NEWS BRIEF - Vote to End Conflict of Interest in GBC -
The Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly (SABHA) voted unanimously to recommend that a permanent policy be created to NOT allow both a guru and their disciple to serve on ISKCON’s Governing Body Committee (GBC) Executive Committee (EC) at the same time, earlier this month. SABHA is a group formed to provide checks and balances on the authority of ISKCON’s GBC, and course correction for its decisions, and was founded in 2017.
The SABHA’s recommendation reads: “A guru and that guru's disciple should not serve on the GBC-EC at the same time. Not only would that look like a conflict of interest, but it would make a vote of the guru and disciple a majority since ‘The only duty of the disciple is the faithful execution of the instruction…received from the spiritual master.’ SB 3.22.7 Purport.
[PADA: Yep, we would not want to have ISKCON "gurus" and especially "their disciples" advising on any official policy in ISKCON, this could create "a conflict of interest" with the goals of ISKCON. Wait? I think the goal of ISKCON is -- to take advice from the guru and his disciples?
We would not want to have anything like that!
So this means, the gurus of ISKCON -- not only do not agree on major policy agendas, they are giving conflicting opinions. There is a conflict of opinion among the guru (residents of Vaikuntha) and therefore -- there is a mundane wrangling going on among them. Except Srila Prabhupada says "guru is one," and they are all united. Where do we find that gurus in Krishna's guru succession are in conflict with one another?
We still find that conflict going on every day. One leader says the followers of Narayan Maharaja are to be banned because they are preaching deviation, while another leader says we should glorify Narayan Maharaja for helping ISKCON.]
"Not only would the perception of the guru and disciple acting independent of each other be difficult to avoid, but, in practice, the disciple could be unconsciously influenced by his philosophical and emotional relationship with his guru.” The SABHA found that there is a quantitative difference between gurus and their disciples serving together within the much larger GBC body. That is the subject of a different analysis which the SABHA will present to the GBC Body in the near future.
[PADA: Wow, these people have been gurus all along since 1978. And yet it is only decades later, in 2021 -- just now -- that they are going to finally start to research how "gurus and their followers" will serve in the capacity of GBC. Wait! There is no such thing as a guru being managed by a GBC. So good luck researching that, it does not exist.]
For more information about the SABHA organization:
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SABHA
(Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly)
1. PURPOSES:
(a) Establishing the Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly, or SABHA,
[PADA: The guru is the successor to God. As such -- the guru gets dictation direct from God. Therefore, he needs to be guided by the SABHA committee, and not God? How can God be replaced by the SABHA committee?]
1 has manifold functions.
It aims at strengthening unity among ISKCON’s global spiritual leaders. It facilitates their cooperation, communication and working relation for the progress of Srila Prabhupada’s movement.
(b) The SABHA provides checks and balances on the authority of the GBC and course correction for its decisions.
[PADA: How can a committee provide checks and balances for the guru successors to Krishna? And moreover, the gurus need "course correction" when they are deviating. None of this is found in the teachings of Srila Prahbupada. Why would we say the residents of Krishna loka are deviants who need correcting by a committee of the material world?]
More consultation, more dialogue and more interaction can be conducive to better, wiser and more acceptable decisions.
[PADA: Well yep, because many of their "guru's" decisions are bogus and wrong. The guru cannot be trusted to make wise decisions. The guru needs to be monitored by a committee?]
There are historical precedents for this approach during Srila Prabhupada’s presence, for example the GBC resolution dated 15 March 1976 states: “Since several resolutions under ‘ISKCON Organization’ passed at the March 9, 9 a.m. meeting, caused a great disturbance among the temple presidents and thus with our spiritual master, the GBC acknowledges that they were mistaken proposals and hereby rejects them.
[PADA: No, these people in 1976 were not being advertised as gurus. The GBC leaders are making blunders, and having fall downs, because they are conditioned souls and not gurus, and we all knew that at the time in 1976 as well.]
This was ordered by Srila Prabhupada, and refers specifically to resolutions 1, 2, 3, and 10.” The next year the GBC formally established a system of review of its decisions by the Temple Presidents: “After the agenda has been completed Temple President’s meeting will be held. If by a 2/3 majority the Presidents vote any suggested amendments to the resolutions or make new resolutions, these will be referred back to the GBC who will meet to vote on them and that decision will be final.
