Reflections on the Lokanath Swami Case (by Padmapani das)

Reflections on the Lokanath Swami Case

by Padmapani das

Many of you will know me from the Middle East, The Vaishnava Journal, The Prabhupada Connection, and my work on the infamous Mahamantra das abuse case more than 20 years ago.

I joined ISKCON in 1973 straight out of high school at the age of 18. I love ISKCON. I was spiritually born in ISKCON. I met Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON.
When ISKCON was in crisis in the mid-eighties, I started The Vaishnava Journal to help us work through our problems by way of open and respectful dialogue. I still believe in that approach (at least for me personally), and I don’t like fighting and mud-slinging among devotees. That’s not my nature and I’ve chosen to try and spread K.C. in my own humble way over the years and not participate in fratricidal wars.

In addition, I joined Lokanath Swami’s bullock cart program at the Kumbha-mela in Allahabad in 1977. I was probably one of the first (aspiring) devotees from the West who joined that program. I was impressed with Lokanath Swami’s austerities and his attachment to the holy names. Later, Lokanath Swami visited me in Ontario, Canada in 1983 or '84 and we had prasadam together. So there’s no personal animosity here whatsoever. Quite to the contrary.

That being said, I’ve only recently come to know about the Lokanath Swami / Satya dasi episode in detail and have been reading up on it. It’s a tragic story for everyone. There’s no joy in participating in this discussion, but I’m impelled to do so with the hope that I can help to at least present a different perspective for all concerned. Whatever I write is not a personal attack. What’s being presented here goes far beyond this one incident. It’s really about truth, morality and justice. It’s a matter of principle.

For those who remember the Mahamantra das abuse case, you’ll recall how adamant I was that justice must be served at all costs. It took two years to see that case resolved. I personally went to the police, obtained the services of a top domestic abuse lawyer, and got family services involved. The perpetrator was sentenced and jailed and he has a lifelong restraining order from the Supreme Court of Canada for the protection of his former family members. 

Dhira Govinda Prabhu, former director of the CPO, deserves honorable mention for his encouragement and participation in that case.

Under no conditions can I personally tolerate abuse of women and children, and I strongly believe that ISKCON should have zero tolerance for any abuse whatsoever – right across the board. No one should be exempt, period. If this principle was observed in ISKCON, then there would be no need for this discussion. 

It’s black and white. But now we see that some leaders think that they can stretch the rules for their friends and this is where we have to draw the line. That’s unacceptable behavior in a healthy spiritual society and will certainly lead to its downfall. We’re not mundane politicians, or at least we shouldn’t be.

As everyone knows by now (including the public), the unfortunate history of modern day ISKCON is filled with the monstrous horrors of child abuse which is 100% contrary to the wishes of our Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada.

[PADA: Rather amazing is that when I was early on reporting child abuse and other crimes to the GBC ilk folks, starting maybe around 1979 - 1980, the response I often heard was "well prabhu, if there is a problem, then go and take this to the courts." 

OK fine, we did later on help the child abuse victims with a $400,000,000 court case. Then, some of these same people began to say "Oh no, why did you go to the courts and not settle this internally"? I dunno, maybe because GBC goondas were always banning me, chasing me with baseball bats, killing my associates and threatening to kill me? Heh heh heh, might explain my reluctance to "work with them."]

"These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 30, 1972)

But it now seems that we've hit an all-time low. The GBC is now authorizing "gurus" who molest little children, and not only that, they're manufacturing fake investigations to cover for their friends in high places at the expense of ruining the lives of Prabhupada's beloved children and their families, what to speak of the reputation of Srila Prabhupada and his International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

[PADA: Right, the main complaint now about the Lokanath expose is "it is upsetting Lokanath disciples and our supporters in India." Yep, they seem to be worried they will lose donations $$$, and they are not too worried about the suffering of victims -- at least evidently. 

It does seem like India is their last ditch, last stand effort, where they are circling the wagons to make one last vociferous defense for their pedophile's guru process. It is not really going to work in the long run, there are simply too many opponents to their pedophile guru process at this stage, their boat simply has too many leaks in it. 

As Srila Prabhupada says, even the greatest King can be worn down in defeat by constant criticism, just like a heavy rock is gradually worn down by drops of water over time. There are only so many efforts that can be made to control this criticism, and then it is too late, it is out of the bag.]

