This is found on the Iskcon Boston website;
ISKCON, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT, FOUNDER - ACHARYA HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA, and related word and design marks, including the Standard Seals, are trademarks of the Iskcon Governing Body Commission Society of W. Bengal and are used under license. All rights reserved.
So, the GBC society now legally owns Iskcon, no longer Srila Prabhupada.
It is correctly said, that the GBC has now DEVIATED so severely that they have dropped Srila Prabhupada from even owning the rights to his society, and have stolen it, reincorporating as some GBC Society Inc. in West Bengal They have stolen Prabhupada's Iskcon, and turned it into a cult which appears to be owned by the NWO, as it exactly mirrors their psy-ops brainwash world control programs.
Leave their supporting services of all kinds, vote with your feet, and instead rally around your local Prabhupada disciples. The followers of Srila Prabhupada ARE ISKCON. The followers of the GBCs are now corporate chattle, no longer serving Srila Prabhupada.
Replies
The Truth Regarding GBC Successorship
By Syamarani (Jadurani) dasi
I am writing this as a partial response to a recent ISKCON GBC paper. The GBC paper had been commenting on a conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja during the last days of Prabhupada’s manifest stay in this world. The GBC paper tried to cast doubt on Srila Prabhupada’s ordering Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja to give spiritual nourishment, spiritual training, and spiritual leadership to his disciples and followers.
In this regard there is an old saying: “While pointing one finger at someone else, one is pointing three fingers at himself.” This means, “One is blaming someone else, whereas it is actually the blamer who is to be blamed. In this connection, perhaps the “three fingers” is that it was the GBC that was never appointed by Srila Prabhupada to be his spiritual successor.
Many devotees think that Prabhupada personally wrote a Last Will in 1977 in which he turned over the spiritual institution of ISKCON to the GBC body as the 'executors' and 'ultimate managerial authorities,' meaning the ultimate managerial and spiritual authority of all the devotees. One example of this type of thought is that the former ISKCON guru Ramesvara Svami wrote in his 1986 Vyasa-puja offering: “I am trying to take shelter of your G.B.C. Body, as you ordered all your followers to do in your last will.” Another example of this conception is that in 1992, Trivikrama Svami wrote in his Vyasa-puja offering: “And in your last will you made it clear that ISKCON, under the authority of the GBC, was how you wanted to extend your mercy to the vast number of sincere souls who would be coming in the future. Can anyone doubt this? Isn't this the simple truth?”
As you will see from the transcription below, which was taken verbatim from Srila Prabhupada’s Vedabase folio, the Will was not a Will of spiritual successorship at all. It was simply a legal document: so that ISKCON's properties could be legally protected from unlawful persons (such as the family members of Srila Prabhupada’s previous asrama), so that its tax exemption would remain intact, and so that no individual devotee could claim ownership of any temple. What follows is the conversation in which the drafting of the Will was discussed. Below that please find the final posting of the Will, called “Declaration of Will,” which was also taken verbatim from Srila Prabhupada’s Vedabase folio.
June 2, 1977, Vrndavana
Svarupa Damodara: ...this summer and he can come. We can provide free lodging and...
Prabhupada: Yes, everyone should be provided free lodging.
Svarupa Damodara: We can invite about two hundred guests and have a week-long conference.
Prabhupada: If they voluntarily give contribution, that's all right. Otherwise we shall provide. We have got guesthouse. It is very nice. Even they do not pay, we shall pay.
Svarupa Damodara: We can make scientific propaganda. And we can also do the same thing in Bombay. Bombay will be bigger.
Prabhupada: Therefore you have been trained up, (chuckles) for this purpose.
Giriraja: So we drafted a will, including the trust for the properties of India and some of the other...
Prabhupada: Will? Will, there will be direction that "Management should be done like this." That's all.
Giriraja: Yes.
Prabhupada: Nobody can say in court case that "This temple will be in charge of this person, this temple..."
Ramesvara: Yes, just like you said.
Giriraja: So we've included those points and the points in your brief will. Should I read it?
Prabhupada: Hm?
Giriraja: Then we can type it. "I, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, settler of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and disciple of Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada, presently residing at Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana, make this, my last will. 1. The Governing Body Commission, GBC, will be the trustees of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada: You can... Then there will be question, "The trust deed will be given? Then there will tax."
Giriraja: No, because the ISKCON trust is already there, and ISKCON is already tax exempt. The only difficulty is if you create a new trust.
Prabhupada: No, no new trust.
Giriraja: No.
Prabhupada: Instead of trustees...
Tamala Krsna: Use a different word.
Prabhupada: Ah!
Ramesvara: Not to apply in trust.
Giriraja: Oh, I see.
Ramesvara: It's a different word.
Prabhupada: Supreme managers.
Gopala Krsna: Supreme managers. (laughter)
Prabhupada: Or the ultimate managers, like that.
Gopala Krsna: The ultimate executives?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Yes, the executors.
Gopala Krsna: Ultimate executors.
Tamala Krsna: Or commissioners. You have...
Prabhupada: Hm. Yes, commissioners.
Tamala Krsna: Commissioner is good, 'cause it's already...
Prabhupada: Use such word.
Tamala Krsna: Use a word that's proper.
Giriraja: Okay.
Tamala Krsna: For now just use one word.
Giriraja: "2: Each temple will be a trust property..."
Prabhupada: Again "trust" word.
Gopala Krsna: Again "ISKCON property."
Giriraja: Okay, we can change that wording.
Prabhupada: Hm.
Giriraja: "...and will be managed by three committee members."
Prabhupada: Hm, yes.
