04/11/98 - 1737

GBC's New Ministries Will Not Help

USA (VNN) - by Bhutatma dasa

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I felt compelled to write after reading of the recent GBC plan to create a wave of new ministries, thereby freeing up the GBC members from administrative duties. My concern is that this notion runs counter to Prabhupada’s long-standing desire to avoid centralization of management and the pernicious effects such a managerial structure engenders. Certainly we all remember his devastating response to the attempt in the early 1970’s, under the influence of (a well-meaning I’m sure) Atreya Rsi to centralize administration. The telegram still rings in my ears, “Your materialistic-legal formulas will not help us!”

Recently I came across an article by Ravinda Svarupa that troubled me, and it appears that the ideas expressed therein may be serving as the basis of this new plan. Ravindra Svarupa explained (borrowing--without mention--from the well-known atheist Max Weber’s analysis of authority) that ISKCON was previously in a “charismatic” phase under Srila Prabhupada, but now we must move to the “rational-legalistic” or “bureaucratic” phase in order to function effectively. Respectfully, I submit that this idea is seriously flawed (and inherently dangerous), missing as it does the simple truth that Srila Prabhupada expertly blended all forms of legitimate authority (personal, traditional, and rational included) in his guidance of ISKCON. Not only did he intentionally take great care to do this, but he clearly wanted the leadership to continue as he had, drawing on the force of personal purity, the timeless Vedic shastric and cultural tradition, and God-given reason and intelligence, to organize the preaching activities.

My concern is that this defective notion of the coming of the “rational-legal” era in ISKCON is manifesting as this new centralized hierarchy, in contradistinction to Prabhupada’s repeated warnings about forming an administrative elite. Even the news report’s accompanying advertisement for help via a “full-time, salaried position” does not comport with Prabhupada’s instruction to not pay salaries for service. I don’t wish to peck at a sincere attempt to improve the preaching work, but it seems the approach does not represent critical principles that Prabhupada established.

It is a matter of record that the GBC has made some serious errors in judgment since 1977 (no need to iterate them here). In all such cases they have neglected to build any consensus with their God-brothers and sisters before embarking on major reorganizations of the form of ISKCON and the formal relations between devotees. Perhaps before concluding and executing such far-reaching plans, some further discussion is in order. Many of us are trying to remain connected to ISKCON, but over the years the leadership has rolled out some pretty large pills and insisted we swallow them without taking our concerns into account. Historically, Vedic leaders have moved throughout their people (often incognito to ensure frankness) to learn of their opinions and suggestions. Elitism means disconnected and delimited, and must be constantly guarded against, particularly in a movement of popular participation. I have kept this as brief as possible; I pray no one is offended by my words.

Your servant, Bhutatma dasa