A humble suggestion --What really happened in Vrindavan - CHAKRA

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

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

ISKCON. I am really pained to read the above article of chakra which was

posted on "granddisciples". Here is a *draft* corrective action report, as a

humble suggestion. If it helps to resolve the current issue in any way I will

be happy. Please do not harm ISKCON at the cost of our false egos. Let their

be one definirtion ---devotee.

 

Dear CHAKRA: I humbly request that you should post articles with out adding

any spice to it. CHAKRA is not a general news paper I think. *Some* of your

articles and *head lines* remind me of headlines and articles of some

generalnews papers (tactics used to increase readership).

 

Please read my problem description below. You could have reported things in a

different way like my problem description below. I am not asking you to cover

up things, but just report in such a way that you don't add ghee to the firy

situation.

 

Please take this as a constructive criticism from a devotee who loves CHAKRA,

and who loves ISKCON even more.

 

Please forgive me, and correct me if I am wrong. I am ready for any punishment

that you impose for my mistakes.

 

Please for Krishna's sake we cannot lose even one more devotee. Let us take

everybody into confidance.

 

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya.

 

Your humble servant,

A staunch ISKCON supporter,

Bhadra Govinda Das.

Singapore.

 

 

Draft Corrective Action Report starts here:

 

1. Invocation:

 

Seeking the blessings of Radha, Krishna, Holy Dham, Guru and Gauranga and

Vaishnavas to find a practical solution for the above problem.

 

Jaya Radhe, Jaya Krishna, Jaya Vrindaban. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and

ISKCON. All glories to Guru and Gauranga.

 

2. Team Selection : A few devotees may be selected who can sit and discuss and

come out with a proper solution.

 

HG Mahaman Prabhu - TP Vrindavan

HH Gopala Krishna maharaj - GBC Vrindavan

HG Dinabandhu Prabhu - Local resident of vrindaban

HG Aindra Prabhu - VP Vrindaban temple.

HG Parvati Devi Mataji - Visitor's Representative

HG Parvai Mataji - Visitor's Representative

HG Kusha Mataji - Visitor's Representative

Any other member who can contribute to resolve the problem

 

3. Problem description:

 

It has been reported that Darshan arrangements have been inadequate for the

unexpected crowds for the Damodara Month at ISKCON Temple at Vrindavan causing

some inconvenience and confusion among the visitors. It is reported as

emergency measure the Temple authorities had to depute some devotee volunteers

to maintain the crowd, and due to lack of training and due to some unexpected

situations things went out of control resulting in pushing and pulling of the

volunteers and visitors during Mangala Arotik on date............ causing

inconvenience to the visitors and guests who had come from very far off places

such as USA, Europe etc with their year round savings, for performing Kartik

vrata/Damodar Vrata.

 

4. Interim Containment Actions:

 

(The above team members to come out with some immediate practical solutions so

that everyone gets proper darshan with in the limited space and resources

available. Devotees have to tolerate with this immediate solution until some

permanent longterm solution is found.)

 

4.1 Areas to be demarcated for Men and Women devotees, so that there is no

confusion.

4.2 Depute some women crowd keepers to control the crowd on the women's side.

etc,.

4.3 Devotees who are just visiting for a day and devotees coming from a very

far off places to contact some designated officer for some special darshan,

from the designated guest spot.

 

5. Root Cause Analysis:

 

(Why did such a problem as above arise? What are the potential causes for this

problem to arise. Unless we find the root cause we can not fix the problem.)

 

The potential causes for this problem are

 

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

 

6. Verification Of Root Cause

 

(Out of the possible potential causes the actual cause has to be found out. So

each potential cause has to be verified. Remember there may be more than one

root cause and a combination of different causes has created the above problem.

Usually there is only one root cause.

 

6.1

6.2

6.3

 

After verifying the possible potential causes of the problem it is concluded

the root cause is/are:

 

 

7. Longterm Corrective Actions:

 

(As ISKCON grows and the movement spreads, more and more devotees will come for

Darshan and we have to be prepared for such huge crowds. So the above team

should come out with long term Corrective action.)

