"[RAMABHADRA (TP OF ISKCON BROOKLYN) HAS] GONE COMPLETELY RENEGADE"

631 views
Skip to first unread message

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 6:30:08 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
From <https://www.facebook.com/brooklyntemplesale/posts/142478829667350> (including all typos):

Robert Grant
Robert Grant What a tragedy to see in this video Ramabhadra Prabhu do the following: 1) turn off the lights in the temple while the GBC Chairman, His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami was speaking to scores of devotees and guests at the Sunday feast; 2) call the police to help Ramabhadra evacuate everyone from the temple, cancelling all Deity worship and Darshan and locking the doors. Kicking families of worshippers out of the Mandir! Overt defiance of the GBC order to stop the sale of the temple caused his removal as temple president and instead of following the process to humbly appeal, he chose continued open defiance of ISKCON's governing authority. It appears he's gone completely renegade and may contracting nice to fight to sell the temple so he, outside of ISKCON, can control almost $60 Mil as if it's his money! I pray for him to return to his sound condition of mind and become again a humble servant within ISKCON. His aspiring servant, ramesvara dasa

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 7:58:21 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 8:21:59 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 8:37:18 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Srila Prabhupada made it crystal-clear that he doesn't want more than one initiating guru within ISKCON, because, otherwise, factions are created. But a majority of the members of the GBC think that they know better than Prabhupada! Therefore, the GBC body is losing authority/respect more and more! Obviously, the members of the GBC have to learn the hard way that disobeying Prabhupada is very, very bad karma!

PRABHUPĀDA: “As the post [of GBC] is very great, similarly, the punishment is also very great.”

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.15 — June 4, 1974, Geneva

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 9:30:10 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
PRABHUPĀDA: “As it is said, not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 7.21 (Purport)

rainer hahn

unread,
Jul 24, 2017, 10:59:13 PM7/24/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
seems like real estate makes neophyte devotees  robbed of their knowledge. Or, as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja used to say, causes friction, tension among the devotees. Same in EU, castle in France, castle in Spain, Villa Vrindavan Italy, etc,. etc,. approx 50 properties all over. Rank and file Prabhupada disciples told to leave.  Of course NGO property cannot be turned into private property but it can be used to create funds. So as Prabhupada says, very strong management required and vigilant observation...

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Prabhupadanuga" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to istagosthi+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/istagosthi.

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 25, 2017, 4:56:23 AM7/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net


Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 25, 2017, 5:22:07 AM7/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net



rainer hahn

unread,
Jul 25, 2017, 9:24:33 AM7/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com

GBC  cannot remove a temple president

"Regarding the election of President, a president can only be changed by vote. If no vote was taken, then the president cannot be changed. "

 "Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members." Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple membersand do the needful."

"
Anyway I have already written you that the local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the "Direction of Management.""





Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 25, 2017, 10:10:17 AM7/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Excellent quotes! (I've checked all 3 with the VedaBase. They are all 100% accurate!)

On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 9:17 AM, rainer hahn <raine...@gmail.com> wrote:

The GBC cannot remove a temple president!


"Regarding the election of President, a president can only be changed by vote. If no vote was taken, then the president cannot be changed."

 "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."

"
Anyway I have already written you that the local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the "Direction of Management.""

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 26, 2017, 5:25:23 AM7/26/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
MadhavaLata Devi Dasi
MadhavaLata Devi Dasi You really believe that Romapada S. (GBC) did not know about the sale? Why only the temple president was removed? GBC's favoritism acting as administrators is against their duties. No favoritism is the principle of leadership, but they are far from any sattvic quality when comes to power.
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das If the GBC is too weak to even get rid of Ramabhadra, how could they even hope to get rid of him and Romapada Swami at the same time? Maybe the GBC will eventually be forced to leave like a dog with his tail between his legs, like I've seen them do in the past!
Mario Padilla
Mario Padilla Pratyatosa Das before you spew further misinformation here are the actual facts. the GBC body has already removed Ramabhadra as an ISKCON Temple President. His continued presence in the building is based on the fact of l 1. legal residency and 2. being a board member of the resident organization called Bharati Center , Inc . No one in NYS except a Housing Court Judge can cause a person to vacate a place of residence one he has acquired tenancy there. So Ramabhadra's continued presence there is now a litigable issue.
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das It's very expensive to live in NYC and to hire NYC lawyers. Eventually the GBC will simply run out of money. What if Ramabhadra takes shelter of Madhu Pandit Dasa?

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 26, 2017, 5:53:59 AM7/26/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Govardhana was replaced as TP of Detroit by the GBC in favor of Madhavananda in 1975. The trouble is, the Detroit devotees didn't like Madhavananda, but they loved Govardhana. Then Srila Prabhupada visited Detroit. Then he visited Toronto and asked why Govardhana was no longer the TP of Detroit. Prabhupada was told that Govardhana was not chanting his rounds and was not attending the morning program, but Prabhupada ordered that Govardhana be reinstated anyway! Then Govardhana proceeded to kick Madhavananda out of the temple! 😁

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 27, 2017, 2:04:55 PM7/27/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
Robert Grant [Ramesvara Das] shared a link.
July 24 at 3:34pm
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Whether a temple is called "Bharati Center" or some version of "ISKCON" makes no legal difference. Every temple was supposed to be separately incorporated even way back in 1975. This means that they are all supposed to have different names. This was Srila Prabhupada's instruction. For example, when I was temple treasurer at ISKCON Boston in 1975-76, we were "ISKCON of New England, Inc." This is why ISKCON Boston had no liability during the Robin George or Turley $multi-million lawsuits.

