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Tadeusz Majewski
Dec 23, 2015, 1:03:25 PM12/23/15
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Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 7:42 AM
Subject: [nim] RESOLUTIONS OF THE 5TH UNIVERSAL MEETING
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From: ananda...@gmail.com [nim_list] <nim_...@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 7:42 AM
Subject: [nim] RESOLUTIONS OF THE 5TH UNIVERSAL MEETING
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Namaskar everyone,
RESOLUTIONS OF THE 5TH UNIVERSAL MEETING
(THE 30TH GLOBAL NIM MEETING)
AT TEL AVIV ON 2015 DECEMBER 17-22
The first and last word of spirituality is universalism. The first and
last word of our mission is universalism. It is only when our
organization reflects universalism that it can be united and
disciplined. When the administration of our organization fails to
project universalism, then that administration betrays Gurudeva, it
betrays the Ananda Margiis, and it betrays all of suffering humanity.
1. SECTOR REVIEW
[Here we discuss current conditions in the nine sectors of the world,
considering any major issues of local relevance.]
BERLIN SECTOR
The annual summer conference was brought back to Madhu Karuna after an
absence of three years for renovation and construction. About 250
people attended. In London, the BBC contacted AMURT to ask our
cooperation for a documentary they are doing on homelessness issues in
London, which would include our weekly feeding program serving about
300 homeless people each week. In Italy active pracar continues. The
Margiis organized their annual Alimentanima public event, a
body-mind-spirit festival in Rome that draws many spiritual and health
oriented groups together, with several thousand people attending over
two days.
DELHI SECTOR
AMURT work in Nepal has received commendation. And once again, there
is a conflict of dates for the New Year's DMS, and it seems unlikely
that a New Year's DMS will occur on the mainstream side.
GEORGETOWN SECTOR
No new information.
HONG KONG SECTOR
A lot of pracar is going on in China and Eastern Russia.
MANILA SECTOR
United strength of the 60+ WT workers and margiis in the sector was
evident in successful sectorial retreats which were held in July and
in December in Bali and Malaysia respectively. Though breakaway and
defector workers and groups still engage in disruptive activities in
various countries, including one who is now trying to set up a WT
training center in Vietnam which plans to churn out acaryas every six
months, they have not been able to seriously divide the main body of
workers and margiis.
NAIROBI SECTOR
There has been a lot of organizational tension in the South Africa
Orange Farm, a school, community, and AMURT project that has been
running for about 20 years. Workers of the BMPS participated alongside
mainstream workers in the August RDS and West Africa UKK in Ghana.
Margiis in all West African countries have taken a strong position
against splitting the organization in West Africa into two camps.
NEW YORK SECTOR
Not much change. Sector has a new SES, perhaps Ac. Abhiramananda Avt.
The SS is mostly out of the sector.
QAHIRA SECTOR
Some AMURT work for refugees is being done in Greece, Lebanon, and
perhaps a few other places. In Israel, a documentary film on Baba is
in process along with the ongoing project of Sarkarverse and our local
PCAP activities.
SUVA SECTOR
A retreat and mela are coming up. 200 people attended the 20th
anniversary program for the Ananda Marga River School in Maleny.
2. POSITION STATEMENTS
[Here we present position statements on current issues of global
importance.]
FARCE OF THE SO-CALLED KASHI PURODHA' MAHA' SABHA
From October 18-24, 21 Hindi self-declared "purodhas" got together for
what they irreverently labeled as a Kashi Purodha' Maha' Sabha'.
In May of 1980, Baba Himself conducted what was labeled as the Kashi
Avadhuta Sabha. The outcome of that meeting was concrete information
and inspiration for all avadhutas. Thirty-five years later, a group of
21 Hindis got together and apparently want to suggest that they have
outdone Baba by conducting not just an ordinary sabha (meeting) but a
maha' sabha (great meeting).
On top of that, all or most of the Hindi "purodhas" in India were
cloistered in a training center from October 18-24. So who was in the
field to lead the Mahaprayana program, wherein we commemorate the
glory of Gurudeva from October 21-26?
YET ANOTHER CANCELED NEW YEAR'S DMS
Though there has been no official announcement and though this
humiliation could easily be avoided, almost certainly for the fourth
consecutive year there will be no New Year's DMS at Anandanagar. Over
the last four years, more of our bi-annual DMS programs have been
canceled than conducted. At this stage, it is fair to say that
last-minute unannounced cancellation of DMS has become a disgraceful
tradition of the Vishvadevananda administration.