[PADA: Except the post 1978 leaders removed most of these temple presidents, at least in many cases, and replaced them with their own fanatical followers. The temple presidents are also currently mostly getting salaries and so on and so forth, and are thus not independent at present.]
Srila Prabhupada will then review this decisions [sic] for ultimate decision
and/or approval.” (1st March 1977). The SABHA is thus intended to enrich the decision making ability of the GBC by providing variegated viewpoints and deeper insight into the needs and concerns of the various ISKCON constituents.
1 In Sanskrit SABHA means assembly, council, court, conclave, etc.
1 (c) The SABHA also offers the GBC the opportunity to hear from other qualified Vaisnavas and tap their collective wisdom in the spirit recommended by Srila Prabhupada: “if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity."
[PADA: OK but they are unified -- on certain points. For example Jayadivata says that sometimes ISKCON gurus are be found engaged in illicit sex with men, women and maybe children, and evidently the SABHA agrees. I do not see them making any counter point? The GBC buries homosexual pedophiles in samadhi, again -- evidently -- the SABHA is on board. Or what?]
I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful.” (Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 Oct 1973)
[PADA: Except we were all mostly kicked out, banned, removed, exiled, sued and sometimes assassinated for expressing a different opinion. People who agree with the molester messiah's project are welcomed and unified, others, not really.]
(d) The SABHA can also suggest issues to the GBC for discussion or solution. Again, there is precedent for this in Srila Prabhupada’s presence. A GBC resolution dated 7 March 1977 stated: “Concerning topics to be presented each year at the GBC meeting in Mayapur the temple presidents should submit topics to their GBC representative 45-days prior to the meeting, and the GBC representatives will present those topics 30-days before the meeting to the three GBC officers.”
(e) Overall, the SABHA collaboratively works with the GBC by reviewing and proposing legislation and by suggesting topics for discussion with the aim of improving the quality, legitimacy and acceptance of GBC resolutions, priorities and directions. The SABHA adds value to ISKCON’s governance by offering sound sastric advice and by expressing the will of the constituencies they represent. The sacred duty of the SABHA is to, together with the GBC, act as an instrument of the will of the Founder-Acarya.
[PADA: But if the SABHA agrees that gurus are often fallen into illicit sex with men, women and children, then what is their authority?]
(f) The establishment of the SABHA does not replace or substitute the SGGS, the Sanga of GBCs, Gurus & Sannyasis.
[PADA: Another group that allows its members to say gurus are often falling, if not engaged in illicit sex with men, women and children.]
2. REVIEWING GBC RESOLUTIONS:
2 (a) By a two-third majority of all its voting members,
2 the SABHA can formally object to any GBC resolution and send it back to the GBC for review and reconsideration.
(b) The objection shall be communicated to the GBC within 30 days of the passing of the resolution, specifically from the date the GBC shares the resolution with the SABHA.
(c) When mandating a review, the SABHA shall share with the GBC the result of the voting, and include, in writing, their reasoning and their recommendations. When applicable, the dissenting opinion should also be shared, in writing.
(d) Upon the SABHA mandating a review, implementation of the resolution shall be suspended and the GBC shall revisit the resolution at their next meeting, during which they will consider the SABHA’s concerns and recommendations.
(e) The GBC shall determine their next step, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, dialogue with the SABHA to come to a mutually acceptable resolution, pass a modified version, reaffirm the original resolution, etc.
(f) In special circumstances, the GBC will have to make emergency decisions and pass resolutions that need immediate implementation or will have to process matters – such as those of a personal or legal nature – that require a high level of privacy and confidentiality.
In these special cases, the GBC, at its discretion, may decide to render such resolutions immediately effective and/or keep such deliberations as confidential, without sharing them with the SABHA.
3. PROPOSING NEW LEGISLATION:
(a) By the majority of all its voting members,
3 the SABHA can directly propose new legislation or modifications of existing legislation to the GBC – without the requirement of GBCs having to sponsor the proposal.
(b) The SABHA shall submit its proposals in the standard format, at any time, during the year. The GBC shall process the proposal within one (1) year of its submission.
2
3 If the SABHA has 35 members, to mandate a review it would require at least 24 valid cast votes. If the SABHA has 35 members, to propose legislation it would require at least 18 valid votes.
[PADA: Right, ISKCON should have expanded, so there should now be a SABHA of thousands of people, but we are lucky now to find 35 members? Where did everyone go? As one woman told PADA, "their program smells so badly, we all had to run away."]
