him or chanting his Pranam mantra, although I still do with mixed feelings in my heart. I don't want to leave Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON but altogether since happening in Mayapur this year my conviction that iskcon is best place to be for spiritual development and general needs of humanity went very much close to zero.
Seemingly, power in our society is hold by group of people who are acting like mafia but getting respect as highest sadhus.

I still don't want to pull my definitieve conclusion about all this,but to get back my faith and trust will not be so easy.
I would also like to hear how you think about it. It would help me to clear my mind.

Thank you in advance

Madhava Gauranga dasa

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[Jahnava Lila devi dasi]

Hari Hari dear brothers!

Thank you so much for finding us worthy of you most confidential thoughts and feelings. I also feel encouraged to share mine.

Just now I watched the documentary. I admire the inner moral strength of the devotee who brought it all up after many attempts to solve the issue of child abuse inside of the family/house. Unfortunately, I recognise the same pattern in regards to other 'issues' (i.e. those related to women, etc.). Strangely, I feel encouraged by the documentary as it demands high moral values and criteria such as taking the responsibility, being accountable, professional (right skills for the post) etc. I do agree that the issues our society has should not be covered up and silenced and left to be 'solved' by people with inadequate skills who are (perhaps due to improper practice of celibacy) violent, aggressive and abusive. By removing them from the post is a higher sene of compassion, just as it is truthfulness about child abuse higher sense of avoiding vaishnava aparadha. I think it is excellent we are discussing this openly and responsibly, as we all care about our society.

I am personally interested to research out (sociologically, anthropologically, philosophically, etc.) the roots of 'lack of moral standards/ethical norms' in Iskcon in relation to lack of personal freedom and critical thinking and reasons why the society was/is not able to keep up Prabhupada's norms. Ananta Gaurangaji, would you be interested in co-writing something? :)

As for GM, I understand your pain and concernes. My shield is to view GM as a big company that oversees many ins and outs and doesn't take the position of power over particular 'case'. Maybe he should do the opposite and go againts the GBC birocracy and political power and fight for higher values. I know for a fact that he is a 'silent revolutionary', his personality is not one of a rebel, he is loyal and traditional, keeps things in the house. I have seen him being equally affectionate to godbrothers and gurukulis. But this is not an excuse. I am surprised to hear Bhavananda is giving classes (Chowpatty, ha?!) and manages Mayapur. This is crazy!

Ok, so to finalise, I have signed the petition and I am glad this is happening. Must tell you honestly, I have been long time frustrated with some things in our society, so this gives me hope that it is possible to move things a bit and that it is us, new generations which will probably be the change.

I am sorry for not elaborating on my faith in GM, I can simply imagine talking to him (although this will probably won't happen) and hearing him how disgusted he is with all the sins of the child abuse. Recently I read an article from Jan Brzezinski, Vaishnava scholar who was a Prabhupada disciple called Hiranyagarbha, or something like that. He is not in Iskcon anymore, but in the past he was involved with the education both in Mayapur and Vrindavan. His name is now Jagadananda. Mind that he is very critical about Prabhupada, but he makes public letter of apology to all the kulis he abused (not sexually though) and he gives very clear psychological analysis of reasons and environment back in the 80s.
http://jagadanandadas.blogspot.hr/p/about-me.html

(cannof find the letter title, sorry)

yours

Jahnava

  'the love of God is better than the cognition of God, whereas, conversely, the cognition of corporeal things is better than the love of corporeal things.'
(Aquinas, STh.1, Q. 82, art.3, resp.)

[Ananta Gauranga dasa]

Hari hari. Thank you so much for your very thoughtful reply. The openness with which we can discuss this is also a fruit of GM's instructions, implicit or not!

Re writing something regarding the subject you touched on: yes I would welcome that, since i encounter similar mechanisms in any large organizations where the stakes are high.

My pranamas to you all
Ys
AGd

[Jahnava Lila devi dasi]

I feel that GM has a heavy burden/responsibility on his back and that he can afford complete openness with few friends only. Speaking of which, MAdhavananda Prabhu once in R'desh shared with me conversation that he had with GM. GM said to him (confidentially, in this context): 'I have the right to criticise Iskcon as I gave my compete life to it.' His tone was completely different than in public addresses, he was concerned and critical and real.

