12/17/97 - 1382

Independent Internet News

USA (VNN) - VNN welcomes the appearance of ISKCON's news site called "Independent Internet News". It is however getting off to a bumpy start by blanket-accusing VNN and other devotees who have reported on the "poison controversy" of a "misinformation campaign". May we remind the editors of this "newsletter" that the GBC is the party that has engaged for the last 2 decades in systematic suppression and misinformation campaigns about critical issues like the falldown of many ISKCON leaders and their sinful activities.

In any case, we welcome this new "news service". Maybe we will hear news from ISKCON now after all, which has been a secret society for the last 2 decades, where only the privileged few at the top find out what's really going on. It remains to be seen if this new site is actually going to offer news or propaganda.

The appearance of this "news service" brings up one question: What ever happened to ISKCON Communications? Is Mukunda Swami on vacation all this time or why haven't we heard anything from him all this time? Isn't he the ISKCON PR man? The Hare Krishna World Review (http://hkw.iskcon.net/) is showing their current issue "May/June 1997". Hello, anybody home? It is December now.

The newsletter below was sent to devotees - that is, it made it easily into all COM addresses and forums and other Internet email addresses worldwide, while COM is continuously blocking messages from VNN, other Vaishnavas and even ISKCON devotees trying to contact their godbrothers or other devotees.

Please note that the Hindi passages of the room conversions quoted below have been conveniently not translated. The authors of this paper claim that Srila Prabhupada never stated that he was being poisoned. They further claim that he only mentioned that some medication was poison for him. Maybe they come to that conclusion because they are listening to the tapes from the Bhaktivedanta Archives, which are not complete. For example during a discussion with the kaviraja regarding poison, Srila Prabhupada says: "My guru maharaja also." Maybe Srila Prabhupada was talking about Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati also getting the wrong medication?

It is also interesting to note that the defense star-witness Abhirama das was not present in Vrindavan at the time in question.


Following is the mail that was sent out:

Independent Internet News (Volume 1, number 1)

Today, here in Europe, it's the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and therefore it's a most auspicious day. Taking advantage of this auspiciousness, I'd like to tell you about a regular e-mail "newsletter" which has been designed to help defend ISKCON and the GBC Body from "mis-information" on the Internet. We, the authors of the newsletter (which include at least 4 sannyasis in good standing and several others), hope you may find it to be of service in your preaching. It's been seen and approved by people in ISKCON Communications, but it is not written by ISKCON Communications, and has been sent to more than two thousand devotees around the world.

By the way, if, for some reason, you get a duplicate of this message (receive the same message twice) please send a new message to independent.news@com.bbt.se with the subject (DUPICATES) and we'll take care of it. If you know the e-mail address of someone you'd like to see added to our mailing list, please send a message to independent.news@com.bbt.se (that stands for "Independent Internet News").

I don't know if you've been able to keep up with all this, but as you may or may not know, in recent days there have been persons on the Internet making serious charges against the GBC Body. Unfortunately, up till now, many of these charges haven't been properly answered which is causing doubts in the minds of some devotees. With the help of some independent devotees, sannyasis and other non-GBC members of ISKCON, we've put together a little web site to help defend Srila Prabhupada's movement and the GBC. We're friends of the GBC, but we're not the GBC.

The Web Site is called CHAKRA (Champions of Krishna's Army). It's NOT an official web site of ISKCON, but it DOES defend ISKCON and give straight forward and honest news that's relevant to ISKCON devotees.

If you have access to the Internet and web browsing software, the web address is http://swami.simplenet.com/chakra

Below is the "Independent Internet News (1:1)." In it you'll find ISKCON's answer to the allegation by some devotees that Prabhupada was "poisoned." Despite the GBC statement recently posted, the poison issue is still rampant on the Internet. We'll attempt to answer those concerns in this message in the articles below my signature.

