Welcome to ISKCON! | PRALAMBAHA DAS

The invitation advises “Be there…Don’t miss out.”
But there are a few investors who wish that they had not been there and would have missed out!

COCOBEACH, GABON, AFRICA (SUN) — Welcome to ISKCON!…where the callousness of the GBC is shocking.

 

After reading of the heartbreak and financial woes that ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner His Holiness (sic) Bhakti Caru Swami has imposed upon some trusting devotees, I can only say with the greatest consternation, “Welcome to ISKCON!” Many on ISKCON’s uncaring GBC have a long history of mistreating devotees once the innocent have been milked dry of their resources.

Misappropriations of a few thousand dollars seldom hit the headlines. But now with the figures running into astronomical amounts things have gotten out of hand in Ponzi-land. The GBC might be unable to answer letters or phone calls when a lender or donor would like an explanation, although their wolf-like grins continue to greet potential benefactors at their open doors. Welcome to ISKCON.

It is said in India that whether one steals a khira (cucumber) or hira (diamond) he is still a thief. That is why Srila Prabhupada was so particular to keep an honest standard, especially among the Society’s leaders.

He knew that if the self-appointed elite members allowed themselves the privilege of cheating in small amounts by ripping off trusting devotees for fifty dollars here, or a hundred dollars there, then it would only be a matter of time before such a cheating propensity would balloon to grand schemes involving millions of dollars.

And that is exactly what has happened in the case of Bhakti Caru’s unlicensed plans for easy money. It is heartbreaking for the sincere rank and file members of the sangha to look on helplessly while callous swamis in silk trample upon the faith of the genuine devotees.

  

Srila Prabhupada often pointed to the cheating escapades of Indian so-called holy men — as well as so-called preachers of the Bible in the West — whose interest lay in getting rich in the name of God. For the information of people like Bhakti Caru and other GBC members who apparently have not caught on, Srila Prabhupada’s lectures on the subject were not simply for our entertainment.

No, Srila Prabhupada did not speak for our sense gratification, but in the hope that we might learn a little humility and commonsense. His Divine Grace narrated such examples so that his disciples — especially the so-called “leaders” — might understand the moral message and the reactions for cheating in the name of Krishna. As disciples we are expected to comport ourselves as honest representatives of the Sampradaya Acarya.

But apparently for some members of the GBC, the staff of sannyasa is not a symbol of renouncing wealth. Shamefully, it is being used as a means of attracting it.

What words of solace are there for the trusting (or gullible) individuals whose lives have been shattered by the multi-million dollar rip-off scheme engineered by Bhakti Caru Swami? Common sense says that when a sannyasi — of all people — comes begging for huge sums for investment in risky schemes, it should raise a bright red flag.

Wisdom dictates that the phony renunciate should be given a piece of your mind and not a piece of your wallet. He should not exploit the sacred kesari ranga, or color of renunciation he wears. Learn from the mistakes of other trusting souls, listen to your heart and slam the door on the greedy face of the pretender renunciate. Send the Maharaja packing back to his limousine with a handful of rice.

Sannyasis are supposed to be preachers and are not meant to be involved in risky financial ventures. Those who ensnare the congregation in shaky transactions only cheat the innocent devotees. They misrepresent their positions as swamis and as GBC members. They deceive their own spiritual master and they disgrace the entire sampradaya.

Such arrogant persons even think that they can even cheat Lord Krishna directly. No one has ever cheated Krishna; it is not possible to cheat the all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead. Every shrewd demon who challenged Krishna paid dearly. The Battlefield of Kurukshetra was strewn with the heads, limbs and torsos of those who thought Krishna could be challenged and cheated.

We can learn something from the followers of Christ who often remind us, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16.26). We wonder what answer Bhakti Caru has to this Biblical inquiry now that his using Krishna’s money for risky investments has been exposed.

The problem with the fat cats on the GBC is that money breeds envy. They believe that they are heirs to easy money and that they have no obligations to the plebeians of the sangha. Seeing highfalutin swamis decked out in their ironed silks and gold jewelry furthers the enviousness of their peers based upon material expansion.

It is for this reason that each and every sannyasi on the GBC with overstuffed private bank accounts should be garlanded with shoes and summarily placed on donkeys and escorted out of town at the next Mayapur meeting.

