© 1999 VNN
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USA January 16, 1999 VNN2862 See Related VNN Stories BBT Case Impeached BY NARA NARAYAN VISHWAKARMA DAS USA, Jan 16 (VNN) — With sorrow, I must clarify that the BBT case settlement as reported by Hansadutta das in two postings on VNN does not reflect the degree that we, the BBT, and Srila Prabhupada's direct and written intent were betrayed. Knowing past, present, and future, Srila Prabhupada knew that Hansadutta (after going through a cycle of "fall down") had the POTENTIAL to make a decision to save His BBT from the inevitable book changers and political managers that rushed to change His books even before He went into His final Samadhi. These "book changers" knew well the history of the Gaudiya Math and that Prabhupada's godbrothers had changed Bhaktisiddhanta's books as well. This book changing was repudiated by Srila Prabhupada, and and it was His intent that the Purity of the BBT was to be maintained by Hansadutta as long as Hansadutta lived. He also trusted Hansadutta to select future Trustees of the highest caliber and integrity to preserve the Purity of His books through agency of the BBT into the far distant future. That is why Srila Prabhupada made Hansadutta das a LIFE LONG BBT TRUSTEE. He knew that Hansadutta das over everyone else, understood the UNIQUE POWER of the books, and that Iskcon would never be able to survive if: a. The books were changed. b. The books were not separate from Iskcon so that the BBT trustee would have the power to demand the purity and obedience to Srila Prabhupada before licensing publishing rights to any branch of Iskcon. In that way, the BBT Trustee was created as the ultimate watchdog of the standards of Iskcon. So many devotees who knew that I was an insider to the BBT court case have phone and e-mailed me with questions concerning the settlement, requesting some insight into how the settlement could be called a "victory" when it reeked of betrayal. I myself, have struggled with the implications of what turned out to be a financial settlement of the case, lamenting that the original purpose of the case was abandoned at the end. I assure all of you, that had I known that this was to be the outcome of the case, that I would have not have given support to it for the four years that I did. Hansadutta prabhu would visit me for a week at a time. He had keys to my house, and was always welcome without question any hour of the day or night. Together, we would cook wonderful prasadam dishes, have glorious Kirtan, and powerful Istagosthis in my home. My children called him "Uncle Hansa" and our two families grew close. From the beginning, Hansadutta emphasized that the books are "everything". I was skeptical. He went on to say that whoever controls the books controls the movement. He said that if he won the BBT case, that Iskcon would have to accept the Rittvik conclusions given by Srila Prabhupada. Iskcon would not be able to restrict the distribution of books to "blacklisted" devotees. Iskcon would be forced to change the books back to their original condition, and the "book changing" fanatics in Iskcon would prohibited from any contact with the BBT. He said that the BBT can refuse to license any temple that does not accept Srila Prabhupada as the Spiritual Master of Iskcon. We talked of reforming Iskcon. We never talked of splitting from Iskcon. At that time, the case was in Singapore. Though Hansadutta's single minded certainty, I began to understand that the books were Srila Prabhupada's personal presence in the form of VANI. Soon I felt ready to give all of my (meager) support to the court case. When the BBTI was defeated in Singapore and re-filed a case against Hansadutta in La, I worked with Hansadutta to pick an attorney to represent the case. WE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED, and furthermore, we had (at that time) the FAITH to know that although outnumbered and outfinanced, that KRISHNA would give us victory to protect Srila Prabhupada's Transcendental BBT for the next ten thousand years. To us it seemed obvious that Srila Prabhupada had foreseen the faithlessness of his "successors" and had created a "time bomb" that could restore the original standards to Iskcon if we just put our "shoulder to the wheel". Some months later, because of my commitment to the outcome of the case, Hansadutta's attorney, his wife and child were living in my home free of charge. We brainstormed constantly, many visionary conclusions were reached. I could understand that Krishna wanted us to win. Hansadutta and his attorney wanted to turn my leased house into a Rittvik Temple and Law offices. Since we had conducted so many powerful Kirtans there, and Istagosthis, I felt that the energy of that devotional power would aid the case, and I agreed to move out so that this could happen. As the case neared completion, all of us were jubilant. It seemed that the BBTI could do no right and we could do no wrong. We watched amazed as the BBTI lawyers shot themselves in the foot time and time