GBC Proposal (with my comments at the end)

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"Sesa (das) ACBSP (GBC)" <Sesa.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

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GBC Proposal

 

Dear Prabhus:

 

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

 

Here is a constitutional proposal I have submitted to the GBC. Please give

me your feedback so that I may prepare for whatever discussion of this topic

goes on in Mayapur during March.

 

Thanks.

 

Sesa das

 

PROPOSAL NAME: A Constitutional Process for ISKCON

 

PROPOSED BY: Sesa das

 

SPONSORED BY (GBC member): Sesa das, ISKCON Minister of Justice

 

CONTACTS (email, fax, address of proposer and sponsor):

sesa.acbsp (AT) pamho (DOT) net; telephone 386 462-9591, fax 386 418-0179, 15206 NW

89th St. Alachua, FL 32615

 

DATE OF SUBMISSION: November 29, 2001

 

PRESENTATION OF PROPOSAL:

 

Whereas, Srila Prabhupada had expressed his desire that a constitution for

ISKCON be formulated, and that desire remains unfulfilled;

 

PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION:

 

Resolved, That the following Organizational Principles for ISKCON be adopted

as a preliminary step to guide the development of a Constitution for ISKCON.

 

Resolved, That a constitutional committee be established to draft a

constitution based on these Organizational Principles for ISKCON to be

presented at the GBC meeting in 2003.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA

CONSCIOUSNESS

Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 

1. THE DESIRE OF THE PREVIOUS ACARYAS

 

We believe that acaryas of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, to please

Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, desired a unified

worldwide organization to systematically propagate Krishna Consciousness in

this material world which would benedict all living entities.

 

2. SRILA PRABHUPADA HAS FULFILLED THE DESIRE OF THE PREVIOUS ACARYAS

 

We believe His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to be the

representative of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya who is fulfilling the

desire of the previous acaryas, specifically with relation to establishing a

unified world-wide organization to systematically propagate Krishna

Consciousness in this material world which would benedict all living

entities.

 

3. ISKCON AS SRILA PRABHUPADA'S OFFERING TO FULFILL THE DESIRE OF THE

PREVIOUS ACARYAS

 

We believe that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)

specifically to fulfill the desire of the previous acaryas for a unified

 

>From Akhiles

I don’t see in this constitution anything more than what is understood and

practiced already in our movement. If its purpose is to put it on paper, then

I guess it is ok. Why will they refuse to acknowledge it? It will change

nothing.

 

I got a few comments:

 

 

“The GBC is not simply an arbitrary legal structuring in the sense in which

every organization in time subjects itself. Rather, the GBC is an expression

of Srila Prabhupada's fidelity to the desire of the previous acaryas in the

matter of conducting a unified worldwide organization.”

 

I don’t understand what that mean? Sound like a metaphysical principal that we

already felt into it with dramatic repercussion.

 

“We believe that the institutional structure of ISKCON and the GBC remain

spiritually dynamic and capable of receiving spiritual inspiration in the

physical absence of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as

long as those members of ISKCON occupying positions within the institutional

structure and the GBC are strictly following His Divine Grace A. C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.”

 

“strictly following…” should be only one condition. It should be attached to

other ethical rules that the community must established.

 

“We believe that the decisions made by members of ISKCON occupying positions

within the institutional structure of ISKCON for the propagation of Krishna

Consciousness and for the spiritual progress of the members of ISKCON can be

understood to be in fulfillment of the desire of His Divine Grace A. C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada when taken by collaborative and deliberative

processes free from personal ambition.”

 

It is vague and naive if no ethic is established.

 

“10. SRILA PRABHUPADA SET THE EXAMPLE OF HOW TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITHIN

ISKCON

We believe that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada desired

that collaborative and deliberative processes be characterized by open and

honest communication, seeking consensus, representation, and voting procedures

undertaken to preserve and promote ISKCON.”

 

That is good, but it is already there, they will say; like I am saying.