12/25/97 - 1431

LA Temple Assault Update

USA (VNN) - ISKCON's Communication Breakdown
by Gauridas

(see also VNN story #1410, 1416)

I've read today's news on the VNN. I would like to report on the L.A. temple incident that happened at the last sunday feast. As far as the fight goes I didn't see that but I was notified of it while I was in arati. I went out to see what was going on. There were a few police cars and the Temple commander and guest devotee in handcuffs. I heard from Vatiraja that the T.C. started the whole thing and I heard from the 'temple' devotees that the 'guest' instigated it. One of the policemen called me over to talk to him. He was looking over a paper that the guest was alleged to of been passing out called the Phalgun KRSNA Pancami. It is a speech by Srila Prabhupada to his Godbrothers in 1961. The policeman was asking me about the paper when a few 'temple' devotees walked up and asked for the 'offensive' literature back so they could use it in court if necessary. I said, "how can you call Prabhupada's writings offensive?" They responded by saying that I was just trying to start trouble. Not really. I was trying to patch things up for you who don't know how to act properly.

This is one example of what happens when there is no open communications. The temple devotees are under the impression that outside devotees or ritvics or anyone who believes that Srila Prabhupada may of been poisoned is a demon in devotees clothes. A brahmachari was recently heard telling innocent bystanders that 'ritvics' are 'bad association'. This is the general attitude that the leaders pass down to the devotees and because there's no istagosthis here anymore the divisions build until devotees fight verbally or physically or are kicked out etc.

We are supposed to be one big happy family; but now it's dysfunctional. The elite leaders act like they want to cooperate but only seem to end up dictating. Thus with no good communications there is hardly any cooperation. You can distribute a million books; but if you treat the devotees like we do now, can we please Srila Prabhupada? I don't think so!

I am not taking sides in the LA incident. I don't believe in 'rocking the boat' at the temple. Papers should not be passed around at prasadam. That's the time for a peaceful atmosphere. I don't believe the new devotees should be subject to the 'guru debate'. It belongs at the GBC level. That is why I keep asking them to step up to the plate and do their job. Then the devotees won't have to argue about these matters in and out of the temples. It's a shame nice devotees like Bhajahari Prabhu etc. etc. have been 'banned' from the temples simply because they believe that Srila Prabhupada wanted a ritvic initiation system to continue in ISKCON.

We need to overhaul the GBC for the benefit of 'our' ISKCON. We need to restore the 'love and trust' that this movement was built on. That can be done by open and honest communications and cooperation. Then we'll all be happy and most importantly so will Srila Prabhupada.