again. It was almost hard to comprehend. We saw it as Krishna's mercy. It seemed that we were Guided every inch of the way. We often quoted,"whom the god's would destroy, they first drive mad." and the BBTI lawyers certainly presented their case as though they were mad! Just before the final settlement conference, it was apparent that we had not only won, but won "hands down"! Hansadutta described to me how the judge called the attorneys into chambers and said that he "did not like to insult an attorney in front of his client". He said to the BBTI lawyers that "they did not have a case" that if they went to court, that they would lose. He said, "I advise you to settle if you do not want to lose outright". Settlement talks began, and for the first time, the BBTI lawyers realized that they had no case. They had the unenviable task of trying to explain to the BBTI officials in Europe why they pursued a case without merit in the first place. Practically all of the BBTI motions had been denied. Most of Hansadutta's motions had been upheld. Half a million dollars or more of Srila Prabhupada's money had been squandered by the BBTI lawyers to pursue a case that could not have lasted more than a couple of days in court. As the talks progressed, Hansadutta informed me that the Jayadwaita swami was totally stricken. He said that "I guess that you won't be wanting me around any more, I will simply go off and preach". Talks were held as to which of the existing BBTI officials would be hired by the BBT under Hansadutta. Then something strange happened. All communication between Hansadutta's courtroom team and the close but not official supporters of the case such as Yasodanandana , Mrigendra, and myself were suddenly cut off from all communication. Several weeks went by without one word of communication from anyone inside the negotiations. In the end, Jayadwaita held a class in the Los Angeles temple glorifying Hansadutta and his legal team. I found that strange. Two more weeks went by until I was able to reach Hansadutta and found out the basics of the settlement. He was elated. He said that it was better than what we had originally planned by far. Since our original goal was to re-establish Srila Prabhupada as the recognized Supreme Absolute Authority of a reformed Iskcon, my heart sank. He revealed that he now had unlimited consent to print as many books as he wanted, and to sell them to anyone but Iskcon temples. He said that this was wonderful, as he could then create new books and change the present ones in a way that the rules created by Srila Prabhupada when chartering the BBT would otherwise not allow him to do. Not surprisingly, my anxiety grew. "But at least you are still the BBT trustee, and can enforce the return of the Books to their original condition? I cried." Hansadutta said, "No, I had to resign my position to get the settlement". I said, "That is a disaster! The only nonnegotiable thing was for you to remain BBT Trustee!" Hansadutta replied," But I did not WANT to be trustee". I said," But Srila Prabhupada WANTED you to be lifelong trustee!" Real victory had been handed to us, and now it was forever gone. Of course, by then I knew the game was over. He had handed over the Sacred Trust given him as lifetime GUARDIAN of Srila Prabhupada's books for the right to print books outside of Iskcon for personal profit, and in any way that he pleased with no checks and balances.. His birthright for a pot of porridge. As I had been sent on many occasions as unofficial liaison to talk with the BBTI lawyers and managers,I was quite familiar with what the BBTI was willing to give up to end the case. For several months they had offered Hansadutta permission to publish any books that he wanted as the primary settlement. Hansadutta's team laughed at that offer as being pitiful and ridiculous. Hansadutta had said to Svavas das, "It is too late for that offer. I would have accepted it at the beginning seven years ago. You are a fool to think that I would accept only that now." They asked, "then what DO you want?" Hansadutta replied, "I want the whole BBT with myself as trustee, just as Srila Prabhupada desired! Nothing less will do!". Somehow, the winners decided to hand sure victory to the losers. In the end, the "victory" claimed by Hansadutta was not much better than the months old throw-away offer from the BBTI. SOME CONSIDERATIONS: 1. Hansadutta claimed that the case would have been appealed, and that would have taken three years to experience complete victory. It would seem that three years of austerity is a small fraction of ten thousand years of bonafide access to Srila Prabhupada's books. As BBT Trustee, it was his fiduciary responsibility to fight an appeal to uphold the Trust. 2. Hansadutta stated that it would cost too much money to pursue a case through appeal. With a hands-down victory, it would not have been difficult to raise the money to fight the appeal. There are very wealthy vaishnavas who could easily have underwritten an appeal. 