Doubtless other sannyasis have noted that some other Swamis of ISKCON like Romapada and Hridayananda are living the so-called “good life.” Probably these Phalgu renunciates want their own portion of Mom’s apple pie, too.

The foolish antics of ISKCON’s latest investor are no surprise. After all, the GBC is supposed to be a revolving position. It is meant to be based upon trust and the individual members are supposed to be put in office by the votes of the temple presidents.

Instead they have set themselves up like a cadre of millionaire politicians who vote themselves into office for life like remote tribal potentates. Not surprisingly, in their typical we-can-do-no-wrong stupor, they even offer prayers to themselves. Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned, but the GBC prays to themselves while devotee investors are forced to work 80-hour weeks to pay the interest on their self-adoration.

As far as Bhakti Caru is concerned, his self-congratulatory blurb on Wikipedia states, “In 1987 Bhakti Caru Swami became a member of the Governing Body Commission and an initiating ISKCON Guru.

He has gained respect throughout the movement for his scholarship and Vaisnava qualities.” Despite the fact that the Wiki puff piece alludes to his huge scholastic contributions, it lists only one actual article written by Bhakti Caru. It is significant that the Wiki article minimizes Srila Prabhupada by omitting “His Divine Grace” from the proper name of the empowered representative of Lord Krishna from whom Bhakti Caru’s supposed authority is obtained. Divinity is handed down the sampradaya, it is not stolen.

It is too bad that the trusting persons in their innocence whose lives Bhakti Caru has nearly ruined did not do some homework about the swami’s character here on the Sun. This so-called leader of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON is well-known to be a chronic minimizer of Prabhupada Some weak arguments opposing that article by Bhakti Caru’s flock quickly followed it.

Defending that a half-naked woman was featured on a poster advertising Bhakti Caru’s New Age festival, the arguments were put forth that if Prabhupada is featured prominently at the festival, then who will attend it? Well, apparently Srila Prabhupada did not attend, because the pure devotee does not go where cheating is carried out in the name of the Supreme Lord.

And that is why Bhakti Caru’s business activities, mundane altruism and mayavadic New Age preaching is also doomed to failure. Srila Prabhupada is not there either. When the Spiritual Master is not pleased by one whose spiritual bankruptcy is shown by his minimization of the paramahamsa, them moral and economic bankruptcy are not far behind.

Perhaps in response to the worldwide Internet criticism for his failed economic schemes, Bhakti Caru’s flock has begun some damage control. They have published some recent articles about how he is ecologically conscious and saves money, too, with some pretty nifty solar energy devices.

Well, when Bhakti Caru saves $20,000,000.00 he should whip out his fat checkbook and repay the fantastic sums to his poor “investors” who were suckered into his pie-in-the-sky schemes. In the interim, by all means those investors who have been left high and dry by Bhakti Caru should definitely proceed with whatever legal action that the law allows. Even a bankrupt person finds the money he owes when his back is put against the wall by the legal system.

The GBC members should cease and desist their covering of the tracks of reprobate investors and others who do not follow Srila Prabhupada on their force. Such rogue members must be dismissed. For the good of the limb, the gangrenous finger must be amputated. Now Bhakti Caru should be excused from further GBC involvement until these affairs are settled to the satisfaction of all parties involved and the Society is no longer disgraced by foolish schemes, the likes of which he had no business getting involved with in the first place.

Then when he has resolved the dilemma, the GBC can decide if they want such a man back on the GBC or not. As long as he is involved in such issues, how can he give attention to his work other than polishing a badge that says GBC on it to impress starry-eyed junior members who believe a man in saffron can do no wrong. For now you can bet your bottom rupee that it is the Society’s feeling that the services of such people are no longer required and he must leave the GBC.

A society is composed of people and not buildings. Buildings are meant to facilitate the individuals. If the GBC holds nothing else as sacred, at least the members should have some fidelity to the sanctity of ISKCON — and to the trusting members of ISKCON — both initiated and non-initiated — without whom there is no meaning to the Society.

Never forget that ISKCON is a worldwide effort meant for saving souls and not for cheating them. This Society is what Srila Prabhupada gave his every breath for, for the disciples he loved.

It should be pointed out that Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON out of thin air by following very scrupulous principles of honesty. As His Divine Grace said, “I am a Calcutta boy”, meaning he knew how to deal with all sorts of business people including real estate sharks, lawyers, bankers, businessmen, professionals, etc.

