No Splintering of ISKCON

BY: Nimai Pandit Das
Nov 27, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
Mahasrnga Prabhu writes in his "Letter to Madhu Pandit Das" that:

"..although I certainly disagree with you and Nimai Pandit about forming a "GBC" separate from the functioning ISKCON today, I can also understand your frustration when trying to deal with these people. On the other hand, I'm not sure Srila Prabhupada would approve of continuing to splinter the society he formed."

I disagree that this GBC election will result in "splintering" ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada has instructed via Direction of Management that GBC's should be elected every three years by the Temple Presidents from among themselves.

"2. ...the GBC will be elected by a vote of all Temple presidents who will vote for 8 from a ballot of all Temple presidents, which may also include any secretary who is in charge of a Temple. ....

3. The commissioners will serve for a period of 3 years, and they may be re-elected at the end of this period." (Direction of Management, July 28, 1970)

All the temples that understand the importance of following Srila Prabhupada's instructions, and wish to elect a GBC, can come together, region by region, and conduct elections in conjunction with ISKCON, Inc. like it has been done in India. They should also agree to gradually amend their respective corporate documents to add the two clauses from July 22, 1974 Topmost Urgency letter as Srila Prabhupada is instructing.

Moreover, all the newly elected India GBC's and Temple Presidents will sign the yearly Oath of Allegiance to Srila Prabhupada, as made by him in 1975 (see below). As you probably know, this Oath of Allegiance had also been changed by the so-called GBC in their effort to control Temple Presidents. The same should be done by all Temple Presidents taking part in the election.

Then all these newly elected GBC members will meet together as the worldwide GBC. That will be the bona-fide ISKCON GBC. The same process shall be repeated every three years.

If other ISKCON temples do not want to follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions to elect their GBC, then what should we do? If the other Temple Presidents wish to be controlled by an unelected, non-bonafide GBC, what can we do? If some Temple Presidents wish to remain subjugated, even when Srila Prabhupada has given them the power to elect their GBC, what can we do? Why does he want to find fault with us for following Srila Prabhupada's instructions? Why does he not assist Srila Prabhupada in getting other temples to elect their GBC according to Srila Prabhupada's Direction of Management?

As far as all other allegations that he has made, I request him to share his doubts and documents with the staff of iskcontoday.org, who are investigating these issues. False allegations contaminate the environment for practicing pure devotional service and hence disturbs faith of many conditional souls. I wish that he take responsibility of clearing up that air. That will be a sincere apology.

Srila Prabhupada's Oath of Allegiance of 1975 is here...

http://www.iskcontoday.org/oath+of+allegiance+1975