07/16/98 - 1914

Harikesa Swami Resigns

USA (VNN) - STATEMENT by the ISKCON Governing Body Commission

PLACE: San Diego, California,
USA DATE: July 14, 1998
ISSUED BY: Badrinarayana Dasa Adhikary, ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), Acting Chair of the GBC Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) regrets to inform ISKCON and its supporters that Harikesa Swami, aged 49, has recently suffered a serious physical and mental collapse.

It is not unusual that ISKCON leaders, when vigorously preaching Krsna consciousness even up to old age, follow the footsteps of great acaryas and tend to become aloof from bodily concerns. Consequently, leading preachers are sometimes afflicted suddenly with ailments that severely limit their ability to continue at their accustomed pace. In such cases, "slowing down" is not a sign of "giving up." Rather, it shows that a "long-term" vision can give a spiritual leader many extra years to preach Krsna consciousness.

Harikesa Maharaja's crisis resulted from an enormous overburden of work, the flare-up of many long-standing physical maladies and a fully committed attitude toward preaching. This attitude caused him to accept many more responsibilities than he could reasonably take on, especially in his weakened condition. We dearly love him, and devotees should all intensely pray for his swift recovery. However, it will be some time before he can resume his preaching work. He is regularly meeting with godbrothers and disciples and is in excellent medical care.

Harikesa Swami is this year's GBC Chairman and a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBTI). He has already relinquished and delegated his functions related to the GBC chairmanship to the other members of the GBC Executive Committee (Badrinarayana dasa, Ravindra Svarupa dasa, Sesa dasa, and Akhandadhi dasa).

He has also tendered his resignation from the BBTI's board of trustees, which was accepted on July 14th 1998. Brahma Muhurta dasa has been appointed to fill the vacancy left on the board and has already assumed his duties as a new trustee.

END OF STATEMENT