He was never naïve, but he was never dishonest either. As an example of Srila Prabhupada’s airtight honesty, the following letters should be understood. We know that the GBC members and sannyasis read the Sun, even those who pretend to dance in tune to the party line (and therefore look the other way when scandals like Bhakti Caru’s come to light). To such personalities, the GBC members, we exhort you to read the following letters of Srila Prabhupada one thousand times so that you do not disgrace Srila Prabhupada’s movement as your good ol’ boy colleague Bhakti Caru has done. 

 

On Repayment of Honest Debts

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Janardana — 12 April, 1967

My Dear Janardana,

I am in due receipt of your very long letter of April 10, 1967. On the same day I received also your wife’s letter requesting me to pay $300.00 which she gave in loan to the Society. I have at once replied to her letter through Rayarama that the money, $300, which she has given in loan to the Society must be returned to her, and I am glad that you are going to repay next week.

If you, however, find any difficulty to repay her, then write to me and I shall manage to send her the $300. Of course it will be difficult for the managers to send $300 while they have lost $6,000. Still, I do not wish to put your wife into trouble for the money which she faithfully loaned to the Society. So kindly let me know that you are going to repay her loan. Otherwise I shall send her the money.

I can understand that there is some difficulty in meeting the regular expenditure of your Society—namely $350, as you have stated in detail. I apprehended this difficulty in San Francisco when you first informed me of opening a branch in Montreal, and I discouraged the enterprise. But you were, both you and Kirtanananda, all enthusiastic.

Now when you have opened it is not good to close it; that will be a discredit for the Society. Try to continue the branch by cooperation. I can understand that you are a family man. You cannot expend the whole amount you earn, but as your wife has proposed that she can allow you to spare 50%. So either 50% or any per cent you can easily spare for the Society, we shall welcome.

Don’t be overburdened. We don’t want anyone to be overburdened. Rather I shall ask Kirtanananda who is not a family man to take the whole responsibility. So don’t be agitated. Prosecute Krishna consciousness in peacefulness. One thing I shall request you and your wife: to translate into French all our books. Money; because you are a family man and you require money. I hope this will satisfy you.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami 

On Misuse and Abuse of Society’s Funds

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Balavanta – 10 June 1974

My dear Balavanta,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 6, 1974 and I have carefully noted the contents.

My point is that I cannot employ the society’s money in political campaigning. Moreover it is illegal for the society which is a religious society to pay for political campaigns and would cause us to lose our tax exempt status. The alternative, to make a separate brain, separate funds, and separate manpower is a diversion from our spiritual goal.

The other political parties are spending lavishly so how can we compete with them. We do not have enough money nor do I wish to spend our money in this way. Therefore I say it is better to stop. You say you plan to run for U.S. Congress.

But for this, you can draw no money from the society. So your plan is utopian. Better concentrate on developing the brahminical qualities in the devotees there; that is more important than running for political office. I hope you understand my points.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sdg

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Sri Vyasa-puja 2011 Offering from Srimati Govinda dasi

