Guest guest Posted October 3, 2001 Report Share Posted October 3, 2001 The November 14th Commission BY NAVEEN KRISHNA DAS — September 27, 2001 - An Open Letter to the ISKCON GBC Dear Chairperson Ramai Swami and members of the ISKCON GBC: Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Hare Krishna. On March 2, 2000, the ISKCON GBC Body resolved that "10. The GBC Body accepts the resignation from the GBC Body of His Grace Naveen Krishna Das. The GBC Body requests Naveen Krishna Das to give careful and dispassionate consideration to the case presented in the book Not That I Am Poisoned, and, after doing so, to enter into discussion with the Executive Committee for a resolution of this and any related issues." As you may recall, my resignation as a GBC member revolved around troubling questions attending the disappearance of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on November 14, 1977. By early 2000, I had come to see that, at the very least, these issues deserved further investigation and study. In taking the March 2nd resolution to heart, I could not just close my eyes to disturbing evidence and accept the conclusions contained in the book 'Not That I Am Poisoned,' which appeared to have many shortcomings and discrepancies. I then discovered that so many of my God brothers and God sisters thought and felt as I did. It also became painfully clear that a comprehensive, professional and dispassionate methodology was sorely needed if this issue was ever to be properly dealt with. Accordingly, and as a result of this GBC directive, The November 14th Commission was formed. Through this organization, all of us who share similar concerns can now "give careful and dispassionate consideration to the case presented in the book Not That I Am Poisoned" -- after which process I will then beg to "enter into discussion with the Executive Committee for a resolution" of this issue, as was requested. The official announcement of the formation of The November 14th Commission is attached along with various introduction letters. Thank you for your understanding. Naveen Krishna Das ==================================== Announcing the formation of The November 14th Commission: Please accept our humble obeisances. All Glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is with heavy heart and sober mind that the undersigned beg to announce the formation of The November 14th Commission, whose mission is to research, investigate, study, document, preserve, honor and glorify the life and times of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder/Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including the circumstances surrounding his disappearance from this world on November 14, 1977, for the benefit of all. If not by clear consensus then certainly by sheer number, so many disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada feel spiritually impelled to understand the totality of circumstances surrounding his disappearance from this world. The need to investigate those times is painfully obvious to those of us who have heard Srila Prabhupada's own voice in those final days. Unanswered questions continue to linger. And many devotees have yet to be heard. Clearly, for the sake of his Mission, the issues surrounding his disappearance need resolution and closure. Be assured that the unequivocal intention of this Commission is to pursue a fair and comprehensive investigation in a thoroughly professional manner. We will seek honest answers to straightforward questions. All evidence obtained will be professionally documented and evaluated. This Commission has absolutely no agenda other than to fully investigate and preserve the facts. In turn, those facts will guide all of us further. We beg the favor and cooperation of all. We assure that those providing information will be treated with respect and that requests for confidentiality will be honored. We humbly ask for your understanding, patience and support. Together we must do the needful. We also want to take this opportunity to announce the formation of a Special Liaison and Mediation Panel. Composed of Ambarisa prabhu, Gunagrahi Goswami, Rasaraj prabhu and Sesa prabhu, the members of this advisory Panel have agreed to make themselves available in order to facilitate communication and to mediate disputes, should any arise during the investigation, between the GBC and The November 14th Commission. In order to protect the reputation of Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON, it is fitting that, to the extent possible, confrontation and confusion be avoided on this sensitive issue. In addition, Balavanta prabhu has offered to advise and assist the Commission as may be requested from time to time. Anyone, anywhere, who has any information, experience or knowledge to share on this topic is respectfully asked to contact a Commissioner listed below. Thank you. Naveen Krishna Das Chairperson Commissioners (alphabetically presented) Dhira Govinda Das Guru Prasad Swami Jahnavi Dasi Naveen Krishna Das Bhailal Patel Rocana Das Veda Guhya Das Vrin Parker Yasodanandan Das CC: All Commissioners listed above CC: Liason Panel Members Ambarisa Das Gunagrahi Goswami Rasaraja Das Sesa Das CC: Balavanta Das Gupta Das ================================================= Letters of introduction from members of the Liaison and Mediation Panel (alphabetically presented): 1. Ambarisa prabhu: To Whom it may concern: As an addendum to the statement of position by Sesa prabhu, I would like to state the nature of my participation in the November 14th Commission. I very much appreciate the participation of Sesa prabhu, as I feel relation to the present members of the GBC is vital to a constructive outcome, regardless of the results. As a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, I have to take with gravity, the statements of my Guru Maharaj. As Srila Prabhupada has stated three times in one day that he has been poisoned by someone, I have to hear these words with the utmost seriousness. To dismiss these statements as trivial or lacking authenticity is extremely offensive and cruel. As such, I am not satisfied with the results of any of the investigations or