It should be noted that the latest GBC position paper has already been replied to by Rocana dasa. I'm surprised by Rocana's reply because he appears to be a more reasonable person than that, but still he isn't convinced by the GBC "STATEMENT by ISKCON" (reprinted below). In our next issue of IIN we will reply to Rocana's letter.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada, Jaya Gopal dasa

Independent Internet News (Volume 1, number 1) In this issue: 1. Was Prabhupada Poisoned? 2. Statement by Abhirama Das 3. STATEMENT by ISKCON 4. Ritviks wage "Misinformation Campaign" 5. GBC Resolutions on Child Abuse in ISKCON

Was Prabhupada Poisoned? By Vipramukhya Swami Date: 09-Nov-97 22:28 -0800

The basis for this Ritvik argument is in the Folio Vedabase! Here's the essence of it (and the rebuttle so no one gets bewildered).

Prabhupada: Hm?

Bhakti-caru: (Bengali) ...mental distress?

Prabhupada: Hm, hm.

Kaviraja: (Hindi)

Prabhupada: (Hindi-mentions word "poison")

Kaviraja: (Hindi)

Devotee: Someone gave him poison here.

Kaviraja: (Hindi long explanation)

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada was thinking that someone had poisoned him.

Adri-dharana: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: That was the mental distress.

Adri-dharana: Yes.

Kaviraja: (Hindi)

Tamala Krsna: What did Kaviraja just say?

Bhakti-caru: He said that when Srila Prabhupada was saying that, there must be some truth behind it. (People all speaking at once)

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, Sastriji says that there must be some truth to it if you say that. So who is it that has poisoned? (pause)

Kaviraja: (Hindi with Bhakti-caru and Prabhupada)

Woman: What did he say?

Bhakti-caru: He said that it's quite possible that mercury, it's a kind of a poison...

Bhagatji: That makaradhvaja. (Hindi with Kaviraja and Bhakti-caru)

Bhakti-caru: He was referring to a big murder case in Calcutta, the husband poisoned the wife.

Bhavananda: Oh yes. Our lawyer is the...

Tamala Krsna: Bhagatji doesn't think the...

Kaviraja: (Hindi with Bhakti-caru and Prabhupada)

Tamala Krsna: No poison is strong enough to stop the harinama, Srila Prabhupada.

Kaviraja: Yes. (Hindi)

Devotee: Prahlada Maharaja.

Kaviraja: (Hindi)

Tamala Krsna: Would you like some more kirtana, Srila Prabhupada? Lokanatha can lead. Lokanatha, you lead.

Prabhupada: (indistinct)

[Room Conversation, November 8, 1977]

The Ritviks claim they have this tape, and they have translated the Hindi portions. They are making transcripts of these portions available to devotees, and claim these hindi portions even more clearly state that Prabhupada believed he was being poisoned.

They also claim they can hear "whispers" on a tape that seem to indicate someone talking about "the poison is going down" which confirm Srila Prabhupada's suspicions.

However, the Ritviks conveniently do not point out the following conversation, which took place prior to the one quoted above, and which makes it very clear what Prabhupada was talking about. Prabhupada did not think he was being "poisoned" by the devotees. This view is also graphically confirmed by Abhirama's statement which also appears in this newsletter.

Prabhupada was referring to the Ayur Vedic medicine he was receiving as having a poisonous effect.

Tamala Krsna: Urine specimen report?

Bhakti-caru: Yes. This is the... He's asking about that time, four or five months ago. Bhakti-caru: This one is from... Yes, this is very recent.

Tamala Krsna: It's better.

Kaviraja (1): (Hindi)

Bhakti-caru: Pressure is good. When Dr. Ghosh came, that other Dr. Ghosh came... (Hindi) ...pressure, 180 and 80. (Hindi) He's saying that in this condition, Prabhupada can't take makara-dhvaja. That any medicine that contains mercury and arsenic is poison to him.

Bhavananda: That's what Prabhupada said.

Tamala Krsna: That is a fact. He found that to be true.

