[PADA: Yep, Laxmimoni was "on her way to being the first ISKCON woman guru." About sums up their whole agenda. Ooops, Brahmatirtha dasa aka Bob Cohen was intimidating witnesses? Why do some people think the GBC's illicit sex with men, women and children guru parampara should be defended, at all? Baffling. ys pd]
=========================
Iskcon of Gainesville Inc.
Robert Cohen (Brahmatirtha dasa (ACBSP)
Anil Ithikkat
Jaya Radhe Kaseder
Robert Mabin (HH Rtadhvaja Swami (ACBSP)
========================
MF: As much as I am a sincere friend and well wisher of my senior ISKCON friends and family, the time has come for a full system reset of 100% awareness, accountability, and courageous, humble, and spiritual heart centered responsibility! Especially to the younger generation of devotees, many of whom have suffered most of the ongoing fallout from grevious mistakes, negligence, and abuses of the past.
As in physical healing, social and Spiritual healing must also align with the cosmic principle that form follows function. Until we as a spiritual and social body finally and fully take the "funk" out of the Function of ISKCON as a whole, and especially in this most key important area of Child Protection and real Justice, then there will be no real trust or progress in the society or in the KC process.
It is absolutely time to root out the rot at the root of the Bhakti Family Tree to unpoison and unburden the fruit for everyone! Only truly honest accountability and responsibility will bring about the necessary Therapeutic Change and Empowerment. Dandavats! Jai Srila Prabhupada! & Hare Krishna!
====================
Sanaka Rsi
Open letter to the GBC Body regarding the CPO case of Laximoni devi dasi
Please accept my respectful obeisance, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am writing this letter for two reasons; to express my appreciation for the recent, and long overdue verdict the CPO issued for Laxmimoni devid dasi, and to voice my concerns.
I wish to congratulate the GBC body for allowing the CPO the freedom to release a verdict that will no-doubt cause some backlash.
Laxmimoni’s case is an important one, because it is likely to be the last one of an era that many in ISKCON prefer to deny it ever happened, or at best like to minimize / sanitize it, and for those who were children during those years, many wish it had never happened at all.
From your perspective Laxmimoni's is a difficult case for many reasons; she is one of your own, and many of you regard her as a personal friend. She is more senior than many present day GBC members and she was on her way to becoming one of the first female gurus, with a loyal and vocal core group of supporters.
You now find yourselves between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. Some of you have known her since you joined, there is something deeply unsettling about seeing her go, you may be of the view that you need to do something to protect her, offer her security and support.
If however, you decide to oppose the CPO’s decision and interfere with this case, then you will certainly reinforce the widespread concerns that the GBC is corrupt and that the CPO needs, now more than ever, to be entirely independent of the GBC.
Interfering in her favor would lend credibility to the voices of your detractors that accuse the GBC body of nepotism, lacking in transparency, accountability and purity. In so doing you would reinforce the perception that the CPO is a mere puppet, intended to protect the institutional interests.
You have always been happy to hang “low ranking” perpetrators, but with high profile cases, where the accused enjoyed the protection of friendships in high places, you have often chosen to interfere, and give in to the pressure of the influential allies of the accused. Sadly, you have chosen to compromise.
None of these considerations should have any bearing in the execution of justice of course, but we all know that unfortunately this is seldom the case. In the past, it was precisely in cases like this one, that the GBC has broken the rules.
To put is simply, you cannot be in favor of child protection, only when your friends aren't involved. That wouldn't be child protection. The CPO Manual, ratified by the GBC body, only allows an appeal of a CPO verdict, under very specific circumstances.
"The ARP (Appeal Review Panel) will first decide on the merit of an appeal. An appeal may be granted by the ARP only if:
a. Procedures used in the original Review prevented a fair and impartial hearing, or
b. There is new and compelling additional evidence".
(The Appeals Process, 2018 CPO Manual, Ratified by the GBC Body.)
And yet, only a couple of years back in the review of Sri Radhe’s case, she was granted an appeal, despite the fact that she did not meet the criteria for an appeal. I was told that due to her connection with Bhaktividyapurna Swami, some GBC members pressured Champakalata devi dasi, who was the director of the CPO at the time, to grant her an appeal despite the lack of merits, and she complied.
This (illegal) appeal panel revoked some of the sanctions imposed by the CPO judges the first time around. Laxmimoni’s case is very similar in the sense that it is highly unlikely that she would meet the criteria for an appeal. In the interest of transparency and to safeguard the integrity of the CPO and the GBC body, if she is granted an appeal, the reasons for warranting this appeal ought to be made available to the devotee public.
Laximoni’s case is actually very simple, but unfortunately for her victims, she has many powerful friends. From the very beginning, Brahmatirtha das (Bob Cohen, from Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers) began flexing his muscles to intimidate the victims and to try and influence the outcome of this case, but I suspect that now that the verdict is out, many more leaders will have joined his ranks.
Today the GBC body stands at a crossroad, this is a defining moment; not only for you, but also for the entire society you lead. You may give well read purports in your classes, but what really count are the choices you make in tough times. What is the essence that you convey with your example in these difficult situations?
You have two choices and both come at a price, you can choose to pay the price of convenience, at the cost of your integrity, or you can choose to pay the price that is required to do the right thing. If we look at similar high profile cases from the past where the GBC chose to interfere, like Lokanath Maharaj, Dhanurdhara Maharaj, Bhaktividyapurna Maharaj and Bhavananda, ISKCON paid a huge price, a price that cannot be easily quantified. These cases still haunt ISKCON today, and they will remain as a blemish in the history of ISKCON for generations to come.
Does ISKCON really need another repetition of the Dhanurdhara Swami saga? Can the GBC afford another scandal for protecting yet another child abuser?
Only a few days ago Archbishop Philip Wilson, the highest leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, was found guilty for covering up and protecting child abusers in the ‘70s…He may very well end up in prison when he is sentenced later this year.
Time and again, history has shown us the devastating outcome when you chose convenience at the expense of ethics! Today, Laxmimoni's case can be a priceless opportunity for you to reform the public image of the GBC, thus uniting and reinforcing ISKCON, or it can be another chapter of the shameful and dark history of ISKCON Child Protection.
The choice is yours.
May Krsna guide your hearts to the decision that will serve the best interest of the Vaisnava community at large.
Yours in the service of the Vaisnavas
Sanaka rsi das
This email was sent to the personal emails of the following devotees:
ISKCON CPO, Praghosa prabhu (GBC), Sesa prabhu, Tamohara prabhu, Brahmatirtha prabhu, Anuttama prabhu, Bhakticaru Swami, Gopal Krsna Swami, Kaicandra Swami, Romapad Swami, Yadunandana Swami, Ramai Swami, Bhadrinarayana Swami, Bhaktarupa prabhu, Braja Bihari prabhu, Laxmimoni prabhu, Sivaram Swami, Malati prabhu and Bhaktivikash Swami.
=========================
Iskcon of Gainesville Inc.
Robert Cohen (Brahmatirtha dasa (ACBSP)
Anil Ithikkat
Jaya Radhe Kaseder
Robert Mabin (HH Rtadhvaja Swami (ACBSP)
========================
MF: As much as I am a sincere friend and well wisher of my senior ISKCON friends and family, the time has come for a full system reset of 100% awareness, accountability, and courageous, humble, and spiritual heart centered responsibility! Especially to the younger generation of devotees, many of whom have suffered most of the ongoing fallout from grevious mistakes, negligence, and abuses of the past.
As in physical healing, social and Spiritual healing must also align with the cosmic principle that form follows function. Until we as a spiritual and social body finally and fully take the "funk" out of the Function of ISKCON as a whole, and especially in this most key important area of Child Protection and real Justice, then there will be no real trust or progress in the society or in the KC process.
It is absolutely time to root out the rot at the root of the Bhakti Family Tree to unpoison and unburden the fruit for everyone! Only truly honest accountability and responsibility will bring about the necessary Therapeutic Change and Empowerment. Dandavats! Jai Srila Prabhupada! & Hare Krishna!
====================
Sanaka Rsi
Open letter to the GBC Body regarding the CPO case of Laximoni devi dasi
Please accept my respectful obeisance, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am writing this letter for two reasons; to express my appreciation for the recent, and long overdue verdict the CPO issued for Laxmimoni devid dasi, and to voice my concerns.
I wish to congratulate the GBC body for allowing the CPO the freedom to release a verdict that will no-doubt cause some backlash.
Laxmimoni’s case is an important one, because it is likely to be the last one of an era that many in ISKCON prefer to deny it ever happened, or at best like to minimize / sanitize it, and for those who were children during those years, many wish it had never happened at all.
From your perspective Laxmimoni's is a difficult case for many reasons; she is one of your own, and many of you regard her as a personal friend. She is more senior than many present day GBC members and she was on her way to becoming one of the first female gurus, with a loyal and vocal core group of supporters.
