07/17/98 - 1918

"We Should Try To Save The Mission From Disaster"

USA (VNN) - Shortly before he left this physical realm in 1977, Srila Prabhupada instructed his disciples to see his close godbrother, Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja, for any questions on philosophical matters. Responding to a query by Ramesvara in regard to GBC's policies that were alienating senior devotees and creating deep rifts within the the movement, Srila Sridhara Maharaja offered the following advice, advice that seems just as pertinent today as it was back then (March, 1981):

"If direction is not given by Swami Maharaja, there might be some signs, some hints. But if it is not found there, then we shall have to evolve some rules and regulations for a proper adjustment so that the mission may not suffer. Suffer from indifference or negligence or abhorrence of the non-acarya disciples of Swami Maharaja. As you say, there are more qualified disciples outside the acarya board, or GBC. It is not impossible, not impossible. So, we should sit together and try to see that valuable persons came to serve Swami Maharaja with all their sincerity and energy will not go away. That would be very, very regrettable. We should try to save the mission from that disaster.

I hear that so many stalwarts are going away, becoming indifferent and going underground to the unknown quarter, depressed because they do not see a fair field. So these things should not be set aside but it must be taken in and they should be discussed. Some salient points, you should prepare a list -- that this is a list of disadvantages, inconveniences. The disease has entered ISKCON and how to treat it. This is our common cause.

We are all interested in ISKCON. We are all members. We have given our life, dedicated our life for this mission. We are interested and we don't like that our godbrothers will go astray dissatisfied with the management.

So try your best to evolve some rulings or sort of laws, rules which should guide us all, help us all. At the same time, it will push the cause of the mission of ISKCON. As dynamic as it is accommodative -- comprehensive and dynamic mission we want to have.

We have a great field ahead. We must go to the length and the breadth of this world with the banner of our Guru Maharaja, your Guru Maharaja, and combined effort is necessary for that. We should collect all our energy, money, men and we must go on with the banner of our Prabhupada. For this, unity and fairness in the field are necessary. This will strengthen the hearts of all members of ISKCON. In this way, you may introduce your suggestions for reform -- that such an accommodating and dynamic program we want to have, and without doing so, we wonít allow you to end your meeting. You must come to such a conclusion and give us such a program. Otherwise, we wonít allow you to go away from this matha.

Make provision to feed all the members, such that all can be satisfied, have food, proper food. Everyone must have proper food to work on. Evolve such a program and give it to us. If you consider yourself to be efficient, then give us this thing -- that we can march on with the flag with our head erect.

We have to go and capture the new, but the old is already going away. They are being driven away. The old, important members who received the grace of our Guru Maharaja, they are being discouraged and becoming indifferent. And we are going to recruit new persons? Is this not a farce?

I am speaking a little strongly. But as a friend of your Guru Maharaja, I feel this in my heart. So I say this worldwide grand mission will thrive like anything. It will touch the heaven and cover the world and other planets also. And what is this? That longtime devotees are leaving this mission? There may be one, a few exceptions, but generally people came with a good and sincere heart and they are feeling discouragement.

Some encouraging program must be evolved, we want to have. So, let us evolve. Not just a formal meeting for two, three days. But it must be a meeting to satisfy the real necessity of the day. That is a living committee, that we want. Living committee we want. Not a formal meeting.

Excerpt from "Our Affectionate Guardians", by Swami Bhaktibhavana Visnu Maharaja. Eugene, OR: Gaudiya Vaisnava Society, 1996. pg 64-66