Also regarding Gauri das (whose inquisitive and intellectual nature I personally like quite a lot)- I remember him saying that he broke down in tears once in front of the deity of Govindaji (Jaipur) when gurukula kids (he took them on a trip) were not watching. He was saying how he had no moment of rest, kids were their full time service and they had hardly any knowledge and experience how to bring them up. I know, ignorance is no excuse, still.. we can try to understand the circumstances and forgive them their mistakes..

As for research, let's share thoughts privately :)

  'the love of God is better than the cognition of God, whereas, conversely, the cognition of corporeal things is better than the love of corporeal things.'
(Aquinas, STh.1, Q. 82, art.3, resp.)

[Ajay Joshi]

Hare Krishna Dear Godbrothers and GodSisters,

PAMHO. AGTSP. AGTSGAG

I am quite pleased to see that people are sharing their most intimate thoughts openly on this group. This tells me that we really have faith in each other, at least at the moment....

I won't keep beating around the bush, but get straight to the point...

Needless to say, but we all know that Internet is more of a dangerous place than a safe one. Most of the stuff is crap and so how much to take things seen/heard on internet to ones heart is something we need to ponder upon. Do we have more faith in Internet than our Acharyas ? - is the question....

The child abuse is definitely not acceptable. Most of us have children and we can imagine the pain the parents must have gone thru' - the children are so innocent (at least till a certain age) and someone taking advantage of this is simple not acceptable. The child abuse did happen in this society and their is no denial to that. 

                   Having said this,  lets looks at the other side as well... ISKCON has ACCEPTED the responsibility of this whole thing. Accepting this formally is a BIG thing.  ISKCON has also paid HUGE HUGE sums of money and settled this out of the courts. Pls. don't misunderstand me, I am in no way saying that it's OK to abuse and then pay someone and shut their mouths.... Again, child abuse is NOT acceptable. But that was the best that could be done by the "Society" as such. 

Our Guru Maharaj did not stop here... he extended himself to the children. He cultivated (maybe some) of the children who have undergone this Ordeal and now he is the best of the friends with them - WHY ? because of the COMPASSION... which is built into his nature. Guru Maharaj did not stop even at this point, he extended his compassion even on the other side (the ones who are alleged guilty - "alleged" because, I don't know if they are proved guilty). So he is not FRIENDS with them or anything like that. Guru Maharaj is a Sanyasi - he is seeing everyone with equal vision and is simply extending his compassion to ALL equally. He is sharing the compassion the way the recipient needs it.

We also need to think about the timing of this whole thing. As far as I understand the abuse happened long long back and the settlement quite sometime back. So why is this issue being brought up only now ? Don't you see some kind of conspiracy in the timing, the issue has surfaced ? Pls. THINK ...

Lastly, our Guru Maharaj was not the one who abused anyone. Even when Srila Prabhupada was on this planet many of his disciple did wrong things. But that does not make Prabhupada bad and neither did he stop giving his love and compassion towards his fallen disciples. (I am not trying to equate Guru Maharaj with Srila Prabhupada)

Our Guru Maharaj is a GEM OF A DEVOTEE - lets not corrupt our minds with this kind of false propaganda. Lets not watch this video any further and neither propagate this any further...

Ys,

Ajay Nitai das

[Ali Santens]

Sorry for being a little less brief.... See attached.

--

[Jahnava Lila devi dasi]

Acyuta Jaganath Prabhu,

I really like your reply, I could actuay imagine you talking it live :)

I think you are right about raising children in India (i.e. giving a child a good slap from time to time). I saw it with my own eyes in Vridavan while volunteering in Sandipani Muni School for 6 months. I believe some decades ago this was a custom in European countries too. The teacher had a stick or a ruler. I was a good student so I didn't get this sort of punishment, but I remember being scared like anything when math teacher hit a boy next to me.

As for proper morning mediatation in relation to (male) brahmacarya, I will take that as a sort of research direction as I have no prior knowledge of it.