 

7.1 Statistics have to be collected like how many devotees (breakdown men,

women, local devotees, foreign devotees attended the special festival days and

Karik masa which help us to forecast future crowds and make advance

preparations..............Action By

7.2 Preference has to be given to guests especially devotees who come from very

far off places and visit the Holy Dham only for one or two days over local

residents who have the Darshan day in and day out.

etc...

 

8. Prevent Recurrence:

 

(Certain actions have to be put in place across the Temples Of ISKCON to

prevent such recurrences as above. The problem might have occured in one place

such as Vrindavan Now. Care has to be taken this does not recur in future in

any temple, in future. For example Gaura Poornima Festival is coming up and

all care has to be taken at Mayapur).

 

8.1

8.2

8.3

 

9. Glorification Of Team Members

 

All the team members should be glorified for coming out with such a wonderful

solution for the above problem. They must be honoured with some spiritual

gifts.

 

End.

 

Your humble servant,

Bhadra Govinda Das.

Singapore.

 

----------

> [Text 2776349 from COM]

>

> Posted today, a few minutes ago, on http://chakra.org

>

> What really happened in Vrindavan?

> By Vipramukhya Swami

>

> CHAKRA (Freeport, Long Island, NY) - November 13, 1999: An incident in

> Vrindavan where women were allegedly manhandled away from the temple altar

> by men representing the temple administration has sparked a wave of

> controversy, with tempers continuing to flare up and threats of resignation

> from ISKCON abound. CHAKRA has investigated the issue and this is our

> report.

>

> "Tension between men and women escalated at the Krishna-Balarama ISKCON

> temple here until one morning at mangala-arati women were manhandled away

> from the front of the Deities' altar, according to numerous reports from

> senior devotees," reported Pranada devi dasi in a CHAKRA article posted

> yesterday.

>

> Of this incident, the GBC Chairman, Bir Krishna Maharaja, said, "The GBC

> will not tolerateI preferential treatment given to male devotees in any

> form." He says that this is an official directive from the GBC Executive

> Committee.

>

> But Mahamana, the temple president of the ISKCON Krishna Balarama temple in

> Vrindavan objects to Bir Krishna Maharaja's and the GBC's interference. "We

> at Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir are concerned about the directive that you

> have issued. We feel it sets a bad precedent in that it is against the

> system of management set up for ISKCON by Srila Prabhupada. Management

> issues/policies are to be discussed and implemented by the Temple President

> with his team, not that the GBC interferes."

>

> Mahamana says that Gopal Krishna Maharaj, GBC for Vrindavan, does not

> support the directive issued by Bir Krishna Maharaja, and that "he and all

> of the managers are sincerely striving for an amicable solution."

>

> "We assure you that we have highest regards for our venerable matajis and

> shall take all steps for their protection," Mahaman claims.

>

> Reports about what actually happened sometimes conflict with one another.

> Some reports say women were physically restrained and "beaten," from getting

> close to the altar during Mangal Arati, others deny any physical beating.

> Most people agree there was manhandling of some form or another. "For your

> kind information, I talked with an Indian mataji who was personally present

> and she assured me that nobody was `beaten' nor was there any abuse. The

> matajis were restrained by a human chain, that's all," reports Kanai Thakur

> das.

>

> But not everyone agrees with that report. Reliable sources have told CHAKRA

> that manhandling of women did indeed take place. "Some senior men in the

> temple [including the temple commander, Aindra Prabhu, and some others]

> joined their hands and formed a human chain to prevent the mothers from

> standing where the sannyasis were offering their obeisances," one Mataji

> reported. She asked that her name be withheld.

>

> "The mothers became upset and started pushing, trying to break the chain.

> Parvati Mataji almost succeeded in breaking through the chain and the temple

> commander (a brahmacari) grabbed her hand to prevent her from moving

> forward."

>

> "I am shocked to hear of the recent aparadha to the Vaishnavis in Srila

> Prabhupada's Krishna Balarama Mandir. Such offensive action is a direct

> insult to Srila Prabhupada and will only serve to give him a bad name for

> centuries to come! We cannot allow this to happen to His Divine Grace,"

> reports Vaiyasaki dasa.