Giriraja: "The system of management will continue as it is now. There is no need of any change. 3. The property in India will be managed by the following committee members: A. Properties at Sri Mayapura Dhama, Panihati, Haridaspur, and Calcutta-Gurukrpa Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Bhavananda Goswami, and Gopala Krsna dasa Adhikari; B. At Vrndavana-Gurukrpa Swami, Aksayananda Swami, and Gopala Krsna dasa Adhikari; C. At Bombay-Tamala Krsna Goswami, Giriraja dasa Brahmacari, and Gopala Krsna dasa Adhikari; D. At Bhuvanesvara-Gaura-Govinda Swami, Jayapataka Swami and Bhagavata dasa Brahmacari; E. At Hyderabad-Mahamsa Swami, Gopala Krsna dasa Adhikari, and Bali-mardana dasa Adhikari."
Tamala Krsna: And Sridhara.
Giriraja: "And Sridhara Goswami. The committee members who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of the death or failure to act for any reason of any of the said committee members, a successor committee member or committee members may be appointed by the remaining committee members, provided that the new committee member is an initiated disciple and following strictly all the rules and regulations of ISKCON as detailed in the books of His Divine Grace..." Oh. "...detailed in my books, and provided that there are never less than three or more than five committee members acting at one time. 4. I have created, developed and organized the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and as such, I hereby will that none of the immovable properties in India in the name of ISKCON shall ever be mortgaged, borrowed against..."
Prabhupada: Why India? Everywhere. Everywhere.
Ramesvara: See, in America sometimes we will borrow against the temple to "fry the fish in its own oil." So we wanted to make this language just for India, that they can never even mortgage it or risk it in any way.
Prabhupada: All right. But outside they can do?
Ramesvara: Outside they have...
Tamala Krsna: Jayapataka Maharaja just said that the temple buildings should never be mortgaged. Other buildings might be, but what about the temple buildings? Just like in Los Angeles you have many buildings. The temple building should never be mortgaged, but others may be.
Prabhupada: There is a word, devayatana,(?) Indian. Devayatana property can never be mortgaged, sold or risked. (background whispering)
Tamala Krsna: In America... Just like in New York there's a twelve-thirteen-story building. The temple only occupies the ground floor. They can't mortgage... Sometimes if they want to get other properties, they may want to use the asset of that building. If they have this clause, they won't be able to.
Ramesvara: Also sometimes we have got one property in America, and you have allowed us to sell it. Just like in Miami we had to sell the property in Coconut Grove and we bought that big farm.
Prabhupada: No, with the consent of the GBC...
Gopala Krsna: Consent of the GBC.
Prabhupada: Like that.
Jayapataka: Properties in America can't be sold unless...
Ramesvara: We had a GBC meeting, and we made a system so that there are three GBC men assigned to every American property, and they can't even be mortgaged without the signature of these three men.
Prabhupada: And that declaration should be taken. That you are already taking.
Tamala Krsna: Yes, I am in the process of getting them all, oaths of allegiance.
Prabhupada: Hm. Oath of allegiance. That should be maintained.
Ramesvara: So we've already fixed it up for the American temples, with three GBC men assigned to each building, but it hasn't been mentioned in the will.
Prabhupada: No, why not?
Ramesvara: It should be. So we'll have to add a clause...
Prabhupada: Add it.
Ramesvara: ...to deal with the other properties.
Prabhupada: Add it.
Tamala Krsna: Add it right now, Prabhupada says. "Temples outside of India..." That's how it should be worded. "Centers" or "Temples outside of..."
Ramesvara: "Properties outside of India."
Tamala Krsna: "Properties outside of India may only be..." I think we can say, "in principle should not be..."
Prabhupada: There should be inventory of all the properties in this will.
Tamala Krsna: In this will there should be inventory of all properties.
Ramesvara: Now Jayatirtha is getting that, so we can have him send it.
Tamala Krsna: And then the trustees for each of those properties...
Prabhupada: Don't do..., make trustees.
Tamala Krsna: I mean the committee members of each property should be mentioned within this will.
Ramesvara: For all the properties outside the world, all over the world.
Prabhupada: Hm. In-charge. In-charge committee.
Ramesvara: In the world.
Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada wants this will to be, you know, a very complete document.
Ramesvara: And then, as the time goes by and we buy new properties, we will have to add them to the will.
Prabhupada: As far as possible, give protection.
Ramesvara: "Properties outside of India on principle should never be sold."
Tamala Krsna: So this will will take a little bit of time to get all those lists and everything together. In the meantime we have that other will.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Tamala Krsna: In the meantime we have that short, brief will. And this may take a little time to...
Ramesvara: Prabhupada said to write this now, so... "Properties outside of India in principle should never be sold."
Tamala Krsna: Yeah. "But if the need arises, they may be."
Giriraja: Do we have a list of these?
Tamala Krsna: "If the need arises...
Ramesvara: "They may be sold or mortgaged, etc...."
Tamala Krsna: "By the consent..."
Prabhupada: Hm. Sold or mortgaged, never.
Giriraja: Prabhupada doesn't want us to put in "can be sold or mortgaged..."
Tamala Krsna: What about mortgaged? Just like, as an example, that New York building. They'll... When they pay it off, that building...
Ramesvara: They can get a million-dollar loan.
Tamala Krsna: They can get a loan for a million dollars.
Ramesvara: And buy another building.
Tamala Krsna: Or so many buildings.
Giriraja: But then there's risk.
Prabhupada: Yes. That you consider.
Tamala Krsna: There's risk right now. There's a risk right now.
Ramesvara: The only time they should ever be sold is in some emergency? Why should...?
Prabhupada: With the consent of all the GBC.
Tamala Krsna: Yeah, the point is "with the consent of the GBC committee members."
Prabhupada: Better not to be sold.
Ramesvara: We have that. "In principle should never be sold, but if the need arises, they may be sold or mortgaged with the consent of the GBC."
Gopala Krsna: Committee members.
Prabhupada: Outside India.
Ramesvara: Yes, this is outside India.
Tamala Krsna: In India they can never be. It's irrevocable.
Ramesvara: "But if the need arises, they may be sold or mortgaged with the consent of the GBC committee members who are listed as follows."
