GBC Reform doc #3 - GBC resolutions 2000

[Guest guest]

>As I pointed out (and Malati prabhu confirmed) there is a GBC committee

>working on these issues.

 

Dear Pancaratna Prabhu,

 

Perhaps you have not seen the following from HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami. I am

posting it for any and all devotees who have not read it.

 

 

Post from Bhakti Vikasa Swami:

The status of the GBC in the eyes of the general devotees is rock bottom and

could hardly go lower. A far cry from the Prabhupada days, when GBC men were

practically worshipped. Those who are responsible for this demise should

kindly accept moral responsibility, or be forced to do so. Unless punishment

for abuse is extended beyond that of child abusers; injustice will be done

in the name of justice, and reform will not go to the roots.

 

At present, deviations by GBC members are simply not taken seriously enough.

 

I was told by a GBC member that another GBC man recently slept in a van with

a brahmacarini, and regularly bought flowers for her. But no action is

taken.

 

There is no accountability for the GBC, and thus they can do whatever they

like and get away with it. In extreme cases, they may get a temporary

suspension from initiating, which they don't follow anyway. This is abuse.

 

The lack of character and moral responsibility in our top leaders created an

atmosphere in which child abuse flourished and was allowed to continue

unabated until some ex-abusees got vocal about it.

 

Child abuse is the tip of an iceberg of improper behavior that has led to

massive lack of confidence in Iskcon and its leaders, and mass desertions.

 

If Iskcon leaders are serious to truly restore the good name and missionary

dynamism of the society, the first step is that they must have enough

courage and character to own up to their mistakes and be prepared to take

the consequences for them.

 

I am not in favor of punishing devotees, but if at all there is to be

punishment, then it is unfair that --- and a few others are punished for

past sins, while the leaders who presided over the whole catastrophe and

whose policies have caused untold distress to thousands of devotees, not

only go scot-free, but continue to enjoy the honor and position of great

saints.

 

Does not big position bring with it big responsibility? Should not the GBCs

accept responsibility concomitant to the unparalleled honor, facilities and

personal finances that have been bestowed on them for so many years?

 

Even in karmi corporations and governments, it is not uncommon for top

leaders to resign when subordinates make major blunders, especially blunders

that are injurious to people's lives and well-being. Even if the leaders

were unaware of their subordinates' malpractices, they take moral

responsibility for it.

 

The logical extension of this should be a sincere desire to make amends, to

reform, and to start a new era of zero tolerance for all forms of abuse,

especially that perpetrated by leaders, whose moral responsibility is

greatest and who are therefore more guilty for any crimes they have

committed.

 

Several top leaders in Iskcon have abused their positions and scorned the

faith placed in them, by deviating from the high standard desired by Srila

Prabhupada.

 

It is therefore in order to also take retroactive action against Iskcon

leaders who propagated erroneous and highly damaging speculations such as

zonal acarya-ism, premature gopi-bhava etc. Those who deviated from their

initiation vows by failing to regularly chant 16 rounds, or who engaged in

grossly sinful activities after initiation, should also have punitive action

taken against them. Child abusers are banned from giving class, leading

kirtan, initiating, or holding any leadership position, and the same

measures should be taken against those who have abused their leadership

roles.

 

We are informed that child abusees often feel placated if they see real

measures being taken against abusers, and if abusers express genuine

remorse. Conversely, they feel disgusted and reject Iskcon if they see gross

offenders carrying on as if nothing had happened. The same applies in the

case of abusers and abusees of all types.

 

If we accept the concept of psychological abuse, then there is hardly a

devotee outside the top ranks of this movement who was not abused --

especially in the zonal acarya era. Thousands of devotees who came to ISKCON

with hope, later left or were driven away in bitterness. Excesses by leaders

even led to cases of murder and suicide.