The trouble is, many temples had failed to separately incorporate like they were supposed to. Therefore, when one temple got sued, many were liable.

Prabhupada's idea is for ISKCON to be run based upon love and trust, not like a dictatorship! How many people still trust the GBC after all of the crazy things they have done, such as letting hundreds of helpless children, put in their care by well-meaning parents, to get sexually molested/raped and such as selling the 55th Street temple?

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 28, 2017, 11:49:17 AM7/28/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Gaura Das with Vaiyasaki Das and 9 others.

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das The ISKCON "biggies" want a free place to stay when they go to NYC. That's what bankrupted the 55th Street temple. Now these same "biggies" are trying to also bankrupt the Brooklyn temple! But Ramabhadra Prabhu is not a wishy-washy rascal like Adi Keshava was! Ramabhadra actually cares about the welfare of Sri Sri Radha Govinda! Ramabhadra is being protected by Radha Govinda, Who are very powerful! The Brooklyn temple is obviously better off without the GBC. All that the GBC ever does is cost the temple money without giving anything in return! Now they are taking money away from Radha Govinda by causing legal problems. IMHO, those who cause trouble for Radha Govinda are doomed!

The GBC bankrupted the 55th Street temple. Now these incompetent rascals are trying to bankrupt the Brooklyn temple! The criminally negligent GBC allowed hundreds of helpless children to be sexually molested/raped! Why aren't they in jail where they belong?

Please hang in there, Ramabhadra Prabhu. I pray that Sri Sri Radha Govinda protect you now, at this critical time of a malicious attack by the envious, corrupt, insanely paranoid, criminally negligent ISKCON GBC, more than ever!


On Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 2:03 PM, Pratyatosa <praty...@gmail.com> wrote:
Robert Grant [Ramesvara Das] shared a link.
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Whether a temple is called "Bharati Center" or some version of "ISKCON" makes no legal difference. Every temple was supposed to be separately incorporated even way back in 1975. This means that they are all supposed to have different legal names. This was Srila Prabhupada's instruction. For example, when I was temple treasurer at ISKCON Boston in 1975-76, we were "ISKCON of New England, Inc." This is why ISKCON Boston had no liability during the Robin George or Turley $multi-million lawsuits.


The trouble is, many temples had failed to separately incorporate like they were supposed to. Therefore, when one temple got sued, many were liable.

Prabhupada's idea is for ISKCON to be run based upon love and trust, not like a dictatorship! How many people still trust the GBC after all of the crazy things they have done, such as selling the 55th Street temple or letting hundreds of helpless children, put in their care by well-meaning parents, get sexually molested/raped?

rainer hahn

unread,
Jul 28, 2017, 1:52:29 PM7/28/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
What happened with Matchless Gift temple which was supposed to be maintained as a memorial place where everything started? 

Pratyatosa

unread,
Jul 31, 2017, 6:35:22 PM7/31/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
From <https://www.facebook.com/lokaguru.das/posts/1774381402604413>:

Here is a message for all who care about the welfare of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda in Brooklyn and all their eternal servants who are living in the New York city area. This is from our friend Madhumangala Das.

"More insanity is on display at The Iskcon NY Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir. Today Ramabhadra das decided to remove the sign from the temple that has hung on the front of the Temple since the 90's proclaiming that the temple was an ISKCON Center. Sri Sri Radha Govinda are being held hostage by Ramabhadra das and his wife Satya dasi. This is absolutely shameful.

Why should the devotee congregation be refused darshan of the deities?

Why is it that all of this is taking place while the GBC for NY, Romapada Swami, is residing within Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Temple?

After all, the GBC goes to great lengths to impress upon all that they are the ultimate managing authority of ISKCON. All devotees everywhere should know that Romapada Maharaj and Ramabhadra das conspired to lie to the ISKCON World GBC. They have had a contract to sell ISKCON's Brooklyn temple in place for some time before boldly declaring to the GBC Body in Mayapur that there was no pending sale.

Romapada Swami has decided to jump ship and throw Ramabhadra das to the wolves when he was threatened with losing his position of guru and gbc within ISKCON if he didn't abandon the sale of the Temple.

There is a Judas in Brooklyn...

Romapada Swami should now be stripped of all position as a leader in ISKCON, since he has managed to lose control of 2 of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON Temples (Freeport NY being the other) under his GBC watch. He failed to take appropriate action last week and has allowed Ramabhadra das to keep the doors locked to the Temple for the past 8 days. This is absolutely insane.

When will the GBC show that they are actually capable of protecting Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON society from men who continually use the assets of Iskcon to line their own pockets?

When will the GBCs force Romapada Swami to show how he purchased 2 buildings in Brooklyn, on MacDougal street, under the name 'ISKCON of Manhattan' and where these funds came from?

Any devotees that are on the inside of the Brooklyn Temple and who support these 2 men should really question who they're actually loyal to, Srila Prabhupada or these two?

Ramabhadra das's actions over the past 2 weeks have proven that he is a rogue. These actions have also proven that he has a vested interest in selling the Temple for 60 million dollars.

IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT HE CARES NOTHING ABOUT ALL OF THE DEVOTEES THAT HOLD RADHA GOVINDA DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS, AS HE HAS SINGLEHANDEDLY PREVENTED EVERY CONGREGATIONAL MEMBER THAT ISN'T PART OF HIS LITTLE BAND OF CRONIES FROM ENTERING RADHA GOVINDA MANDIR.