Dearest Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my unworthy, yet loving obeisances at your divine lotus feet. I wish to express my deepest gratitude that in spite of all my anarthas, inabilities and illusions, you continue to love me and accept me as your daughter and disciple. In spite of the complications of life in this earthly world, I continue to remember you daily and think of you with love, and sometimes with painful separation.
I pray for those occasional glimpses into the reality of the spiritual world, which is undoubtedly more enduring and more blissful than this world. Very occasionally when those glimpses come, and the window of perception opens -- even for a moment, I am graced with your divine presence and the waves of joy and realization that follow. It is for those moments of transcendence that I live--without them this life would be like dull cardboard, brittle and decaying. Your presence in my life is as essential as my very breath, and as I wrote so many years ago, "Your room was the whole world and you were all the people ... "
Two years ago, you graced me with your presence in a dream. At the time I was living with devotees near the Houston temple, working for my Dad in Texas. In the dream, I was driving my car in a parking garage, round and round, going in circles, when I heard your voice calling me, ever so clearly:
"Govindasi ... " so distinct, just as you called me so many hundreds of times, so many years ago. It was as if you were in the next room. The import was, "come out of this place, come with me ... " And in the next dream scene I was in some sort of aircraft, flying into Mayapur. Then I saw you there, in the distance, walking with some “Dignitaries" -- there were 4 or 5 Dignitaries walking with you, coming across the field behind the Mayapur temple. You were approaching the gateway of a very tall thatched bamboo-like fence.
In my dream, I went into the fenced-in waiting area by that gate, a sort of open-air foyer, to await your arrival. There in that waiting area were many old devotees, early disciples who were very dear to you ... all waiting to greet you upon your arrival. I remember seeing Malati dasi, and others from the early era. Many of your oldest disciples were waiting in the entrance way, and our hearts were full of joy! Our beloved Prabhupada was coming back!
Then I awoke ... and I wept, feeling your divine presence, and relishing once again the sound of your voice, and the nearness of your presence. I pondered the meaning of the dream, then the pain of separation enveloped me. Time passed, life became busy, and I forgot the dream, except on some rare occasions when I could still see you in my mind's eye -- walking across the Mayapur fields with some “Dignitaries.”
Then in March of 1996, nearly two years later, I found myself sitting in your thatched mud hut in Mayapur, your Bhajan Kutir, chanting japa. My trip to Mayapur had been a big surprise. It was arranged very amazingly: a dear Godsister had purchased my ticket, and another had arranged my accommodations. And against impossible odds, I got a train ticket to Calcutta, as India was celebrating huge cricket tournaments, as well as Holi, along with the Gaur Purnima Centenniel!
While sitting there at your favorite spot and chanting japa, a very wonderful thing happened! I suddenly felt as if you were very present, and you entered into my mind and heart, much as you did so many years ago in Hawaii, when you entered my heart and gave me a spiritual transmission. This was a divinely inspired darshan, an incredible gift, and you consoled me and instructed me, ever so gently and joyfully ...
"See," you said, "this is why I called you to come here, to see my Debut...to see my becoming the center again. And to answer all your tearful prayers ... " Realizations flooded my mind and heart, and then I suddenly remembered the Texas dream! I looked around and recognized the tall thatched fences that I had seen in my dream! These were constructed for the Mayapur festival, but I had never seen such fences before. Then I realized that the dream was a glimpse of what was soon to be ...
You were smiling and very victorious, almost laughing, and seeing me there, you reminded me of everything ... of the dream, of why I had come to Mayapur, of all my tearful letters and prayers. It was as if time stood still as I sat in your eternal presence, that "Sat Chit Ananda" experience you so freely gave during your years of teaching on Earth.
"See, this is why I called you to come here -- to see me become the center again .. and to console you and answer all your tearful prayers ...” You smiled as you spoke.
In your divine presence, realizations began to flood my mind. I saw that you had called me to come, in the dream, (even though I had not understood) to come to see your debut, your coming into the Center of ISKCON again. You let me know my prayers are being fulfilled.
For so many years, you were shoved aside, and chaos, confusion and duplicity reigned.
I always prayed that "Oh Srila Prabhupada, you must be the center, then all problems will be automatically solved." But I never knew how it could happen; things had gone so far astray. Now with your divine vision, I saw that the Centennial Celebration was going to be a “Debut Party!” I saw that you are coming back! Just as you would come and go so frequently during your years on Earth. And tears coursed down my face, tears of love and joy ...
Then joyfully, I asked you about the problems since you left ... And you gave me the vision to see that all these people, good or bad, are being engaged by your Grace. Even they are not perfect, and many problems exist, they are meant for holding things together until your reinforcements arrive. And those whose desires for money, fame, or power were greater, they got it. But nevertheless, you remain fully in control. You and Krsna. Though some persons may be thinking otherwise, you are very much in control of the situation. You see through everyone and everything, just as you did when present before our physical eyes.
You then told me, "No one should resent anyone, for they are only acting according to their nature, just as you also are doing. Everyone is acting within the limitations of their nature. Some persons may be greedy for money or power, it is true, but they will be corrected in time. But they may also do some service in the meantime." And I understood that eventually you will lead us all to purification and the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. All are working according to God's will; Krishna is “rearranging our karma" and restructuring our natures.
