Statement from the GBC EC and letter from Satsvarupa Maharaja

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Concerning Satsvarupa Maharaja

 

GBC Executive Committee Statement

 

Dear Devotees,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

The following statement from the GBC Executive Committee represents

ISKCON's official position on the subject at hand.

 

At the end of this posting you will find a candid letter from Satsvarupa

dasa Goswami about a falldown that occurred in his spiritual life about a

year and a half ago. This took place within the context of his ongoing

endeavors to serve while struggling with debilitated health.

 

The GBC Executive Committee would first like to express its deep gratitude

toward Satsvarupa das Goswami, a much loved devotee in the Hare Krsna

movement, and acknowledge his career of dedicated devotional service,

exemplary sadhana, and inspired literary preaching on behalf of Srila

Prabhupada.

 

As a GBC Emeritus, Satsvarupa Maharaja holds no official position in the

management of ISKCON and is unlikely ever to do so.

 

In consultation with the GBC EC, he has agreed to retire from initiating;

he will not initiate any more disciples.

 

His present disciples are encouraged to go on steadily in their devotional

service to ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada, and he will continue to offer

guidance and care as they so desire.

 

As Srila Prabhupada writes in Bhagavad-gita (9.30): "Sometimes. . . it may

be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be

taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary

falldown does not disqualify him. The material contamination is so strong

that even a yogi fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes

ensnared; but Krsna consciousness is so strong that such an occasional

falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service

is always a success."

 

Satsvarupa Maharaja has re-dedicated himself to his vows and asrama and is

committed to his full recovery and service to Srila Prabhupada. We offer

him our wholehearted affection, encouragement, and support.

 

Out of respect for Satsvarupa Maharaja, we request all devotees to give him

the time, space and privacy he requires to recover fully. Out of respect

and honour for the sacrifices he has made on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and

ISKCON these many years, we encourage devotees everywhere to offer him

their support, prayers, and good wishes.

 

 

Your servants,

 

GBC Executive Committee

 

-----end

 

Letter From Satsvarupa Maharaja

 

May 1, 2004

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

There has been gathering exposure that I, Satsvarupa Maharaja, and a female

therapist had a short-lived romantic involvement about one and a half years

ago. As many of you may know, I have tried many therapies over the years to

try and cure what is a severe case of "anxiety disorder anticipatory

migraine." In one such effort a Godsister was helping me as a counselor,

and regrettably I held sessions alone with her. And so the relationship

developed.

 

I certainly committed a mistake, and I felt relieved when I wrote a letter

of confession to the ISKCON sannyasa minister. He asked me if she and I had

sexual intercourse, and I honestly said "no." Krsna saved us from that.

 

I feel like I want to explain what steps I've taken to protect myself from

further problems. The saying "once burnt, twice shy" certainly applies to

me. In addition to any consequences endorsed by the GBC, I feel great

personal shame. On the other hand, this has increased my intimacy with

Krsna in prayer. I know, for example, that a sannyasi should never be alone

with a woman. I am suffering third-degree burns by disobeying this simple

first instruction for sannyasis. I'm determined to never make that same

mistake again. I am praying constantly to Prabhupada and associating with

my Godbrothers in a humble mood.

 

My health is not good, but I don't wish to dwell on it here. I'm under the

care of an expert psychiatrist MD and an authorized counsellor who is

helping me with my anxiety issues. I consider my status to be semi-retired.

I will not be initiating any new devotees. I am serving the devotee

community by writing books and also answering letters. I served in an

active capacity for almost 40 years and I can't keep it up. I am not

avoiding the society of devotees. I simply can't travel in cars or planes

to go to temples or festivals, to sing or dance or give lectures. Maybe

each of you will reach that stage sooner or later.

 

I am profoundly sorry that I slipped and fell on the road this way, a

64-year-old sannyasi who had no other brush with a woman. I thought for

sure I'd get through to the end with a perfect record. Krsna must have seen

I was proud. I pray He allows me to remain in ISKCON and follow the rules

and regulations to my dying day. I heard that Sridhara Swami told a

Godbrother just before he passed away, "Be who you are and make a

contribution." I think I have written this same sentence in my books. I

fall at the feet of all devotees and ask their forgiveness.

 

Yours in the service of Prabhupada,

 

Satsvarupa das Goswami