DON'T DONATE ANOTHER PENNY TO THIS MAN AS HE ISN'T BEHAVING LIKE A SERVANT OF THE NY CONGREGATION...

If Radha Govinda Mandir isn't an Iskcon Temple then why was there a sign proclaiming that it was for more than 30 yrs?

And why have both Ramabhadra das and Romapada Swami been accepting donation checks made out to ISKCON for 3 decades as well?

How much of Iskcons money will Ramabhadra das waste on lawyers and court cases to ensure that he can sell the temple even though there is overwhelming disdain and disapproval on the part of the congregation regarding the Temple sale? "

"Enough is Enough."


Image may contain: outdoor
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das What has the GBC ever done for Sri Sri Radha Govinda except cause Them trouble?

Pratyatosa

unread,
Aug 16, 2017, 9:12:48 PM8/16/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das The GBC, by going public and trying to stage a public coup, have embarrassed themselves and the entire Hare Krishna movement! Why can't they do everything behind the scenes, through legal action, instead of agitating the minds of the Vaishnavas?
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Chanchalapathi dasa, the Vice-president of ISKCON, Bangalore: "In 2001, Adidharan dasa, the then president of ISKCON Kolkata [for 20 years!], had raised his voice against sex scandals and corrupt gurus. Dayaram arranged hundreds of hooligans who masqueraded as devotees, stormed the Kolkata temple and physically ousted Adidharan dasa. As a reward, Dayarama was made the president of ISKCON, Kolkata,"

Do you think Ramabhadra, and the other ISKCON temple presidents, have forgotten this infamous case of GBC abuse of power in which they took the law into their own hands? Such criminal activity might have been possible in India, but they're not going to get away with it in the USA!
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das The GBC obviously thinks that they have the advantage in going public because they can just pick up and leave NYC anytime they want, but the devotees of Sri Sri Radha Govinda have to live with the aftermath of their irresponsible public display of disunity.

Pratyatosa

unread,
Aug 17, 2017, 3:38:24 AM8/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
This is very strange. The Facebook ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale group is supposedly run by the GBC, but it seems like no one is moderating the site! For example:

Arjuna Pandava · July 25, 2017Rameshvara is a rapist pedophile. Bhakti Charu poisoned Srila Prabhupada. Jayadvaita minimizes and attacks Srila Prabhupada through the systematic pollution of his books. Hamsarupa is a murdering criminal fugitive and double agent - who poses as a safekeeper but is employed by the criminals.

These are all asuras.

Ramabhadra wanted to sell the old temple and make a financial empire of restaurants apartments and gift shops in Queens.

Srila Prabhupada stood under a tree in the park and chanted Hare Krishna, starting over from scratch from the derailment of his spiritual masters organization.

I recommend everyone follow Srila Prabhupada's example.
Comments
Robert Grant
Robert Grant If the site administrator cannot delete flagrant Vaisnava APARADHA comments, please remove me from anything to do with this site

Pratyatosa

unread,
Aug 18, 2017, 11:35:21 AM8/18/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net


Interesting! The following was posted on ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale a couple of days ago and then almost immediately deleted (Has Romapada Swami gotten senile, gone insane, or what?):

MISINFORMATION OR BLATANT DISHONESTY?

There has been a rash of misinformation presented to the devotee community as well as to the GBC regarding the sale of Radha Govinda Mandir. It is important to note that a lot of this deception has come not just from Ramabhadra prabhu but from Romapada Maharaj as well. Shouldn't ISKCON leaders be held to the highest standards of honesty?

First the temple was contracted for sale on the 15th of August, 2014 without the knowledge of the GBC. Then on April 16, 2015 the original contract for sale was revised (quite possibly for more money) with the approval of both the buyer and Romapada Swami and Ramabhadra prabhu. Shortly thereafter it was brought to the attention of Jayadvaita Maharaj that there was a sale contract in place.

This was later confirmed by the real estate listing for the temple being no longer be available. Romapada Swami and Ramabhadra Prabhu explained the listing as simply being an exploratory venture to gauge the current value of the temple property. This however was not the truth. The listing disappeared because a contract to sell had been signed.

Upon the GBC becoming aware of the contract to sell Romapada Maharaj and Ramabhadra prabhu said there would be multi million dollar penalties if they didn't honor the contract. Once investigated, this was deemed to be another deception as there are no legal penalties although they could have appeared in the contract sale language. This wasn't the case upon examination of the sale contract as no such wording was present.

Real estate laws regarding churches and other religious buildings is a bit different than normal real estate law, meaning the same rules don't always apply. As can be clearly seen the temple was in contract for sale without the GBC approval. Ramabhadra and Romapada Maharaja tried to conceal this with great vigor. Yet somehow Sri Sri Radha Govinda found a way to expose their deceptive and defiant actions.

The GBC has held 3 votes over the past couple of years and have denied permission to sell the temple. In March there was a closed door meeting of the Bharati Center board. They held a vote once again determining to sell the temple against the wishes of the GBC. At the time of this vote Romapada Swami was the chairman of the Bharati Center board, this is of major importance because, as per Bharati Center bylaws, if there is one vote not to sell, the sale must be vacated.

Strangely enough is the fact that Romapada Maharaj voted to continue with the sale. Yet later he claimed he didn't have all of the needed information to vote against the sale although he could have used ISKCON's in-house attorney to better understand everything. Maharaja always seems to have an excuse for the unexplainable.