"It is necessary to speak the truth, but without anger or malice -- even if others have malice, we should not have malice," you instructed.
"Many persons have served sincerely and endured much hardship, and are acting now as leaders. If they misuse their positions, they will be corrected just as surely and just as severely as those past leaders were, and just as surely as those who have gone before them.” You then said, "Changes are made by those with vision, but it doesn't happen overnight." Tearfully, I offered my humble obeisances and asked what instructions you have to give me, and you replied:
"Do your book, 'Srila Prabhupada, the Early Days' ... "
"But Srila Prabhupada," I replied, "it will only be criticized, as so much of what your disciples have said has been criticized ... "
Again, you said, "Write your book. It is important for the generations to come ... " On hearing your voice, Srila Prabhupada, I was able to hear and understand things more from your point of view, from a place of genuine compassion--as you so clearly see us and our natures, whether we are slaves to lust, greed, or anger. I understood how, in spite of our anarthas, you are utilizing our energies to serve Lord Chaitanya's mission. I was able to experience forgiveness and to realize we are all eternally connected to you, both old devotees as well as new ones.
I realized that you are the Jagat Guru of the Earth planet, that your jurisdiction is the fallen souls of Kali Yuga, and that you are some very great Divine Personality working closely with Lord Chaitanya to bring about the fulfillment of the Yuga Dharma ... “In every town and Village...”
I realized I do not know who you are. Lord Chaitanya said he would send His “Commander in Chief”, but who is that Personality? Who can know, who you are, that you can turn the hearts of millions of people all over the world? By meeting you even in your Vani form, by reading your books, people have become accomplished devotees. Who can possibly understand who you are or your real position in this lila of the Golden Lord?
You used to say, "Krishna Conscious is so simple,” “ saranagati.” “It is simple for the simple hearted, but made complicated by the crooked." That is, by those who wish to utilize the path of Bhakti for personal gain of name, fame, and greed. After your darshan, I felt convinced that this is truly the beginning of a new era for your ISKCON Society. My mind filled with memories of you in 1968, sitting in your room and slowly turning your Atlas World Globe, planning the expansion to countries all over the Earth. And I remembered the verse:
“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium."
I remembered how in 1968 you told me of your plans for a World Samkirtan party, at a time when we had no money even for renting our small flat in Montreal. And you wanted to build an auditorium for bhajans and cultural events, at a time when there was no money, no manpower, nor prospects of such things. You foresaw everything; you “Hunted the Rhino." Yet you had no pride or egoism about anything, as worldly persons have when success comes from some great achievement. You would often say, “So, we shall make our plans, and then we shall see what Krishna desires ... " Your attitude was always one of humility. You would say, "We are simply trying and if Krishna wants it will be successful, and otherwise, whatever Krishna desires." You saw Krishna at every moment and in every action.
I bowed in joyful gratitude, thanking Lord Krishna for you,Srila Prabhupada, and thanking you, Srila Prabhupada, for coming to deliver us from darkness, and igniting in our hearts the spark of Bhakti.
Steeped in the joy of Srila Prabhupada's presence, I realized that when we think of a great soul, or of God, Their presence and virtue enter into us. If we light a fire, it will give heat, whether we understand it or not. When we remember Srila Prabhupada, his pure nature covers us in delightful waves.
On the other hand, if we think about a person who is impure, we will be enveloped in them and their flaws. The effect is immediate. If we remember great saints, their spiritual power will affect us immediately. If we remember a person with anger, lust or infatuation, then we will experience those things, but when we remember God and Guru these qualities do not arise.
Even if a person does not have full knowledge of the nature of the Guru, still by remembering Srila Prabhupada, his power is felt. Srila Prabhupada can be experienced by those who never met him in the physical world. We see that many who never met him are his devoted followers. By chanting his mantra, by reading his books, by chanting Hare Krishna, many have experienced his presence and continue to do so. And through his devotees, especially, his blissful form is felt. Srila Prabhupada is able to give joy to all. We disciples are mediums for others to experience Srila Prabhupada shining through us. People feel inspired when we talk of Srila Prabhupada and read from his books.
Yet we must remember that this inspiration does not come from us. It is coming directly from Srila Prabhupada, from his spiritual shakti. To remember Srila Prabhupada makes one's heart glow with joy, one's hair stand on end, and one's mind fill with the love and peace of Bhakti. Pure Krishna consciousness flows in every memory of him. By hearing about his activities, all pain and difficulties are removed. Simply by Srila Prabhupada's remembrance. These feelings are more fully experienced when we have a mood of refuge at his lotus feet. When our offering of ourselves is complete, then his waves descend upon us. This is the nectar of love, the nine fold forms of devotion. One may call it refuge or even bhava; all names and forms of devotion are within the Guru.
It is only through the Grace of Srila Prabhupada that the Lord can be experienced. Through Srila Prabhupada, the greatness of Lord Krishna can be known. His darshan should be desired, his form and words should be our constant meditation. His remembrance and the experience of his presence is all important.
A person may know a lot, but still not know everything. Like someone who knows how to play a tape recorder, but when the batteries are low, he doesn't know how to put the new ones in. So even if someone tells me how to run it, then what can I do if I don't know about the battery cells. The real Guru knows how to change the cells; we may only know how to run it. So we stand before Srila Prabhupada and say,
“Dear Srila Prabhupada, I don't know anything. You are the Master. My mind has failed, please now change the cells ... "

THIS IS REFUGE IN THE LOTUS FEET OF SRILA PRABHUPADA. IN THE END YOU HAVE TO OFFER YOUR SOUL, AND THAT IS CALLED “SAMARPAN." YOU CAN FEEL COMPLETE TRUST IN OFFERING YOUR SOUL TO THE LOTUS FEET OF LORD NITYANANDA, AND YOU CAN FEEL COMPLETE TRUST IN OFFERING YOUR SOUL TO THE LOTUS FEET OF SRILA PRABHUPADA. WITHOUT THIS, THERE IS NO JOY, NO AIM IN LIFE. SUCH GREAT JOY IS FOUND IN THIS OFFERING. IT IS BEYOND ALL OTHER TREASURES. AND IT WILL LAST FOREVER. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SRILA PRABHUPADA IS ETERNAL, AND IT WILL FLOURISH AND NOURISH US ETERNALLY. AND IT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AT EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.

Your loving daughter and disciple,
Govindasi

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Palike gets ISKCON to pay up

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has made its intentions clear. After taking corporations, government agencies, hotels and educational institutions to task for irregular payment of property tax and other alleged violations, the Palike has now served a notice to the ISKCON temple in the city.

The temple which is located on West of Chord Road has become the latest to come under the Palike scanner.

According to the Palike, the temple has a wedding choultry, three hotels and guest houses, which come under the commercial tax bracket. The Palike, has actively pursued renewal of trade licences and property tax to increase the revenue sources.

On the same account, revenue inspectors have estimated that the temple would be liable to pay Rs 80 lakh as property tax. But the temple has agreed to pay liable amount, informed deputy mayor S Harish.

But he was also of the opinion that the temple would be liable to pay a much higher amount, if the property was reassessed. With the same regard, he held discussions with the BBMP commissioner Siddaiah.

The latter immediately asked the joint commissioner (West) to conduct the re-assessment personally to ensure that the temple pays what it is liable to pay.

The result of the aggressive posture of the Palike in matters relating to the collection of property tax saw fruitful results as the same exceeded Rs 1,000 crore for the first time in the BBMP’s history, even though it fell short of the expected target of Rs 1,500 crore.

The Palike have expected to garner the same amount according to their 2011-12 budget as well as the initiation of the Global Information System (GIS) has helped them tax 11,02,289 properties across the city.

Added to this, they are also expecting to generate Rs 85 crore from the renewal and distribution of trade licences.

The BBMP has slapped a notice on Iskcon, demanding Rs 80 lakh as property tax.

For the last many years the temple management was running business but it was only recently that the Palike found a marriage hall, three superior class hotels, a residential complex and shops on the premises. Deputy Mayor S Harish had recently directed the Revenue department of the Palike to assess the property tax liability. “I have a feeling that the assessment by the Revenue department is not proper. So I have ordered the deputy commissioner (Revenue), West Zone to assess the property afresh,” said Harish

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Bhakti Caru Swami’s Finances

The following emails show the moral lacking of Bhakti Caru Swami and how he dealt with his prospective disciples on certain financial matters. My understanding is that the GBC EC eventually acted on the matter. These emails are from one of the lenders to Bhakti Caru Swami.

From: xxxxxx
Subject: Please Help Me
To: EC@pamho.net
Cc: “bkgoswami”
Date: Friday, March 19, 2010, 8:43 AM

Dear Members of the GBC EC
PAMHO AGTSP

My name is xxxxxxx and I was given this email address by HH Bir Krishna Maharaj. As you are aware of I have loaned $500,000 to HH Bhakti Charu Swami and his project of McPhar/AMG more than 3 years ago.

I had received numerous calls from Maharaj at that time stating how this would help create a much needed financial basis for ISKCON and how this would please Srila Prabhupada. I was reluctant and needless to say scared of loaning so much money to Maharaj especially since my father had to take a lean on his house for that amount.