Also, I found the letter of Hiranyagarbha/Jagadananda prabhu I mentione dearlier. I mean not to disturb anyone by it, but if you want to hear about the experience of gurukula teacher back in 70s and the honest apology, I think this is a good source. He elborates on the psychology of hitting children (why & how, etc.) in early Iskcon.

yours in service,

Jahnava-lila

  'the love of God is better than the cognition of God, whereas, conversely, the cognition of corporeal things is better than the love of corporeal things.'
(Aquinas, STh.1, Q. 82, art.3, resp.)

[Marija Kojcinovic]

Dear Godsisters and brothers,
My sincere obeisances and greetings all the way from Belgrade!
All glories to Srila prabhupada who was a swan and tried his best to create a society of swans in this unfavorable world.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness and openness to discuss very sensitive and personal matters among godfamily. This act itself promotes and creates trust, which is both very fragile and very powerful. 

As a public video such as this one emerges, it becomes practically impossible to be opinionless, which seems to be one of the very goals of the video. I offer some of my thoughts on the matter exclusively becuase I appreciate our companionship within this small family.

Although I agree that video certainly serves a purpose in raising awareness to alarming issue that needs to be adressed in a more compelling and efficient way, and by that I especially mean establishment of active CPOs within ISCKON schools and educational initiatives rather than re-re-re-re-re-digging the garbage of the past; I am strongly disagreeing that this was the best way of doing it, as the video is extremely one-sided, narrow-focused, and having a black-and-white approach to the issue that is certainly not black and white, but requires many subtle considerations. 

Another point is that the video focuses on several incidents and situations that all fall within different circumstances and although they may seem  to have child abuse in common, can not be treated as same. There are four main points:

1.present acute child-abuse
2.past child abuse that was not adressed properly

3. inefficiency and unwillingness of Gbc in making it a proper priority

4. support and friendship of the current leaders to current and ex child-abusers.

These all can not be treated as one.

1. Present child abuse must be adressed immediately and efficiently and continued under no circumstances and is a worthy issue to battle for using respectable and cultural means by people who consider it their own priority service and are qualified to do it.

3. Inefficiency and unwillingness of the GBc in making it a definite priority. GBC should be held accountable and preferably inspired if not socially forced by all cultural and decent means to enforce and establish optimal child care within its centers, schools and all facilities worldwide. 

2. Past child abuse not adressed properly and leaders reinstated. As for past child abuse not adressed properly I disagree.There were many many many many many public and private apologies being made, both by the abusers and ISCKON, and fogiveness asked many many times. Most, if not all of devotees who previously abused children and are still serving under capacities within ISCKON went to AMAZING  extents to try to somehow help heal what cannot be fixed. This is the endevour that some of them keep doing for many years. They did this by word, action and monetarily and by prayer. Certainly none of them feels great about it and none of them continues to act in such way. Many of them mistaked more than 20 years ago and confessed many times and repented sincerely.

 All of them are many-sided personalities with qualities, tendencies, talents and virtues way beyond just their child-abuse history. All these qualities, talents and virtues are only given to any of us to use in Krishna's service. The worst thing anyone can to to any living entity is deprive him of his service to Krishna and vaishnavas. This is the death of the soul. Of course they can use it aside from having managerial and authoritative positions, therefore the reinstatement or continuation of their service within these capacities may not be fitting, but that must be considered case by case. Herewith I personally think some should not be and some others shoud be reinstated. Personally I don't see a problem if a past (and by past i mean 20yrs ago, not 2yrs ago) abuser, who repented sincerely and never repeated anything alike and kept not only a clean but also inspiring record of personal behavior should be banned from leadership or any position. I also don't really see a point re-digging garbage over which flowers have grown. I do find it unexceptable for anyone with repeated child abuse to be positioned. 

4. support and friendship and public affection of the current leaders to ex child-abusers. These relationships and friendships go far far beyond the child abuse issue, and I personally think it is utterly incorrect and misplaced to see them exclusively as child-abuse (anti)propaganda.