[Room Conversation, Oct 28, 1977]

Note the word makara-dhvaja which appears in both conversations. This is a standard Ayur Vedic medicine which contains murcury which Prabhupada's doctor was giving him. Prabhupada thought the medicine wasn't appropriate in his condition and complained about it. The Ritviks, however, want you to believe that Prabhupada was poisoned by the GBC body so they could become gurus, which proves, according to the Ritiviks warped logic, that the "guru-system" is wrong and should be dismantled.

As if that's not enough proof, here is one final quote from Srila Prabhupada which was recorded on November 9, 1977, which, please note, was only a week before Srila Prabhupada's passing from this world:

Prabhupada: "This kind of symptoms are seen when a man is poisoned. Not that I am poisoned. I read something."

That, therefore, proves the point. Prabhupada never said he was being poisoned in the way some devotees propose.

There are some tapes, in which whispers were recorded in the background. Much attention has been given to analyzing these tapes and sound clips. Some say they can hear "the poison is going down - the poison is going down."

Balavanta dasa had this tape analyzed by experts, and he now claims that the experts say nothing can be determined from these whispers. They are, he says, inconclusive. In light of the above fact that Prabhupada did not say he was being poisoned, trying to squeeze out the word "poison" from an almost inaudible background on a tape, is a useless waste of time and has no substance. Prabhupada wasn't poisoned. This will also be evidenced by Abhirama Prabhu's statement in the next article.

----------------------------------- 11/05/97

Statement by Abhirama Das

I have only recently become aware of the incredible theories about the so called poisoning of Srila Prabhupada, being circulated by some poorly informed devotees.

As you may know I acted as Srila Pabhupada's nurse and assistant secretary from 25th July through 16th October of 1977, and was therefore in the best position to evaluate the factors influencing his health during this time. I kept a diary which often documented his physical condition, food intakes, and discomforts. I also was the primary player when he was taken to hospital in Watford England during his last stay at the Manor. I convinced his divine grace to go to hospital, accompanied him there, negotiated with the surgeon not to give general anesthetics and intravenous feeding (as was the policy), provided most of the post operative care to Srila Prabhupada etc. I give this background to emphasize not only my intimate role in his physical care, but also to let you know that this same surgeon, Dr. McIrving, made a very clear and definitive diagnosis of Srila Prabhupada's condition, namely that he,

1) had, due to diabetes (and dropsy) suffered swelling which affected the flow in his urinary tract over many years

2) That he had since birth a slightly constricted urethra which further reduced the urinary flow. (This was the reason for surgery and gave a great deal of relief to Srila Prabhupada)

3) The combination of these two major factors had put a constant and harmful back pressure on his kidneys, which along with a general deterioration due to age had inflicted serious renal damage. (Srila Prabhupada complained to me that he had difficulty urinating and finally was blocked completely leading to this surgery.

4) The kidney failure would naturally cause an increase in uric acid in his system, which would probably affect digestion and appetite. Both being prominent symptoms in Srila Pabhupada's condition.

5) The loss of digestion and appetite led to malnutrition which caused an already aged and intensely taxed system to go into a total collapse.

The above is, I believe, an accurate account of the diagnosis of the doctors who examined Srila Prabhupada at Peace Memorial Hospital on 8th September of 1977, and all of my/our observations prior and subsequent to this generally confirmed this diagnosis.

When Srila Prabhupada first arrived at the hospital, they had refused to treat his urethra constriction unless he was totally hooked up to intravenous feeding and any other life support systems they may need to employ. Srila Prabhupada had warned me many times that he did not want to die in a hospital and I had convinced him to visit on a promise that he would receive only minor surgery to open the urethra ("some minor plumbing work" as I described it to him). I had to use considerably persuasive arguments to convince the surgeon to risk an operation on someone he said was nearly dead, without all the support systems required by hospital policy.

In making my (magnum opus) arguments to the doctor, I pleaded that Srila Prabhupada wanted only enough relief to be able to travel back to his home (Vrindavan) to die as he wished. I challenged the doctors that "if he submits to all of your treatments, how much time can you extend his life?" They answered that he was so far deteriorated at that point they could hardly understand how he was living at all; and they could not even propose adding three more months to his life with all of their medical interventions employed.

