| Dear GBC members, please accept my humble | | | | an important role in Prabhupada's mission – if |
| obeisances. I'd like to take this opportunity to express | | | | taken care of properly, if encouraged and offered |
| my genuine gratitude for all you have done and are still | | | | support they might need. (I see that many devotees in |
| doing for our beloved Srila Prabhupada and Sri | | | | ISKCON are loosing their feeling of belonging to a |
| Caitanya's Sankirtana mission. To assist you and Srila | | | | caring spiritual family. That's why they go somewhere |
| Prabhupada, I'd like to offer my humble contribution to | | | | else. Why can't ISKCON provide that facility?) |
| the improvement of the efficiency of our ISKCON | | | | By all this, I mean to say: gurus' (this applies to |
| society by submitting to you this letter, which is based | | | | siksa-gurus as well) primary duty is to take good care |
| on my study of successful societies, communities and | | | | of their disciples and preach only if there is enough |
| companies. | | | | time for that. According to varnasrama system |
| Therefore, I am offering here the leadership model that | | | | – this occupation is exclusively reserved for |
| would tremendously improve performance of all | | | | brahmanas. This further suggests that the (problem |
| ISKCON programmes and of course – | | | | solving) GBC representatives should ideally be |
| relationships, on which everything else is based. | | | | vanaprasthas or grihasthas who are good leaders and |
| At present, we have so many seemingly | | | | managers, as this kind of service is suitable for |
| insurmountable problems and crises within our society, | | | | ksatriya-natured devotees who like to implement |
| to name but a few. Devotees are leaving the | | | | justice (on Srila Prabhupada's behalf) and see that the |
| movement; ISKCON property is being mismanaged, | | | | society's social issues and preaching programmes run |
| squandered and stolen; our devotees are not properly | | | | smoothly. In the first part of this letter I already |
| taken care of, not trained and educated; some of | | | | mentioned some of the qualities of such devotees |
| them are even abused in various ways … etc. | | | | who in addition, should closely cooperate with |
| Fortunately, there is a simple, yet powerful solution to | | | | experienced brahmanas. You see? I am not |
| many (if not all) of ISKCON's problems. | | | | reinventing the wheel; I am just proposing going back to |
| The present leadership/hierarchy structure where one | | | | Vedic roots – implementation of varnasrama |
| GBC representative is 'in charge' for more than one | | | | system. |
| country (in which he spends at best two weeks per a | | | | This third (the last) part of the letter finally gives |
| year) – is highly dysfunctional. Why? For the | | | | detailed explanation and conclusion. Now, you may |
| simple reason – he doesn't know what is going | | | | wonder: if we are to have one GBC representative in |
| on in the local yatra. When he eventually appears in his | | | | only one country (or a few of them in big countries |
| preaching zone, he is exposed to many twisted truths | | | | such as the USA, Canada and Russia) – we |
| and rumours fabricated by local devotees who are | | | | would need more than 150 GBC representatives |
| highly involved in ISKCON politics, hiding behind their | | | | around the world. Right? RIGHT! Now, we are coming |
| hidden agendas. I am not going to mention any names | | | | to the main point. |
| here, but I know two GBC representatives who visit | | | | Extremely successful companies, communities and |
| 'their' GBC zones once a year for less than five days! | | | | societies are very much ramified. They keep a |
| As they don't even know local devotees, how can | | | | reasonable amount of power in small units and they |
| they be effective in resolving accumulated problems | | | | play the game of excellent team work. Just see what |
| and crises? | | | | Mormons, Jehovah's witnesses, McDonald's, Microsoft |
| Now, you may ask yourself: Is it really the GBC | | | | Corporation, Coca-Cola, Yamaha … etc. are |
| representative's business to travel around and solve | | | | doing. Each sub-sub-sub…branch of those giant |
| somebody else's problems (instead of simply preaching | | | | companies/societies know VERY WELL what is going |
| the message of Bhagavad-gita)? To this question I | | | | on in their assigned (small) territory, which means they |
| would answer: YES! First of all, those (social) problems | | | | KNOW the needs and interests of potential customers, |
| are not just 'somebody else's' problems, because they | | | | they work very hard on trust/relationship improvement, |
| hamper efficiency of our whole ISKCON society and | | | | they expel 'rotten apples' (their version of |
| imperil worldwide reputation of Srila Prabhupada. More | | | | dharma-dvajis) at the very sniff of them, they really |
| often than not, many seed-like problems turn out to | | | | make sure that everything runs smoothly in their zone, |
| become baobab-like problems if not dealt with properly | | | | their hierarchy pyramid doesn't have gaps. |
| at an early stage. Sometimes they become widely | | | | ISKCON's hierarchy pyramid has a serious gap in |
| known public scandals that leave ugly scars and | | | | between GBC and local temple presidents. By this I |
| stigmas on ISKCON's face. We have such | | | | mean to say that the GBC representatives who visit |
| experiences, haven't we? | | | | their zones only once or twice a year (for few days |
| As a result of my study of successful societies, I | | | | only) – are simply NOT good enough. Not a |
| came to the conclusion that the first duty of the GBC | | | | single serious multinational company would agree with |
| representative should be problem solving (on all levels). | | | | such an amateurish arrangement. They operate on a |
| For that dirty but rewarding job, we need experienced, | | | | higher, more effective level – SO CAN WE! |
| practical and daring devotees who understand very | | | | (Better later than never). |
| well the basis of vaishnava philosophy and are above | | | | Finally, here is an explanation of how we can emulate |
| all able to have time for EVERYBODY who wants to | | | | their practice and implement it within ISKCON society. |
| communicate with them. Excellent examples were H.G. | | | | Every yatra (National Council) should elect one local |
| Jayananda prabhu and H.H. Bhakti-tirtha Maharaj, who | | | | devotee with exemplary qualities to carry out the rule |
| were not task-orientated, but people-orientated (with | | | | of what the GBC representative is supposed to do. |
| genuine love and appreciation). That is why they | | | | We can call this position the GBC assistant (or |
| accomplished so many tasks efficiently. | | | | whatever you like; the name is not important). The |
| I remember H.H. Radanath Maharaj saying (something | | | | GBC assistant should be elected (by all local |
| like this): "ISKCON can be successful only when EACH | | | | devotees) once a year. If he /she is very sincere and |
| AND EVERY devotee is properly taken care of, | | | | performs his/her service very well – he/she |
| appreciated and encouraged". So true. | | | | could be re-elected again and again. In case of big |
| There is an unfortunate trend among many of our | | | | yatras, such as Russian – a few GBC |
| ISKCON leaders that they are caught up in | | | | assistants should take care of their assigned zones. |
| beaurecracy, not recognising that Krishna is the ability | | | | Total number of GBC assistants should be divided by |
| in all men (even in their subordinates and dependants). | | | | number of GBC members. For example, 15 GBC |
| They consequently use other devotees as tools for | | | | assistants could be assigned to one GBC member. |
| achieving their goals (which are not always purely | | | | Every GBC member must be available to his |
| spiritual). I have been a devotee for nearly 20 years, | | | | assistants at all times (in person, by phone or by |
| and I can definitely say that there are too many | | | | e-mail). |
| dharma-dvajis in our ISKCON society. [Dharma-dvaji is | | | | The GBC member should travel to a zone where |
| a person who only looks like a devotee and seemingly | | | | there is a serious crisis and his personal presence is |
| follows rules of sadhana, but who is actually interested | | | | requested by a GBC assistant. At other times, the |
| in his/her personal selfish goals – position, | | | | GBC member could travel and preach wherever he |
| recognition, prestige, financial gain … etc. – | | | | wants and give more quality time to his disciples (if he |
| rather than in making serious spiritual advancement by | | | | is a guru). |
| serving Srila Prabhupada]. Those dharma-dvajis are | | | | Every GBC member should make sure that his |
| the most common sources of ISKCON politics and are | | | | relationship with his assistants is based on mutual trust |