Tamala Krsna: Then you can say, "The properties and their committee members are listed as follows."
Ramesvara: Right. "The GBC committee members."
Jayapataka: Not all of them. (background talking)
Giriraja: We can put the cities.
Tamala Krsna: Giriraja is suggesting that there's no need to list the address or in details.
Prabhupada: No.
Tamala Krsna: Just simply the city.
Ramesvara: We can do that right after we meet with Prabhupada.
Tamala Krsna: Yeah, we can do that.
Giriraja: So "...shall never be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred or in any way encumbered, disposed of or alienated."
Tamala Krsna: This is the Indian properties.
Prabhupada: Indian property is devayatana bhavana.
Tamala Krsna: Write that down, dev...
Prabhupada: Devayatana.(?)
Tamala Krsna: Devatra.
Prabhupada: Devayatana. Hm?
Jayapataka: Devayatana means trust. Devayatana means trust.
Prabhupada: All right, don't make if it cannot be so worded(?).
Giriraja: "This direction is irrevocable. 5. I declare, say and confirm that all the properties, both movable and immovable, which stand in my name, including current accounts, saving accounts and fixed deposits in various banks, are the properties and assets of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and the heirs and successors of my previous family or anyone claiming through them have no right, claim or interest in these properties whatsoever save and except as provided hereinafter. Although the money which is in my personal name in every bank is being spent for ISKCON and it will belong to ISKCON, I have kept a few deposits specifically named for allocating a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,000 to the members of my former family-two sons, two daughters, and wife. After the deaths of the members of my former family these specific deposits, or this interest and savings, will become the property of ISKCON for the purpose of the trust, and the descendants of my former family or anyone claiming to be them shall not be allowed any further allowance."
Tamala Krsna: It says that the deposits are "mentioned therein."
Giriraja: No.
Ramesvara: It just says that they are specifically named somewhere.
Giriraja: It's except for these, it's all the deposits of ISKCON. It says. We weren't sure about this, but since Mr. Sharma mentioned it, we put: "I hereby appoint..."-and then we've kept some blank space-"...to act as executors of this will. I have made this will this-blank-day of June, 1977, in possession of full sense and sound mind, without any persuasion, force or compulsion from anybody. Witnesses, 1., 2., 3."
Tamala Krsna: Dr. Ghosh should be one of the witnesses. According to Mr. Sharma, if a doctor witnesses, it's very good, attending physician.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Giriraja: So what should we do about the clause which appoints the executors?
Tamala Krsna: What does that mean? The people acting to see...
Giriraja: They're responsible to see that the will is carried out.
Ramesvara: They'll see that it's registered and it's brought before the...
Prabhupada: How many executors?
Giriraja: I think he suggested two or three.
Prabhupada: No, he suggested not less than three, up to seven or eleven.
Giriraja: Oh.
Ramesvara: Originally we told him that all the GBC are executors, and he said, "But out of them, just pick a few. It is a technical thing." 'Cause the GBC are already mentioned as the heirs or the managers of what you are giving.
Prabhupada: So I'll give you seven names.
Tamala Krsna: Our idea is to finish this will business as soon as possible.
Prabhupada: Yes, I'll give you tomorrow. I'll think over this.
Tamala Krsna: Okay. Any more, Giriraja?
Giriraja: That's all for the will.
Ramesvara: There's one other item that has been recommended by several persons, Prabhupada, and that is the will is only a legal document after the maker of the will has departed, so in the interim period, they have suggested an affidavit for any properties or, say, fixed deposits that are in your personal name, and this affidavit would simply state that the purpose of these fixed deposits and properties is for ISKCON. In that way the government will never be able to exact any taxes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Is there some wording there?
Ramesvara: Do you want me to read it?
Tamala Krsna: If Prabhupada likes.
Ramesvara: So we have prepared an affidavit. Shall we read it?
Prabhupada: Hm.
Ramesvara: "I, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, disciple of Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada and settler of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, at present residing at the Krsna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana, hereby solemnly declare, say and confirm as follows: 1. That I am the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known as ISKCON, a society registered under the Society Registration Act of 1860, with its headquarters at Juhu, Bombay, and branches at..." And then it's to be filled in. "2. That some properties with movable and immovable..." What is this word? "...have been donated to me by the devotees of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness or purchased or otherwise acquired by me in my name which still stand in my personal name; 3. That I hereby categorically declare and say that I am just a benamadara (benami) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness..."
Prabhupada: What is benamadara?
Giriraja: It means... Just like in the Chand Society. Due to some reason we could not take in the beginning in the name of BBT, so we appointed someone to keep in his name, but actually it is not his. He is the only the benamadara on behalf of the society.
Prabhupada: Oh, benamadara.
Ramesvara: "...that I am the benamadara of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in respect of the said properties, and I hold and do hold these same in trust as a trustee for the said society." No, we take out this phrase, "trust." "...that I hold the same for the said society."
Giriraja: No, "as the Founder-Acarya..."
Ramesvara: "...as the Founder-Acarya; 4. that I further declare, say and confirm that I have no personal claim or interest in these said properties or any..." It says, "position alone...," "...and the same solely belongs to the said society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, absolutely. That which is stated above is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. Witnessed..." The witnesses swear to that.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ramesvara: So if this document is prepared, it does not have to be advertised, but if at any point there is some contention, we can show that this was...
Prabhupada: Made.
Ramesvara: ...made in June of 1977, that this is the...
Prabhupada: Registered.
Ramesvara: Registered. That that is the intention. Mr. Sharma said this will be sufficient to avoid any income tax or other tax on such holdings.
Prabhupada: That I want. That's all.
Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Because sometimes they've said, "Oh, it's in your Guru Maharaja's personal name," and you always said, "It's not my personal money." This will show that.
Prabhupada: Benamadara.
Tamala Krsna: Yes. 'Cause actually, whenever you told us to buy properties, we always wrote your name and then "Founder-Acarya of the International Society for..."
Prabhupada: That's all right. So do it. Manage nicely.
Jayapataka: We had a... Regarding the letter I had written, that ISKCON Food Relief has got some liability at Mayapura.
Prabhupada: No, that you discuss. Don't bother my head.
Jayapataka: No, we just... (Ramesvara whispering)
Ramesvara: Prabhupada, this afternoon we had a meeting of the BBT trustees, and we were discussing the situation of the Bengali printing. There are some manuscripts lying, and we want to print them as soon as possible so that selling can increase.
Prabhupada: So Gopala Krsna, give them money.
Gopala Krsna: I have already given seventy thousand rupees.
Ramesvara: The situation is that the seventy thousand rupees is already invested in Gitar Gans, and all the rest of the money Gopala has...
Jayapataka: Gitar Gans and Bhagavat Darshan and...
Prabhupada: So you are not selling?
Ramesvara: They are.
Prabhupada: Utilize that money. You have taken already seventy thousand. That's all.
Gopala Krsna: It was more than seventy thousand, I think.
Prabhupada: Unlimited, we cannot give you money.
Jayapataka: No, but if we could have fifty thousand more, then we could print the Bhagavad-gita and a few other covers at one time, which would increase the distribution.
Prabhupada: That you consult.
Ramesvara: We considered it carefully, and Jayapataka says that if you have more books available at one time, the people will simply buy four, five, six different books. So it will increase the selling and then collection. Therefore he is requesting a loan.
Prabhupada: Loan, that's all right. Whatever loan you have, let us see how you are paying.
Ramesvara: He is already paying the money back to an account that has been set up with him and Gopala in Calcutta.
Prabhupada: How much he has returned?
Ramesvara: How much have you paid back originally?
Jayapataka: Only one payment has come through. I paid the first thing.
Ramesvara: No, no, no, of the seventy thousand.
Jayapataka: No. Seventy thousand? We have no debt with BBT. We're paid up.
Ramesvara: How much have you paid so far?
Jayapataka: Since April I've paid twenty-one thousand.
Ramesvara: He's already paid twenty-one thousand rupees of it back.
Prabhupada: So you can take fifty thousand also. If they have returned twenty-one thousand, you can pay fifty thousand, loan more.
Gopala Krsna: We can pay fifty thousand...?
Ramesvara: He'll take a loan.
Prabhupada: Give and take, give and take, give and take.
Gopala Krsna: The thing is, I've given them seventy thousand...
Prabhupada: That's all right. They have returned twenty-one thousand.
Gopala Krsna: Yes.
Prabhupada: Then you can pay another fifty thousand. In this way transaction will go on.
Gopala Krsna: At the present moment BBT can't give them so much money.
Prabhupada: So give them something. Twenty-one thousand give them, thirty thousand. Then again... If they are returning, you give them. Give and take, give and take.
Gopala Krsna: But that returning which we are doing, we are putting in a separate Bengali...
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, it is returning.
Ramesvara: Our idea is that from all the money that is collected, we will reinvest in Bengali books.
Prabhupada: That's all right.
Ramesvara: So in addition, he wanted to borrow from your own BBT, because Gopala says that all his money is tied up for printing in English and Hindi and the other languages.
Gopala Krsna: At least for six months.
Ramesvara: So that is his request.
Prabhupada: That he can get in September.
Jayapataka: What?
Tamala Krsna: (laughs) Prabhupada said, "In September."
Ramesvara: Srila Prabhupada, I just received a telegram from America about the book selling. It is from our main warehouse in Los Angeles. They report that there has been increase this month over last month. For Back to Godhead the increase has been seventy percent.
Prabhupada: Hm!
Ramesvara: For small books like Perfection of Yoga, it has increased forty-five percent. For medium books like Krsna Trilogy and Isopanisad, it has increased forty-five percent, and for the hardbound books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, it has doubled, two hundred percent increase.
Jayapataka: In one month.
Prabhupada: This is very good.
Giriraja: No, that means tripled.
Ramesvara: Two hundred percent increase.
Giriraja: One hundred percent increase is doubled, so two hundred percent...
Tamala Krsna: Tripled. Tripled, the book distribution.
Gopala Krsna: Big books.
Prabhupada: Very good.
Tamala Krsna: Simply by your word, Srila Prabhupada, it is happening.
Ramesvara: Everyone is now wearing these "Double It" buttons. The whole movement is simply thinking of doubling book distribution, doubling it.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is our real mission. Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. That's all. This is the opportunity of speaking the words given by Krsna. Krsna Dvaipayana or Krsna are the same. So that's all right. No more talking.
Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Jaya.
Radha-vallabha: I'm planning to take it away from him, but I can't find him. I think by the time I return to America...
Prabhupada: It is very convincing.
Radha-vallabha: Yeah.
Prabhupada: "You may pay me six hundred dollars for fifty (indistinct)."
Radha-vallabha: I've been trying to find him. As soon as I find him, I'll bring you the book from him.
Prabhupada: Still paying him money?
Radha-vallabha: No, no, I stopped when you told me in Mayapura.
Prabhupada: Cheats his wife and children, this crooked man, cheating people. Tendency is there. Where he is?
Radha-vallabha: When?
Prabhupada: Where he is now? (end)
DECLARATION OF WILL
Ramanareti, Vrndavana, U.P.
DATE: June 1977
I, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Settlor of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and disciple of Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, presently residing at Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana, make this my last will:
1. The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
2. Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors. The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.
3. Properties in India will be managed by the following executive directors:
a) Properties at Sri Mayapur Dhama, Panihati, Haridaspur and Calcutta: Gurukrpa Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Bhavananda Gosvami and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
b) Properties at Vrndavana: Gurukrpa Swami, Akshoyananda Swami, and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
c) Properties at Bombay: Tamal Krsna Gosvami, Giriraj das Brahmachary, and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
d) Properties at Bhuvanesvara: Gour Govinda Swami, Jayapataka Swami, and Bhagawat das Brahmachary.
e) Properties at Hyderabad: Mahamsa Swami, Sridhar Swami, Gopal Krsna das Adhikari and Bali Mardan das Adhikari.
The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of the death or failure to act for any reason of any of the said directors, a successor director or directors may be appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new director is my initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books, and provided that there are never less than three (3) or more than five (5) executive directors acting at one time.
4. I have created, developed, and organized the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and as such I hereby will that none of the immovable properties standing in the name of ISKCON in India shall ever be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or alienated. This direction is irrevocable.
5. Properties outside of India in principle should never be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or alienated, but if the need arises, they may be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, etc., with the consent of the GBC committee members associated with the particular property.
6. The properties outside of India and their associated GBC committee members are as follows:
a) Properties in Chicago, Detroit and Ann Arbor: Jayatirtha das Adhikari, Harikesa Swami, and Balavanta das Adhikari.
b) Properties in Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong: Guru Krpa Swami, Rameswara Swami, and Tamal Krsna Gosvami.
c) Properties in Melbourne, Sydney, Australia Farm: Guru Krpa Swami, Hari Sauri, and Atreya Rsi.
d) Properties in England (London Radlett), France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden: Jayatirtha das Adhikari, Bhagavan das Adhikari, Harikesa Swami.
e) Properties in Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa: Jayatirtha das Adhikari, Brahmananda Swami and Atreya Rsi.
f) Properties in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile: Hrdayananda Gosvami, Panca Dravida Swami, Brahmananda Swami.
g) Properties in Georgetown, Guyana, Santo Domingo, St. Augustine: Adi Kesava Swami, Hrdayananda Gosvami, Panca Dravida Swami.
h) Properties in Vancouver, Seattle, Berkeley, Dallas: Satsvarupa Gosvami, Jagadisa das Adhikari, Jayatirtha das Adhikari.
i) Properties in Los Angeles, Denver, San Diego, Laguna Beach: Rameswara Swami, Satsvarupa Swami, Adi Kesava Swami.
j) Properties in New York, Boston, Puerto Rico, Port Royal, St. Louis, St. Louis Farm: Tamal Krsna Gosvami, Adi Kesava Swami, Rameswara Swami.
k) Properties in Iran: Atreya Rsi, Bhagavan das Adhikari, Brahmananda Swami.
l) Properties in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Montreal and Ottawa: Rupanuga das Adhikari, Gopal Krsna das Adhikari, Jagadisa das Adhikari.
m) Properties in Pittsburgh, New Vrndavana, Toronto, Cleveland, Buffalo: Kirtanananda Swami, Atreya Rsi, Balavanta das Adhikari.
n) Properties in Atlanta, Tennessee Farm, Gainesville, Miami, New Orleans, Mississippi Farm, Houston: Balavanta das Adhikari, Adi Kesava Swami, Rupanuga das Adhikari.
o) Properties in Fiji: Hari Sauri, Atreya Rsi, Vasudev.
7. I declare, say and confirm that all the properties, both movable and immovable, which stand in my name, including current accounts, savings accounts and fixed deposits in various banks, are the properties and assets of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and the heirs and successors of my previous life, or anyone claiming through them, have no right, claim or interest in these properties whatsoever, save and except as provided hereafter.
8. Although the money which is in my personal name in different banks is being spent for ISKCON and belongs to ISKCON, I have kept a few deposits specifically marked for allocating a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,000/- each to the members of my former family (two sons, two daughters, and wife). After the deaths of the members of my former family, these specific deposits (corpus, interests, and savings) will become the property of ISKCON for the corpus of the trust, and the descendants of my former family or anybody claiming through them shall not be allowed any further allowance.
9. I hereby appoint Guru Krpa Swami, Hrdayananda Gosvami, Tamal Krishna Gosvami, Rameshwar Swami, Gopal Krishna das Adhikari, Jayatirtha das Adhikari and Giriraj das Brahmachary to act as executors of this will. I have made this will this 4th day of June, 1977, in possession of full sense and sound mind, without any persuasion, force or compulsion from anybody.
Witnesses:
1. (?)
2. Tamal Krishna Goswami
3. Bhagavandas Adhikary
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Subject: Another point of view from Gurukrpa Swami Prabhu
Dear Prabhus:
Gurukrpa is here with me and on his behalf I am writing here.
Question to GK: What happened the final months of SP's appearance in connection with the process of initiating new devotees?
Answer: Nothing happened. In the beginning SP did the disksa, the yajna and the name giving. As the numbers increased, he authorized GBC, and senior sanyassis to pick names and chant on the beads, etc. In 1977 during the months of May, June, July 1977 I was in Vrindaban with Srila Prabhupada, giving him his massage in his bed between 1 AM and mangala aratik. During the day, many letters would arrive. Satsvarupa Swami was the secretary and we decided that only letters that would give joy to Srila Prabhupada would be read. Like numbers of books sold, etc. A maximum of five letters daily were read to SP.
After some weeks like this, there were stacks and stacks of letters, all relating to initiation. Hundreds of people were panicking that SP would leave the planet before they were given initiation. At this time, this situation was brought before SP in his room by Satsvarupa, Tamal, myself, and maybe some others.
Up until this time it was a very simple matter that we were doing the initiations, but we first had to ask permission. SP NEVER refused any recommendation from his senior men. And personally, I would sometimes argue with some GBC that they were giving it too easily.
At this meeting, SP basically said, "From here on, if you feel they are ready, then you may give the initiation on my behalf." I understood this for what it was, simply extending the authority a little further than it had been. Tamal Krsna Swami, began to say, "But who will do it?. Which devotees will do this?" Srila Prabhupada said, "The nearest one will do it. Whoever is closest." Tamal said, "Can Bhavananda do? Can Jayapataka do?" Thus these eleven names came out.
Question: Why were you not on the list of eleven?
Answer: Because it did not matter. Srila Prabhupada said whoever was closest. I was already doing and Srila Prabhupada never told me or anyone else not on the list to stop. For myself, it was not very relevant because I was working in Japan and did not have any new devotees to initiate.
Tamal Krsna Swami, made these list of names himself and SP signed the letter. But they were only priests to act on behalf of SP. Tamal asked about Bhavananda who was not a TP or a GBC at that time. And everyone new well of his homosexual tendencies. But, Tamal pushed his name, because he was already planning how to take over when Srila Prabhupada was gone.
Question: How did Tamal Krsna Swami become so influential at this time?
Gurukrpa: Tamal's original service was as GBC in India. He left that service without permission and arrived in America. Within one year the temple presidents made a huge complaint to SP that he was disrupting the temples by taking important men. I was in the room when SP told Tamal to go to China. Hari Sauri's memory of this incident is not accurate. Either way that is another story.
Tamal went to New York to prepare to go to China. And in May 1976, he showed up in a suit in Honolulu, a broken man. He could not get a visa to China, he had no service to do in India, and he could not go back to America, so he was quite depressed. Approximately a day or two later, SP called for Tamal and me at about 12:30 AM. He said, "My feet are swelling, my teeth are getting loose, I am passing urine too frequently. These are the first signs that death is coming." Then he sent us back to bed. The next day TKG volunteered to be SP's secretary, as the service was vacant at that time. From this position he could control and manipulate the environment around Srila Prabhupada. I can write many more stories that will shock people about TKG's ambitious nature and his desire to take SP's seat..
After SP left, in November 1977, I stayed in Vrindaban till Gour Purnima 1978 and there was no discussion of guru during these three or four months, because SP's last instruction, or as the ritvics call it, "The final order", was that "Now we have build a framework. There is no need to try and expand more. If we can just maintain our men and increase the chanting and hearing that is sufficient. We should sit down now and chant and hear."
There was NO TALK about initiations that I heard either in Vrindaban or in Mumbai during these months. If SP has appointed these eleven as spiritual masters, why did they not start initiating at once? Because they all knew very well they were never appointed! We knew the philosophy what is tattva darshi and what is Saksad Hari...but behind closed doors there was a plot simmering. In the GBC meeting of 1978 the initiation issue was brought up and it appeared they had already concluded that they were going to go ahead and say that they were appointed. I asked Harikesh sitting next to me, 'how are you going to let people call you a paramahansa? You are not a realized soul, you are a piece of shit. He turned to me with a smrik on his face, and said "What are you going to do about it?" That is basically what happened, none of us could do anything after that.
In 1978, Janmastami, TKG came to Vrindavan to give Sannyasa diskha to Bhagavan. I was the GBC at the time in Vrindavan. TKG called from Delhi and demanded flower garlands and a large reception greeting at the temple with vyasasana's for them to sit on. I told them this is Prabhupada's temple and everybody can sit on the floor. When they came I gave them no such reception, and the next morning in Bhagavatwam, Bhagavan brought his politics into the class. I went and told him, if you ever do this again, bringing politics into Bhagavatwam class you will never speak again in any temple I manage. That day, Bhavananda, TKG,and Bhagavan asked me to meet them in the guest house for a meeting. When I came, they said, why are you making waves? Just stop making trouble about this appointment of gurus and we'll make you the 12th guru at the next Mayapur meeting. I told them, Prabhupada did not make anyone guru's, you have to be a realized soul. They said
there was some talk about you in Japan doing some things, therefore Prabhupada did not name you. I told them you are now believing your own lies. They were silent. Bhavananda tried to speak. I told him to shut his mouth because he was a homosex and he had never done service and had been living off the money I collected and sent to Mayapur for construction.
Question: So how did everyone become guru's, if Prabhupada did not make them gurus?
Gurukrpa: Had SP seen one of us as being capable, he would have named that person or persons, but he did not mention that anyone was fit. His Divine Grace B.V. Puri Maharaja, who SP said "is the only god Brother who is not envious of me", ask SP "Please stay another 8 or 10 years with these boys." SP's answer was, "They are all hard headed, I have done all that I can do."
Prabhupada said, "I can stay 100 years" many times, but he left after 81 plus a few months.
In the GBC meeting of 1978, they shouted me down and they had already decided the fix was in. This was how the future of ISKCON was going to go.
Question: Is the GBC absolute since they are named as the ultimate managing authority?
Gurukrpa: Prabhupada said the GBC would be the ultimate managing authority. But that does not mean they are perfect, and they have perfect vision. The process of the GBC meetings during the years, we would have the meeting and report the days minutes of the meeting nightly to Prabhupada. Usually it would take 5 days. Prabhuapda said if you people were competent, you people would be done in 30 minutes. In 1977, Prabhupdad told us, just have your meetings and after 5 days give me all your resolutions. After 5 days of meetings, the GBC filed in his room, sat down and read the resolutions; and one after another. Srila Prabhupada said, 'No I do not want that, no that is not what I wanted'. He vetoed almost all the resolutions. So to say the GBC is the ultimate authority is correct, but that does mean that it is absolute. As you can see by how many guru's have fallen down, and how many GBC's have had difficulties.
Guru means one who has no other interest but to realize the absolute truth, Krishna. The guru, must have first realized the Name is non-different than Krishna. When I first joined the movement, we spent 9 to 10 hours a day chanting in the street. These present GBC's do not spend that in a year. Hari nama eva kevalam, in this age only the Holy Name, only the Holy Name. Your bureacuracy and your mangagement is not the process. The elitisim being shown by the GBCs putting themselves up on a platform, above all their god brothers is absolute arrogance and the greatest sin of pride, the opposite of the humble blade of grass. Krishna is the one giving all directions for those who can hear him.
