Friday, November 4, 2016

Fixing ISKCON Starts With Us

Let us declare today, 4 November, 2016, the Disappearance Day of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada,
THE HARE KRISHNA REVOLUTION.
Let us face the facts. ISKCON today is very limited in its ability to "bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization."
(Preface Srimad Bhagavatam First Canto).
The simple reason being that from the National level to the International level of the GBC, the Governing Body Commission, the institution is stacked with those who willingly turn a blind eye to the abuse of women and children. These so-called leaders also persecute truthful , honest devotees (brahmanas) who report these issues.
I have not only read or heard from the mouths of hundreds of devotees about all the cover-ups, shuffling around of known pedophiles, support of wife-bashers and the cold hearted treatment of those who came pleaing for help, i have experienced it all myself.
I have been puzzling all day. How will i truly commemorate this holy day of the departure of my spiritual master from this material world? Do I go to the Adelaide Temple where Adi Purusa Krsna das is still Temple President and has announced that he will be giving the class? This man who ignored the reports of women who came crying to him when they were being subject to traumatising sexual harrasment and assault? This man is going to represent Srila Vyasadeva?
Will i stay at home, chant extra japa and read from the books so lovingly translated into English by Srila Prabhupada?
Will I gather with former members of ISKCON for some kirtan and prasadam and commiserate together the unfortunate situation of the mission of our spiritual master being hijacked by criminals, pretenders and rogues?
I have decided to declare on this day, my committment to removing those who bring shame and disgrace on Srila Prabhupada's teachings and movement in Australia and New Zealand. I am not able, at this point to take on the entire world, despite of course, being fully aware that the same problems of psychopathic bullying on the part of the appointed "leaders" of ISKCON is rife in many, many places.
Hopefully, seeing our struggle in Australia, devotees faced with similar problems will feel inspired and encouraged to perservere with their own revolutions. For example at Bhaktivedanta Manor in London, where the members of the International GBC are propping up a known child abuser as the Director of this iconic project. What a deplorable situation in this, the 50th Anniversary Year of ISKCON. What message does this send to the survivors of childhood abuse and indeed to the public at large?
It certainly does not allow us to put ourselves at the vanguard of spreading transcendental knowledge and illuminating the consciousness of human society. Rather, tolerance for abusers, what to speak of insisting that those child abusers can simultaneously be spiritual leaders, is an insult on the legacy of our entire disciplic succession and makes us nothing more than one more charlaton organisation in this-The Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy.
Adi Purusa Krsna das himself, what to speak of his son, are actually the small fry in all of this. It is the unholy duo of Ramai Swami and Devamrta Swami who prop people like this up as "spiritual leaders" in our Hare Krishna communities in Australia.
They are assisted by the National Secretary , Aniruddha das, who time and time again has shown his total lack of concern for Truth, Justice or even plain old accountability. These 3 are running the Australian Yatra in a clandestine and unauthorised way. What to speak of refusing to release minutes of their AGM to people like myself, it is now 100% proven that they do not even reveal important information to all the other members of the National Council.
Then there is Ajit das. I have heard so many shocking stories of his behaviour and criminal activities that i am just appalled that he holds a seat on the Executive Council. I like to personally confirm all stories i hear so i will be reporting on him another day.
Mathura Mohan? Is that even his name? Who is he and why is he on the Executive Council? Some rumour about being in Finance. But clearly, another shady character.
THEY ALL MUST GO!
ISKCON Australia will never flourish until these men are swept out! Nor must congregations of devotees accept any another GBC appointed and approved committee to rule the local temples.
It is time we executed Srila Prabhupada's Directions of Management. Local devotees run the local temples. They elect their own Temple President every 3 years. Each temple is autonomous. The role of the GBC members is to travel to different temples and make sure the spiritual standards are being kept. They are to preach the philosophy, be good examples of strong sadhana and assist the local devotees in any way they can both in their own spiritual development and in pushing forward the activities of the Sankirtan movement through book distribution, Hari Namas, prasadam distribution etc.
I am sure that some of my godsisters and godbrothers who have researched Srila Prabhupada's Directions of Management in a detailed and comprehensive manner, will be pleased to present these directions for the enlightenment of all our readers.
We have a fantastic opportunity here now in Australia. There will be a period of great upheaval. No doubt about it. As i have already stated, my intention is to see Ramai Swami incarcerated for his criminal negligence of failing to protect devotees for whom he had duty of care.
I have barely started on the other four members of this Gang of Five but if for nothing else but their shameful incompetence and despicable mishandling of this one situation in Adelaide, they should all be forced to resign. Why should we, the regular devotees, be expected to put up with the constant interference and absurd pronouncements coming from this lot when it is so clearly against guru, sadhu and sastra?
I am now being supported by many like-minded souls. The value of Facebook is that we can link together from all around the world in a circle, Isthagosthi, and discuss the teachings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya AND how best to implement them.
This time next year will be the 40th Anniversary of the Disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. Let us see what we can collectively achieve in the coming year..
Of course, we always remember these words of Bhaktivinode Thakura..
"He reasons ill
Who tells that vaisnavas die
When thou art living still in sound.
The vaisnava dies to live
And living
Spreads the Holy Names around. "

1 comment:

  1. It is just dreadful how closely this greater problem in Australia is being played out in our ISKCON Temples.
    Criminals, those who have been involved in sex abuse cover-ups, immigration scams, money laundering, drug trafficking, pedophile protection and other activities that bring shame and disgrace on the Hare Krsna movement, are still holding positions of power and influence.
    Meanwhile, those who advocate for following the actual instructions of Srila Prabhupada in regards to protecting women, children, the truthful and the vulnerable, what to speak of being law-abiding citizens or even in following Srila Prabhupada's Direction on Management.............all these people get forced out of ISKCON. The attempt is then made to portray THEM, or rather, US, as the deviants.
    Dear readers, please take the time to read this article from the Sydney Morning Herald and see how similar the actions of the mundane politicians of our country are to the "leaders" of ISKCON Australia.
    I repeat, the entire Gang of Five (Ramai Swami, Devamrta Swami, Aniruddha das, Ajit das and the Moneyman), must be removed by whatever means possible. Local devotees run local temples. Deal strongly with those who violate others and let us happily go on spreading the Sankirtan movement with enthusiasm, detetmination and perseverance.

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