Give It All to the Gurukula Graduates

[Guest guest]

As one who spent 10 years of my life in Hare Krishna schools, I

STRONGLY agree with this article.

Vrin

 

 

Open Letter to GBCs:(Hare Krsna Movement Leadership) Give It All to

the Gurukula Graduates

By Aravinda dasa

 

As a cloud of darkness and shame descends upon our once luminous and

vibrant society, most of us, the original initiates of his Divine

Grace, contemplate the grave errors that we have collectively and

individually made which have led us to this seemingly irredeemable

condition.

 

Daily the ghastly truth surfaces in media and exposes and personal

condemnation by former gurukulis. Huge lawsuits threaten to crush our

movement. It is clear that we have blown it, and blown it bad.

 

We can only pray that Srila Prabhupada, our merciful father, does not

turn his back in disgust and allow the august institution that he had

so painstakingly built to descend into ruin and oblivion.

 

My humble suggestion is that the time is ripe for us old timers to

offer the helm of this society to the next generation. Rather than

squander what little energy and resources are left in fighting

prolonged battles against those whom we have wronged (our children)

we should be preemptive and hand over all resources, both material

and spiritual, to our Gurukula graduates. I can see no alternative if

we want to re-establish the honor of ISKCON and avoid an ignoble

demise.

 

The details of how such a handover should be executed need to be

discussed amongst the whole devotee community. The Gurukula graduates

themselves will undoubtedly come up with a practical plan.

 

Essentially, what I am suggesting is that all top management

positions, including GBC members, BBT and property trustees, Back to

Godhead and Hare Krishna World editors and the positions of

headmaster, temple president and treasurer be filled by Gurukula

graduates.

 

There could be a grand assembly of all Gurukula graduates at which

the best candidates for each position could be elected by the

Graduates themselves. Naturally, a smooth transition plan would need

to be worked out, and we hope that the new leaders will allow the

older, experienced devotees to continue to serve and guide them in

avoiding the mistakes that we have made.

 

When I joined the movement in the early 1970's it was a period of

unprecedented growth and vigor. Yet almost all the devotees

(including the leaders) were less than 25 years old. Now many of the

Graduates are in their mid thirties yet most still have little or no

facility for service within ISKCON. Is it not time to pass on the

mantle?

 

I have complete faith that the next generation will exceed all our

expectations and revive the glory of the Hare Krishna movement. They

could not possibly do worse than we have!

 

Srila Prabhupada said that they would be "The future leaders of

mankind." It is time that they become the present leaders of ISKCON.

 

aravinda108

 

© CHAKRA 09-December-2000