Must of us are now hitting 60 or more, we've made successful businesses, won some, lost some, raised our families, and personally I have gone to 25 straight Kartiks' in Vrindavan. We have been excluded from SP's movement, it started in the GBC meeting of 1978. Still today, the people who have appointed themselves for life have had very little result. Rabindra Svarupa, the GBC of Hawaii, has come once in 6 years, and he will not give up the position. Kavicandra in Japan has done nothing there in 25 years. Even one of these GBC guru's does not wear neck beads, tilak, sikah, or have any faith in the name is still a member in good standing. In the west, most of the temples have more deities than devotees. Most of the devotees are being paid, pujari's being paid, cooks being paid temple presidents are being paid, and they have to bring Indian devotees just to keep the bare minimum going.
I have witnessed over all these years how the elitist mentality of the GBC's and guru's have excluded all their god brothers. They have put themselves on a high pedestal. They have no taste for staying in the holy dhama's of Mayapur and Vrindavna, and they run back to their comfort zones soon as they finish the meetings.
In 1977, during the rainy season, all the GBC's showed up in Vrindavan.. SP said, we should go in a room and make out his will for him. I.e., who would manage what properties and so forth...Kirtananda and everyone was there, and they were going on saying someone will do this, and someone will do that...I noticed how they totally left me out. So I just went to the Yamuna and took my bath and came back to find them still dividing everything up. When they were finished, it was brought into SP room and read to him as he laid on his bed. After they finished reading the will, the first question SP asked was, 'Where is Guru-krpa's name'? I had already opened a dozen temples and collected the most money in ISKCON history, up to that point, and they totally left me out. But SP noticed it right away. So now, although I am the first executor in his will, and he told me to develop Hawaii and other places, (you made read the will), they also have totally
neglected that order. Giriraj even came and asked me if I would resign from the will. I told him, 'How can I give up the order of the guru'? It is not as easy for me as you people.
There is no new blood in this organization, things have become stagnated and dry, not dynamic and the offense of neglecting all their god-brothers by excluding them from their spiritual birthright, they will have to answer to SP for this apparadha.
Question: What is your idea of how the guru - disciple relationship should now be handled in ISKCON?
Love can not be insituationalized. I feel in love with SP the second I saw him. That is why I could surrender to the depth that I did, to get the insurmountable service I did at that time. Once in Mayapur, Kirtananda came to me, and said "Why are you giving all that money to Prabhupada. You should give it to me, in America we are protected. The communist one day will come and take these buidlings away.. Prabhupada is making a big mistake." I was shocked by what I just heard. At that time, Kirtananda was considered by Satsvarupa to be the greatest of the great, and the most divine of the divine. My answer was, I do not care what he does with the money. He can flush it down the toilet, for all I care, I just love to give it to him.
Its a matter of the heart. According to one's state of the heart, if one has many material desires, he may say he loves Bhagavan Sai Baba, the Pope, Charles Manson. Its according to one's sukriti. Krishna is sitting in one's heart, He knows exactly what our intentions are. Before anyone has a right to ask a question, you must first enter the class. The price is surrender. Those who have not fully surrendered can not understand those who have surrenedered. Those who have surrendered can understand about everyone.
SP initiated thousands, he told me once in his room in Vrindavan, he said "My guru ordered me to go to the west, and I did that. My main service was to translate these books and I did that. I have a personal desire to build these temples in India. That is my personal program. But they (his disciples) will not give me money and my head is getting hot. I have to translate these books, write many letters, and I am thinking how to raise the money to build these temples because my disciples have their own programs and will not give me money." So, seeing SP like this, I told him that from today forth, you just translate the books peacefully, and I will take the headache and go and get the money. When I walked out of the room, I could not believe what I just said. So to think all the GBC are 100% surrendered souls, and the gurus are 100% surrenderd souls with no self interest, and their only interest is to serve SP mission, they did not even care during
his time(SP time). SP said he would be happy, if he could get one moon. To get one disciple who would be perfect, out of many thousands. How rare is a personality of SP character.
The GBC's duty is to see that SP standard is being maintained. That standard is based on chanting and hearing, also becoming a lover of Krishna. If SP said I bless you, I give you a benediciton, it will manifest. He has the right, the adhikari to do that. If someone else says I am your guru, I am giving you diskha, can he give you Krishna? Can he give you the holy name? Can he take you to Vaikanthua? Have you been there, has the guru been there? SP told me in the car in New Zealand, he turned to me in the car, and said, while you were building Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan. Krishna was building you a house in Goloka. I have seen it, it is very nice. That is why you can only surrender to the depths, to one who is from that place, and who can you give you that place, who wants that place, otherwise it is just a big show. Whistels and bells with no substance.
My view of seeing this organization, it is croniyism. Most of the leaders, their hearts are still, steel framed, they are self interested. They are not self-less. They have stopped somewhere on this road back to Godhead; they are satisfied with their easy lifestyle, food, respect, honor, travelling all at the expense of the community and the younger devotees who go on the street. Its a long way from chant, dance and be happy.
Question: Then how did it come about that immediately after SP was not present physically, these eleven became worship able as paramahamsas of the highest order?
Gurukrpa: Because it is the cheaters and the cheated. People are basically sudras who want a master tell them what to do. They do not have sufficient
intelligence, or spiritual knowledge,therefore they accepted; and the more realized devotees left , after trying to correct things. They were told to leave because they were disturbing the faith of the new disciples.
Because they could not take it any more any more they left. Now it has become like the Pol Pot regime, "accept our way, or die." Devotees never die, KRSNA is always in their hearts. They are the losers for losing the association of their brothers & sisters. The senior men can do something, other wise the new men cannot do without the association of the older devotees.
Most of the older devotees now also do not have the missionary spirit. SP said, as a group we can't be broken, but alone we are all easily broken..