>From this point forward I/we knew that the exoteric indications were completely negative. Of course we never stopped hoping against hope that the esoteric reality would alter the future that we all so greatly dreaded.

In time we brought him to Bombay and back to Vrindavan, for what had to become the greatest tragedy of our life and simultaneously another glorious event in his illustrious life; namely his departure. As his nurse I had been instructed by him to "never leave my side day or night" and had spent most days in 24 hour contact with him. I slept holding his hand, I bathed, dressed, fed and carried him. In short, I am a credible witness.

I left his direct physical service under circumstances which may shed additional light on the issue. I have always been very goal driven and able to focus intently on the desired objective, often to an extreme. As his nurse I saw only one acceptable result, and that was improvement of his health and continuation of his life. No other possibility was tenable in my mind. One day in mid October, I noticed some coolies delivering salt bags and a stretcher, to the back porch of Srila Prabhupada's house. As preparations for a funeral at this stage would have been an unthinkably offensive act, I guessed that only Srila Prabhupada himself could have dared to request it. My inquiries confirmed my suspicions, and it was then that I finally came to terms with the fact the he (Srila Prabhupada) had made an irrevocable decision to leave this world soon. Again, as I had become a near fanatic to maintain his physical condition, I felt an overwhelming sense of defeat, hopelessness and could not adjust to this new paradigm (due to spiritual immaturity). I therefore asked Srila Prabhupada, if I could be relieved of my duties, in favor of Satadanya and Bhavananda who were by now fully attending to him with equal or greater skill.

My assessment related to the accusations of Srila Prabhupada being poisoned are:

1) Srila Prabhupada's exoteric conditions were carefully observed by a variety of care givers and medical professionals.

2) All diagnosis generally confirmed that his body was in an overall crisis, precipitated by his diabetes, dropsy, kidney damage, and overstressed due to age, travel, etc.

3) His prognosis was not optimistic and death seemed imminent, at least from September 1977.

4) There was no indications of any other cause of his ill health (i.e. poisoning) noticed by me or any medical professional up to 16 October 1977 and Srila Prabhupada did not say anything to indicate that he suspected such a thing during my time with him. 5) His eventual physical departure within one month of my departure as his nurse, was a logical and expected conclusion to the above mentioned indications. I was not at all surprised, although I will remain broken hearted over his departure throughout my life.

I have written these details for the first time to benefit those who wish to know them. I have no ulterior motive and pray that my effort will be pleasing to the Vaisnavas and help to maintain a truthful historical perspective on Srila Prabhupada's departure.

------------------------------------------------------------

STATEMENT by ISKCON

Certain conspiracy theorists have been propagating of late the allegation that the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), met his demise on November 14, 1977, due to intentional poisoning at the hands of his own disciples.

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness considers this charge both absurd and offensive. Based on considerable testimony from those present at the time, and on its own preliminary internal study, the GBC is convinced that no such evil deed or even intention existed at the time. The GBC is certain that Srila Prabhupada's passing was due to entirely natural causes, as his doctors stated.

Some persons have claimed that they heard the word "poison" whispered on a tape said to have been made in Srila Prabhupada's room. Many others, however, find the whispers indecipherable. In other words, one can read into the whisper almost any thing one chooses.

Nonetheless, some persons are bent on establishing the false and malicious theory that some of Prabhupada's own disciples conspired to poison him.

To refute this charge beyond the slightest doubt, the GBC has given the original tape over to independent forensic experts for detailed analysis. The singular purpose is to lay to rest malevolently motivated theories about Srila Prabhupada's passing.

According to Balavanta dasa, head of independent investigation, "Initial reports from two of the forensic laboratories - both of which used equipment more sophisticated than any previously applied -- do not find the word "poison" on the tape and do not support allegations of any wrongdoing." It is now clear to the GBC that the report of taped whispering conspirators is a false alarm.

The GBC is confident that the final forensic report will confirm these preliminary findings.