Conclusion:

To be a brahmana means to be capable of:

1. forgiveness on every level

2. acceptance of hurdles and sucesses, btoh personal and social, without deep disturbance

3. broadmindedness which includes ability to keep in mind many opposing or alternative or subtle perspectives, seeing things from the point of mercy rather than justice and not having a black and white "either or" judgmental attitude

4. understanding that service and kindness must be continued in all circumstances.

Therefore my opinion in brief is that GBCand ISCKON should without delay do necessary to stop and prevent any further child abuse in isckon facilities, but let the past rest, and be kindhearted equally to abusers and abused.

As far as Gurumaharaja's position in all this, I feel absolutely not one speck of dirt of his in this regard, as he is doing his best in the situations that he can, according to higher realization of mercy and kindness and respect in all circumstances, and many many factors that are not touched upon in this video.

Let me remind you that Kripacarya, who assisted Asvatthama kill the five sons of Draupadi, was selected the main brahmana to do the yagya for Pariksit Maharaja, less than a year later, and selected by Yudistira to be the head of brahmanas in his samba.

For the end, as some of you may think I do not know what I am speaking about, as I am not a mother, nor have experienced it on my skin and cannot understand it, I may confidentially inform you that I was both sexually abused as a child (not very severly though) and raped as an adult. Both these men are still alive, I occasionally run into them and I bear no grudge against them. If they repented and apologized half as what these man apologized and have not repeated it I would see no problem seeing them in a position of power.

Param satyam eva jayate.
Om tat sat.

yours in service, Mahalaxmi dasi

[Ali Santens]

Hare Krsna. Some further thoughts in attached...

2016-05-27 21:02 GMT+02:00 Stefanie Burich <sudev...@gmail.com>:

Dear Godsisters and Godbrothers,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to our wonderful Gurumaharaj, and to all of you and your dedicated and loving service to him and to Srila Prabhupada!

Not everyone here may know who I am, as I believe this group was created after I left Radhadesh, and more members joined over the last few years. I'm Sudevi dasi, and I used to live in Radhadesh. I studied and taught at the College over a period of 8 years. And as you noticed, I typically don't comment much (although I enjoy reading every post from you!). I now live in the US, somewhat separated form any 'live' devotee community.

Since this discussion has been on my mind over the last few days I decided to share some thoughts, for whatever they are worth. First of all thank you all for your openness - your letters have helped me greatly gaining better insights into the issues, and appreciation for all of your dedication and sincerity!

While I believe that this documentary should have never been made public, I understand why it has been. As already noted by some of you, there are serious flaws in Sanaka's presentation, and his conclusions are drawn prematurely and on a very superficial, one-sided, and narrow-minded exploration ( which are definitely understandable considering his emotional involvement). Regarding ISKCON's and the GBC's response to past abuse, a lot of information is misrepresented and taken out of context, and a lot of background information is missing. A lot has been done! I don't find Gurumaharaja's comments (again, clearly taken out of context) inconclusive at all, but exactly what I would expect him to say. He is concerned for the best of everyone involved, not just one party, on a very deep level. I have never seen him taking sides, he seems to have a broader vision than most of us, and he is trying to encourage everyone involved to make spiritual progress. While this sometimes goes against our personal sense of justice, or our understanding of what should be the right thing to do based on our relative evaluation of the situation, I personally trust that he knows what he is doing, and that it is for the best interest of everyone. What does Krishna say in the Gita about devotees who have committed faults? ... Now, with a strong emotional bias such as Sanaka's, someone may not always appreciate that. And Sanaka thinks that his views are the only truth and seeks support for his case. Understandable, but perhaps slightly self-destructive...  I do wonder who Sanaka, as well as some of the devotees he interviews such as Dhira Govinda, take guidance from... just as a footnote!

Now, Sanaka clearly is concerned about the current situation and the future of child protection, which I believe are very valid concerns (for any organization or institution!) that could have been presented very differently. And yes, there needs to be an independent office to investigate any concerns raised, that has some sort of executive or significant advisory power. And that is obviously missing - hence, the frustration and the documentary.

I don't believe that bashing and misrepresenting devotees online is the proper way to address issues. It's a very non-Vaishnava coping mechanism that I believe will result in even more resentment and negativity towards his ideas of a stronger CPO, and in a greater divide among devotees - not exactly what we need at this point, especially surrounding such a complex and sensitive issue as child abuse.

