HH Sivarama Swami's proposal on 'November 14th Commission'

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajs and Prabhus,

 

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

 

Based on the proposal received from HH Shivaram Swami and seconded by HH BB

Govinda Maharaja and HG Madhusevita Prabhu, the EC had put forward a

proposal to the GBC body for voting. The proposed resolution has an

explanatory note before the preamble, from H. H. Ramai Swami, Chairman of

the Executive Committee of ISKCON GBC Society.

 

The proposal is given below. It has been passed by the GBC body.

 

Your servant

 

Radha Krishna Das

 

-----------------------------

PROPOSED CORRESPONDENCE RESOLUTION FOR VOTE:

 

 

Explanation by Ramai Swami, GBC Chairman:

 

Below is a proposed resolution in response to the creation of a Commission

set up to re-investigate allegations of Srila Prabhupada being poisoned.

 

GBC members have discussed the implications of revisiting this issue at

length in the past few weeks. We are concerned for several reasons:

 

Firstly, we feel we looked into this matter at great length. We

commissioned Balavanta Prabhu to investigate this matter. After some

expenditure and much time, the study was inconclusive. Then a thorough

investigation was done by Deva Gaura Hari dasa. He presented his findings in

the form of a book: "Not That I Am Poisoned." Deva Gaura Hari dasa made a

presentation to the GBC on his book, and the methods he used to research its

findings.

 

We were satisfied by his work and we accepted the book's conclusions as

solid, logical, and well researched.

 

Secondly, to this date, we have not found any evidence that leads us to

discount Deva Gaura Hari's conclusions, nor do we think it likely that such

evidence will surface. Still, as you read below, the GBC is always ready to

hear new information that may come about, but for the following reasons, we

will only receive it through the proper channels--an individual

communicating directly with the GBC Executive Committee.

 

We are strong on this point because this is a volatile issue. Previous

"investigations" have pointed fingers at Vaisnavas in our Society with no

substantial evidence to back such dangerously serious accusation. While we

want to remain open to hear any information about Srila Prabhupada,

irresponsible and unsubstantiated accusations are categorically unacceptable

to us. We fear that despite claims of impartiality and having no particular

agenda, this Commission could again bring about such accusations--directly

or indirectly.

 

These accusations have brought about threats--even death threats--to several

devotees, and the GBC fears such a public Commission may again bring such

threats to the surface.

 

It is because of the seriousness of this issue that, as you will also see

below, the GBC has instructed ISKCON office bearers to not be involved in

this Commission. All office bearers originally involved in the Commission

have now resigned. They did so either after discussions with members of the

GBC or after seeing disturbing elements in the procedure and mood of the

Commission's members.

 

Although all office bearers have now resigned, we have chosen to include

this point in the resolution to emphasize our concern. Naturally office

bearers and ISKCON devotees in general are free to look into issues and

voice opinions as they see fit, but on this subject which literally has lead

to threats against devotee's lives, we stand strong that it be done through

the proper channel--direct communications with our Executive Committee.

 

Here is the resolution:

 

Whereas the issue of Srila Prabhupada's alleged poisoning was considered

with great concern by the GBC at their Mayapura meeting in the year 2000,

 

Whereas the GBC accepted the conclusion of the book, 'Not That I am

Poisoned' compiled by HG Deva Gaura Hari Prabhu,

 

Whereas devotees who had ongoing concerns about the subject were invited to

discuss the issue with the GBC Executive Committee, but they did not do so,

 

Whereas HG Naveen Krsna Prabhu and other devotees have, without GBC

consultation, set up a 'November 14th Commission' to review the issue of the

allegation of Srila Prabhupada's poisoning,

 

It is hereby resolved that

 

1. The GBC does not recognize the 'November 14th Commission', nor is the

Commission considered an acceptable response to GBC resolution 10 of March

2, 2000:

 

"The GBC Body requests Naveen Krishna das and others 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."

 

2. While not recognizing the Commission, if any individual has meaningful

new evidence regarding this matter it should be presented to the GBC

executive committee.

 

3. No GBC member or office bearer of ISKCON should participate in this

Commission. If they do so, disciplinary action will be taken against them.

 

end