Even more bewildering is the fact that Romapada Swami later wrote a letter to the NY Attorney General's office stating that he was against the sale. Why would he have voted, as a board, to proceed with the sale and then protested to the state against the sale?

The next question naturally is how are so many devotees being banned from entering the temple because of being opposed to the temple sale yet Romapada Swami is allowed to reside in the temple? None of this makes any sense!

As I noted previously, I asked Ramabhadra, on the evening of Janmastami, why I was being refused entry to the temple. I also posed this to his security team. I must say that if they are to be a line of defense I wouldn't want them defending me. What was most noteworthy was nobody, including Ramabhadra, could give me an answer as to why I or others had been refused entry. It seems that they have been coached on how to respond by Ramabhadra's lawyer, which is to give no response.

By the letter of the law, Ramabhadra, as the temple president, does have the power to ban devotees. Yet when reviewed by the state, this action is viewed as an abuse of power!

Your servant,
Madhumangala das

Pratyatosa

unread,
Aug 19, 2017, 7:47:33 AM8/19/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

"TOPMOST URGENCY" FROM ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA


Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das I'm surprised that the GBC is bringing up the "topmost urgency" letter of 1974! Isn't this a little hypocritical? The GBC, ever since 1970, has steadfastly refused to follow the voting provision of the DOM!
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Come to think of it, when was the last time that Ramabhadra, as an official ISKCON temple president, was allowed to participate in voting anyone on or off of the GBC, like Srila Prabhupada ordered?
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das For anyone fighting the GBC in court: This thread might help prove to the judge and/or jury that the ISKCON GBC is bogus! The chairperson of their own Sastric Advisory Committee (SAC) has stated that their voted-in guru system is a completely bogus concoction!: <https://groups.google.com/forum/...>.
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das The GBC takes some casual conversation so seriously that they are willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on it, but they refuse to follow Srila Prabhupada's signed, written, legally viable documents such as the DOM, the July 9th letter, and Prabhupada's will? It doesn't make any sense!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Aug 20, 2017, 4:59:32 PM8/20/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Paul Dossick
Paul Dossick What is currently the situation in Brooklyn Temple? The topic should not be ignored because it is not pleasing to discuss.
The mentalities of Romapada & Ramabhadra of banning devotees who challenge their twisted plans has merely been expanded by bannin
g practically the entire devotee community. The pathology of "stealing" the temple and the resources of the temple, merely because of a name change years ago that was approved by a GBC Romapada who is complicit in all of this is "criminal".
Why is the legal team employed by the GBC not pursuing criminal actions against them? Their bank accounts need to be frozen and subpoena to review their finances, including all on the bogus temple board should be done. If their finances have been hidden and come to light later, there should be an open ended inquiry into the funds, how they were obtained, and in whose name are they being held. If funds have been used to purchase other real estate with the money, a serious question in the case of Romapada, the souces of those funds need to be ascertained. The issue of embezzlement over many years, if not decades, is relevant.
Inaction is not an option, and the inaction of the greater ISKCON management has allowed this situation to occur. Now they have the responsibility to make this right. The dealings of Ramabhadra and Romapada have demonstrated that they are incapable and more importantly unwilling to yield to the efforts by the GBC to correct the situation.
What twisted efforts are these two and their co-conspirators doing to further their plan?
Pusta Krishna das
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das If the GBC is too weak to even get the Long Island temple back, how can they be expected to ever get the Brooklyn temple back? As for the temple being separately incorporated, this was Srila Prabhupada's instruction at least since 1975. Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to be run based upon love and trust, not like a dictatorship!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 1, 2017, 5:35:08 PM9/1/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 17, 2017, 3:06:40 AM9/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

“ISKCON” SCRUBBED FROM ISKCON BROOKLYN TEMPLE WEBSITE

Within the past week or so, nearly every reference to ISKCON has been scrubbed from the website of what for thirty-five years has been the ISKCON Brooklyn temple.

The site had earlier announced the temple to be the “ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple.” Now it’s just the “Hare Krishna Temple,” minus “ISKCON.” And where we used to see “ISKCON New York,” now it’s “Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, New York.” The site is www.radhagovindanyc.com.

Under “Hare Krishna Temple,” Śrīla Prabhupāda is still mentioned as the “Founder-Acharya,” but no longer as “Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.”

Earlier, on July 30, the temple managers had had the “ISKCON” sign stripped from the face of the building.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, in June 1977, wrote in his last will:

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

and

2. Each temple will be an ISKCON property . . .

Earlier, on July 22, 1974, Śrīla Prabhupāda had sent a letter, marked “TOPMOST URGENCY,” to all ISKCON centers, in which he directed that his name and title “must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the Society.” He specified his title, of course, as “Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” At the time, Śrīla Prabhupāda was staying at the ISKCON temple on Henry Street in Brooklyn.

Śrīla Prabhupāda never called himself the Founder-Acharya of the Radha-Govinda Mandir or any other temple, as if those were independent free-standing units. The title on which he always insisted was “Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness” -- the whole Society.

Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote his “Topmost Urgency” message after a disciple, Gaurasundara Dasa, had without authority sold the ISKCON temple in Honolulu. On September 5, 1974, Śrīla Prabhupāda, with that offense still in mind, wrote to the GBC member in New York:

“[W]e are now expanding and so our interests should be carefully guarded. Certainly the 12 GBC members [the number in 1974] are being trained up strictly under my guidance so that they will protect the interest of the [S]ociety very, very carefully. All our property should be well protected, and I think in every document my name as Founder-Ac[h]arya should be mentioned. Special care should be taken that no property can be sold or mortgaged by local managers as was done by Gaurasundara. This is my only concern.

Once again, history has shown that Śrīla Prabhupāda’s concerns were right on target.

Comments
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Who wants to follow a GBC that, at worst, abused helpless Hare Krishna children?

Who wants to follow a GBC that, at best, allowed hundreds of helpless Hare Krishna children get sexually molested/raped right under their noses, and then tried to cover i
t up by, for one thing, attacking the victims/messengers?

Who wants to follow a GBC that, at worst, poisoned Srila Prabhupada? (In order to become "gurus like Prabhupada" sooner rather than later/never!)

Who wants to follow a GBC that, at best, allowed Srila Prabhupada to be poisoned right under their noses, and then tried to cover it up by, for one thing, attacking the messengers? (And then provided a motive by trying to become "gurus like Prabhupada!")

rainer hahn

unread,
Sep 17, 2017, 12:33:33 PM9/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
The FBI, CIA, or just about any government organization would happy to be able to give a black eye to a religious movement like the Hare Krishnas. The fact that they did nothing, none of this "Poisoning of the Founder Acharya of the HARE KRSNA MOVEMENT"  came to the pages of any newspaper in the world, is proof enough that evidence had holes/was shoddy/was insufficient. Do you know any newspaper that published anything of this poisoning issue? In Germany they immediately ran a yearlong media campaign as soon devotees were convicted at court for collecting without permission. Same would have happened when poisoning is proven: "HARE KRISHNA GURU KILLED BY HIS OWN MEN"

--

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 17, 2017, 1:18:24 PM9/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
There was an Indian TV show about the possible poisoning of Srila Prabhupada, and it was also on YouTube (<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGkcf4Up4Ow>), but it's no longer there.

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 17, 2017, 2:58:10 PM9/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
Fortunately, I had downloaded the video before it got deleted, so I re-uploaded it here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDjywK1p4OA>. (The "Srila Prabhupada was poisoned" section begins at 17:05.)

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 17, 2017, 11:58:36 PM9/17/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
Actually, this is not the missing video, because, according to <http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2011/10/tv-show-in-hindi-about-poison-issue.html>, the video was in Hindi. If I knew the exact name of the missing video, maybe I could find it.

Pratyatosa

unread,
Sep 19, 2017, 8:53:17 PM9/19/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das It seems like the GBCs are behaving like mindless zombies! For example, it seems that when it came to the sale of the Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn, Jayadvaita and Ramesvara helped to cause the GBC to be even more paranoid than usual, thus causing them to oppose the sale in a very clumsy way (causing a huge public scene)! This obvious miscalculation caused ISKCON to lose yet another important temple: this time one worth US$60 million!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Nov 12, 2017, 5:10:42 PM11/12/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, romapad...@pamho.net, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
From <https://www.facebook.com/brooklyntemplesale/photos/a.116776982237535.1073741829.116573668924533/174515909796975/>:

Harold J. Fabricio
Harold J. Fabricio I hope that ,the GBC will.be victorious.

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das That's easy for you to say. You weren't in NYC during the early 80s when the GBC stole most of Radha-Govinda's assets! The servants of Radha-Govinda are not likely to forget this travesty of justice any time soon!

rainer hahn

unread,
Nov 13, 2017, 12:11:06 AM11/13/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
right, GBC is a bunch of rascals who only know one thing — how to siphon off money to an unknown location.  Take for example milk supply in New York. For a few bucks you can adopt a cow at a local farm and get milk. No. GBC is engaging one devotee to drive for 12 hours to get milk from Gita Nagari. Until today they practically have no other milk supply for ISKCON Brooklyn.

Vayasaki Das: In the NY temple, Bhaktivinoda Das use to drive 6 hours to Gita Nagari to get goshalla milk for Radha Govinda, and 6 hours drive back. I once asked him if that was an austerity.
He said, "No, it was NECTAR. Bringing the milk for Radha Govinda was pure bliss."
That was the mood of following the order of the spiritual master in our day.

Unfortunately, nowadays, nobody takes the time, nor the trouble to even begin looking how to implement Prabhuapda's order. What to speak of driving over 12 hours on a regular basis to bring goshalla milk to the Deities and devotees in New York temple!

New York is a huge city with not a farm in sight. But devotees didn't mind driving all day to bring back protected cow milk for Radha Govinda. After Bhaktivinoda went on book distribution, Vaikunthadeva drove the more than 12 hours to bring the milk to Radha Govinda, and he told me it was "pretty blissful."
Yes devotional service to God is blissful.


Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 9, 2017, 5:29:48 PM12/9/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, Ramabhad...@pamho.net

For immediate release
December 9, 2017
Contact: Jayadvaita Swami

Brooklyn: Ramabhadra Dasa sues in Court to have temple sale approved. Attorney General’s Office asks Court to reject the deal.
A Brooklyn courtroom was filled with Krishna devotees this past Wednesday for a hearing on a petition asking the Court to allow the Brooklyn Hare Krishna temple to be sold. The petition was filed by Ramabhadra Dsa, the former president of ISKCON Brooklyn. New York Assistant Attorney General Abigail Young appeared in court to oppose the petition, as did attorneys for the ISKCON GBC, for a renewed, GBC-supported temple board, and for members of the congregation.

