ISKCON acquires Chippiwada Temple

Trustees of the Sri Radha Krishna Mandir in Chippiwada (New Delhi) have handed over management of the historic temple to ISKCON.
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Srila Prabhupada once wrote in the temple’s guestbook:
“I am pleased to write herein that I have come to Delhi from my H.Q. 1/8/59, Keshi Ghat, Vrindaban (U.P.) purely on spiritual mission to propagate the cult of devotional service of the Lord. And I am more pleased to mention herewith that Sriman Sri Krishna Sharma, Haribhaktanudas, has provided me a suitable room for my literary activities.

“I am publishing an English fortnightly magazine of the name Back to Godhead from this place, and the Nawal Prem Shabha, of which Sri Krishnaji Sharma is the Honorary Secretary, is arranging for my daily lectures on Srimad Bhagwat. “Late Pandit Jyoti Prasad Sharma, father of Shri Krishnaji, was also known to me, and during his lifetime whenever I used to come to Delhi, Late Pandit Jyoti Prasadji would provide me with [a] residential place. His good son is also following in the footprints of his noble father, and as secretary of the Nawal Prem Shabha, he is doing good service in propagating Rama Nama all over the city.”

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ISKCON Bangalore willing to discuss disputes with Mumbai unit

ISKCON Bangalore today said it is interested to thrash out 'differences' with ISKCON Mumbai and resolve ownership and property disputes.

"Our offer for peace is always open and that we are ready to discuss the issue at length ...," International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON Bangalore) President Madhu Pandit Dasa said in statement here. ISKCON Bangalore has invited three representatives of ISKCON Mumbai to visit the centre here to discuss the differences, he said, adding, there was no truth in the Mumbai branch's claim of inviting him for discussion. Clarifying on the controversy between the centres, he argued that the origin of the dispute was not property related but was related to succession to the 'Acharya Peetha' after the death of the founding Acharya Srila Prabhupada. He said he was willing to settle all disputes and even accede control over the Bangalore centre if ISKCON Mumbai agreed to follow Srila Prabhupada's teachings, including his direction to appoint 'ritviks' (priests). Dasa alleged that ISKCON Mumbai violated ISKCON Law which prevents devotees from taking part in posthumous ritvik initiation ceremonies. The Supreme Court in June had asked the counsel appearing for both Bangalore and Mumbai centres to thrash out their differences over property dispute. It allowed ISKCON Bangalore to continue with day-to-day management of the centre but restrained it from taking any policy decisions, including creation of any financial liability.

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ISKCON Mumbai is not serious about peace

By: Madhu Pandit Das

Bangalore 1st September, 2011.

We got to know through media sources that ISKCON Mumbai’s Bureau members conducted a press conference today and claimed that they are willing to settle the dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and Mumbai as per the Supreme Courts’ desire. We are sending this clarificatory press release so as to present the actual facts of the matter.

We wish to place on record that ISKCON Bangalore was the first to offer a peace proposal, we had offered peace proposal as early as 4th of February 2009. This peace proposal was given just before City Civil Court pronounced its verdict that ISKCON Bangalore registered in 1978 is an independent society and that ISKCON Mumbai registered in 1971 should not interfere with Bangalore’s affairs. This proposal was categorically rejected by ISKCON Mumbai. The proposal was sent in writing you can view the same by going to the following link: http://www.iskcontruth.com/2011/07/krishna-voice-july-2011-special-edition.html

Further, after June 5th 2011 hearing of Supreme Court which instructed both the litigating parties to maintain Status quo and try to resolve the differences peacefully. I went personally to ISKCON Mumbai, and met with Sri Bhima Dasa the member Secretary of Bureau of ISKCON Mumbai, to discuss and work out peace proposal. Unfortunately Sri Bhima dasa, threatened that if we do not surrender to the ISKCON Guru system, all the ISKCON Bangalore society’s office bearers will be jailed. I was humiliated when a proposal for peace was offered, a patented proof to the fact that ISKCON Mumbai is not really serious about peace.