reports issued so far. I do not believe that Balavanta prabhu was given adequate facility to complete his investigation. He has stated as much himself. Although there are some members of our society who believe this subject is better forgotten, I do not believe it can or should be until a full and proper investigation has been carried out. We may never know the entire truth behind Srila Prabhupada's final pastimes. However, as the events surrounding these pastimes effect profoundly the dynamics of Srila Prabhupada's legacy and enduring society, I support Naveen Krishna prabhu and the newly formed November 14th Commission, in their dedicated efforts to set the record straight. My participation is purely for honesty, fairness and justice. My role is to try, in my humble way, to keep an investigation from becoming a trial. The process needs to be a professional and systematic gathering of facts. Out of our love for Srila Prabhupada, I feel we need to put to rest, as much as possible, the lingering questions which are residing in the minds of many of our Godbrothers and Godsisters. We also need to create an accurate historical record. To do less would be negligent and indifferent. Your servant, Ambarisa dasa 2. Gunagrahi Goswami: I recently became aware that, by the desire of an increasing number of devotees, a commission has been formed to more fully investigate the events surrounding the passing of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada from this world. I have been asked to act as an impartial liaison between this November 14th Commission and the Iskcon devotees in general, and I have agreed to do so. We have all seen how much our movement, its members, and all those that have been involved in our society's volatile and controversial issues have suffered because of offenses and mistakes we have made in our dealings. Thus, as a liaison, I would like to wholeheartedly try to assure that fairness, thoroughness, objectivity, and proper etiquette surround this important undertaking. Your servant, Gunagrahi das Goswami 3. Sesa prabhu: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Earlier this year I was approach by Naveen Krishna Prabhu concerning his attempt to response to the GBC request that he review their resolutions concerning the alleged poisoning of Srila Prabhupada. As his godbrother and friend, I had a desire to help him. As an individual I had to consider how I could best help him. As an individual I have long advocated the need for established process and procedures for dealing with the many serious issues which challenge ISKCON. In the past I have actively worked to establish process and procedure in such difficult areas as ISKCON Child Protection Office cases, and in GBC dealings with problems effecting the temples in India. Thus, I felt the best way I could help Naveen Krishna Prabhu would be to serve as a neutral facilitator of whatever process he chose to employ in his response to the GBC. I conceived of my role as a referee. A neutral party to advocate the necessity of process and procedure, to review and evaluate the process and procedures established in this endeavor to insure objectivity, to act as a sounding board for ideas, to assist in overcoming obstacles to the process by facilitating communication, and to opine on perceptions of the openness and fairness of the procedure. My offer of help was welcomed by Naveen Krishna Prabhu, and thus my role in this matter shall be as outlined above. If anyone has any questions about my participation in this matter, I welcome your inquiries. Sesa das Other Correspondence (alphabetically presented): 1. Balavanta prabhu: I am agreeable to offer the November 14th Commission such advise and assistance as may be requested from time to time. Your servant, Balavanta das 2. Gupta prabhu: To the ISKCON GBC: Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Clearly, the standard to determine whether an investigation ought to be conducted into the unexplained circumstances surrounding Srila Prabhupada's disappearance should be fully weighted towards uncovering the full truth at the risk of any perceived inconvenience. Yet, after reviewing the work already done on this issue, including Someone Has Poisoned Me, Balavanta's Report to the GBC and Not That I Am Poisoned, it is my opinion that a complete investigation into this matter has not yet been accomplished. In fact, not only have the preliminary research and reports generated more questions than provided answers, in addition, troubling questions regarding the forensic work remain unresolved. Accordingly, I fully support the effort being initiated by the November 14th Commission to undertake a professional, objective and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. Moreover, I encourage all -- especially those with direct knowledge of Srila Prabhupada's final pastimes -- to fully cooperate in this investigation. All effort should be made to bring this matter to closure during the lifetime of those contemporary to Srila Prabhupada. His legacy deserves nothing less. With regards, Gupta das 3. Dhira Govinda prabhu September 16, 2001 Dear Maharajas and Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I have agreed to participate in the November 14th Commission because of a conviction that it is vital to the well-being of Srila Prabhupada's movement that we resolve the issue of his disappearance pastime. Lacking such resolution, doubts about the matter will fester and impede the healthy progress of the sankirtana movement. Based on the documentation I've seen till now, I do not believe that the issue has been satisfactorily concluded. I am open to speak with anyone who would like to persuade me that an existing investigative report on the matter suitably addresses this topic. If convinced I will withdraw my participation in the November 14th Commission. Till then, I am committed to work with the Commission members to ensure that an honorable and professional investigation is conducted. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Hare Krsna. Your servant, Dhira Govinda dasa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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