For the sale of a place of worship, the State of New York requires Court approval. Typically, the seller first seeks approval from the State’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG). If the OAG approves, the Court it likely to approve as well.

But on September 26 the OAG notified Ramabhadra that after nearly two years of back and forth, it had declined, once and for all, his request for OAG approval. If you want to pursue the sale, the OAG told him, you will have to take your request to the Court.

That is what Ramabhadra chose to do. In late October he filed his petition with the Court, asking approval for the proposed sale.
On Wednesday the attorneys for the GBC and for members of the congregation filed with the Court their responses, outlining their many reasons why permission for the sale should be denied.

Some fifty or more New York devotees packed into the courtroom to show support for keeping the temple in its present location. Advocating the sale, only four now-removed members of the temple board showed up: Ramabhadra Dasa, Adi Deva Dasa, and their wives. (They were accompanied by two lawyers.)

The GBC, at its midterm meeting in October in Ujjain, India, had reaffirmed Ramabhadra’s removal as temple president and had also removed him and all but two members from the temple’s board of directors. The GBC authorized the Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee (BTSC) to fill the vacant slots and make any other adjustments needed.

The board members kept were Satya Devi Dasi and Adi Deva Dasa. “They had served on the board for many years,” said Sesa Dasa, chairman of the BTSC, “so we wanted to give them a chance to cooperate and continue.” But when the first meeting of the renewed board was held and neither Satya or Adi Deva (although invited) chose to appear, the board appointed two new board members to replace them.

The new chairman of the board is Vaisesika Dasa. Pyari Mohana Dasa, the regional secretary for New England, is also a board member. Both are disciples of Srila Prabhupada. All the other members of the renewed board are local devotees from the Radha Govinda congregation.
At the court hearing, the devotees present didn’t see much legal action. Ramabhadra’s lawyers asked for--and received--a “continuance,” or postponement, of the hearings to have time to study the GBC’s objections. A new court date was set: January 31.

But, most significant, in the Court proceedings on Wednesday the OAG filed its own objections to the proposed sale. The OAG detailed several grounds on which Ramabhadra’s plan had failed to prove persuasive. In fact, the OAG observed that Ramabhadra didn’t have much of a plan at all. The OAG therefore asked the Court to turn the petition down.

On behalf of the OAG, the Assistant Attorney General wrote, “[It] is unusual in a transaction of this nature involving a sale of a large and active religious corporation not to set forth a clear plan to move religious artifacts and establish a transitional house of worship as well as clear outlines for the development of a permanent new house of worship with proceeds. We would ask that the Court reject the Petition until Petitioner can provide such a plan approved by all internal bodies.”

The OAG’s reference to “all internal bodies” also appears significant. The Hare Krishna movement’s ultimate internal body, the GBC, has clearly declared its disapproval of selling the Brooklyn RadhaGovinda temple.

With the GBC, the OAG, and a majority of the congregation standing firmly opposed to the sale, the chances of Ramabhadra’s winning Court approval seem poor.

And so one member of the congregation said, “I’d say to Ramabhadra Prabhu and his people: If you really love Radha Govinda, don’t waste Their money on a hopeless dream. Let’s cooperate and serve Them together in ISKCON.”

Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 10, 2017, 1:34:51 AM12/10/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Traditionally, the GBC has been a thorn in the sides of Radha-Govinda! Please let me explain:

Not only do the GBC men want to exploit Radha-Govinda by having a free place to stay in NYC, without giving very much in return, but they also sent most of the proceeds of the sale of the 55th Street temple outside of NYC!

The GBC squandered some of that money by sending it to the grossly mismanaged Gita-nagari farm in Pennsylvania!

They squandered some more of it by buying property for a "gurukula" school at Lake Huntington, NY, where dozens of helpless children were sexually molested/raped! A school which was then forced to close down! (Did Radha-Govinda ever get any of that poorly invested money back?)

They also used some of that money to purchase a big house in New Jersey which wasn't even zoned to be a place of public worship! (Besides, why should the hard earned dollars of the New York City devotees, money that they willingly gave to the lotus feet of Radha-Govinda, be used to start a temple in NJ?)

At the same time, the GBC left Radha-Govinda high and dry, with almost nothing!

Therefore, IMHO, Radha-Govinda does not like the GBC very much, and will continue to ostracize them unless the GBC agrees to pay $millions for renovations or for a temporary arrangement for Radha-Govinda while a new building is built!

Also, the GBC should, IMHO, be made to agree to pay Radha-Govinda top dollar each time a GBC man visits NYC and stays at Their Mandir!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 12, 2017, 1:48:46 AM12/12/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
From: <https://www.facebook.com/notes/iskcon-brooklyn-temple-sale/new-york-attorney-general-urges-supreme-court-to-reject-pending-petition-for-sal/183050805610152/>:

New York Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Reject Pending Petition for Sale of Hare Krishna Temple in Brooklyn
December 6, 2017 - New York Supreme Court for Kings County Room 525 was filled with Krishna devotees opposing a petition seeking approval of the sale of their temple in Brooklyn. Also appearing in court to oppose the proposed sale were attorneys for ISKCON's Governing Body Commission (GBC), an attorney for the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board, an attorney for the temple’s congregants and a New York Assistant Attorney General.

