01/10/98 - 1487

No Mercy For Denver Gurukulis

Denver (VNN) - (See also VNN stories # 1437, 1451, 1469) See also Forum VNN News Talk: Denver Gurukulis) After repeated appeals from devotees and attempts by ISKCON leaders to mediate this situation, the Denver temple management seems determined to evict the Gurukulis from their temple apartment. Umapati Swami's advice on Chakra to the Gurukulis is: "Don't waste your time banging your heads against the wall trying to get something from people when they cannot possibly give it to you." Many Vaishnavas worldwide are still trying to understand why the Denver temple "cannot possibly give" these devotee an apartment they are willing to pay for, so they can be with their parents.

Letter from Uddhava das:

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my obeisances. It seems that the record needs to be set straight regarding my situation in Denver. When Gandhari and I arrived in Denver, we were actually looking for apartments outside the temple. After seeing how expensive they were, we found out that there were several empty basements at the temple. We asked Apurva and Ramavirya if we could rent at the temple, and we were told to call Badrinarayan. He flatly refused to help us. There was no discussion. Just no! Badrinarayan, was never "our protector and defender".

We immediately contacted Bir Krsna Swami, because at the North American GBC meetings in Alachua, he promised to help out the gurukulis. You can verify this with him if there is any doubt. Within one day of contacting him, we were allowed to stay here. Can you imagine that a higher authority steps in and tells you to do something? It wouldn't be too far-fetched to understand why we have been given such a hard time over the past year.

I thought I would be able to rent a basement under my family in peace, after the temple finally agreed to let us stay. At no point have we lived at the temple for free. The temple accepted our rent each month, and at the same time every couple of weeks we received letters harassing us to leave. We were forced to go to boardmeetings to discuss the date when we would be leaving. Why did the temple accept our rent each month, if they wanted us to leave so badly? We have 12 harassing letters from them that prove we are being discriminated against. It seems to me that a little reciprocation from the movement could be given, to allow me to live in a basement after my family and I have served, and are still serving as core members for over 20 years. I just got my residency in Denver and finally have the chance to go to college. I need to be a dependent on my mother in order to go to school. Madan's offer of staying upstairs is impossible. There are already 4 people living in a small 2 bedroom house. If there was room I would gladly live with her. The next best thing is the basement below her. I never got to live with my family, and now I need to. We have not refused to move out because we want to give the authorities a hard time. Why should I be torn apart from my family again, when this is the first time I am getting to know them?

Gandhari and I recently put a letter out on the internet, explaining our most recent situation here with the temple evicting us. In our attempt to get some justice, we have been slandered and demonized, not surprising. I hope everyone realizes that the authorities here feel they must defame our characters so that no one will believe our story. We have not even criticized them personally, so why must they lie and slander our names? I never realized devotees could be so hateful and dishonest, but this is the age of Kali.

In my years of living in ISKCON, I have noticed a common procedure that is practiced by the GBCs and temple managers. A devotee, gurukuli, or anyone who has a problem or complaint with the temple management, may try to seek justice by going to a higher authority. Most of the time even if you are right, higher authorities will side with their management teams. Why do they want to take the time out of their busy, busy schedules to sort of the problems, or find a new manager who may be a fair, just person?

Rather, it's a lot easier for them to agree with local management, and get rid of so-called troublemakers. In the process, one's plight for justice is lost and you are left trying to defend yourself all alone.

This ongoing pattern of inexperienced managers bulldozing over the small people and defaming them all over ISKCON, has caused great destruction to our society, driving away old, new, and alike. This will continue in the future unless there is some kind of change in this destructive pattern. I am sure there are devotees who have had similar experiences, so don't believe everything you read. Hari Bol.

Your servant Uddhava das