Happy Birthday ISKCON!

Today is the anniversary of the incorporation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by its Founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and I feel I should jot down some thoughts.

I see an ISKCON that is fragmented, in terms of camps of allegiance and standards of service (to the local community and to humanity at large). I see an ISKCON that is struggling with its identity and function in the world (are we neo-Hindus? Are we social revolutionaries? Are we agrarian or In some quarters there is a tendency to (almost) demonize the initiating spiritual masters, accusing that they are creating factions, but I beg to disagree: The gurus, by and large, are mostly doing their duty to inspire people in spiritual life, to offer shelter to those who wish to seriously practice, and to instruct their students; all actions well within the boundaries of their sacred office.

The problem is, in my opinion, largely “above” the gurus, in the lack of guidance, clarity, strength and instruction from the ultimate authority of ISKCON, the Governing Body Commission.

Some of you might think, “But the GBC is only the ultimate ‘managerial’ authority!” Well, that’s the expression found in Srila Prabhupada’s will (which, by the way, is worded with an eye to legal considerations, as revealed by the recorded conversations regarding the compilation of the will); but actually in Srila Prabhupada’s vision the GBC was to basically become his own successor, taking the helms in matter of ecclesiastic administration as well as doctrine and spiritual direction. This is documented in various ways, including the following excerpts; the first one is from a letter to Madhudvisa Das, dated 4 August 1975:

“Regarding Sydney, that the President has left, if one does not follow the regulative principles, then he will leave. That is a fact. Has somebody else been elected? This is the function of the GBC, to see that one may not be taken away by maya. The GBC should all be the instructor gurus. I am in the initiator guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.”

So, GBC as instructor gurus (siksa-gurus) for the Society (not just administrators).

Next is from an interview to a reporter in Los Angeles, on 4 June 1976:

Reporter: Is there anyone who is designated to succeed you as the primary teacher of the movement?

Prabhupada: I am training some, I mean to say, advanced students so that they may be very easily take up the charge. I have made them GBC. They are under my direct training, and I think they will be able to conduct this movement.

Less than a week later, on 10 June1976, another journalist brings up the same question:

Interviewer: What happens when that inevitable time comes when a successor is needed?

Ramesvara: He is asking about the future, who will guide the movement in the future.

Prabhupada: They will guide. I am training them.

Interviewer: Will there be one spiritual leader, though?

Prabhupada: No, I am training GBC, eighteen all over the world.

So, when asked about who would be the “primary teacher” in his absence, Srila Prabhupada indicates the GBC, to “conduct this movement” and provide spiritual leadership.

So, if I am allowed to express a birthday wish to ISKCON, I wish the International Society for Krishna Consiouscness a stronger conduction by its Governing Body Commission; an uncompromising but gentle guidance in full awareness of the developing trends, in a spirit of communication and dialogue but willing to take unpopular decisions if those would help the movement realign with the Founder-Acarya’s mood and priorities; and in a close and harmonious working relation with all the initiating spiritual masters.

In no way I am insinuating that the GBC isn’t providing some degree of leadership to the Society – in fact, for instance, the GBC has shown great resolve, sense of responsibility and the capacity to take up heavy burdens in many cases, such as with the Youth Fund. Individually, some of the GBC zonal secretaries are also providing extraordinary local leadership and inspiration.

But I still wish ISKCON a GBC with a more defined face (to establish a deeper relation with all the devotees), with a clearer and stronger voice (to express, as successor of Srila Prabhupada, precise directions to the Society), with more open eyes (connected to a mature, sharp brain—to be vigilant of tendencies and circumstances), and some masculine attributes (for sticking to the promotion of spiritual principles despite the opposition from various sources).

Happy birthday ISKCON.