New York State law requires court approval of the sale of real property belonging to a religious society. Typically, a religious society desirous of selling its place of worship first seeks approval from the New York State Office of the Attorney General. If the Attorney General rejects a religious society's petition to sell its place of worship, the seller's sole recourse is to attempt to overturn that decision in New York Supreme Court.

That is precisely what ISKCON Bharati Center ex-president Ramabhadra Das and his fellow removed board members attempted today – after failing three times to win approval from the New York Attorney General over the last two years.

As a result, attorneys for the GBC and congregrants of the ISKCON Bharati Center filed briefs in court laying out the reasons why Ramabhadra's petition should be denied (see sidebar titled “We Object”). Some fifty or more New York devotees wearing buttons with the slogan "Sell Books, Not Temples" were also present in the courtroom to show their support for keeping the temple in its present location.
The GBC had previously removed Ramabhadra Das as ISKCON Bharati Center temple president as well as all but two members of the temple’s prior board. The GBC then authorized the Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee led by its chairman Sesa Das to fill the resulting vacancies and make other needed adjustments.

The Bharati Center board members initially retained were Satya Dasi and Adideva Das. “They had served on the board for many years,” said Sesa Das, “so the Committee wanted to give them a chance to cooperate and continue as loyal ISKCON members.” However, when the first meeting of the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board was held, neither Satya nor Adideva chose to appear even though they had been personally invited. As a result, the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board voted to remove them and elected two new board members in their place.

The newly installed chairman of the ISKCON Radha Govinda Temple a/k/a Bharati Center is Vaisesika Das, and its vice-chairman is Caitanyananda Das, a lifelong New Yorker and congregational member. Pyari Mohan Das, ISKCON regional secretary for New England, is also a board member. The remaining board members are ISKCON Bharati Center congregants living in New York and New Jersey.

Perhaps the most significant event to occur at the court proceeding was the filing by the Attorney General’s Office of its own objections to the proposed sale. The Attorney General’s Office argued for the rejection of Ramabhadra’s “plan” for the construction of a newer and better temple. In fact, the Attorney General's Office observed that the sale petition did not contain much of a plan.

As Assistant Attorney General Abigail B. Young stated in a sworn affidavit of objection to Bharati Center’s Petition, “it is unusual in a transaction of this nature involving a sale of a large and active religious corporation not to set forth a clear plan to move religious artifacts and establish a transitional house of worship as well as clear outlines for the development of a permanent new house of worship with proceeds. We would ask that the Court reject the Petition until Petitioner can provide such a plan approved by all internal bodies.”

The Assistant Attorney General's reference to “all internal bodies” also appears significant. ISKCON's highest internal body, the GBC, has unambiguously rejected the proposed sale of the ISKCON Radha-Govinda Temple a/k/a Bharati Center.

With the GBC, the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board, a majority of the ISKCON Bharati Center congregation and the New York State Office of the Attorney General firmly opposed to the sale, the prospect of Ramabhadra’s winning Court approval seems less promising than ever.

– co-authored by Jayadvaita Swami (ACBSP) and Guru Gauranga Das (ACBSP)

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das I'm sure there's another side of the story.

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das "The newly reconstituted Bharati Center board?" How can an independent corporation's board of directors be "reconstituted" from the outside?

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Is anyone on "the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board" even allowed to enter the Radha-Govinda Mandir?

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das "Let's fight to prevent the sale of a building that we are not even allowed to enter!" Does that make sense? Sounds like the anti-sale people are simply mad because they will not get to control any of the $60 million!


On Sun, Dec 10, 2017 at 1:15 AM, Pratyatosa <praty...@gmail.com> wrote:
Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das Traditionally, the GBC has been a thorn in the sides of Radha-Govinda! Please let me explain:


Not only do the GBC men want to exploit Radha-Govinda by having a free place to stay in NYC, without giving very much in return, but they also sent most of the proceeds of the sale of the 55th Street temple outside of NYC!

The GBC squandered some of that money by sending it to the grossly mismanaged Gita-nagari farm in Pennsylvania!

They squandered some more of it by buying property for a "gurukula" school at Lake Huntington, NY, where dozens of helpless children were sexually molested/raped! A school which was then forced to close down! (Did Radha-Govinda ever get any of that poorly invested money back?)

They also used some of that money to purchase a big house in New Jersey which wasn't even zoned to be a place of public worship! (Besides, why should the hard earned dollars of the New York City devotees, money that they willingly gave to the lotus feet of Radha-Govinda, be used to start a temple in NJ?)

Therefore, IMHO, Radha-Govinda does not like the GBC very much, and will continue to ostracize them unless they agree to pay $millions for renovations or for a temporary arrangement for Radha-Govinda, while a new building is built!


Also, the GBC should, IMHO, be made to agree to pay Radha-Govinda top dollar each time a GBC man visits NYC and stays at Their Mandir!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 14, 2017, 5:31:30 PM12/14/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Siladitya Deets Larson
Siladitya Deets Larson Can someone please tell my what Romapada Swami's position is in all this?

ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale
ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale .
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Siladitya Deets Larson, please address your question directly to Romapada Swami.


The "ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale" Facebook group marked the following post as "spam!"

Pratyatosa Das shared a note to Romapada Swami LIVE's Timeline.
20 hrs ·

Romapada Maharaja, what is your answer?

From <https://www.facebook.com/notes/iskcon-brooklyn-temple-sale/new-york-attorney-general-urges-supreme-court-to-reject-pending-petition-for-sal/183050805610152/>:

Siladitya Deets Larson: Can someone please tell my what Romapada Swami's position is in all this?