As I'm rambling on I realize that there is so much more to discuss. Maybe someone can create a more balanced research of everything that happened, from the many sides that are/were involved, and suggest how we can move forward from here to avoid past mistakes. Or not :)

Jay Gaura!

Your servant, sudevi dd

[Laksmipriya (dd) RNS (BLS - Vanipedia)]

Hare Krishna my dear friends, brothers and sisters.
Please accept my deepest obeisances. All glories to our dear Srila
Prabhupada!

I am ever grateful to you all for starting this thread, and sharing all your
innermost thoughts and confessions. I must admit, that I am deeply touched
by the sincerety of you all. I touch your feet and embrace you.

I managed to see the video only now, so I apologize for writing back late. I
will add my view and open my heart to you too, if you allow me.

I personally don't have any children, eventhough I have experience of
looking after babies since I was 8, it has been my youth to look after the
kids from our street. I raised 3 children like this. I personally never came
across any child abuse in my life. I have been beaten as a child by my
beloved mother, but I wouldn't say abused though, as both my parents
showered my sister and I with lots of love as well. My mum says I used to be
naughty and it would accelerate to a degree that once a month, she sort of
had to beat it out of me and then I was good for another month :) This was
going on until I was strong enough to hold her hand when she tried to hit my
backside with the wooden spoon. She never ever hit me since. We have a very
loving and friendly relationship. I adore her.

I have however personally experienced devotee abuse on my own skin, being
sentenced without questioning, misrepresented and outcasted from the
association of devotees I was living with. but even that I considered as my
karma and as a blessing in disguise, which it indeed worked out to be. It
did hurt but was nothing close to child abuse, but it was my first direct
experience with an Iskcon management failure.

Everyone sane and coherent will say that child abuse is disgusting. But
unfortunately not everyone is sane, nor coherent. People who have been
abused might feel that it is normal. I think its the most sickening form of
abuse that can be. Children are so innocent....

This video in my view is a way to reach out, trying to catch to some straw
of hope and help. This devotee as far I am aware, has been abused as a
child, he has gone through all the ordeal and is reaching out to stop the
ongoing abuses that are still happening in the same schools, that he has
been suffering in.

It is true that he could have done it slightly differently, as he is sort of
taking things out of context and seemingly making fast conclusions. I feel
however mostly his desperation as a lack of action from leadership level. I
don't know if he is going to get it from this video, but I guess he is doing
what his conscience is telling him. He is trying certainly. He is not
willing to be a silent spectator. As far as I know, there are new abuses
going on in Vrindavan Gurukula again and he is sensitive to this issue. I
see him as a well-wisher of Iskcon by releasing this video, as he wants to
see Iskcon go forward and become what Srila Prabhupada envisioned it to
become and what the destiny of iskcon should be, specially in protecting the
innocent children in our movement.

He is also right that Iskcon as a society has not been very quick in
accepting accountability for their mistakes/non actions and wrong actions.
We all see that on other levels as well, not just with the child abuse. But
I am not saying that they are not doing anything and that they are not
trying. But I am saying that they could maybe try harder. Saying that... I
don't know what I would do if I was in their shoes.

Those who represents Iskcon, from the leaders and mainly them but all the
way to the new bhaktas, should be very exemplary in their behavior. That is
what our Guru Maharaj always instills into our minds. What the great man
does, common men will follow.

I don't think that Indradyumna Swami is a child abuser. But on the other
hand, he as a sannyasi should not be posting photos of young girls in his
arms, nor should he be putting them into his arms,nor should he even touch a
woman/girl.

I don't have a doubt about our Guru Maharaj's intentions, like Sudevi said,
I believe he has much bigger and broader view on things than many of us
can see. I admire him and pray that he stays close in my heart as my Guru.

I do believe though or shall I say I wish, or I desire that in his position
as a GBC man, with his influence, his amazing capacity and with his
knowledge and resources, he could be much more pro-active in many areas of
the leadership of Iskcon, rather than making his personal books number one
bestsellers. Again, not that it is not important, or strategic for spreading
the movement, it might work out to be so, but I think that Srila
Prabhupada's movement and his teachings have to be established first as a
first class place to be. Srila Prabhupada himself said at one point of
iskcon development - there is enough quantity, we have to concentrate on
quality now. That was referring to the education of our own men. Srila
Prabhupada expected the GBC to take the lead in all managerial aspects of
his movement and as yet there is still progress to be made on this level.

So I stay with this belief that everyone in Iskcon, starting from the
leadership of any sort has to be on a serious and sincere journey to become
a first class devotee. We all should strive to become pure and with that
comes responsibility, accountability.....

I feel that I personally am disempowered to act in any way in regards to
this video and the child and devotee abuses going on in Iskcon. I am
concerned thats for sure but dont know what could I do to help it. One sure
thing is that we in BLS and Vanipedia are doing what we can in our limited
capacity to make Srila Prabhupada's position, his teachings and his movement
the best it can be. We believe that making a Vani-temple for Srila
Prabhupada is one of the most important projects at this stage of the
movement's development. There is a big Vapu-temple being built on the banks
of the Ganges in Mayapur. We want to simultaneously build Srila Prabhupada's
Vani-temple on the shores of all of the browsers across this planet and
beyond.

Srila Prabhupada can give shelter to all - devotees, and non-devotees,
child abuse victims as well as the perpetrators. And he can
lift up the consciousness of this whole world and bring it to Krishna
consciousness. He has the power and the capacity to do so, eventhough now
not physically present. But for that to happen the state of his movement has
to become impeccable, faultless. So yes, the leaders should do what they can
to bring Iskcon to a completely new level of organization, transparency and
accountability, so that more and more people can find their soul-shelter in
it. I believe Iskcon can do it and I am a great well-wisher of Iskcon in
this regard.

Got to go now. I love you all and look forward for more churning.
And always striving to get your association.

I remain your aspiring servant
Laksmipriya dd


PS: Srila Prabhupada also said - "If there is one moon in the sky that is
sufficient to dissipate all darkness. There is no need of thousands or
millions of stars. If I create one moon, that is sufficient. I don't want
many stars."

http://vaniquotes.org/wiki/If_I_create_one_moon,_that_is_sufficient._I_don%2
7t_want_many_stars._My_Guru_Maharaja_used_to_say_like_that._That_was_my_Guru
_Maharaja%27s_principle,_and_that_is_my_principle

So let us all become moons for Srila Prabhupada, that he can be proud of.
Its within the power of each individual to strive for that. :)

_/\_o

[Ali Santens]

Hare Krsna

Pranams & Dandavats to all.

Finally Laksmipriya… Here in Belgium we have a saying: ”We would give money to see you.” or “We thought you passed away.”

As always you are a waterfall of laser sharp yet sweet observation. Thank you so much for your contribution.

I am a simple son of a sowing lady and my father’s family were farmers and he sold dairy products afterwards, so now and then I had to go to Oxford dictionary to have a look at words like context, just to grasp what’s in or what’s out of it.

Anyone who would like to help me with this can do so as of now via radharaman147, my skype account. As far as the topic of ‘The Movie’ is concerned, I’d prefer not to discuss further via this email group. Skyping i only do before 20h00 Belgium time.  I don't live in a community like Radhadesh anymore, but still i have to be  an exemplary  guru to Rangavati and my daughter Taruni, so early to bed and...

We can talk more face to face on other things as well, like: ‘Ostracize or politics of an ostrich’ (in Dutch: Struisvogelpolitiek)

“Tiens!” French for “Well look a here!”:

On dandavats(30/5/16) you can find minutes of the GBC meeting in Mayapur this year. Somebody must have been like Sanjaya with Dhrtarashtra because the budget for CPO this year is a whopping 650.000 $(or is that rupees?). O, I just checked the Oxford Dictionary: budget doesn’t necessarily mean available, but usually means ‘will be needed’. Makes you think, doesn’t it: the 3^rd largest amount in the list.

I am signing out. Wishing you all the very best, and may you never be in need of any CPO in or out of Iskcon.

Haribol! ys Acyuta