NON-ELECTION OF CENTRAL BOARDS (TATTVIKA, ACARYA, AVADHUTA, AND
PURODHA)
A Hindi Purodha Pramukha elected by Hindi purodhas has now contrived ñ
or been used to contrive ñ the formation of Central boards and a
Central Committee with only Hindi members. We now have an all-Hindi
Tattvika, Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Board as well as an all-Hindi
Central Committee. Is such an administration valid per the spirit of
Caryacarya and Ananda Marga ideology? Absolutely not.
In October of 2014, for the fourth time, "elections" for the Tattvika,
Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Boards were conducted. All of the
candidates were Indian, presumably Hindi; and many Non-Indian workers
were not acquainted with even a single candidate for any of the
boards. None of the candidates stated their position on any issues
affecting our organization, and with only one or two exceptions none
of the candidates has ever worked outside of India. These imbalances
might have been redressed if the nomination process had been open and
fair; however, most of the tattvikas, acaryas, avadhutas, and purodhas
outside of India (and presumably even inside of India) were given no
scope to nominate candidates.
Following are 10 indications that the elections were rigged:
1. No proper information was sent out to allow for nominations.
2. Prior information of the elections was not sent out to a majority
of workers around the world, and very many workers were not even given
scope to vote.
3. Workers who voted were given the option to vote only for Hindi
stalwarts whom they likely did not know.
4. In some sectors there was no scope for secret ballots.
5. The votes cast in at least one entire sector were discarded.
6. At least one of the "elected" board members for the highest of our
boards has a checkered history involving offenses that Baba has
classified as "the greatest [of] crimes".
7. Another member of the 4-person Purodha Board got embroiled in
scandal almost immediately after his election.
8. There was an unannounced quota system in regard to the number of
female board members in the last two elections, a system which did not
permit even one woman to sit on the Purodha Board but gave women a
fixed 25% (and essentially no voice) on the other boards.
9. In the last election, not a single Non-Indian was a candidate for
membership on any of the four boards (and hence no Non-Indian was
elected to any board).
10. The Central Committee, elected from an almost all-Hindi body of
purodhas, is also inevitably Hindi.
As these were rigged elections we totally reject the validity of the
recently declared boards. In the absence of a respectable Purodha
Board, we also cannot recognize Ac. Vishvadevananda as a bona fide
purodha pramukha. And any action taken by any of the Central Boards or
the Central Committee is automatically suspect and lacking in force.
DIGNITY OF PURODHASHIP
Nowadays, the only significance of the title, "purodha", is that the
title-holder is deemed to be an ethnic loyalist. As such, currently,
the title of purodha is largely a mark of shame, an almost infallible
sign that someone has betrayed or is betraying our ideological
mission. That is not to say that there are no broadminded persons who
have also been awarded purodhaship. But, by and large, the few
purodhas of that sort have been sidelined and silenced.
SILENT ACTION BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE
For 37 years, margiis have been maintaining structural discipline by
adhering to Baba's instructions on Silent Action. However, Silent
Action is founded on the premise that valid boards exist to process
complaints. Today, it is impossible to simply "let the boards do their
duty", as instructed by Baba in the Silent Action discourse. It is
impossible, because there are no legitimate boards to do their duty.
So, until such time as there will be genuine and representative
elections conducted within the mainstream organization, margiis can
only stand firm on our ideology ñ stand firm for universalism ñ and
resist the tendency toward unnecessary criticism.
3. RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS
[Here we discuss the current situation of the organization and the
best way to go forward with our efforts to materialize unity and
universalism.]
ELECTION EXERCISE
As has been noted many times, our board elections in Ananda Marga have
not been satisfactory. Indeed, the primitive process of elections that
we have implemented over the last 25 years ñ a process that no
dignified nation of the world would employ ñ is the direct cause for
all of the schisms within our organization. Our primitive process
lends itself to easy abuse by any dominant ethnicity, and this abuse
has reached its lowest point in the last set of elections in October
of 2014.
After eighteen years of pointing out this problem with no visible
result, we deem it time to present a demonstration of how
ideologically sound elections may be conducted for the formation of a
universally respectable administration. In other words, we offer a
concrete example of how unity may quickly be restored and how it could
then be maintained. Note that this election exercise is in no way
intended as a bona fide set of elections. The results of these
elections will not be the formation of any "new governing body". This
is simply an election exercise for purpose of showing what is
possible, what is ideological, and what is in accordance with
Caryacarya.