ISKCON Brooklyn Temple Sale:
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Siladitya Deets Larson, please address your question directly to Romapada Swami.


Let's see how long they allow the following post to remain:

Pratyatosa Das
Pratyatosa Das It's becoming more and more obvious that the GBC is losing control of ISKCON! You can't have a GBC and "gurus," who think that they are independent of the GBC, at the same time! It's an incompatible situation!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 23, 2017, 6:11:52 PM12/23/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
New York Times article on the proposed sale of the Radha-Govinda Mandir:

https://www.facebook.com/pratyatosa/posts/10214074542754093

larry freeman p

unread,
Dec 25, 2017, 12:08:50 PM12/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com

seems the TP may have good reason to not remain part of Iskcon?




From: istag...@googlegroups.com <istag...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Pratyatosa <praty...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2017 3:11 PM
To: istag...@googlegroups.com; Ramabhad...@pamho.net
Subject: Re: "[RAMABHADRA (TP OF ISKCON BROOKLYN) HAS] GONE COMPLETELY RENEGADE"
 
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Prabhupadanuga" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to istagosthi+...@googlegroups.com.

Melanie L Nagel

unread,
Dec 25, 2017, 4:34:24 PM12/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
On 12/23/17, 9:31 PM, larry freeman p wrote:
> seems the TP may have good reason to not remain part of Iskcon?
Seriously? The only "good reason" would be absconding with Srila
Prabhupada's property. He's already removed ISKCON Founder Acarya. New
Vrindaban practically became extinct when it was outside of ISKCON. Only
after returning was it able to rebound and begin to flourish again. I
don't see anything different happening in NYC.

--
I will no longer be using my AOL account, please use: malati...@gmail.com effectively immediately. A

larry freeman p

unread,
Dec 25, 2017, 5:13:14 PM12/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com

Kirtananda's 2 top lieutenants
Radhanatha

and Devamrita

are now the TOP gurus in Iskcon




From: 'Melanie L Nagel' via Prabhupadanuga <istag...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2017 1:04 PM
To: istag...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: "[RAMABHADRA (TP OF ISKCON BROOKLYN) HAS] GONE COMPLETELY RENEGADE"
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Prabhupadanuga" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to istagosthi+...@googlegroups.com.

Pratyatosa

unread,
Dec 25, 2017, 8:44:26 PM12/25/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com, Ramabhad...@pamho.net
My dear GBC representative, Mother Malati Prabhu, thank you for your reply.

Krishna gave the Kauravas a choice: Me or My army! The Kauravas chose Krishna's army and then, soon thereafter, ended up with nothing! Similarly, Madhu Pandit Dasa was shocked when one of the ISKCON "gurus," a negotiator on behalf of ISKCON, said to him, "If you are so devoted to the ISKCON Bangalore Deities, then why don't you take the Deities and give us the temple!" (paraphrased) Obviously, an atheistic, demonic mentality, same as that of the Kauravas!

"Absconding with Srila Prabhupada's property." What a ridiculous thing to say! Besides the fact that the lifelong servants of Radha-Govinda naturally know the best way to serve Them, there is a board of directors. No one can act independently. Also, there are laws. If anyone takes the assets of a non-profit corporation for their own personal use, then they would be breaking the law, and would be, therefore, subject to arrest, conviction, fines, and jail time!

The GBC has already proven, after the $2.5 million sale of the 55th Street temple, that they can't be trusted to handle Radha-Govinda's money for the benefit of Radha-Govinda. Therefore, Radha-Govinda have kicked the GBC and their supporters out of Their temple!

Now, IMHO, the GBC is going to have to, in order to get back in the good graces of Radha-Govinda, return all of the $millions that they stole from Them, with interest! The GBC, IMHO, doesn't stand a chance unless they come up with the money to completely renovate the existing property. The GBC's only recourse, IMHO, is
to stop being a huge liability to Radha-Govinda, like they always have been in the past, and to make themselves, from now on, an asset to Radha-Govinda!

Your servant, Pratyatosa Dasa


On Mon, Dec 25, 2017 at 4:56 PM, larry freeman p wrote:

Kirtananda's 2 top lieutenants
Radhanatha

and Devamrita

are now the TOP gurus in Iskcon



From: 'Melanie L Nagel' via Prabhupadanuga
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2017 1:04 PM
To:

Subject: Re: "[RAMABHADRA (TP OF ISKCON BROOKLYN) HAS] GONE COMPLETELY RENEGADE"

Melanie L Nagel

unread,
Dec 26, 2017, 1:03:53 PM12/26/17
to istag...@googlegroups.com
On 12/25/17, 6:44 PM, Pratyatosa wrote:
if anyone takes the assets of a non-profit corporation for their own personal use,
That accusation is certainly not being made!

Pratyatosa

unread,
Feb 20, 2018, 6:09:57 PM2/20/18
to istag...@googlegroups.com
Madhumangala Das
Madhumangala Das It should be noted that the Long Island court case has never really been about the temple itself...It was about what Srila Prabhupada wanted after his departure. It's always been made to look like something different. This case actually worked against him as did the attempted sale.of Radha Govinda Mandir. Also of note is the fact that he spent in excess of 2 million dollars according to Romapada Swami himself. The good news is that he is no longer the GBC of NY. He has also been asked to move out of his office and room in the Brooklyn Temple. Slowly but surely all of the dominoes are falling in Brooklyn.


Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages