ISKCON Phoenix: Love of Power
BY: ALPESH MAHANT
Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center in Chandler, Arizona was established by disciples of Srila Prabhupada in 1996. Also known as ISKCON of Phoenix, the institution has created a fear and turmoil among the devotees, especially members of the congregation over the past few years. First, the Temple President went to the court on March 8th to ban a 75-year old man from India on charges of harassment, which were thrown out by the Superior Court of Arizona on October 29th.
Next, the management's reaction resulted in imposing a "ban" on five more Life Members on the pretext of "Private Property", through a letter warning them not to come to the Temple any longer or they would face removal or be arrested on criminal charges of trespassing.
"Love of power" on the part of management has caused senior worshipers and devotees a pain that nobody can imagine -- because their life has been centered around this temple in Chandler, where hundreds of employees from Intel and other major corporations have been devoting time and money as investment in their families' future - to raise Krishna (God) conscious kids who will be the responsible citizens of tomorrow's America, in view of practicing Hare Krishna Regulative Principles such as drug free, non-violent - no meat, away from vices of drinking and gambling together with no illicit sex, and chanting the Holy Names of the Lord.
Building and running a temple with public money and designating it as a "private property" violates the first amendment rights of freedom of worship. The Founder-Acarya of the Hare Krishna movement, Swami Prabhupada came from India to New York with little money, about eight dollars in all - and a trunk full of books, and established ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in 1966. Over the next twelve years he established more than 100 temples around the globe and had a following of more than 5,000 devotees. Purity is the force -- such is the power of love.
Current management's "love of power" reminds us of a proverb: either you are with us or against us.
Sincerely,
Alpesh Mahant
BY: ALPESH MAHANT
Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center in Chandler, Arizona was established by disciples of Srila Prabhupada in 1996. Also known as ISKCON of Phoenix, the institution has created a fear and turmoil among the devotees, especially members of the congregation over the past few years. First, the Temple President went to the court on March 8th to ban a 75-year old man from India on charges of harassment, which were thrown out by the Superior Court of Arizona on October 29th.
Next, the management's reaction resulted in imposing a "ban" on five more Life Members on the pretext of "Private Property", through a letter warning them not to come to the Temple any longer or they would face removal or be arrested on criminal charges of trespassing.
"Love of power" on the part of management has caused senior worshipers and devotees a pain that nobody can imagine -- because their life has been centered around this temple in Chandler, where hundreds of employees from Intel and other major corporations have been devoting time and money as investment in their families' future - to raise Krishna (God) conscious kids who will be the responsible citizens of tomorrow's America, in view of practicing Hare Krishna Regulative Principles such as drug free, non-violent - no meat, away from vices of drinking and gambling together with no illicit sex, and chanting the Holy Names of the Lord.
Building and running a temple with public money and designating it as a "private property" violates the first amendment rights of freedom of worship. The Founder-Acarya of the Hare Krishna movement, Swami Prabhupada came from India to New York with little money, about eight dollars in all - and a trunk full of books, and established ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in 1966. Over the next twelve years he established more than 100 temples around the globe and had a following of more than 5,000 devotees. Purity is the force -- such is the power of love.
Current management's "love of power" reminds us of a proverb: either you are with us or against us.
Sincerely,
Alpesh Mahant
Hare Krishna!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Dr Ahmed Khan, a native of Hyderabad, AP, India- living in Phoenix for past
20+ years. When the Hare Krishna Temple was established in 1996, I visited with my friend
Munnu Bajpayee- a Life Member to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Since then, I have
attended all Diwali and Janmashtami celebrations with my friends.
Recently, it has come to my knowledge that one of my closest friend has received an Order on October 29, 2013 from the Superior Court instructing the Chandler Municipal Court to squash Injunction Against Harassment filed earlier by Pratibha Somaiya on March 8, 2013.
When he showed up to attend a Love Feast Diwali celebrations on Sunday, November 3 police was called to charge on trespassing in a "private property". Again he visited Hare Krishna Temple on Monday, November 4 in morning where Pratibha Somaiya video taped him without his permission, and asked him not to visit the Temple any more, as it was a "private property". Same day, letters were sent to five (5) life members informing them not to access Temple- as it is considered as a "private property" .
Here is a quote, from page 24 of the transcript of the trial which took place on March 8, 2013
in Chandler:-
The Court: .... Okay. But it's not a prerequisite of going to the temple-- a donation is not a prerequisite--
Witness (Pratibha Somaiya): Right
The Court: --To --
Witness (Pratibha Somaiya): You're correct.
The Court: -- attending the temple?
Witness (Pratibha Somaiya ): You're correct. Yes.
The Court: Okay. And it's open to anyone?
The Witness ( Pratibha Somaiya ): Yes, it is.
The Court: Okay. For example, if I wanted to go, I could go and---
The Witness ( Pratibha Somaiya ): You bet.
The Court: -- I wouldn't have to leave a donation if I chose not to do so?
The Witness ( Pratibha Somaiya ): Absolutely not .
It is interesting to note that Pratibha Somaiya has been trying to ban Hare Krishna worshippers entering into the property which is funded by donations from public because they are in dis-agreements with her leadership.
Dr Ahmed Khan, a Krishna devotee
Phone: 602-561-5426 (Home) 602-482-0936