Notes on Srila Prabhupada's Instruction regarding GBC

BY: Nara Narayana Vishwakarma Dasa A FEW NOTES......FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS, AGREE OR DISAGREE.As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution.
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VERY CLEAR....NO?They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard.
EVEN IN 1970, "CRACKS" WERE APPEARING IN THE REGULARITY OF OBEDIENCE TO SP.Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them.WHO WISHES TO BE SEEN BY HIM AS "BELOVED".....WILL ACCEPT.

(Srila Prabhupada in the Direction of Management, July 28, 1970)

1. The GBC oversees all operations and management of ISKCON, as it receives direction from Srila Prabhupäda and His Divine Grace has the final approval in all matters. (DOM )

WHEN SP WAS PRESENT, HE INTENDED THE GBC TO BE EXTENSIONS OF HIS VIEWS, OPINIONS "WAY OF DOING THINGS" AND MOOD. THIS THEY GOT FROM HIM PERSONALLY, AND ALSO BY LETTER AND BOOK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE UN-ELECTED GBC TOOK THIS AS A LICENSE TO "CREATE" THEIR OWN MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, AND TOOK THAT THEIR BEING "IN CHARGE" AS A LICENSE TO "RULE WITH AN IRON HAND" RATHER THAN SIMPLY BE THE "VIA MEDIUM" AS THOUGH ALL PLANS AND RESOLUTIONS WERE AS TRUE TO SP'S PERSONAL VIEWS AND OBJECTIVES THAT NO OPINION OF THEIR OWN WOULD APPEAR.
EVEN NOW, IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A GBC WHO IS LIKE A "TRANCE MEDIUM" FOR SP......THEY HAVE TAKEN THE IDEA OF "ULTIMATE MANAGING AUTHORITY" TO MEAN "SUCCESSOR TO SP AS PLANMAKERS" AND THAT WHATEVER THEY PLAN, NO MATTER HOW FOOLISH OR UNAUTORIZED, IS BEING SUPPORTED BY GOD HIMSELF.
THIS DISASTEROUS FARCE CONTINUED UNTIL SP DENOUNCED THE GBC FOR...."YOUR GODLESS PLANMAKING"! AND THAT THEY WERE SIMPLY BRINGING HIM HEADACHES BY THEIR WRANGLING, INSTEAD OF WORKING TOGETHER IN ISTAGOSTHI WITH AN AGREED SACRED TRUST TO SUBLIMATE THEMSELVES TO SP, AT LEAST WHILE ACTING OFFICIALLY AS GBC.

2.) 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. The GBC is to act as the instrument for the execution of the will of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupad.
THIS DIRECTLY APPLIES TO THE DOM AS WRITTEN.....SINCE THE DOM IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT ON LEGAL FORM, AND SIGNED BUY TWELVE HIGH RANKING PARTICIPANTS, CHANGING THE WORDS OR INTENT OF THE DOM WOULD REQUIRE FORMAL CHANGES, AND SEEKING THE AGREEMENT OF THE TWELVE SIGNERS TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES. THE CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO NOT ONLY BE IN WRITING, BUT BE CONSTRUED AS A "CODICIL" TO THE ORIGINAL DOM, HAVE REFERENCE TO THE DOM, AND THEN STATE IN FORMAL FORMAT WHAT CHANGES WERE TO BE MADE, WHY AND HOW.

THIS WAS NEVER DONE, AND IT IS A SHAME THAT NO ONE HAD THE COURAGE TO FACT THE GBC WITH THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE DOM IS THE WILL OF THE ACHARYA, AND ALL THE SUPPOSED EXEPTIONS AND "CHANGES" ARE NOTHING MORE THAN THIN HOGWASH.