Over the next six months, we will be conducting "elections" for a mock
Tattvika, Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Board, as well as elections
for a mock Central Committee and Purodha Pramukha. Nominations will be
accepted for all of the positions until the end of February. From
March through May, the candidates will interface with the electorate
and, to some extent, with the entire body of Ananda Margiis. (Much of
that interaction will take place online.) And, finally, in the first
two weeks of June, votes (by secret online ballots) will be cast and
tabulated, with the results announced soon thereafter.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO NOMINATE, STAND, AND VOTE IN THE VARIOUS ELECTIONS?
* Tattvika Board: For the Tattvika Board, all tattvikas currently in
good standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate
with the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and
representative election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in
this election.
* Acarya Board: For the Acarya Board, all acaryas currently in good
standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate with
the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and representative
election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in this election.
* Avadhuta Board: For the Avadhuta Board, all avadhutas currently in
good standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate
with the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and
representative election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in
this election.
* Purodha Board, Central Committee, and Purodha Pramukha: For the
Purodha Board, Central Committee, and Purodha Pramukha, all acaryas
with at least one lesson in vishesa yoga or who have been an acarya
for at least 25 years and either are in good standing with the
mainstream structure or willing to integrate with the mainstream
structure (if such a free, fair, and representative election is
conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in these elections.
To maintain the integrity of all of the elected bodies, no one will be
allowed to hold more than one elected position. If elected to multiple
positions, the higher position will be deemed to be the sole position
in which that person would serve. For this purpose, the position of
Purodha Pramukha trumps all, the Boards trump the Central Committee,
and the Boards will be treated in the following order of importance:
Purodha Board, Avadhuta Board, Acarya Board, Tattvika Board.
For the purpose of this exercise, we will have an electoral commission
that is open to a single representative from every sector. The
individuals on the electoral commission will not be permitted to stand
for election to any of the positions. Currently, the following persons
are members of the electoral commission:
* Berlin Sector: Av. Ananda Krpa Acarya
* Delhi Sector: TBD
* Georgetown Sector: TBD
* Hong Kong Sector: TBD
* Manila Sector: Av. Ananda Gaorii Acarya
* Nairobi Sector: Ac. Daneshananda Avadhuta?
* New York Sector: Ac. Muktatmananda Avadhuta
* Qahira Sector: Ac. Abhidevananda Avadhuta
* Suva Sector: Av. Ananda Devanistha Ac.
Once again, this set of elections is just an instructive exercise. It
is not intended for the purpose of forming any kind of parallel
structure.
For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/weareanandamarga after the new year.
4. REVIEW AND CLARIFICATION OF THE FOUR-STEP PLAN (4SP)
[The 4SP was first proposed 18 years ago as a means of preventing
schisms in the organization. It continues to be put forth as the only
practical approach to unity in our organization. Here we generally
focus on specific aspects of the 4SP that need amplification or that
seem most significant at this time.]
RESOLUTION
No amendment is required.
THE FOUR-STEP PLAN
1. To ensure advancement toward universalism (ananda vishva parivara),
the formula system for cultural blending must be maintained in respect
to both postings and important elections; and there must be
progressive changes in the formula.
With respect to elections for Central/Global committees and boards,
each of the main social groupifications ñ currently Bengali Indian
(BI), Non-Bengali Indian (NBI), and Non-Indian (NI) ñ must have a
reserved percentage of seats, and each groupification will elect its
own representatives.
2. Anyone who has been a recognized acarya for the last 25 years or
more may be considered to be an elder acarya. As a one-time process
for constituting an adequate start up pool of purodhas, all such elder
acaryas must be recognized as purodha forthwith. If any of these
qualified persons do not have all of their lessons in vishesa yoga,
they may be categorized as "acting purodha" until such time as they
have received all of the vishesa lessons; however, these acting
purodhas will have the same voting rights as any purodha.
3. The expanded body of purodhas must conduct new elections for the
Central Committee, Purodha Board, and Purodha Pramukha.
The new Central Committee will have a minimum number of members,
consisting of representatives of the three main groupifications, that
is, BI, NBI, and NI. The proportions of representation should be
determined by such factors as number of acaryas, number of
ethnicities, number of nations, number of language groups, and so on.
So, for example, if the Central Committee has 18 members, the
proportion of representation might be in a ratio of 1BI:2NBI:3NI. In
other words, there might be 3 BI, 6 NBI, and 9 NI representatives.
(Naturally, the elected representatives of any groupification may be
from any ethnicity, not necessarily an ethnicity of the electing
groupification. In other words, the NBI purodhas are at liberty to
elect BIs or NIs as NBI representatives.)
The Purodha Board will consist of 1 BI representative, 1 NBI
representative, and 1 NI representative (in addition to the Purodha
Pramukha).
The Purodha Pramukha must be elected according to a system that
ensures acceptance by all of the three main groupifications. In other
words, the elected Purodha Pramukha must receive a majority of Yes
votes from the purodhas representing each of the three
groupifications.
The primary duties of the Central Committee are public service and the
propagation of dharma. To facilitate this end, the Central Committee
must go on making regular, progressive changes in the formula for
cultural blending.
The primary duties of the Purodha Board are creation of the maximum
number of purodhas, maintenance and elevation of the standard of
purodhas, and resolution of any complicated problems or serious
controversies that arise in the Marga.
The Purodha Pramukha is the chairperson of the Purodha Board and the
ex officio President of the Central Committee.
4. The tattvikas, acaryas, and avadhutas must conduct new elections
for their respective boards. Those elections will be conducted in a
rational fashion, with appropriate reservation of seats for the
elected representatives of each of the three main groupifications.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
The 4SP is in strict accordance with Caryacarya. We note that Chapter
4, "Tattvika, Acarya, and Purodha", of Caryacarya Part 1 explicitly
permits a relaxation of the rules for creation of purodhas in the
interest of universal propagation of the ideals of the Marga. "Keeping
in view that the ideals of the Marga are to be propagated universally,
these rules may at times be relaxed with the consent of the Central
Committee and with the approval of the Purodha Pramukha." Step 2 of
the 4SP is entirely consistent with this.
5. DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT UNIVERSAL MEETING
[Here, we set a tentative date and venue for our next bi-annual global
meeting.]
The tentative venue for our next meeting will be Anandanagar. The
meeting would take place at the time of the 2016 mid-year DMS.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Baba Nam Kevalam
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
RESOLUTIONS OF THE 5TH UNIVERSAL MEETING
(THE 30TH GLOBAL NIM MEETING)
AT TEL AVIV ON 2015 DECEMBER 17-22
The first and last word of spirituality is universalism. The first and
last word of our mission is universalism. It is only when our
organization reflects universalism that it can be united and
disciplined. When the administration of our organization fails to
project universalism, then that administration betrays Gurudeva, it
betrays the Ananda Margiis, and it betrays all of suffering humanity.
1. SECTOR REVIEW
[Here we discuss current conditions in the nine sectors of the world,
considering any major issues of local relevance.]
BERLIN SECTOR
The annual summer conference was brought back to Madhu Karuna after an
absence of three years for renovation and construction. About 250
people attended. In London, the BBC contacted AMURT to ask our
cooperation for a documentary they are doing on homelessness issues in
London, which would include our weekly feeding program serving about
300 homeless people each week. In Italy active pracar continues. The
Margiis organized their annual Alimentanima public event, a
body-mind-spirit festival in Rome that draws many spiritual and health
oriented groups together, with several thousand people attending over
two days.
DELHI SECTOR
AMURT work in Nepal has received commendation. And once again, there
is a conflict of dates for the New Year's DMS, and it seems unlikely
that a New Year's DMS will occur on the mainstream side.
GEORGETOWN SECTOR
No new information.
HONG KONG SECTOR
A lot of pracar is going on in China and Eastern Russia.
MANILA SECTOR
United strength of the 60+ WT workers and margiis in the sector was
evident in successful sectorial retreats which were held in July and
in December in Bali and Malaysia respectively. Though breakaway and
defector workers and groups still engage in disruptive activities in
various countries, including one who is now trying to set up a WT
training center in Vietnam which plans to churn out acaryas every six
months, they have not been able to seriously divide the main body of
workers and margiis.
NAIROBI SECTOR
There has been a lot of organizational tension in the South Africa
Orange Farm, a school, community, and AMURT project that has been
running for about 20 years. Workers of the BMPS participated alongside
mainstream workers in the August RDS and West Africa UKK in Ghana.
Margiis in all West African countries have taken a strong position
against splitting the organization in West Africa into two camps.
NEW YORK SECTOR
Not much change. Sector has a new SES, perhaps Ac. Abhiramananda Avt.
The SS is mostly out of the sector.
QAHIRA SECTOR
Some AMURT work for refugees is being done in Greece, Lebanon, and
perhaps a few other places. In Israel, a documentary film on Baba is
in process along with the ongoing project of Sarkarverse and our local
PCAP activities.
SUVA SECTOR
A retreat and mela are coming up. 200 people attended the 20th
anniversary program for the Ananda Marga River School in Maleny.
2. POSITION STATEMENTS
[Here we present position statements on current issues of global
importance.]
FARCE OF THE SO-CALLED KASHI PURODHA' MAHA' SABHA
From October 18-24, 21 Hindi self-declared "purodhas" got together for
what they irreverently labeled as a Kashi Purodha' Maha' Sabha'.
In May of 1980, Baba Himself conducted what was labeled as the Kashi
Avadhuta Sabha. The outcome of that meeting was concrete information
and inspiration for all avadhutas. Thirty-five years later, a group of
21 Hindis got together and apparently want to suggest that they have
outdone Baba by conducting not just an ordinary sabha (meeting) but a
maha' sabha (great meeting).
On top of that, all or most of the Hindi "purodhas" in India were
cloistered in a training center from October 18-24. So who was in the
field to lead the Mahaprayana program, wherein we commemorate the
glory of Gurudeva from October 21-26?
YET ANOTHER CANCELED NEW YEAR'S DMS
Though there has been no official announcement and though this
humiliation could easily be avoided, almost certainly for the fourth
consecutive year there will be no New Year's DMS at Anandanagar. Over
the last four years, more of our bi-annual DMS programs have been
canceled than conducted. At this stage, it is fair to say that
last-minute unannounced cancellation of DMS has become a disgraceful
tradition of the Vishvadevananda administration.
NON-ELECTION OF CENTRAL BOARDS (TATTVIKA, ACARYA, AVADHUTA, AND
PURODHA)
A Hindi Purodha Pramukha elected by Hindi purodhas has now contrived ñ
or been used to contrive ñ the formation of Central boards and a
Central Committee with only Hindi members. We now have an all-Hindi
Tattvika, Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Board as well as an all-Hindi
Central Committee. Is such an administration valid per the spirit of
Caryacarya and Ananda Marga ideology? Absolutely not.
In October of 2014, for the fourth time, "elections" for the Tattvika,
Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Boards were conducted. All of the
candidates were Indian, presumably Hindi; and many Non-Indian workers
were not acquainted with even a single candidate for any of the
boards. None of the candidates stated their position on any issues
affecting our organization, and with only one or two exceptions none
of the candidates has ever worked outside of India. These imbalances
might have been redressed if the nomination process had been open and
fair; however, most of the tattvikas, acaryas, avadhutas, and purodhas
outside of India (and presumably even inside of India) were given no
scope to nominate candidates.
Following are 10 indications that the elections were rigged:
1. No proper information was sent out to allow for nominations.
2. Prior information of the elections was not sent out to a majority
of workers around the world, and very many workers were not even given
scope to vote.
3. Workers who voted were given the option to vote only for Hindi
stalwarts whom they likely did not know.
4. In some sectors there was no scope for secret ballots.
5. The votes cast in at least one entire sector were discarded.
6. At least one of the "elected" board members for the highest of our
boards has a checkered history involving offenses that Baba has
classified as "the greatest [of] crimes".
7. Another member of the 4-person Purodha Board got embroiled in
scandal almost immediately after his election.
8. There was an unannounced quota system in regard to the number of
female board members in the last two elections, a system which did not
permit even one woman to sit on the Purodha Board but gave women a
fixed 25% (and essentially no voice) on the other boards.
9. In the last election, not a single Non-Indian was a candidate for
membership on any of the four boards (and hence no Non-Indian was
elected to any board).
10. The Central Committee, elected from an almost all-Hindi body of
purodhas, is also inevitably Hindi.
As these were rigged elections we totally reject the validity of the
recently declared boards. In the absence of a respectable Purodha
Board, we also cannot recognize Ac. Vishvadevananda as a bona fide
purodha pramukha. And any action taken by any of the Central Boards or
the Central Committee is automatically suspect and lacking in force.