 

The grossest manifestations of abuse mostly fell on the weaker sections of

the society, namely the women and children. The leaders of ISKCON are surely

responsible for the ethos of abuse they created and presided over. Child

abusers in ISKCON may be victims of misguidance by leaders more than they

are criminals.

 

If we were really remorseful about abuse, we would not punish only child

abusers, but abusers of all categories. We show no interest in coming to

terms with, for instance, the shattering abuse that has been perpetrated in

the name of guruship. In light of the profound, all-pervasive abuse that

took place throughout our society, to target only child abusers is biased

and hypocritical. Thus, while campaigning against abuse, we perpetrate more

abuse, all in the name of justice.

 

Reports of child abuse investigations take much care to persuade us of the

fairness of the proceedings. Yet there is inherent unfairness in pinpointing

only child abusers. If there is to be justice and retribution, let it be at

all levels.

 

Why are only child abusers being punished? It is illogical to think that we

can contain the legal effects of abuse by punishing a few individuals. The

child abuse storm may seem like a big problem, but it is only a warning of

worse things to come. Today the ex-gurukulis are threatening legal action,

but tomorrow there may be thousands of devotees suing for psychological

abuse. We will be as incompetent to rebut their accusations as we are with

the ex-gurukulis, because their claims are true. Our movement has a horrible

history of abuse.

 

Srila Prabhupada made a house for the whole world to live in, but we have

made it uncomfortable for anyone to live in, including ourselves. We are all

collectively responsible, and the leaders more so.

 

We needed a mass catharsis years ago, and it may not still be too late if we

dare to look into our hearts and be honest before Krsna about our massive

failure. But will it happen? Unlikely. The GBC are the perpetrators. How

then, are they going to put themselves on trial? They have already been

judged and tried by thousands of devotees, who have voted with their feet by

walking out.

 

But the GBC goes on with its mutual lauding and platitudes, assuring each

other that everything is basically all right, and that we're really doing a

good job of cleaning up the house.

 

Dear GBC men: is it possible that you open your eyes? The house is in worse

shape than anyone could have imagined. There are many angry people both

inside and outside it, and they can no longer be easily fooled or appeased.

 

Unless and until there is a real change of heart, and a genuine attempt to

overcome the terrible mistakes of the past, those angry people are not going

to let us go. We will be smashed again and again until the name of Srila

Prabhupada's Iskcon will be universally shamed and scorned.

 

In the absence of sincere apologies from anyone for the horrendous and

massive abuse of the past, let's get on the case of all abusers, not only

child abusers. (BTW the same thing is going on today--devotees known to be

spiritually sick are allowed to go on initiating. Is this not abuse of the

prospective disciples?)

 

However, I maintain that if we are really serious about cleaning out abuse,

we should do so at all levels. It is imbalanced, at best, to come down heavy

on child abusers while neglecting the widescale abuse that pervaded our

whole society.

 

If I am cynical, I am not alone in my cynicism. Everywhere, devotees are

expressing discontent with the way things have been going on for the last so

many years. Many senior leaders, including temple presidents, sannyasis, and

even GBC men, have expressed to me their discontent with the state of the

movement and with the policies and attitudes of the GBC. I am not one to go

looking for tales of discontent, but nevertheless hear enough of them to

understand that there is something basically out of sync in our movement.

 

Many devotees have resigned themselves to living and working in an

organization in which they feel uncomfortable, but feel helpless to change.

 

My personal experiences in trying to communicate matters to the GBC have

been most discouraging.

 

In response to my recent postings, a senior and respected devotee wrote to

me:

 

> I very much enjoyed and appreciated reading this from you, Maharaja. I

> share your anger. My specific service is ****, but I completely agree that

> there is deep corruption and hypocrisy in ISKCON leadership, and

> practically the ISKCON so-called leaders are the only ones who don't see

> it, and thus devotees more and more do not try to take shelter in the GBC,

> as the GBC body does not command respect, and in fact has become a

> laughing stock, at best, and perhaps an abject tragedy. Hare Krsna.