Maharaj had assured me and my father that he would “guarantee” that the money would be paid back on time and be used for appropriately. It was with this assurance (of which I have a copy of this email from 3 years ago) that we proceeded to make the arrangements for the loan.

Now it is 3 years later and our situation has become dire since Maharaj and McPhar have done everything they can to avert paying devotees such as myself the due amount and never called or emailed to explain why.

Rather they have “turned their phones off”. However, the banks in USA are on my father’s back to get the money paid back. They have been threatening to take over the possesion of my father’s home to reliquenish the outstanding loan. I have been trying to help by working 80 hours a week to just pay the intereest on the loan but the bank now wants principal also paid.

I don’t know what to do but it makes me saddened to know that Maharaj would use his $4million dollar land in Ujjain as a bank guarantee (of which i have papers for also) to get money for McPhar/AMG. Why didn’t he use that money to pay back the devotees who gave so unselfishly to Maharaj so long ago.

I haven’t received one phone call from Maharaj saying sorry or anything of such sort. WE are suffering while Maharaj and others continue on their “preaching” mission. Is this the character that ISKCON is trying to instill in its neophyte members.

I used to chant 16 rounds and try my hardest to give that favorable impression of ISKCON to my parents and newly married wife. But this has severly hampered if not severed the relationship they have with ISKCON.

I implore the members of the GBC EC to have Maharaj pay my father back the money we desperatley need to pay back the bank. WE want to get our lives back in order and I want my spirtual life back on track.

If that doesn’t happen in the near month or so, my father will have to go ahead with his legal team to retrieve his money. That would involve the suit against ISKCON since Bhakti Charu Maharaj is a high ranking member of GBC and he represents ISKCON in his dealings.

Also, our lawyers would need the records of Maharaj’s contributions to ISKCON, including the $400,000 donation last year or year before to the Turley case (in reference to where that money came from).

I am desperatly trying not to go that route but we need justice and now. We have been hearing too much rhetoric and we need something done. Sudipto and Maharaj may promise you that they will make payments monthly to us next month but I assure you that we have heard that the last 2 years and have received one or two payments. WE can’t continue that way and our banks don’t allow us that freedom of foolish rhetoric.

I never imagined this to happen to me since I always spoke so highly of ISKCON and its members.

I would have loved to donate to the building of Srila Prabhupada’s dream temple in Mayapur but instead am fighting to get money back. How unfortunate.

Please Help me
sincerely
XXXXXX

From: XXXXXX
Subject: Sad day for devotees
To: “Bhakti Charu Swami”
Cc: “bkgoswami” Romapada.Swami@pamho.net, EC@pamho.net,
Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 11:23 AM

Dear Bhakti-charu swami

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I hope Maharaj you are doing better; i had been reading your health updates and have come to know that your angiogram was performed and no blockages were found so no angioplasty was undertaken. So that is good news. It must be all the stress you are facing that is causing you so much anxiety and pains. But I don’t understand why you don’t solve this once and for all.

You have that property in Ujjain and could have used it as collateral for paying backk all the devotees you called again and again to try to persuade to make loans to MCPhar and yourself for this company. Now when we are all in distress, both financially and spirtually, we look up to you to help us. But what happened, You never even bothered to call again and tell us what happened. Instead, this has become a headache and you want nothing to do with this anymore. Well, its not that simple maharaj. You got us iinto this mess and I think its tiime you accepted responsibility for this and pay back all the devotees.

I have spoken to XXXXX and he has also told me his situation. WE are all struggling for what? Instead of signing off on a loan from BOI to AMG, you could have sold the land and paid the devotees. I read from your istagosthi that devotees donate almost hundred thousand dollars for your projects but I know wonder what projects are these that you are funding.

I feel ashamed that I am thinking like this but You have left me and others “high and dry”. I have lost lots of faith in ISKCON and its leadership.

This situation is now with EC and its been over 3 weeks at least and no response from them. How can this society grow when its not willing to take hard steps to recitify its mistakes and take care of its members.

Please respond, somebody, to this email;

My father’s lawyers are just sitting waiting for my father to give the signal to go ahead with a lawsuit. It is I who have been able to stall them so long but I don’t think I have any choice.

sincerely disappointed,

CARANARAVINDAM DAS

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