ISKCON Mumbai’s claim that they have invited me to come for discussion today with all the Bureau members is far from truth as we have not received any such invitation. These are all eyewash techniques of ISKCON Mumbai which wants to make a farcical show to Supreme Court and to people in general that they have tried to resolve the matters peacefully and that we are not serious about peaceful settlement.

It should also be noted here that I too am a member of the ISKCON Mumbai’s govern council or Bureau, but I have not been getting any invitations from them for their meeting and I have got to know from sources that the Bureau has conducted a meeting in Bangalore today and I have not been invited for the same.

In spite of being humiliated time again and they not being serious about peace, ISKCON Bangalore is deeply interested in resolving the differences, amicably settle and focus on constructive endeavors. We reiterate that our offer for peace is always open and that we are ready to discuss the issue at length. We even now invite 2or 3 representatives of ISKCON Mumbai’s Bureau to come to ISKCON Bangalore’s Radha Krishna Mandir on Hare Krishna Hill Rajajinagar so that proposals can be discussed.

We also wish to openly declare that the origin of this dispute is not property related but it is related to succession to the Acharya peetha after the physical departure of Srila Prabhupada the founder and Acharya of ISKCON. The International governing body has passed the following resolution which has been adopted by ISKCON Mumbai:

The Posthumous Rtvik Doctrine

The doctrine that Srila Prabhupada continues to initiate direct diksha disciples after his departure from this world thro’ officiating priests (rtviks) is a dangerous philosophical deviation. It is totally prohibited in ISKCON. No devotee shall participate in such posthumous rtvik initiation ceremonies in any capacity including acting as rtvik, initiate, assistant, organizer or financier. No ISKCON devotee shall advocate or support its practice.” (ISKCON Law 6.4.7.2)

We are willing to settle and handover the control of ISKCON Bangalore society registered in 1978 if the above ISKCON Law (ISKCON Law 6.4.7.2) is rescinded and it is openly declared that Srila Prabhupada is the only Acharya of ISKCON and that no one else should accept disciples within ISKCON. Any further discussions on the peace proposal can be worked out provided these facts are first accepted by ISKCON Mumbai. Only based on this first step can any peace or settling of issues can make meaningful progress. 

We the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore are leading a reform movement within ISKCON against immorality and corruption where unqualified largely western disciples have usurped the position of Acharya, Srila Prabhupada and are making their own disciples, thus creating hundreds of guru camps within the movement. More than forty of these self made gurus have fallen from grace into immoral activities and have brought great disrepute to the ISKCON movement all over the world. This reform movement is supported by thousands of devotees and disciples from all over the world. Many thousands of disciples of Srila Prabhupada have been hounded out of ISKCON for having said Srila Prabhupada is the only guru of ISKCON by the unauthorized self-made gurus of ISKCON.

They attempted to bribe me earlier by offering to make me a guru in order to kill the reform movement against immorality and corruption in ISKCON. The current attempt is either a drama or another attempt to bribe me with lifelong president-ship of ISKCON Bangalore and thus diverting from the main issue.

What we are requesting is the facility to accept Srila Prabhupada as the sole guru of ISKCON within the institution established by him. This is not possible as long as the draconian law of prohibition is hanging on the head of the devotees of ISKCON. '

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ISKCON Mumbai wants peace talks with ISKCON Bangalore

ISKCON Mumbai took a new step today, some of the main heads of GBC came to bangalore for a peace talk about Bangalore temple Issue. The mumbai ISKCON member and Bangalore ISKCON temple president Varada Krishna Dasa to IT (ISKCON TRUTH) Correspondent: we offered madhupandit das to come to table talks but he didnt come. We even offered him permanent post to become president of ISKCON Bangalore temple but we didnt get any reply from him.

Madupandit Dasa (MPD) to TV9: I didnt get any invite for the meeting.

Bharathasabha Dasa (Communication head of ISKCON Bangalore) to IT: ISKCON Mumbai as come here for other purpose and the fact is that they have not invited MPD to any sort of meeting.

However ISKCON GBC members are sticking to there point and they want closed door talks with MPD. dayaram dasa who is also head of this mission said to IT:  ISKCON Mumbai is ready to give whatever MPD asks like life time ISKCON Bangalore president, however he rejected to answer anything about Guru issue. 

