Answers to Janardana Prabhu - Part 2

BY: NIMAI PANDIT DAS

Dec 26, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK (SUN) —

In his recent article, "Questions for Nimai Pandit Prabhuji", Janardana Prabhu wrote:

TP BODY/TEMPLE PRESIDENT

In your article it is mentioned that the new GBC were elected by a TP Body. The TP Body was elected by rank and file devotees from all the centers in India.

a) chanting 16 rounds daily
b) rising before 4 AM
c) following the four regulative principles
d) attending daily temple programs: Mangala aratika, Bhagavatam class, Gaura Aratika, Bhagavad-gita class
e) preaching (Sankirtan, book distribution etc)

1. Why does each temple not elect its President separately on a local level, on a regular basis?

Answer: Srila Prabhupada did not put it in the DOM. He could have, as he called for regular election for the GBC, but he did not. He left it to the local situation. If a devotee has built up a place and he is ingrained in the locality and is well situated, fixed in his service, then what is the need of elections, etc.? Most important is that the President sticks responsibly for life - if he is able to do his duty adequately.

The main principle is, as Srila Prabhupada states, rectify rather than remove. But if the local situation calls for it, especially when there are multiple leadership options, then the local devotees with elected GBC can decide for regular elections for Temple President. Srila Prabhupada allowed for that and instructed for it, too. What he did put in the DOM was for the Temple President to be removed/changed, the GBC requires support of local temple members. An irregular election, conducted by the GBC.

2. What is the function of the TP Body besides electing GBC?

Answer: Srila Prabhupada set it up that all the decisions that are taken by the GBC body were to be sent to the TP Body for their modifications - if any. But the final authority still rested with the elected GBC. But still the TP Body are the actual managers of ISKCON. They themselves govern by their elected representatives - the GBC's. Right now many Temple Presidents feel disempowered. That is not how Srila Prabhupada set it up.

3. The following is a general standard of regular disciple (GS) as set up by Srila Prabhupada:

Are the Temple Presidents following GS?

Answer: YES.

What is the system of checking whether the GS is being followed by Temple Presidents?

Answer: Each temple has a sadhana register. It will be checked by the elected GBC regularly. We are developing an online system of sadhana monitoring. Already in Bangalore, there are biometric machines that devotees use to fingerprint when they come for Mangala Arati, japa, darshan arati, Srimad Bhagavatam class, etc., that is in electronic format.

What are the measures for removing the Temple President representatives in case of serious violation of a GS?

Answer: The elected GBC body can make a resolution to remove the Temple President, then the local elected GBC will call for a meeting with the local members and present the case for the ratification by the local members, as per DOM and as per Srila Prabhupada's personal example and instruction for Abhirama das and Goverdhan das, etc., in 1974.

What if the rank and file vote for a Temple President who does not follow GS?

Answer: Nominations will be taken from the assembly of devotees in the meeting for the post of the Temple President by the local GBC. He will not accept the nomination of a person without the basic qualifications. Also, in case of politics to remove a well functioning and well qualified Temple President, by the politics of local members, he can refuse to call for the election for change of Temple President. Srila Prabhupada instructed Satsvarupa Maharaj to do the same for New Orleans temple, where Nityananda das was Temple President in the early 70s.

Bombay - November 25, 1972

My Dear Nityananda,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 12, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. I am forwarding the copy of your letter, along with my reply, to Satsvarupa in Dallas. I think he is the GBC man in that zone, and he is the best man to come there immediately and see what is the situation and do the needful. Of course I do not know what are the facts, but I have seen that you have done very nicely there, so far I know. And no one has made complaint to me. So maybe there is a little fighting amongst yourselves, that is natural, but you are advanced disciple, don't be disturbed by these things. Actually I want that householders shall manage in the temples, because they have got propensity to manage things and they want to take responsibility and they will not go away. Brahmacari, householder, it doesn't matter, but householders are doing nicely all over the world, why the others shall resent householders in your temple? That is not reason. This attitude of changing this, changing that, if there is some small thing to make it something very great, changing the leaders three every week-these things are going on, I know. This is not at all good attitude, that if by adjustment, this and that, changing everything, I may create the perfect combination and everything will be all right. I am more impressed if someone has opened one centre and that he has stayed there tightly and developed nicely, not going away whimsically. So you have been leader at New Orleans temple for long time, you are the pioneer there, so why you should be whimsically discharged? Only the GBC man shall be able to make these changes, not any so-called secret meeting of devotees. Why they have misunderstood these things? If they have objection they must lodge it with their GBC, and differences must be discussed openly amongst ourselves, not secret meetings. We are Vaisnava devotees, not politicians. So these things must be stopped, plotting. Your merit stands far above theirs, you have done some tangible work to please me by spreading this Krishna Consciousness message in New Orleans, that is the test. Let them do something first, then we shall see what is their criticism. Simply criticizing and no work, that is the business of inferior men. So do not be disturbed by them, go on with your work, increasing more and more. Never mind the jackals howl.

