Culture Matters, What is ISKCON? - Incompatibility with ISKCON

[Guest guest]

Dear Krishna Kirti Prabhu.

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

 

I carefully read your text about how majority of conflicts within

ISKCON may have more to do with culture. And as you present it, manners are

connected to culture. Also you mention example of Japanese workers as being

well mannered and cultured.

 

I have a question. Would you say, that culture and manners grow out of

tradition? Because of ISKCON inventions, tradition is replaced with

westernization, and vedic tradition norms (including culture and manners)

are replaced with western norms. I believe japanese are still strongly

connected to their tradition of subordination and self control. Maybe thats

where their culture and manners are coming from? And could one also say,

that efficient law enforcement and efficient legal systems, when used with

purpose of enforcing valid tradition, actually give rise to culture and

manners? Couldn't western law enforcement and legal systems resulting in

even more crime and conflicts, be actually result of law enforcement and

legal systems being used with purpose to enforce non-traditional western

values?

 

Also, since you commented on my letter, saying that "culture is something

that I see as persistently missing in these discussions", I feel that you

may be missing culture in my posts. I would like to apologize for that. I

wish I could offer more to assembled devotees. I lack qualities and culture,

but I have some enthusiasm and desire for purity, so I can offer that. Maybe

somebody will find use of my posts, and mercifully tolerate my lack of

proper culture and manners.

 

your servant Giri-nayaka das

 

 

> With regard to some of Giri-nayaka Prabhu's grievances and the current

> discussion about mediation, it should be noted that, as per the Minutes of

> the 2005 GBC meetings, approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the reported

> budget was allocated to conflict resolution and to dealing with a specific

> emergency (a temple in Germany); the allocations were more or less split

> evenly. That 2/3 of the GBC's already small budget (about US $40,000) was

> allocated to emergency management means things are, overall, not in a good

> way. In a spiritual society, even one where the vast majority of converts

> are understood to be imperfect, this means something.

>

> As a cause for conflict, I think culture figures more into these issues

> than many of us realize. About a year or two ago, in a copy of the Wall

> Street Journal, there was a double page add advertising for businesses to

> relocate themselves from America to Japan, and a selling point in the

> advertisement was that even though Japan was expensive place to have a

> business, it nevertheless (compared with America) had low levels of crime.

> It also advertised what it believed to be a superior work culture. That

> low levels of crime and low levels work place conflict are more functions

> of culture than of efficient law enforcement and efficient legal systems

> raises the question as to the causes of most conflicts within ISKCON.

> From an ISKCON perspective, Srila Prabhupada once remarked how he liked

> the manners of the Japanese and remarked how the young Japanese boys and

> girls were often better behaved than even his own disciples. Perhaps the

> majority of conflicts (and criminal activity for that matter) within

> ISKCON have more to do with culture, and culture is something that I see

> as persistently missing in these discussions.

>

> Your servant, Krishna-kirti das (HDG)

>

> On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:51 +0100, Giri-nayaka (das) BVS (Ljubljana - SLO) <

> Giri-nayaka.BVS (AT) pamho (DOT) net> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Braja Bihari Prabhu.

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

> >

> > Thank you for your information. I have some second thoughts, if program

> > of ISKCONResolve is what I can really take shelter of.

> >

> > I had some experience with mediation some months ago, and it didn't turn

> > out

> > well, to put it politely. Actually, it worsened situation to a large

> > degree.

> > I don't know if the reason was inexperienced mediator (who was

> > sannyasi/Guru/GBC in this case), or was it the nature of problem itself,

> > maybe not being most suitable for mediation. I'd rather not think about

> > this

> > specific mediator being incapable, because of his high status in ISKCON.

> > So

> > I prefer thinking, that this case was not really suitable for mediation.

> > Maybe this is not the right place to describe matter in detail.

> > Therefore let me just say, that basically it was dispute between local

> > authorities and

> > several other devotees, including myself, regarding perceived intentions

> > of

> > local authorities to adjust Srila Prabhupada's books for better public

> > acceptance.

> >

> > I think Power-based decision seems the right way to go in this case.

> > What would you suggest? You say, that proper system uses all three

> > approaches, namely power, rights and interest based. Please let me say

> > again, that I have terrible experience with mediation, and am not likely

> > to engage in it in any near future. Can you please tell whom I can turn

> > to for Power-based decision, in the case, where local GBC representative

> > refuses to come up with such decision. What are my options, if any at

> > all.

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> > your servant Giri-nayaka das

> >

> > > > I was not aware that ISKCON has Justice Ministy. This is most

> > promising.

> > > > Is it operating? What can one expect from it? How to propose a

> > > > matter

> > to

> > > > their investigation. Any procedures? Who to contact? Can please

> > somebody

> > > > help with this information.

> > >

> > > Yes, the Justice Ministry is very active. Sesa Prabhu is the Minister,

> > > while nearly all the work is being done by the ISKCONResolve office.

> > >

> > > www.ISKCONresolve.com

> > >

> > > The website is still being developed, but the services offered are

> > > outlined there. So far the results have been far beyond our

> > expectations.

> > >

> > > A brief background: Decisions are made in three ways:

> > >

> > > Power-based

> > > Rights-based

> > > Interest-based

> > >

> > > Power-based is the standard system of authority in ISKCON: the line of

> > > authority wherein an leader takes a decision in a conflict or question

> > of

> > > justice.

> > >

> > > Rights-based is when a neutral third-party (like a judge) takes a

> > > decision. The Child Protection office runs in this way, and we are

> > working

> > > to establish arbitrators for taking such decisions.

> > >

> > > Interest-based is when two parties discuss matters (often with the

> > > help

> > of

> > > a mediator) with each other and through improved communications and

> > > empathy try to settle matters in a way that all are satisfied. It may

> > > sound hard to do, but about 75% our our mediations in ISKCON end in an

> > > agreement being reached by the parties.

> > >

> > > A proper system allows for all three approaches, though the

> > Interest-based

> > > one is preferred as decisions are voluntarily reached by both parties,

> > and

> > > thus (especially in a voluntary spiritual organization) there is far

> > > better chance of compliance.

> > >

> > > Also, you will note that on the website there are opportunities for

> > > all devotees to voice concerns and complaint anonoymously (if they

> > > prefer).

> > >

> > > Ys, Braja Bihari dasa

> >

> > -----------------------

> > To from this mailing list, send an email to:

> > ISKCON.India-Owner (AT) pamho (DOT) net

> >