| very successful in creating crises (emotional, financial | | | | and love, and that everything runs smoothly in their |
| … etc). Such parasites must be rooted out; and | | | | respective zones. |
| THAT should be the primary service of the GBC | | | | Once a year, at the GBC meeting in Mayapur – |
| representatives. | | | | all GBC members should give a report of successes |
| As long as those dharma-dvajis are allowed to freely | | | | and failures in connection to their respective GBC |
| run their own show and manipulate many sincere souls | | | | assistants and their zones. At that time solutions to |
| who have joined the movement to contribute to Srila | | | | major crises and |
| Prabhupada's Sankirtana mission – that long the | | | | WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T |
| performance of our society in all fields will be | | | | IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED LEADERSHIP |
| obstructed, watered-down, slowed-down (you name | | | | STRUCTURE: |
| it). | | | | Ongoing social problems would only multiply, which |
| So, the conclusion of the first part of this letter is that | | | | would discourage many devotees and cause their |
| our society needs full-time dispute/crises/problem | | | | leaving ISKCON. |
| solvers who know very well all devotees in their zone | | | | Our preaching efficiency would remain slow-paced as |
| and who LIVE in their GBC zone. | | | | it is now. |
| This second part of the letter focuses on the viability | | | | Many potential devotees would remain wary of joining |
| of this option and offers some practical solutions. Now, | | | | ISKCON for the lack of efficient organisation. They |
| you may ask yourself: If our GBC gurus are to be | | | | would see already existing members leaving ISKCON, |
| confined to their GBC zone (only one, maximum two | | | | which would minimize their hope of finding a warm, |
| small countries), how will they tend to their duties as | | | | loving and caring family within ISKCON society. |
| initiating gurus and preachers? That's a good question, | | | | Some untreated crises might become new well-known |
| but my answer is straight to the point. Gurus should | | | | international scandals. |
| only travel and preach to new people only if they can | | | | WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU (GBC) |
| at the same time reserve more quality time for their | | | | IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED LEADERSHIP |
| own disciples, who often strive for attention and | | | | STRUCTURE: |
| spiritual support. Sometimes, their gurus are in a remote | | | | Relationships amongst devotees would significantly |
| part of the world busy with so many preaching | | | | improve, which in turn would minimize social problems. |
| programmes (trying to recruit new devotees) [all | | | | Encouraged by (finally) proper and effective leadership |
| glories to that!], but at the same time they are too busy | | | | structure, instead of leaving ISKCON – devotees |
| to pay attention to and be available (in person, by | | | | would stay with us and happily contribute to Srila |
| postal letters or by e-mail) for many of their disciples | | | | Prabhupada's mission. |
| who are emotionally and spiritually bleeding and are | | | | New potential devotees would be encouraged to join |
| being ignored by their spiritual masters. | | | | the movement. |
| Results? Many devotees feel alienated, ignored and | | | | Many acute problems and crises would be eradicated |
| discouraged – and consequently leave the | | | | at early stage and many potential problems would be |
| movement in search for a 'warmer' spiritual group or | | | | prevented. |
| institution. (I am not saying that this is the only reason | | | | All above mentioned results would inevitably influence |
| for which many ISKCON devotees are leaving the | | | | efficiency of our preaching programmes in many |
| movement, but certainly – it IS one of the | | | | positive ways. |
| reasons). This is called 'Alexander the Great' | | | | This would greatly please Srila Prabhupada. |
| syndrome. Srila Prabhupada definitely didn't want that. | | | | Is that what we want? Of course. And now, it's up to |
| After all, who is the winner in such a repetitive game? I | | | | you dear GBC members to make this simple but |
| think Maya is, as she leaves gurus happily engaged in | | | | powerful move and put it into practice as soon as |
| preaching programmes while she is simultaneously | | | | possible. |
| taking a heavy toll on initiated devotees who could play | | | | |