GBC Statement 29th Aug. (For 'X')

[Guest guest]

GBC Executive Statement. 29th. August 1998.

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The GBC Executive committee can confirm that Harikesa das has repeatedly

stated that he would prefer to work outside ISKCON. Nevertheless we still

hold out hope that his allegiance may be re-established in the future. This

situation has been further complicated by the question concerning the funds

of the Visva Tosani Foundation, which Harikesa das has demanded from ISKCON,

in some cases with threats and menaces.

 

Due to concerns expressed by a number of GBC members, this situation has

been investigated and the funds have been secured. It has been decided not

to release any of these funds at this time pending further investigation and

discussion and the whole GBC body will make the decision on this matter.

 

Harikesa das has taken an oath of allegiance to ISKCON, a practice that

Srila Prabhupada established. The oath states that any funds or property

acquired by an individual acting in their capacity as an officer of the

society, remain the sole property of ISKCON at all times, and the individual

has no claim whatsoever. A long standing ISKCON law also establishes that

guru-daksina is not the personal property of any spiritual master but that

it is the property of ISKCON.

 

The GBC feels that there are many devotees to be considered in any

disbursement of these funds, specifically those concerned with projects,

such as the Child Protection Agency, the VTE, the Curriculum Development

Team and the educational developments in India, which were established and

maintained with the help of these funds. The GBC body wants to look at this

question broadly, and arrive at a solution that can accommodate Harikesa

das, the projects these funds were supporting and Srila Prabhupada's

movement.

 

In dealing with this unfortunate and complex issue, the GBC is endeavouring

to follow Srila Prabhupada's wishes, to protect ISKCON and to establish good

practice.