"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 Maharaja Prabhupada, presently residing at Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana, make this my last will:"
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Srila Prabhupadas Declaration of Will
Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acarya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
CENTER: Krsna-Balaram Mandir,
Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg,
Ramanreti, Vrndavana, U.P .M
DATE: June 1977
ANALYSIS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA’S LAST WILL AND JULY 9TH LETTER
PLEASE DON'T MISINTERPRET
Pasted from: krishnaconsciousnessmovement.com
by the Prabhupadanugas
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We would like to present two papers signed and approved by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. The will of His Divine Grace and his last instructions for continuing the process of initiation. We ask only that you read the following statements of Srila Prabhupada with an open heart. Instead of analyzing his words to fit today’s circumstances, try to take these instructions just as they have been written. Without reading between the lines, try simply to accept his words. Rather than imagining esoteric meanings try to understand his commands, as they are. Srila Prabhupada often said that Krishna Consciousness is a simple process. The instructions that he gave us were always straightforward and clear. His language was never obscure or lacking in explanation. If something was important he always gave us a clear cut presentation. Before reading these last instructions of Srila Prabhupada’s, try to take to heart the following explanation from Caitanya Caritamrita on the nature of direct and indirect meanings. In it, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Lord Chaitanya, clearly explain the difference between a true understanding and an imaginary interpretation.
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that mukhya-vrtti, “the direct meaning” is abhidha-vrtti, or the meaning that one can understand immediately from the statements of dictionaries, whereas gauna-vrtti, “the indirect meaning” is a meaning that one imagines without consulting the dictionary. For example, one politician has said that Kuruksetra refers to the body, but in the dictionary there is no such definition. Therefore this imaginary meaning is gauna-vrtti, whereas the direct meaning found in the dictionary is mukhya-vrtti or abhidha-vrtti. This is the distinction between the two. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that one understand the Vedic literature in terms of abhidha-vrtti, and the gauna-vrtti He rejects. Sometimes, however, as a matter of necessity, the Vedic literature is described in terms of the laksana-vrtti or gauna-vrtti, but one should not accept such explanations as permanent truths.” (C.C. Adi-Iila 7.110 purport, by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Let us now summarize some important points from Srila Prabhupada’s will.
I. “The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire. International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” (Srila Prabhupada’s Will Point 1)
(N.B. Note that the Governing Body Commission (GBC) is not described as the ultimate authority but as the “ultimate managing authority”. The GBC is the ultimate for management, but the ultimate in ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada, himself and his instructions. These instructions cannot be changed even by the ultimate managing authority, the GBC. The GBC may only implement Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and never change them.)
1971 - LETTER TO GIRIRAJA DAS: "GBC does not mean to control a center. GBC means to see that the activities of a center go on nicely. I do not know why Tamala is exercising his absolute authority. That is not the business of GBC."
The president, treasurer and secretary are responsible for managing the center. GBC is to see that things are going nicely but not to exert absolute authority. That is not in the power of GBC. Tamala should not do like that. The GBC men cannot impose anything on the men of a center without consulting all of the GBC members first. A GBC member cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of his power. We are in the experimental stage but in the next meeting of the GBC members they should form a constitution how the GBC members manage the whole affair. But it is a fact that the local president is not under the control of the GBC. Yes, for improvement of situations such as this I must be informed of everything.
July 22, 1974 - Upon discovering the disobedience of the GBC to implement His 1970 Direction Of Management order (DOM), Srila Prabhupada issues a second order for the DOM in his "TOPMOST URGENCY" LETTER, which states:
Srila Prabhupada: "There shall be a Governing Board Committee of trustees appointed by the Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad according to the document "Direction Of Management" dated July 28, 1970." ["TOPMOST URGENCY" LETTER"]
In '74 Srila Prabhupad authored a document and gave emphasis TOPMOST URGENCY. The document was kept hidden for decades. Those Topmost Urgent instructions were never executed. ALL of SP's Followers need to study this document & act to see that these instructions are finally carried out.
In 1970 Srila Prabhupad wrote the Direction of Management - In 1974 He wrote amendments for ISKCON temples - that were never implemented - yet on the document is the emphasis " TOPMOST URGENCY ", the most emphasis of any order he gave (that we know of) - To today that order has not been executed.
Letter 72-04-11, Hamburg: "I cannot understand why, instead of one GBC man, a person outside the Commission was given so much power, and there was to be immediate action without divulging the matter to the devotees. And I am surprised that none of the GBC members detected the defects in the procedure. It was detected only when it came to me. What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure."
22-12-1972
Los Angeles: "I do not at all approve of such plan. Do not centralize anything. Each temple must remain independent and self-sufficient. That was my plan from the very beginning, why you are thinking otherwise? Once before you wanted to do something centralizing with your GBC meeting, and if I did not interfere the whole thing would have been killed. Do not think in this way of big corporation, big credits, centralization—these are all nonsense proposals.
