GBC response to Minimum Cow Protection Standards

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Chakra report # 12 by Vipramukhya Swami

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Who says the GBC has Authority?

 

CHAKRA (Mayapur, India) - February 8, 1999: The main discussion of the day

with the GBCs was guru-tattva. It was felt there was a need to examine the

mistakes of the past to address the current situation.

 

In the big picture, GBCs and Deputies continued to work separately on key

issues affecting the whole of ISKCON today. While the Deputies divided into

subcommittees, the GBC subcommittees came together and met in a plenary

session.

 

*** Cow Protection and Japa ***

 

In the Lotus Conference Room, the Deputies decided to break into

subcommittees in order to "digest" some of the things that have been giving

them "indigestion."

 

Yesterday the Deputies approved of Balabhadra's cow protection ministry

proposal as a draft. They rejected a proposal that men and women should

chant japa in the same temple room no matter how small is the size the

temple room.

 

Today they wanted to concentrate more on Sivarama Swami's siksa-guru paper.

 

*** GBCs Discuss Subcommittees' Work ***

 

Meanwhile, the GBC subcommittees wound up their work, and then met in a

plenary session to discuss the conclusion of the different groups. The

plenary session was hosted again by Braja Bihari Dasa from the VIHE.

 

Not everyone on the GBC subcommittees was a GBC member. All of the groups

had other non-GBC members participating. Non-GBC members chaired some

groups.

 

The work of the subcommittees is not finalized. These are working ideas only

and will not necessarily reflect final conclusions of the GBC Body. The

committees only discussed their preliminary conclusions which must later be

voted on by the full GBC Body.

 

The chairs of the different committees then took the microphone and

addressed the body.

 

*** Poor Public Relations ***

 

Anuttama dasa, speaking for his subcommittee, said they felt the GBC should

have a broader representation on the constituent level. There needs to be

more visible sadhana by GBC members. We need to see the management role in a

more spiritual view. There needs to be a GBC central office. The GBC has

poor public relations, and there should be better communication. There needs

to be a justice and grievance system. There needs to be job descriptions for

the GBC members that should emphasize pastoral functions and care for the

devotees. GBC members should be required to visit other zones. GBCs should

ensure properties are maintained. They discussed the concept of non-GBC

zonal secretaries and the possibility of rotating zones among GBC members.

 

After each chairman presented the results of their subcommittee discussions,

there were some questions and answers, before the next chairman would take

the microphone.

 

*** Authority of the GBC ***

 

Sesa dasa, speaking for his group, said they tried to look at where the

authority of the GBC comes in. Many people say they have no faith in the

GBC.

Despite the fact that Prabhupada created the GBC system, many devotees feel

the GBC is irrelevant. They identified that the authority of the GBC arises

from the spiritual practices of the individual GBC member, and the

satisfaction of the devotees. "We tried to define what the role of the

individual

GBC is," said Sesa dasa. "It's hard to define the GBC members into a box."

Their authority stems from their individual ability to deal with different

situations. They also get their authority from the GBC body.

 

The individuals make up the body. Where does the Body get its authority? We

say the GBC represents Prabhupada, but what does that mean? It means things

like giving up selfishness to the group benefit. It means no backroom

dealing to manipulate decisions. There should be no individual interests in

politics in the work of the GBC. It really means changing our consciousness.

It boils down to purity, and in that way Srila Prabhupada's presence becomes

manifest. We should place our faith more in oneness in the Body as a whole

than in political alliance to achieve something.

 

Sesa's group discussed how this relates to the Constitution. We've had an

order from Prabhupada to make a Constitution but it hasn't been done yet.

The Constitution should be an ideal document that creates a vision how

people can lead their whole lives in Krsna consciousness. It also has to be

cut from the cloth of Srila Prabhupada and that's where it derives its

authority. It should be a document that is continually reviewed and updated.

"To accomplish this we felt a committee of three people should be created

who are visionaries, dedicated to Prabhupada's mission, who are able to

organize a task and utilize consultants and meet for at least two months in

the year. Some funding may be required and they should come up with a draft

by next year."

 

Sesa said that the GBC Body should have practical consistency and

communication and relevance in the lives of the devotees, maintaining

Prabhupada's mood in work and decisions. It should promote selflessness. The

territorial confederation of gurus and disciples should be de-emphasized for

the greater good of the Society.

 

*** Standards and Job Descriptions ***

 

Ravindra Svarupa explained that in his group three members left to go on

other subcommittees working on the guru issue, but three guests-

Pancaratna, Adikarta and Basu Ghosh-filled in the gaps. This subcommittee

concerned itself with the structure of the GBC and it's ability to act

competently. It also discussed integrity and character of GBC members. "What

we managed to come up with toward concrete proposals is that we need to have

a permanent and fully functional executive office of non-GBC members." He

also said that we should work harder on forming capable regional governing

bodies to act within their areas.