3. It appears that Hansadutta as a "soft Rittvik" has ambitions to start his own movement with his "for profit" control of Srila Prabhupada's books as the core. From his statements on VNN, it seems that he anticipates the decline and ultimate destruction of Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon which would then be replaced by his own movement, or at least a movement controlled by his personal ownership of the right to privatize Srila Prabhupada's books. In fact, if Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon does not collapse, Hansadutta's purpose will be either limited or utterly foiled. (Read carefully his two letters to VNN) 4. By giving up his life-long appointment as BBT Trustee, he has given up his devotional service. Ironically, when Tamal Krishna M refused to go to China because of his "service" in the USA, Srila Prabhupada stated, "Then you have not service". After Tamal left the room (according to Hansadutta) he followed Tamal out and explained, "Don't you see that Srila Prabhupada has severed His connection with you due to your disobedience in refusing to go to China? Service comes from the Spiritual Master, and if He says you have no service, then you have no connection with Krishna." So Hansadutta by giving up the Sacred Post of BBT Trustee, has refused to "go to China". 5. Not only has Hansadutta abandoned his post of protecting the integrity of Srila Prabhupada's books, but he gave up his seat to the KING of the book-changers, Jayadwaita Swami. Not only will the BBTI now not be forced rectify the heresy of changing the books of the Pure Devotee, the book-changing fox has been locked in with the chickens! No wonder that Jayadwaita swami was praising Hansadutta and his team! 6. We are at a fork in the road. Those of us who want to REFORM Iskcon through IRG on the lines of the FINAL ORDER will find themselves hampered by the BBT settlement. Even if Hansadutta really prints books, (and I am not blacklisted by him and can buy them), no lasting solution will have been attained. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING AND TORMENT OF THE ISKCON DEVOTEES IN THE TEMPLES WHAT TO SPEAK OF THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN "BEATEN, BANNED, AND EVEN KILLED" on the outside of the temple communities. (A few days after the BBT "victory" the GBC made a mockery of the new "cooperative mood" by drafting policy that would effectively ban Rittvic reformers from any Iskcon temple. This would not have been possible if Hansadutta had remained as trustee, since none of the GBC were willing to risk retaliation if Hansaduta DID win.) 7. Before the settlement, most of the local BBTI personnel had secretly asked Hansadutta for assurance of "jobs" in the reestablished BBT if he won the case. It seemed that everyone was waiting to see "which way the frog jumped" before changing sides. It seemed to me that they were actually eager to be working for Srila Prabhupada instead of the BBTI. On one occasion,one of the BBTI lawyers told me during a two hour conversation,"I can't understand why the BBTI is so "down" on Prabhupadanugas. I should think that anything about Prabhupada is good." When I responded that he knew as well as I did that the people that he worked for had long ago rejected Srila Prabhupada while worshiping Him in name only, he looked at me with interest and said, " I have a lot of catching up to do!" 8. Although the money for settling the case was raised from the sweat and SRADDA of thousands of sincere but manipulated temple devotees, THE TERMS OF THE CASE WERE MADE SECRET so that none of those who paid for it could ever know how much they paid and for what. This is not a Vaishnava option. We are to reveal our minds to other Vaishnavas. Srila Prabhupada requested that the temple accounts be read weekly on the temple steps so that any passerby could see how we spent Krishna's money. Since I am aware of most of the costs incurred, I am sure that Hansadutta's team collected at least 1/2 million dollars in settlement from the BBTI. If you don't believe me, then ask your local GBC! For those who wish to reform Iskcon to the standards described in the FINAL ORDER, the court settlement was no victory at all. In fact, it is a major obstacle to the actual reform of Iskcon. For those who wish to start ANOTHER movement, it is an apparent "victory". For those "victorious" ones who have put aside Srila Prabhupada's direct order on how to protect His books and now have "no service," I would like to comment that if history be our teacher, then once again the "blind will lead the blind victoriously into the ditch." Yet... before that happens, with a little bit of luck, I hope that I may be able to buy a "hot off the press" set of Srila Prabhupada's original books from Hansadutta's for-profit publishing house! Respectfully submitted for perusal by Srila Prabhupada, and with apology to Him for my having failed in my attempt to uphold His purpose once again, Your eternal servant, Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/usa/US9901/US16-2862.html
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