Management, everything, should be done locally by local men. Accounts must be kept, things must be in order and lawfully done, but that should be each temple's concern, not yours. Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide. No. Forget this centralizing and bureaucracy"
Letter 72-04-10, Dallas: "From now on, the temples will operate independently and try to improve their spiritual life more carefully, so there is no more need for such financial arrangement of centralization, as you have proposed."
Letter 72-04-06 : "ATREYA RISHI HAS NO AUTHORITY FROM ME TO MANAGE ANYTHING. REMOVE HIM. I HAVE NO APPROVAL FOR ANY THESE PLANS. DONT CHANGE ANYTHING."
72-04-08 MEMO TO ALL ISKCON TEMPLE PRESIDENTS: "I never appointed Atreya Rsi member of the GBC, and I do not know how he can be appointed Secretary to GBC without my sanction. “He was also appointed to be on the Management Committee with Karandhara for the purpose of supervising ISKCON business and implementing the decisions reached by GBC.'' This has very much disturbed me. Sriman Atreya Rsi das may be very expert, but without my say he has been given so much power and this has upset my brain."
Under these circumstances, I AUTHORIZE YOU TO DISREGARD FOR THE TIME BEING ANY DECISION FROM THE GBC MEN UNTIL MY FURTHER INSTRUCTION. You manage your affairs peacefully and independently, and try to improve the spiritual atmosphere of the centers more carefully.
2. “Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors.” “The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of 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.” Srila Prabhupada’s Will Points 2, 3, 6.
(N.B. All ISKCON property to have 3 to 5 initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada’s of good spiritual standing, as executive directors or GBC committee members. Note.here that Srila Prabhupada clearly says, that the executive directors or GBC committee members are to be [Srila Prabhupada's] initiated disciples, in good spiritual standing (ie: “my (Srila Prabhupada’s) initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my [Srila Prabhupada's] books”)
In order to ensure that an "my [Srila Prabhupada's] initiated disciple," who is "strictly following all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my [Srila Prabhupada's] books," will always be available to replace the "executive directors" or "GBC committee members responsible for the particular property".
3. “The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.” Srila Prabhupada’s Will Point 2.
(N.B. Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acarya and ultimate authority of ISKCON could make changes in the system of management at any time during his physical presence with us. By saying “The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.” Srila Prabhupada is insisting that now and forever only his initiated disciples act as trustees for ISKCON properties.)
Therefore taking into consideration all of the above. In accordance
with the will of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya
of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, we call upon the executors
of Srila Prabhupada's will in cooperation with the GBC body of ISKCON to kindly
furnish written proof that they are following each and every mandate given to
them by Srila Prabhupada in the above documents, as a sign to all the assembled
vaisnavas that we can have faith in them to lead Srila Prabhupada's movement.
Specifically we call upon the executors of Srila Prabhupada's will and/or the
GBC body to show compliance with sections 2 through 6 of Srila Prabhupada's
will by:
1. Publishing the complete list of ISKCON properties and the list of names of the 3 to 5 "initiated disciple(s)" of Srila
Prabhupada's who are the "executive directors" or "GBC committee members responsible
for the particular property" and who are "strictly following all the rules and
regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed
in my books" along with corresponding notarised recorded documents, proving that
the GBC are complying with sections 2, 3,and 6.
2. In order to ensure that an “my [Srila Prabhupada’s] initiated disciple”, who is “strictly following all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my [Srila Prabhupada’s] books” , will always be available to replace the “executive directors” or “GBC committee members responsible for the particular property”. That the system of initiating Srila Prabhupada’s disciples continue “henceforward” exactly as outlined by Srila Prabhupada in the letter approved by him and sent to all GBC and Temple Presidents, dated July 9th,1977. And that since no other system having been approved by Srila Prabhupada, that the GBC body as the ultimate managing authority of ISKCON continue “henceforward”. “The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change” and the GBC and local representatives of Srila Prabhupada make sure that all devotees initiated in ISKCON since Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance and in the future have their names included in “His Divine Grace’s [Srila Prabhupada’s ] Initiated Disciples book” as per his authorized instructions. Proving that the GBC are complying with sections 1 and 2 of Srila Prabhupada’s will, by being the “ultimate managerial authority”, implementing Srila Prabhupada’s order that “The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.”
In accordance with Srila Prabhupad's written will, that system of management was to continue on as it was, without any change. The system of management that Srila Prabhupad had worked so hard to put into place and used in managing all of ISKCON for years prior and at the time of those instructions and up to the time of his passing physically from this material world; that system has changed dramatically. This is a deviation from Srila Prabhupad's order. It is our duty to undo those changes and revive the original system of management that our beloved Founder-Acharya worked so hard to establish.
ELECTION FOR TEMPLE PRESIDENTS
Srila Prabhupada decrees in writing that all GBCs are to be elected to 3 year terms by the Temple Presidents according the DOM Order, and that the Temple Presidents in turn be voted in by their congregations. This system of checks and balances giving equal power and voice to all the acting members of ISKCON, and if there is any remotely questionable behavior, the offending party, whether GBC or TP, can be removed. This stands in stark contrast to the present ISKCON, without the Direction of Management, where any non-GBC or non-"guru" will be ridiculed, banned, or even physically harmed, for criticism of the current management structure in ISKCON.
74-09-29
Bhaktivedanta Manor
My Dear Mukunda das:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 22, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the election of President, a president can only be changed by vote. If no vote was taken, then the president cannot be changed. Neither Hamsaduta can change the president whimsically or can anybody else change the president. According the "Direction of Management'' the GBC cannot change the President but only by vote can it be done. The GBC's business is to see that the President and the members are doing nicely, following the regulative principles, and chanting 16 rounds and that other things are going on nicely.
If it was decided by vote that Hamsaduta would select the president then Hamsaduta is right. Without authority Hamsaduta cannot change the election. If the vote was in favor of Madhavananda, then Hamsaduta cannot whimsically change the vote. But, if by vote he was authorized to select the president, then whomever he selects is right. I was not informed by my secretary that Hamsaduta was authorized by vote to make the selection. But, why was Hamsaduta authorized if the vote was already taken? This I do not know. On the whole I understand there are so many contradictions, so in the presence of all members you may take the vote again and decide finally.
74-11-07
Washington, DC
My Dear Rupanuga das:
"N.B. Regarding replacing Abhirama and Damodara I refer to the "Direction of Management'' as follows: "Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members.'' Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple members and do the needful. Anyway I have already written you that the local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the "Direction of Management. A.C. B.S."
ILLEGAL GBC MEETING TO CENTRALIZE ISKCON
ILLEGAL GBC BYLAWS GIVE GBC DICTATORIAL POWER
ELECTION FOR TEMPLE PRESIDENTS
DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT (DOM)
LETTER JULY 9TH - RITVIK INITIATION
CONCLUSION
Since all “executive directors” or “GBC committee members” for the properties must be, “my [Srila Prabhupada's] initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books” and “the system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change”, the conclusion is that there will always be disciples of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON. In other words Srila Prabhupada is able to initiate disciples even though he is no longer physically present, just as when he was in India he was able to initiate disciples all over the world by letter and latter after July the 9th , 1977 by allowing some of “His senior disciples” in different parts of the world to be his local ” ‘ritvik’ -representative of [Srila Prabhupada] the acarva” and chant on beads, threads and give names, and by also allowing his Temple Presidents to perform the fire yajnas.. What is the difference if Srila Prabhupada is in Gokula Vrndavana (India] or Goloka Vrndavana (the spiritual sky] he gave us a simple system to continue the first and second initiations for him.
Thus Srila Prabhupada remains the Founder and the Acarya of ISKCON. Thus ISKCON and the devotees of ISKCON, all followers and bona-fide initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada are united with one purpose, under one acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters, we ask that you humbly request your local, regional, national and international Temple Presidents, GBC’s, Sannyasis, etc., to please read this paper or at least if they once again read the two documents signed and authorised by Srila Prabhupada given herein. Please humbly encourage your leaders to adopt Srila Prabhupada’s desires as outlined in these two documents. We do not want to put blame, for things past but we should simply rectify the situation by giving up our own mundane conceptions and simply have supreme faith in the words of the pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada by surrendering to his clear, simple instructions. It is said that Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world could live. Please help make Srila Prabhupada’s wish for a united ISKCON come true again and remember if we really want to show our love for Srila Prabhupada we must sincerely follow his instructions.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna.
Humbly offered by Disciples of His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the Hare Krishna Society, in the spirit of reconciliation with all of His Divine Graces’ followers and members of ISKCON.
Comment by Praghosa das: If Srila Prabhupada had considered any of his DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS to be "to
a certain extent a liitle vague" he would have certainly
amended or "clarified" his directives and their "intentions".
After
all - is it reasonable to imagine that Srila Prabhupada's concern for his former
family - and what they would and would not recieve as a monthly stipend for
life - would occupy a more prominent and pressing concern for HDG - than
the future of the mission he had strained his whole life to create - the contiued
availability of the books he rose each morning for nearly 10 years at
1:00 AM to produce and the faith and most importantly, the faith
and morale of his 4734 initiated disciples spread across the globe?
Hardly.
So - what he ordered to be done - he placed in the Public Record and expected that though there might be some from OUTSIDE his mission who might attempt to slander or minimize his instructions, claiming them to be "misrepresentative" of "authentic' Krsna Consciousness - at least his loyal and faithful disciples - all tethered to him via their "OATH OF ALLEGIANCE" would need nothing more than those simple and sublime DIRECT ORDERS to guarantee their undying and perfect acceptance of those DIRECT ORDERS as their "heart and soul".
This is what "should have been done" and what "should be done" still.
Praghosa das
June 29, 2009
Please also see:
Direction Of Management
What is the Direction of Management [DOM] ?
Direction Of Management For An Elected GBC