06/10/98 - 1857

A letter from the Chairman of the GBC

Sweden (VNN) - by Harikesa Swami

Over the last few months, the GBC Executive Committee has listened to feedback and constructive criticism from many individuals in many parts of the movement. It is clear to us, that if we want to revitalise ISKCON, and if we want to please Srila Prabhupada, we must make caring for devotees our top priority. We have tried to carefully analyse the mistakes and failures of the past, and we are now looking for ways to address these urgent issues. In this short letter, I want to show you some of the areas we have identified for action.

It is clear that we have made many failures in protecting the vulnerable members of our society. Focused on other priorities, we have neglected our children. We have neglected to teach our children how to become spiritually happy within a functional society. We have been unable to offer suitable engagement for our young people. We have also failed to help them integrate into the wider world. Thus we have failed them spiritually and materially. We have also neglected to take care of the older people and widows.

We have not offered proper protection and respect to the women in our movement. We have not understood woman's role as mother of society. We have hurt women by insisting that they behave according to vedic standards, yet we have not been able to offer the proper standard of vedic protection. Widows in our society have been particularly neglected.

In the past, we have not protected scholarly and intellectual devotees, neither have we properly facilitated them. Our failures in education are well known. We have not valued our brahminical and priestly class. Our teachers, ministers and counsellors must be well educated, and must be people who we can rely on and trust. Our future education system must include accountability, with clear expectations and guidelines, with qualified guides.

We have seen cows and bulls, not as divine assets, but as unproductive economic burdens. Due to such serious offences, there is dissent, division and unhappiness in our society.

Due to these grave offences and due to our neglect of the basic principles of Vaishnava culture, our movement is suffering greatly. We have reached the point where these issues absolutely must be addressed, if there is to be any hope for spiritual progress and peace.

This year at the annual Mayapur meetings, the GBC understood that it must take a more urgent and progressive role in helping the society resolve these problems. The GBC members recognised that they must move from the mode of control to one of actual leadership. They voted to empower their Executive Committee to analyse and find the means to rectify the fundamental causes of the devotees' unhappiness.

The first results of discussion and analysis by the EC, lead us to conclude that we must make urgent steps towards a people centred ISKCON and move away from an institutionally centred one. Our conviction is that this is what Srila Prabhupada wanted.

Although the institution is certainly important, it's importance derives from the people within it and not vice-versa. We are currently de-centralising the decision making process in ISKCON, giving power back to the regional bodies, such as the North American Continental Committee, the European Continental committee and others. We want to construct an administration that deals regionally with regional affairs. We are keen to avoid the situation where a distant global administration, unfamiliar with all the regional concerns, makes decisions which have little relevance on a local level. Gradually, we hope to bring real decision making power down as close as possible to the individual members, giving them more responsibility for their lives.

This implies that everyone should take responsibility for his or her own development and actions, but at the same time, they should be able to count on receiving some help and guidance from the society to achieve this. Every devotee must be allowed to develop their occupations according to their nature, and not be forced to accept other occupations over longer periods of time simply out of necessity. Each devotee must be properly situated in an appropriate ashram situation. Each devotee must be offered the education to initially help them understand their nature, to get training in the qualities and occupations compatible with their nature and get career guidance and integration into the society in their most advantageous position. To this end the EC is arranging together with the Ministry of Education Development, the creation of Vaishnava Professional Schools, to educate the ISKCON Youth.

We see this as the most important work we can do, for such higher forms of education are essential for the integration of the ISKCON youth into the society. We see the youth of ISKCON as the solution to our problems, for through facilitating the needs of the youth, we can understand the needs of all devotees.

Marriage is a very important part of most devotees' lives. We want to help prepare devotees to take on the responsibility of marriage, children and family life. Everyone has a responsibility to themselves first, their family, their spiritual master, and thus the society. We want to help educate the devotees in the principles and values, which will help them to lead a satisfying and stable married life.

Every society requires guides and leaders in order to prosper. We need guides who will help devotees to determine their natures, work with them to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, give them counselling when needed, and help the leaders do their work better.

ISKCON is an educational movement, and we wish to develop courses of study to help devotees develop their Vaishnava qualities and character, as Srila Prabhupada wanted. Education brings self-esteem and satisfaction. Peaceful and educated individuals go to make up a civilised society.

When we can establish the culture of guides and leaders, we can serve Krsna together to create a devotee friendly world. By protecting brahminical culture, we can establish a well-directed social body. We cannot rest until we see a society full of productive and happy devotees. Only then will we know that Srila Prabhupada is pleased.

I request all devotees to share with us the imperative of applying Srila Prabhupada's teachings. I personally request you to work with us to build a caring, learned, vibrant and effective ISKCON. I look forward to serving you.

Your Servant

Harikesa Swami