Here is the details of people who have come to Bangalore for peace talks

Braja Hari Dasa- ISKCON Juhu Mumbai president

Devaki Nandan- regional secretary ISKCON mumbai

Basu Ghosh Das- President of ISKCON Baroda

Yashomatinandana Prabhu- president of ISKCON Ahmadabad

Rewati Raman Das- President of ISKCON Tirupathi

Bhakti Purushotham Swami- GBC of Mayapur

Doyaram Dasa- Kolkata President

Gopala Krishna Maharaj-ISKCON GBC Member & acting Guru

Bhakti Charu Swami- ISKCON GBC Member & acting guru (Known as one of the successful ISKCON Gurus after Jaypataka swami. He accepts the fact that he is not a guru but he was forced to become guru. Ref: 100 Contradictions: The life and teachings of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami book)

last but not the least Varada Krishna Dasa

and many more have come to bangalore

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Sivarama Maharaja’s Book on Siksa-Guru

This book puts forward 3 basic propositions: 

1. That Everyone of us should aspire to become a Siksa Guru
2. That Srila Prabhupada is everyone’s pre-dominant Siksa Guru
3. That Siksa is the most important thing – Diksha is not so important

Now propositions 1 & 2 are fine. It is proposition 3) which reveals the real political purpose of the book – which is to divert everyone’s attention away from Srila Prabhupada’s actual position as the SOLE Diksha Guru for ISKCON. Instead we are diverted away from the REAL issue by discussing Siksa – and how all of us including Srila Prabhupada fit into this scheme of things. Thus Srila Prabhupada’s ‘position’ is secure because ‘we’ have ‘given’ him a very ‘prominent’ position as everyone ‘predominant Siksa Guru’, and all the other devotees who are not ‘making it’ by being allowed into the ‘diksa guru circle’ are also appeased since they are given some post as a type of Guru. So those who want Srila Prabhupada to have a higher profile are appeased, and those who want a higher profile themselves are appeased, whilst the current Diksha Gurus get to keep their positions, and their disciples. In this way everyone is happy. This is what is known as ‘honour amongst thieves’ – let us share out the pie so that everyone is pacified and the status quo remains. This is the real purpose of the book. Please note the following:

1. It is not for US to decide what Srila Prabhupada’s ‘position’ is. Thus we are not in a position to ‘give’ Srila Prabhupada any role. Srila Prabhupada HIMSELF has established what his position is – the sole Diksa Guru for everyone – and ALL of us, as well as all devotees to come in the future, are all connected with Srila Prabhupada in the same way, in the spirit of REAL brotherhood.
   
   
2. The book is also based on making the same mistake I highlighted in my first paper to you whereby Diksha is defined as a ceremony, and only Siksa is defined as the transmission of transcendental knowledge.
   
   
3. If ‘Diksha’ is not as important as Siksa then why are the Diksha Gurus fighting tooth and nail to hold onto to their Diksha Guru positions? Just this attachment alone makes us suspicious that there is another agenda at play here. If Siksa is the main thing then why don’t THEY give up their Diksha roles, and simply take up this really important Siksa role? And let Srila Prabhupada continue in this ‘non-important’ Diksha role, just as he desired in the July 9^th directive. When the GBC try and object to your proposal that Srila Prabhupada be re-instituted as the sole Diksha Guru for ISKCON just as he desired in the July 9th directive, then please ask them why the big resistance when on the other hand they are all pushing the idea that Diksha is not so important anyway?
   
   
4. So this emphasis on ‘siksa’ guru is just another bluff to make sure we NEVER actually discuss the REAL topic – WHY have they REPLACED Srila Prabhupada in his capacity as Diksha Guru. Sivarama Maharaja’s books is simply the latest in a long line of ingenious manoeuvres designed with only ONE aim in mind – to maintain the status quo. Srila Prabhupada taught us that “phalena paraciyate” – Judge by the result. Please note the NET effect of all the following schemes has been that the Gurus continue in their role as Diksha Gurus, and get to keep their disciples etc., and Srila Prabhupada remains dethroned:

a)	In 1978 May 28th Tape is forwarded as evidence that 11 ‘successor Diksha Gurus’ were appointed.
b)	Later on May 28th Tape is actually heard widely for the first time and the hoax is exposed. Now the SAME tape is forwarded to justify that EVERYONE is Guru.
c)	Guru falldowns occur and an attempt is made to defuse the situation by gradually reducing the worship of the Gurus.
d)	July 9th directive becomes widely circulated throughout the society and now an attempt is made to defuse the situation by stating that Diksha is not so important anyway.
e)	To diffuse the situation even more, Srila Prabhupada is promoted as the ‘main siksa Guru’.
f)	Now it is also suggested that major ‘GBC reform’ should also be undertaken.

So Sivarama’s book is simply the latest tool in a long line of tools which have been used to keep us focused on SOMETHING else –

Diksha Guru Expansion
Diksha Guru Reform
Diksha Guru De-emphasis
Siksa Guru Promotion
GBC Reform

See the pattern. What I am stating is NOT my opinion, since we can ALL ‘phalena pariciyate’. Please note for yourself that the ONLY REAL RESULT of these schemes is that the DIKSA GURU STATUS QUO REMAINS – somehow or another they always get to keep their disciples, and Srila Prabhupada remains frozen out of his true role of Diksha Guru from his OWN society. So I hope this has helped in understanding the true purpose of this book.

As stated yesterday, during your meeting please always stay fixed on “Koriho mane asa. – the July 9th directive. And do not become distracted by – “Do not try to research anything. That is final. Ar na koriho mane asa.” All GBC proposals are simply ‘research’ attempts to hide the truth – and Sivarama’s book is simply the latest in a long line of such truth-destroying ‘research’ tools. Please remember that the May 28th tape and private letter to Tusta Krishna, even though originating from Srila Prabhupada, are also used as tools to divert us from the truth. I explained yesterday how they fallaciously use the letter to Tusta Krishna in this manner, and I will just remind you here of the fallacy in attempting to try and use the May 28th tape in the same way:

The tape has at least 5 different interpretations and transcripts given by the GBC themselves in their different papers over the years.

Srila Prabhupada did not direct the movement by asking us to analyse and speculate on his conversations with disciples, but rather always put the matter in writing - that way there can never be any confusion. We do not need to speculate or second-guess what the questioner meant, what Srila Prabhupada heard, which part of the question he was answering etc. etc.

The letter came AFTER the tape, was in writing and sent to the whole movement. The conversation meanwhile was only with 3 or 4 disciples, and not distributed to anyone.
The directive is in ANY CASE the written output of the conversation. Right at the outset of the July 9th directive it states:

"Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as "ritvik-representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second."

This refers to the May 28th conversations that took place in Vrindavan.

Just like you have a business meeting where there is much to and fro discussion and then the conclusions are MINUTED in writing, APPROVED and then DISTRIBUTED. This is exactly what happened here. Whatever was discussed was written down, approved by Srila Prabhupada, and distributed to the whole movement. Thus the idea that the July 9th directive can be understood or modified by referring to the tape is ludicrous. Rather the tape must be understood and modified by referring to the written output. Just as a bystander who attended your company board meeting may not be able to make sense of exactly what everyone is meaning and saying, but as soon as the minutes are released it becomes clear. That is the system:

"They misunderstand me. Unless it is there from me in writing, there are so many things that "Prabhupada said."  (Letter, Omkara, 75-09-02)

So I think you are now well-armed to deal with all the truth-destroying tools they may throw at you to divert you from your real mission, whether it be the issue of GBC reform, Sivarama’s book, May 28th tape, letter to Tusta Krishna etc.etc. So please stay fixed in the truth on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. You may feel daunted and alone going up against all the ‘big men’ of the GBC, but please remember, YOU will have truth on your side and therefore:

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”
(Bhagavad Gita, 2:40)

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Lifestyles of the Richly Renounced