You now find yourselves between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. Some of you have known her since you joined, there is something deeply unsettling about seeing her go, you may be of the view that you need to do something to protect her, offer her security and support.
If however, you decide to oppose the CPO’s decision and interfere with this case, then you will certainly reinforce the widespread concerns that the GBC is corrupt and that the CPO needs, now more than ever, to be entirely independent of the GBC.
Interfering in her favor would lend credibility to the voices of your detractors that accuse the GBC body of nepotism, lacking in transparency, accountability and purity. In so doing you would reinforce the perception that the CPO is a mere puppet, intended to protect the institutional interests.
You have always been happy to hang “low ranking” perpetrators, but with high profile cases, where the accused enjoyed the protection of friendships in high places, you have often chosen to interfere, and give in to the pressure of the influential allies of the accused. Sadly, you have chosen to compromise.
None of these considerations should have any bearing in the execution of justice of course, but we all know that unfortunately this is seldom the case. In the past, it was precisely in cases like this one, that the GBC has broken the rules.
To put is simply, you cannot be in favor of child protection, only when your friends aren't involved. That wouldn't be child protection. The CPO Manual, ratified by the GBC body, only allows an appeal of a CPO verdict, under very specific circumstances.
"The ARP (Appeal Review Panel) will first decide on the merit of an appeal. An appeal may be granted by the ARP only if:
a. Procedures used in the original Review prevented a fair and impartial hearing, or
b. There is new and compelling additional evidence".
(The Appeals Process, 2018 CPO Manual, Ratified by the GBC Body.)
And yet, only a couple of years back in the review of Sri Radhe’s case, she was granted an appeal, despite the fact that she did not meet the criteria for an appeal. I was told that due to her connection with Bhaktividyapurna Swami, some GBC members pressured Champakalata devi dasi, who was the director of the CPO at the time, to grant her an appeal despite the lack of merits, and she complied.
This (illegal) appeal panel revoked some of the sanctions imposed by the CPO judges the first time around. Laxmimoni’s case is very similar in the sense that it is highly unlikely that she would meet the criteria for an appeal. In the interest of transparency and to safeguard the integrity of the CPO and the GBC body, if she is granted an appeal, the reasons for warranting this appeal ought to be made available to the devotee public.
Laximoni’s case is actually very simple, but unfortunately for her victims, she has many powerful friends. From the very beginning, Brahmatirtha das (Bob Cohen, from Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers) began flexing his muscles to intimidate the victims and to try and influence the outcome of this case, but I suspect that now that the verdict is out, many more leaders will have joined his ranks.
Today the GBC body stands at a crossroad, this is a defining moment; not only for you, but also for the entire society you lead. You may give well read purports in your classes, but what really count are the choices you make in tough times. What is the essence that you convey with your example in these difficult situations?
You have two choices and both come at a price, you can choose to pay the price of convenience, at the cost of your integrity, or you can choose to pay the price that is required to do the right thing. If we look at similar high profile cases from the past where the GBC chose to interfere, like Lokanath Maharaj, Dhanurdhara Maharaj, Bhaktividyapurna Maharaj and Bhavananda, ISKCON paid a huge price, a price that cannot be easily quantified. These cases still haunt ISKCON today, and they will remain as a blemish in the history of ISKCON for generations to come.
Does ISKCON really need another repetition of the Dhanurdhara Swami saga? Can the GBC afford another scandal for protecting yet another child abuser?
Only a few days ago Archbishop Philip Wilson, the highest leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, was found guilty for covering up and protecting child abusers in the ‘70s…He may very well end up in prison when he is sentenced later this year.
Time and again, history has shown us the devastating outcome when you chose convenience at the expense of ethics! Today, Laxmimoni's case can be a priceless opportunity for you to reform the public image of the GBC, thus uniting and reinforcing ISKCON, or it can be another chapter of the shameful and dark history of ISKCON Child Protection.
The choice is yours.
May Krsna guide your hearts to the decision that will serve the best interest of the Vaisnava community at large.
Yours in the service of the Vaisnavas
Sanaka rsi das
This email was sent to the personal emails of the following devotees:
ISKCON CPO, Praghosa prabhu (GBC), Sesa prabhu, Tamohara prabhu, Brahmatirtha prabhu, Anuttama prabhu, Bhakticaru Swami, Gopal Krsna Swami, Kaicandra Swami, Romapad Swami, Yadunandana Swami, Ramai Swami, Bhadrinarayana Swami, Bhaktarupa prabhu, Braja Bihari prabhu, Laxmimoni prabhu, Sivaram Swami, Malati prabhu and Bhaktivikash Swami.
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