DIGNITY OF PURODHASHIP
Nowadays, the only significance of the title, "purodha", is that the
title-holder is deemed to be an ethnic loyalist. As such, currently,
the title of purodha is largely a mark of shame, an almost infallible
sign that someone has betrayed or is betraying our ideological
mission. That is not to say that there are no broadminded persons who
have also been awarded purodhaship. But, by and large, the few
purodhas of that sort have been sidelined and silenced.
SILENT ACTION BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE
For 37 years, margiis have been maintaining structural discipline by
adhering to Baba's instructions on Silent Action. However, Silent
Action is founded on the premise that valid boards exist to process
complaints. Today, it is impossible to simply "let the boards do their
duty", as instructed by Baba in the Silent Action discourse. It is
impossible, because there are no legitimate boards to do their duty.
So, until such time as there will be genuine and representative
elections conducted within the mainstream organization, margiis can
only stand firm on our ideology ñ stand firm for universalism ñ and
resist the tendency toward unnecessary criticism.
3. RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS
[Here we discuss the current situation of the organization and the
best way to go forward with our efforts to materialize unity and
universalism.]
ELECTION EXERCISE
As has been noted many times, our board elections in Ananda Marga have
not been satisfactory. Indeed, the primitive process of elections that
we have implemented over the last 25 years ñ a process that no
dignified nation of the world would employ ñ is the direct cause for
all of the schisms within our organization. Our primitive process
lends itself to easy abuse by any dominant ethnicity, and this abuse
has reached its lowest point in the last set of elections in October
of 2014.
After eighteen years of pointing out this problem with no visible
result, we deem it time to present a demonstration of how
ideologically sound elections may be conducted for the formation of a
universally respectable administration. In other words, we offer a
concrete example of how unity may quickly be restored and how it could
then be maintained. Note that this election exercise is in no way
intended as a bona fide set of elections. The results of these
elections will not be the formation of any "new governing body". This
is simply an election exercise for purpose of showing what is
possible, what is ideological, and what is in accordance with
Caryacarya.
Over the next six months, we will be conducting "elections" for a mock
Tattvika, Acarya, Avadhuta, and Purodha Board, as well as elections
for a mock Central Committee and Purodha Pramukha. Nominations will be
accepted for all of the positions until the end of February. From
March through May, the candidates will interface with the electorate
and, to some extent, with the entire body of Ananda Margiis. (Much of
that interaction will take place online.) And, finally, in the first
two weeks of June, votes (by secret online ballots) will be cast and
tabulated, with the results announced soon thereafter.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO NOMINATE, STAND, AND VOTE IN THE VARIOUS ELECTIONS?
* Tattvika Board: For the Tattvika Board, all tattvikas currently in
good standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate
with the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and
representative election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in
this election.
* Acarya Board: For the Acarya Board, all acaryas currently in good
standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate with
the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and representative
election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in this election.
* Avadhuta Board: For the Avadhuta Board, all avadhutas currently in
good standing with the mainstream structure or willing to integrate
with the mainstream structure (if such a free, fair, and
representative election is conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in
this election.
* Purodha Board, Central Committee, and Purodha Pramukha: For the
Purodha Board, Central Committee, and Purodha Pramukha, all acaryas
with at least one lesson in vishesa yoga or who have been an acarya
for at least 25 years and either are in good standing with the
mainstream structure or willing to integrate with the mainstream
structure (if such a free, fair, and representative election is
conducted) may nominate, stand, and vote in these elections.
To maintain the integrity of all of the elected bodies, no one will be
allowed to hold more than one elected position. If elected to multiple
positions, the higher position will be deemed to be the sole position
in which that person would serve. For this purpose, the position of
Purodha Pramukha trumps all, the Boards trump the Central Committee,
and the Boards will be treated in the following order of importance:
Purodha Board, Avadhuta Board, Acarya Board, Tattvika Board.
For the purpose of this exercise, we will have an electoral commission
that is open to a single representative from every sector. The
individuals on the electoral commission will not be permitted to stand
for election to any of the positions. Currently, the following persons
are members of the electoral commission:
* Berlin Sector: Av. Ananda Krpa Acarya
* Delhi Sector: TBD
* Georgetown Sector: TBD
* Hong Kong Sector: TBD
* Manila Sector: Av. Ananda Gaorii Acarya
* Nairobi Sector: Ac. Daneshananda Avadhuta?