 How wonderful it would be to be able to afford such a luxurious holiday in sunny Goa! His Holiness Śivarāma Swami looks so very happy in his private five star holiday resort along with his entourage of disciples who are caring for his every whim and want. I hope he owns this palatial Mediterranean residence or at least drained the water and had the pool cleaned with gobar (cow stool) and only filled it again after he had his Brahmin disciples perform a purification yajña to cleanse the pool of the human wastes products and discharges that karmīs release into to such a pool when on their Goan holiday? I am sure he would never wear his shoes when touching his Deities or use a table used by karmīs for Them, what to speak of taking his Rādhā Kṛṣṇa Deities into such a unsanctified pool…  I am sure he would always wear three strands of Tulasi mala around his neck and I am sure he would never be engaged in such unspeakable or offensive behaviour unbecoming of a Sannyāsa and Dīkṣā Guru…

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Trouble brewing at Hare Krishna group in Adelaide

Vivianne Kharel, with husband Gour-Gopinath, said she was unfairly expelled from her job at the Krishna office in Kilburn. Picture: Tait Schmaal Source: Sunday Mail (SA)

BENEATH the mysterious singing, dancing world of the Hare Krishna, there is trouble brewing.

It is a society normally associated with love, peace and harmony, but several Krishna's insiders say they are unhappy with the way the religion is being run.

A former high-ranking Krishna at the Adelaide Temple has taken the leaders of the national congregation to court over claims she was unfairly dismissed from her role.

There are at least 50 full-time initiated devotees - people who have taken specific vows - in Adelaide, plus a congregation of at least 4000 followers who attend major festivals.

The Krishnas have just finished celebrating the biggest two days on their calender, the appearance day of their late leader, Srila Prabhupada, on Tuesday, and the appearance day of Sri Krsna, Supreme Personality of Godhead, on Monday.

Worshippers erupted into readings, homages and eventual fasting as they paid tribute to their late leader, Prabhupada, who founded the religion in the 1960s, and their spiritual God.

The congregation, which assembles at the Krishna Temple in Kilburn, is made up of mostly Indians who are seeking worship after relocating to Australia.

After a boom period sparked by a society craving for alternative thought in the 1970s, numbers have declined and there are now very few worshippers in SA who are westerners.

The Immigration Department confirmed it was aware of claims some priests from poor countries such as India have been used in Australia as collectors rather than leading congregations.

Priests are required to be paid about $40,000-$50,000 annually under federal immigration laws.

An Immigration Department spokesman said they were aware of the allegations against the Krishnas.

"The department takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and investigates where appropriate. However it is not appropriate for us to discuss matters which we may be investigating," he said.

Vivianne Kharel, who was until recently a public officer with the society, said she had been expelled from the Kilburn Temple following her fallout with the Krishna's national president and treasurer, Andrew Marsh.

However, Mr Marsh said they were forced to remove Mrs Kharel from the temple because of inadequate leadership.

"The (Kilburn) temple was not being run properly, they did not have any money and I had a lot of complaints from members about her (Mrs Kharel's) management," he said.

"It was a very difficult time and unpleasant situation, the temple was quite workable, we appointed a new manager and things are moving forward and working quite nicely now."

The two warring parties have been unable to resolve their differences as yet, and the matter has been listed for a magistrate's hearing next month.

Mr Marsh also denied any culpability for any of the alleged immigration scams, claiming they were an Adelaide problem.

"It is quite ironic that those accusations are being levelled at us when it was one of the things which was concerning us about management in Adelaide."

Mrs Kharel's husband, Gour-Gopinath, has also taken the congregation to the Adelaide Magistrates Court over claims it is withholding more than $10,000 he lent it to pay the Kilburn temple's power bills.

"My husband has been through so much and he is a gentle kind man yet still they choose to treat him like this," Mrs Kharel said.

Melbourne-based devotee, David, said he was let down by the Krishna hierarchy when the society became embroiled in a child sex scandal in 2006.

"My daughter had been solicited by one of the priests and when I found out I assaulted him," he said. "Instead of counselling my family, . . . (Krishna management) bailed the guy out of jail after he was arrested and gave him refuge at the temple."

However, Mr Marsh said the Krishnas were lawfully required to support the priest before he was sent back to India following the court trial.

"You really have to be careful in that particular situation. When we sponsor people we have a legal responsibility to keep shelter over their heads," he said.

The priest was eventually found guilty of sex offences and deported to India after being given a suspended sentence.

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