>

> Vaiyasaki says that if anyone believes that Srila Prabhupada would have

> acted the same way as "these Vrindavan temple authorities then please

> explain your understanding to me." Otherwise, he says, on behalf of

> Prabhupada's ISKCON, he demands an apology to the women who were insulted.

>

> Vaiyasaki says that he is "sick and tired" of hearing how ISKCON males,

> including sannyasis, preach against females, including to young gurukula

> boys. "On the other hand, ISKCON ladies teach how to see all other living

> entities as spirit soul beyond the external bodily dress! How has this

> impurity come upon the men?"

>

> Pranada dasi says that for over a year women have taken darsana by standing

> in front of half of Radha-Syamasundara's altar for mangala-arati. "Two weeks

> ago, as the influx of women started for Kartika, Kusa dasi and others

> requested Mahaman dasa, the temple president, to increase the allotted

> facility to the full altar to accommodate the increased number of lady

> pilgrims to the dhama. Instead, the temple management decided it was

> necessary to restrict the women coming forward to the front of the altar at

> all until after the ghee lamp was offered to allow men to pay dandavats at

> each altar without women present. As part of a tradition Srila Prabhupada

> started, sannyasis and others pay obeisances at the front of each altar when

> the doors open."

>

> We asked Braja Bihari dasa of the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education

> (VIHE) what his view of the subject was. "My personal feeling is that the

> women were treated in an awful way, and something should be done about it,"

> he told CHAKRA. But Braja Bihari doesn't think the discussions are going in

> the right direction, either. "I could see that the current direction the

> whole issue is taking is towards polarization, a la ritviks, Narayana

> Maharaja, etc. I don't see how forced apologies, GBC directives, and the

> like will work."

>

> Braja Bihari says he's much more in favor of getting people to sit down and

> discuss differences. "If this is done by someone who has some mediation

> skills amazing things can often take place. If we don't take that route,

> it's just more godbrothers/sisters fighting, even though I feel in this case

> one group is right, the other basically wrong."

>

> In saying that he thought the women were treated "in an awful way, and

> something should be done about it," Braja Bihari is reflecting the mood of

> many devotees world-wide.

>

> The temple president, Mahamana dasa, defends the actions of the temple

> administration. "In recent times a small section of our venerable matajis,

> both resident and visiting have shown belligerent and unwarranted behavior

> causing a disturbance to the peaceful situation here. The temple authorities

> have taken due care and extended facilities which are reasonable in order

> that the matajis stay comfortably and at the same time benefit spiritually

> in the Dham. However, instead of co-operating with the authorities in

> allowing the authorities to provide better facilities, these matajis

> blatantly defied the temple authorities and tried to impose upon the temple

> traditions and standards which are not acceptable according to the Vedic

> culture or approved of by Srila Prabhupada, as per his several instructions

> on this matter. The purpose of the Krsna Balaram Mandir is not only to

> fulfill the needs of the matajis, but all members of the community and

> ashrams, and especially, as per the explicit instruction of Srila

> Prabhupada, those of a renounced mentality. We do not advocate depriving the

> matajis of proper opportunities, but there should be a balance, so that

> sannyasis, brahmacaris etc. are not inconvenienced."

>

> Mahamana cites what he says are several examples of unruly behavior against

> all Vaisnava etiquette that recently took place there extending back to the

> time of the Gaura Purnima festival.

>

> "There has been a tradition for the past 25 years in Krishna Balaram temple

> that during the mangal arati, the men stand in the front and the ladies in

> the back. The matajis take exclusive darshan during Sringar and Sandhya

> Arati. Several devotees have confirmed that this was the standard during

> Srila Prabhupada's presence. However, per the repeated requests of the

> matajis we gave a concession that they could have the full altar of Sri Sri

> Radhe Shyamasundar after the ghee wick lamp was passed. However, they did

> not adhere to their undertaking and encroached upon the Radha Shyamsundar

> altar even from the beginning of mangal arati, not allowing the sannyasis to

> pay obeisances there. Moreover, this concession was agreed upon for only the

> month of Kartik last year, but they extended it much longer than that. As

> their obstinacy was causing inconvenience to sannyasis and other men

> devotees, it was resolved in our management meetings to allow the matajis

> exclusive darshan of the deities after the ghee wick lamp was passed. This

> resolution was duly communicated to all members of the community. However,

> the matajis blatantly defied this amicable arrangement, blocking the

> sannyasis from offering their obeisances thus forcing the management to take

> strict disciplinary action which precipitated the present situation."

>

> Mahamana says that the incidents reported have been exaggerated and

> distorted. He claims was a few unscrupulous women who "behaved indecently

> towards the men by pushing and shoving them." He says that they "even

> brought video cameras and pushed men, trying to provoke them to react so

> that they could film alleged mistreatment of the women, but the men all

> acted with great restraint in the face of their provocation."

>

> Mahamana says that they have been very reasonable and sensitive to the needs

> of the matajis and they expect that well-wishers of the ISKCON Vrindavan

> Project to please also be sensitive to the needs of the temple project.

> "There are many members of the resident community as well as visiting

> devotees including former President Deena Bandhu Prabhu, Daivisakti mataji,

> Giriraj Maharaj, Radha Govinda Maharaj and others who support our view and

> action."

>

> Mahamana threatens that unless they apologize and rectify their misconduct,

> "severe disciplinary action will be taken against the unruly elements who

> are outraging the senior men and women of the community."

>

> Braja Bihari says that Mahamana and his team are weak in their dealings with

> these kind of problems. "Though the management has done some wonderful

> service in recent years--especially in terms of financial liquidity and huge

> increases in the preaching in the zone--this is one of their weaker points:

> dealing with the complexities of the International devotee's needs. Mahaman

> Prabhu served for so many years in the isolated farm in Hyderabad, and then

> he was thrust into the position of TP of the hotbed of the movement with

> little assistance and the recent memory of the last TP being almost

> murdered. Furthermore, Panca Gauda Prabhu, the kinda VP, has been in

> Mayapura during this whole time."

>

> Braja Bihari has given his opinion on the matter in the form of several

> points. "1. Yes, the ladies (generally) unknowingly and unintentionally

> entered the men's space. That caused a problem. 2. The problem could have

> better been dealt with though mediation/problem solving rather than

> confrontation. 3. The management does have their take on what happened, and

> that should be checked out. 4. Naturally, if Parvati Mataji's statements are

> accurate they should be broadcast and Bir Krishna Maharaja's directive

> enforced. 5. Things aren't so simple. This is a natural problem that has

> arisen, and it could be used in a positive way to bring about greater

> cooperation and understanding in the future. The ladies want the equal

> opportunity to practice Krishna Consciousness and feel part of ISKCON. Men

> often see Vrindavan as a haven for practicing Krishna Conscious vairagya

> (renunciation), and they are especially concerned that ISKCON Vrindavan has

> turned into the partner-finding capital of ISKCON rather than the Krishna

> Conscious capital. Besides that we have the sometimes conflicting needs of

> visiting devotees and resident ones. Also the Gurukula needs are quite

> different than the temples'. The list goes on, and the complexities are

> mind-boggling."

>

> But many women are angry. One of them, Parvati dasi, who had been involved

> in the Vrindavan incident and named by Mahaman as one of the "instigators,"

> had this to say: "Srila Prabhupada always was first a gentlemen. These men

> have joined the movement and have forgotten their manners -unless they never

> had any, and then the onus is on us for not training them properly." Parvati

> dasi went on to say, "Will no one relieve the Dhama (Vrindavan) of this

> burden? Devotees, both men and women, have spent thousands of dollars to

> attend this Kartik Festival in Vrndavana. Mangal arati is one of the big

> highlights of anyone's day. It is very crowded and adjustments in comfort

> zones are normal. Are these devotees to go away appalled and offended

> instead of re-enthused? Are the rest of us to remain captivated by this

> degenerated atmosphere? Is there no one to help correct this offence to

> Srila Prabhupada's place of residence? Because of the international nature

> of this center, it goes without saying that extra care be administered to

> ensure proper hospitality of all the Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis, not

> manhandling. Can we not prove to the world that our society can turn out

> civilized human beings with civilized behavior? This affects all of you and

> all of those you are responsible for. Kindly offer your support and valuable

> input to help this temple help you and help us correct a gravely unjust

> situation."

>

> © CHAKRA 13-Nov-1999