The independent investigator will continue a thorough reconstruction of Srila Prabhupada's final days, which will be a valuable historical document in its own right. He expects to have this available by February, 1998. --- end of statement ---

Ritviks wage "Misinformation Campaign"

Trying to take advantage of the perceived state of confusion, the Ritviks have started an all-out "Misinformation Campaign," by sending e-mail messages all over ISKCON with such titles as " Boston Temple President Resorts to Illegal Slander." (Very curious, since it's the Ritviks that are doing all the slandering of ISKCON leaders.) I was even honored recently when someone showed me one about me, "Vipramukhya Swami Flees Police in Canada Due to Auto Accident." (I did have an accident in which I damaged my own car slightly and then had to repair it, I didn't damage another car, and I am presently preaching in England, but not to flee the police in Canada. I have no idea how they heard this news, but how they distorted it is even more interesting.)

It's clear the Ritviks are simply trying to bewilder everyone with so much misinformation, so quickly, that they hope to break apart the GBC and ISKCON's unity.

In response I'd like to quote a little story that was told by Srila Prabhupada from Aesop's Fables.

Prabhupada once wrote, "...we must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop's Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can become broken very easily."

The Ritviks are hoping to disunify ISKCON. It is called, divide and conquor. A very intelligent plan. Unfortunately for them, they are fighting on the wrong side.

Your servant, Vipramukhya Swami

---------------------

GBC Resolutions on Child Abuse in ISKCON

The so-called unbiased VNN (Vaisnava News Network) web page has proven itself again and again to be a front for the Ritvik Misinformation Campaign, under the guise of impartial news reporting. Lately, VNN has been duping it's readers that ISKCON does not have in place adequate measures to protect children from potential child abuse. This, as many other things on VNN, is an untrue and misinformed statement. The following are some of ISKCON's many GBC resolutions concerning this topic:

119.{90}That the following is adopted as the official ISKCON Board of Education policy on child abuse incidents: 1) The local governing authority of each ISKCON school or community is responsible to appoint two or three devotees to investigate and follow-up on all suspected or confirmed cases of child abuse.{90} 2) Suspected or confirmed cases of child abuse must be reported to local government authorities for investigation and/or prosecution. In India, the ISKCON Board of Education may authorize a waiver of this requirement if the perpetrator is willing to sign a statement authorizing the Board of Education to publicize the incident to all ISKCON-related educational projects and other concerned parties. 3) All suspected or confirmed incidents of child abuse must be reported immediately to the local GBC secretary, and within thirty days, to the ISKCON Board of Education. The ISKCON Board of Education shall review the investigation and give a finding as to the status of the alleged perpetrator as confirmed, suspect, or innocent/not- suspected. 4) The perpetrator or alleged perpetrator must be immediately segregated so that he has no possible contact with the victim or other children. This segregation may take the form of relocating the perpetrator to another part of the project, away from children; banishment from the project (and possibly from other ISKCON projects with children); or in severe cases, banishment from all ISKCON projects. The degree of segregation will be determined by the nature and severity of the offense; the attitude of the perpetrator; the feasibility of protecting the children from further abuse or intimidation; and the sentiments of the local devotees, especially the parents. In no case should a confirmed or suspected perpetrator remain in the local community unless the local ISKCON authorities obtain the written authorization of no less than 3/4 of the parents of children at the project or in the community. The local government authorities and/or the ISKCON Board of Education will make the final determination of the appropriate degree of segregation. 5) Any confirmed child abuser may never again serve in asso ciation with children in any ISKCON project. The Board will also make available to all ISKCON educational proìjects and temples the names of all accused, admitted, confirmed or convicted child abusers. 6) Abused children must get appropriate professional counselling so that the serious ill-effects of the abuse can be minimized. 7) All ISKCON educational projects must have preventative programs which train children how to avoid and report child abuse incidents. 8) The local GBC man (or men) are directly responsible to implement the measures outlined above. Should the GBC Body find a GBC man or other ISKCON manager responsible for suppressing or covering-up complaints of child abuse, or supporting intimidation of those who might complain, the GBC man shall be open to censure or probation, and the ISKCON manager shall be open to appropriate disciplinary action.