 

We need to set standards for GBC responsibilities, especially concerning job

descriptions. How much should they spend in their zones and in their

regions? There should be a properly funded central office which would have

a phone number where people can call and register their concerns. We do need

a constitution but it is a big job to do this. You would have to have a

committee with full-time capacity to work on the constitution.

 

There should be a way of locating and training future members of the GBC.

 

*** Training and Education ***

 

Badrinarayan made a presentation to the committee that discussed

guru-tattva. He said they had a task to amalgamate the points the GBCs and

what the devotees around the world wanted to see in terms of guru-tattva and

ISKCON reform. They want to broaden the base in terms of understanding who

delivers the disciple, karma, etc. They envision a full-time spiritual task

force to work on this who will comprise a research team. This team should

deal with guru-tattva and issues of financial accountability. Their mission

would be to monitor and support our gurus in areas of conduct, philosophical

understanding, and finances. There should be training, a bhakta program and

VIHE for every devotee in ISKCON, and all devotees should have complete

understanding of Prabhupada's position and siksa relationships. The point

that gurus should have proper degrees, up to the level of Bhaktivedanta and

Bhakti Vaibhava was especially stressed. There should be ongoing training

for diksa gurus and leaders. Seminars, retreats and curriculums should be

developed.

 

Badrinarayan discussed practical figures in terms of how much it would cost

to maintain full-time devotees working on the task force, developing the

curriculum, etc. He presented a budget going over $70,000 if in India and

over $100,000 if in the West.

 

Badrinarayan fielded questions about finances and said that you need to

support a full-time office to get the things done that need to be done.

There

are 70 or more initiating gurus in ISKCON, more than twice the number of

GBCs. This office will be in charge of monitoring and training all of these

people every year as well as developing the curriculums, etc.

 

*** Afternoon with the Deputies ***

 

In the afternoon, the GBC Deputies discussed Harikesa dasa's position and

relationship with ISKCON in a compassionate way but honestly looking at

ISKCON Law and how it should be applied in his case. They also discussed

other sannyasis that have had difficulty.

 

Regarding two sannyasis who recently left ISKCON to join the Ritvik

movement, they suggested the GBC Body take a hard line in accordance with

ISKCON law.

 

The Deputies also discussed some resolutions from America regarding guru

reform but had to cut short their discussion to attend the afternoon

plenary session of the GBC Body.

 

*** Deputies Meet GBC Body ***

 

Aniruddha dasa addressed the GBC Body, explaining the work of the GBC

Deputies. There was some discussion on procedure as to how to handle the

Deputies resolutions. Some GBC members haven't paid their dues and if they

do not pay they will lose their voting rights and their names will be

reported on CHAKRA.

 

The system was that the GBC gave various proposals to the Deputies. The

Deputies discussed those proposals and gave their recommendations. Now the

GBC Body considers whether to accept the recommendation of the Deputies.

 

There were 26 voting GBC members in attendance. These votes were considered

straw votes, or preliminary votes. Later a final vote will be taken on all

of these issues.

 

Regarding Italy, the Deputies recommended that whatever resolutions were

already on the GBC books concerning Gaudia Math members should be adhered

to. A Gaudia Math sannyasi has been going there and initiating disciples,

even though he said he would not, and this is creating some problems. There

was some discussion on this issue. It seemed to boil down to enforcing

already existing ISKCON law or not. After a few minutes, a vote was taken

and the recommendation of the Deputies was accepted.

 

This part of the meeting seemed clumsy because the GBC members re-discussed

that which the Deputies already discussed in detail. However, after a few

votes were taken, it began to move into a quicker pace and move more

smoothly.

 

Even though a vote was taken to enforce ISKCON Law in Italy, Madhusevita

Prabhu had further points to make. A vote was retaken, and the vote stayed.

 

A Cow Protection proposal by Balabhadra to establish a worldwide minimum cow

protection standard in ISKCON, which was supported by the Deputies, was

accepted in a straw vote.

 

The Deputies suggested an amendment that the annual service report

required of sannyasis not on the GBC should now be required of all

sannyasis. This was accepted.

 

It has been alleged that Atma Tattva dasa has had some repeated and

questionable dealings with young ladies. When he was questioned about this

recently, he reacted by sending a letter to all ISKCON members, saying he

was leaving ISKCON and no longer wanted to be considered under ISKCON

authority. A statement from the GBC Deputies about this situation was

accepted.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM on schedule.