The leaders have never cared for the God Brothers/sisters. They are happy when the see their brother get victimized by Maya, and never come to try and rescue them. Do you think SP is happy to see the present leader's disciples at his temples and not his own disciples???? They talk of love of God, but they do not care one bit for their own family members, unless the family agrees to accept everything they say. They have no peers around them that may object to anything.
I AM A VERY FALLEN SOUL. I AM NOT BASICALLY A FAULT FINDER, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT SPEAK UP FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT I HAVE NOT. I HAVE LIVED VERY NICELY BY SRILA PRABHUPADA'S GRACE. I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE GBC ACTUALLY BECOME REAL GBC AND GENUINE LOVING COMPASSIONATE VAISNAVAS.
That is the end of this session. If anyone has questions, comments, they can send them and Gurukrpa can answer.
OM
BY: KURMA DASA (NOT THE CHEF)
Apr 18, 2010 — AUSTRALIA (SUN) —
"Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual movement with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness. Therefore, the method of one acarya may be different than that of another, but the ultimate goal is never neglected."
(Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7:37 purport)
Only Srila Prabhupada can be ISKCON's Acarya. ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada's Movement.
In his recent article, "Sivarama Swami's Kingdom", Jakob Smahl raised some very interesting points. Since the inception of the multiple acarya system within ISKCON, many of the voted-in gurus are using Srila Prabhupada's properties for their own advantage. The gurus even have their own business names and corporations, but utilize Srila Prabhupada's Movement and properties to gain the money, the manpower and the reputation, as pointed out by Jakob Smahl.
People are given the impression that ISKCON is the Movement of the many gurus, and that somehow each voted-in guru has his share of Srila Prabhupada's pie. Here in Australia this has been unfolding over the last decade or so, and is showing itself as elitism and favoritism. One example is that we have one farm here called the Hare Krishna Valley. This property has always been an ISKCON property, so therefore it is part of Srila Prabhupada's Movement, and therefore it should operate as an ISKCON property, whereby anyone can participate, according to Srila Prabhupada. However, one of the voted-in gurus has basically taken over the property. He and his disciples make the decisions about what goes on at the farm, and if you are not favorable toward this guru, then basically you cannot go there! It has become his farm, with his ideology and under his control.
Alongside this, the guru has his own personally registered businesses and projects, which in the opinion of others, should be clearly defined and used outside the confines of Srila Prabhupada's Movement. If the voted-in guru takes his money and manpower from Srila Prabhupada's Movement, do these things really belong to him?
BY: VRINDAVAN DAS
Apr 18, 2010 — UK (SUN) —
Bureaucratic systems for producing ordained clergy are not the way to ensure qualified gurus:
"It is not from any deliberate opposition to the ordained clergy that these observations are made. The original purpose of the established churches of the world may not be always objectionable . . . But no mechanical regulation has any value even for such a purpose. The bona fide teacher of the religion is neither any product nor the favorer of any mechanical system. . . The mere pursuit of fixed doctrines and fixed liturgies cannot hold a person to the true spirit of doctrine or liturgy."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada, printed in the January l932 edition of The Harmonist, or Shree Sajjanatoshani, "Putana", part 1)
BY: CHAITANYA SIMHA DASA
Oct 28, 2010 — USA (SUN) — I am writing in regard to the situation at the Boston ISKCON temple. For some time, at least the past year, there has been an ongoing bedbug infestation. I have several friends that are closely involved in the situation and am writing this article out of great concern for the devotee community in Boston.
The infestation is extremely severe. The entire temple, including the temple room, pujari room, and Diety room are completely infested. The infestation has also spread to several people's homes. It has been an ongoing problem and different congregation members have been involved in trying to remedy the situation. This has been met with much denial and resistance from the Temple President (Dharu Brahmana dasa) and the GBC (Niranjana Swami).
Basically, the temple authorities have sought to either minimize or deny the current situation. It is interesting to note that neither the Temple President or GBC reside in the temple. In fact, Niranjana Swami refuses to stay there, specifically because of the bed bugs, and instead stays at his sister's house outside of Boston. There is nothing new about him staying there. In fact, one devotee, assuming Maharaja was traveling in Russia, saw him ride past on a bicycle in a town outside of Boston. No one knew he was in town, but was staying at his sisters house, incognito.
It is greatly disturbing to the community that the authorities have refused to address the situation. There are many people residing in the temple, including children, and they are greatly suffering because of the infestation. Money was raised for a thermal heat treatment (the only foolproof method for an infestation of this magnitude), but the authorities have done nothing as of this date, refusing to release the funds. Actually, an inspector visited the temple and said it was the worst infestation he ever saw. Bedbugs could be seen crawling on the vyasasana in the middle of the day. The temple authorities have also refused to notify the congregation at large, putting many families at risk for infestation. So the situation comes down to money, of course, putting the all mighty dollar over the well being of the Lord and His devotees.
It is appalling to see how callous and insensitive the leaders of ISKCON have become. Krishna temples all over the eastern seaboard are infested with bedbugs due to their neglect. And over and over again they refuse to acknowledge or address this issue. Niranjana Swami should really be ashamed that he himself will not stay in the temple, but he will allow his disciples and constituents to live in such filth and squalor. This lack of mercy for the devotees of the Lord has been shown over and over again by many ISKCON leaders. It proves their absolute disqualification for devotional service, what to speak of spiritual leadership. If you don't have apathy and sympathy for devotees, how can you even imagine having mercy for the fallen condition souls?
This mercy and compassion is absolutely necessary to spread Lord Chaitanya's message, so it is no surprise why the Krishna Consciousness Movement is in the terrible state it is today.
Niranjana Swami needs to explain himself to his disciples and ISKCON at large as to why he feels that he deserves to live in a better situation than everyone else. But as we all know, this entitlement and lack of servitorship has become the hallmark of the self-focused group of masters that have hijacked Srila Prabhupada's mission.
your servant,
Chaitanya Simha dasa