3 (c) Since the SABHA is neither a legislative nor executive body, it cannot enact or implement any legislation independently.
4. SUGGESTING TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
(a) By the majority of all its voting members,
4 the SABHA can suggest topics for discussion by the GBC. They might include issues in need of being addressed, clarified or resolved.
(b) Topics can be submitted at any time during the year.
(c) The submission should include why the SABHA considers them important and may include recommendations on the desired outcome.
[PADA: Yep, gurus doing the hokey pokey with men, women and children is not an important enough issue to rate a discussion even. We cannot seem to find this issue being discussed, at all -- in this circle.]
(g) The SABHA shall meet in person at least once a year for a minimum of three
(3) full days at a place and time of their choice.
5. PARTICIPATING IN GBC MEETINGS:
(a) In addition to the above functions, three (3) members of the SABHA – chosen by the SABHA – shall be invited to attend the GBC meetings (both the Annual General Meetings and the Midterm General Meetings), as observers.
5 (b) They can contribute to the discussions, but they will not have a vote. They should faithfully represent the collective views and concerns of the SABHA as its spokespersons, staying away from promoting individual opinions not shared by the SABHA. These SABHA representatives shall also share information about the dynamics and deliberations of the GBC meetings with the SABHA.
6. MEMBERSHIP:
6.1 Categories:
(a) The SABHA shall have thirty-five (35) members subdivided in the following categories:
(i) Sannyasis & gurus (12 members);
(ii)
Senior devotees (5 members);
(iii)
Vaishnavis (5 members);
(iv)
Youth (3 members); and
(v)
Area representatives (10 members).
(b) The categories are defined as follows:
(i) Sannyasis & gurus6 (12): All sannyasis and initiating spiritual masters not serving as GBC. It is preferred that among the elected members some variety be present (e.g.: a few grihastha gurus).
(ii) Senior devotees (5): Devotees initiated for at least thirty (30) years.
(iii)
10. FUNDING
Individuals might be elected as representatives of different categories at different times (e.g.: a man elected as ‘senior devotee’ might eventually take sannyasa and later be elected in the category of ‘sannyasis and gurus’).
17 If the SABHA has 35 members, to elect the Chair would require at least 18 valid votes.
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16 (a) As the GBC wishes the SABHA to function effectively, although it is envisioned that in the future the SABHA will make its own arrangements, for the first three (3) years of operations, the GBC will grant US$12,000.00 from its yearly budget to the SABHA.
(b) Accounts shall be submitted on a yearly basis to the GBC treasurer.
11. REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM
The GBC shall, at any time in the future, at its discretion, review and amend the SABHA’s structure and functioning, in consultation with the SGGS and the SABHA, to increase the SABHA’s effectiveness.
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[Dear +++++ Dasi: To start with, I think that a number of victims should gather together (ZOOM meetings) and make a youtube video of their dire experiences, and then name the names of the "seniors" and GBC people who were alerted to exploiting if not criminal behaviors and who did not take appropriate action.
And request help for the next step from law enforcement and / or pro-bono legal experts in the comments section. And send a link to that video to the Florida charity commission and other agencies and ask them how to proceed. To have a charity that claims to represent Krishna, by saying his gurus / successors are often debauchees, deviants, pedophiles, sexual predators etc. is -- charity fraud, right out of the gate.
Krishna never says His gurus and successors are often debauchees. It is charity fraud, hence tax evasion, corrupting the morals of minors and other crimes. And ask for help to investigate and prosecute these matters. And send the link to top officials in Florida, and so on and so forth. Yes, this needs to be investigated, agreed. ys pd]
PADA: Yes, what is better is -- we do not pay attention to what others were doing. And the result is -- devotees have been being banned, beaten, molested, sued and assassinated (left, right and center) with virtually no checks and balances. Then! All of this went into the public news media, TV, police, FBI, SWAT raids on temples, international press, $400,000,000 lawsuits which bankrupts ISKCON etc. etc. etc. ... and makes Krishna's devotees look like acquiescing accomplices to major criminal activity. Not sure why this is "the better plan"? It is better? Yep, it is great, for the crooks, pervs, deviants, and evil doers. ys pd
+++++ Dasi: They have no idea they will have to pay for all the crying and tears, and even deaths they made for others. They are atheists, but Krishna's laws will always catch them.