* New York Sector: Ac. Muktatmananda Avadhuta
* Qahira Sector: Ac. Abhidevananda Avadhuta
* Suva Sector: Av. Ananda Devanistha Ac.
Once again, this set of elections is just an instructive exercise. It
is not intended for the purpose of forming any kind of parallel
structure.
For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/weareanandamarga after the new year.
4. REVIEW AND CLARIFICATION OF THE FOUR-STEP PLAN (4SP)
[The 4SP was first proposed 18 years ago as a means of preventing
schisms in the organization. It continues to be put forth as the only
practical approach to unity in our organization. Here we generally
focus on specific aspects of the 4SP that need amplification or that
seem most significant at this time.]
RESOLUTION
No amendment is required.
THE FOUR-STEP PLAN
1. To ensure advancement toward universalism (ananda vishva parivara),
the formula system for cultural blending must be maintained in respect
to both postings and important elections; and there must be
progressive changes in the formula.
With respect to elections for Central/Global committees and boards,
each of the main social groupifications ñ currently Bengali Indian
(BI), Non-Bengali Indian (NBI), and Non-Indian (NI) ñ must have a
reserved percentage of seats, and each groupification will elect its
own representatives.
2. Anyone who has been a recognized acarya for the last 25 years or
more may be considered to be an elder acarya. As a one-time process
for constituting an adequate start up pool of purodhas, all such elder
acaryas must be recognized as purodha forthwith. If any of these
qualified persons do not have all of their lessons in vishesa yoga,
they may be categorized as "acting purodha" until such time as they
have received all of the vishesa lessons; however, these acting
purodhas will have the same voting rights as any purodha.
3. The expanded body of purodhas must conduct new elections for the
Central Committee, Purodha Board, and Purodha Pramukha.
The new Central Committee will have a minimum number of members,
consisting of representatives of the three main groupifications, that
is, BI, NBI, and NI. The proportions of representation should be
determined by such factors as number of acaryas, number of
ethnicities, number of nations, number of language groups, and so on.
So, for example, if the Central Committee has 18 members, the
proportion of representation might be in a ratio of 1BI:2NBI:3NI. In
other words, there might be 3 BI, 6 NBI, and 9 NI representatives.
(Naturally, the elected representatives of any groupification may be
from any ethnicity, not necessarily an ethnicity of the electing
groupification. In other words, the NBI purodhas are at liberty to
elect BIs or NIs as NBI representatives.)
The Purodha Board will consist of 1 BI representative, 1 NBI
representative, and 1 NI representative (in addition to the Purodha
Pramukha).
The Purodha Pramukha must be elected according to a system that
ensures acceptance by all of the three main groupifications. In other
words, the elected Purodha Pramukha must receive a majority of Yes
votes from the purodhas representing each of the three
groupifications.
The primary duties of the Central Committee are public service and the
propagation of dharma. To facilitate this end, the Central Committee
must go on making regular, progressive changes in the formula for
cultural blending.
The primary duties of the Purodha Board are creation of the maximum
number of purodhas, maintenance and elevation of the standard of
purodhas, and resolution of any complicated problems or serious
controversies that arise in the Marga.
The Purodha Pramukha is the chairperson of the Purodha Board and the
ex officio President of the Central Committee.
4. The tattvikas, acaryas, and avadhutas must conduct new elections
for their respective boards. Those elections will be conducted in a
rational fashion, with appropriate reservation of seats for the
elected representatives of each of the three main groupifications.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
The 4SP is in strict accordance with Caryacarya. We note that Chapter
4, "Tattvika, Acarya, and Purodha", of Caryacarya Part 1 explicitly
permits a relaxation of the rules for creation of purodhas in the
interest of universal propagation of the ideals of the Marga. "Keeping
in view that the ideals of the Marga are to be propagated universally,
these rules may at times be relaxed with the consent of the Central
Committee and with the approval of the Purodha Pramukha." Step 2 of
the 4SP is entirely consistent with this.
5. DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT UNIVERSAL MEETING
[Here, we set a tentative date and venue for our next bi-annual global
meeting.]
The tentative venue for our next meeting will be Anandanagar. The
meeting would take place at the time of the 2016 mid-year DMS.
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Baba Nam Kevalam
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