Hoping this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
cc: Satsvarupa/Dallas

GBC ELECTION

1. According to Srila Prabhupada's DOM, the GBC's are supposed to be elected by the Temple Presidents from all the branches of the society. In other words, all the Temple Presidents are voted by rank and file devotees from a particular temple and once every three years, these elected Temple Presidents vote in GBC's for all the regions. If the same system was followed today, the complete number of Temple Presidents from all around the world would be participating in elections for the Indian zone. In the case of the recent election, rank and file in India voted in the TP Body, which voted in GBC's for India only. Why?

Answer: The election of the GBC's was never conducted by Srila Prabhupada. He did not show it to us. He was nominating as per 1975 GBC Resolution while he was present. But when he disappeared, GBC appointment via DOM elections should have kicked in. It did not. Without the personal example, we need to see the practical situation to arrive at the result Srila Prabhupada desires. We also thought, how will a Temple President in Siberia know a Temple President in Peru to make an informed decision whether any of them is qualified to be GBC? It is much more natural for local Temple Presidents in a geographical region to know each other and vote for their natural leader. Otherwise we may fall into a situation of protracted election campaign around the world by "rich" Temple Presidents. In addition, a Temple President in a region, culture, economy -- how can he really do an adequate job in a different region, culture, economy? Hence we thought it is more common sense to hold elections region by region.

As explained earlier, Srila Prabhupada did not instruct in the DOM for regular election of the Temple Presidents. Here in India, the growth was not organic. Young Temple Presidents were appointed as trainees to lead large projects. All devotees were sent from Bangalore, not made by the local (trainee) Temple President. Many of the senior devotees who were more than qualified to be a Temple President were not sent out, as their services were required to develop a big department in Bangalore, etc.

Bangalore temple was under a sustained attack. They had to develop an institution all over India quickly to survive, while keeping the base in Bangalore strong and growing. The Temple President of Bangalore was almost fully tied up with the legal battle. Hence this situation. It was decided to hold an election for the TP Body. As it was a unique situation, it was decided to only do it once. From now on, only the Temple Presidents who have signed the Oath of Allegiance to Srila Prabhupada of 1975 will be allowed to be on the ballot, with the election conducted region by region.

But, as this "procedure" needs to be debated before an ISKCON Constitution is adopted by the rank and file devotees in temples around the world, then according to that, this procedure could be re-adopted.

2. In your article you are stating that the election for the TP Body will not be repeated in the subsequent years, as it is instructed in DOM. So far as I can see, the DOM does not mention the TP Body system, but instructs to vote the GBC every three years by the Temple Presidents. The Temple Presidents are supposed to be elected from among the rank and file devotees on a regular basis, as can be seen in the following quotes:

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Gurudasa, March 2, 1970, Los Angeles:

"I beg to acknowledge reciept of your two letters dated 20 and 26 February, 1970, respectively, and I am so glad to learn that you have been elected president for this year. In India, when there was congress election among the executive members, each year a person was elected president. I think this system may be followed in our institutions also. Of course it will depend on the local situation, but in a round if each person is given the chance of managing the whole affairs, that means everyone becomes responsible officer.

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jayapataka, August 24, 1971, London:

"The president, secretary and treasurer elected by the members of the center cannot be changed at least for one year; better to continue it for three years."

Please explain why the TP Body election won't be repeated in the following years.

Answer: Srila Prabhupada could have instructed the Temple President election in the DOM, but did not. He chose to do it likewise judiciously. As per our research, Srila Prabhupada wanted a Temple President to stick for their whole life as the Temple President. That was one of his major criteria.

"This constantly changing managers is not good. We shall develop more progressively by sticking in one place and working, not that one week we have three presidents, that is not good. Our managers should be very responsible for developing their centre to the topmost standard, why this restlessness? It is just like one man is holding government post by getting votes, so today or tomorrow or next day, but he will have to go out, then another man comes, then another, another-in this way, democratic system, no one becomes responsible for the welfare of the citizens, only they want to take for themselves as much as they can before they have to get out, so they do not take real interest in their duty. It is a little like that. My idea is that the leaders must agree to stick at one place, even they may have to remain their life-long, that is the ideal leader, one who is conscious of his duty." (Letter to Hrdayananda, Nov 5, 1972)

But if the local situation demanded, then they could choose to elect the Temple President regularly too. It should be left to the local situation. Many house temples, developed by a householder, for example, do not need a regular election. Similarly, in a temple developed by an individual from scratch, who has been there since then with most of the devotees in that locality being his siksha disciples. In both cases, any other Temple President will not be appropriate, as long as the original Temple President continues to follow the GS and is managing to keep the devotees happy.

3. Are the elected GBC's following GS?

Answer: YES.

What is the system of checking whether the GS is being followed by the GBC's?

Answer: Same as all other temple members.

What are the measures for removing the GBC in case of serious violation of a GS?

Answer: By the whole elected GBC, then removed as a Temple President too.

Please also see: Answers to Janardana dasa, Part One Part One