You don't believe me? Then take a look at the following collection of files catching some members of the GBC red-handed in their elaborate cover-up of the facts regarding the sexual molestation of an 11 year-old girl named Satya dasi by Lokanath Swami in 1990.

https://satyavrata.wixsite.com/lokanathswami

GBC Report (1997): "In 1990 while staying at the house of a family for a few days Lokanath Swami (Swami x) touched a young pre-adolescent girl in an inappropriate way by putting his hand on her lap. He was sitting next to her on a couch in a families living room, both were holding the Krishna Book in their hands, the hand holding the book (the back of the hand) rested on her lap as he read the Krishna Book. The hand did not move.

In 1993 when the GBC chairman became aware of the incident and appointed a committee to deal with the issue, Swami x was also told to stop all initiations. The committee conducted a thorough investigation, which included bringing a team of professional experts in New York and involving Mother Yasoda. 

The cost of the experts exceeded $2,500 for a four day intensive assessment. The experts made an in depth examination Swami x after which they concluded that this unfortunate incident had occurred because of the Swami x's complete lack of prior experience on the matter of dealing with women. Having learned his lesson (the need to follow the proper social conduct for a sannyasi) they were confident that this incident would not reoccur. They also stated that he had the proper nature of a spiritual leader and should be allowed to continue in this role within our society."

[PADA: Ok so the guru is Krishna's successor, he is a resident of Vaikuntha, therefore he needs to be examined by a child molesting expert? Does this make any sense at all boys and girls? And why doesn't Basu Ghosh and his India ICC know that acharyas are not falling into these deviations -- from square one -- and we have to tell the ICC India Board that this is not the activity of the acharyas.]

Let's hear from Satya dasi herself.

Satya dasi: "I am the girl that Lokanatha touched inappropriately. It did NOT just happen one time in the living room, on the sofa, but rather throughout the week that he stayed he touched me various times inappropriately. I am surprised now (at age 32) that that NASTY, VILE PEDOPHILE did not try to rape me.

He took my innocent father's words of 'she is growing up here in America, why don't you teach her some more Indian culture' and turned into his way of taking advantage of me."

So let’s be clear. Lokanath broke his leg while on Padayatra in 1990. Out of the goodness of their hearts, a pious Indian family invites Lokanath to convalesce in their home. They're thrilled to have the rare opportunity of directly serving a renowned sannyasi in Srila Prabhupada's movement. The father is especially happy that his young daughter, Satya, will receive valuable spiritual instructions and wisdom from Lokanath. 

But while Satya's mother is cooking in the kitchen, Lokanath is in another room molesting her daughter. In a letter to one of his disciples on June 16, 2017, Lokanath refers to this incident as "a minor mishap."

This is the reason that I’m speaking publicly now and not writing a private letter to Lokanath. There’s no remorse in those words (“a minor mishap”). Not only that, but Lokanath has chosen to go along with the cover-up for some 30 years. Satya and her family are still suffering while Lokanath is accepting worship. I’m sorry, but devotees should have a conscience – especially so-called advanced devotees.

Interviewer: How would I recognize a true follower of the Krishna consciousness movement by his behavior? What would his traits be? What would his outward expressions be?

Srila Prabhupada: He will be a very perfect gentleman, that's all. You could not find any fault in him.

(Srila Prabhupada Interview, Gainesville, July 29, 1971)

"It is a gentleman’s greatest duty to be compassionate upon a person who is distressed."

(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27.26)

So let’s hear some more from the distressed victim herself.

Satya dasi: "The next day, he (Lokanath) called me in the living room, and asked me to bring the Krsna book and read it to him. He had me sit RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, leaving no space between us. He PLACED HIS HANDS ON MY CROTCH, NOT ON MY LAP, and said I am keeping the book from touching you there, so just keep reading. 

"He kept his hand there, and any time my mother would walk by the room, he would QUICKLY REMOVE HIS HAND AND PLACE IT ABOVE MY HEAD (around me). He did this several times throughout the course of an hour, and after that sick feeling inside me became the most prominent thing for me, I told him I was tired, and I left the room."

And now from Satya’s mother.

Satya dasi's mother (1993): "She tells me, 'Mommy, I don’t want to read with Maharaja's Bhagavd-gita because he is touching my secret part. He is keeping his hand is there and I feel really bad. So I said, 'No, I don’t think you are telling truth.' She said, 'No, I’m not going. If you tell me to go read with him I'm not going.' And she was crying and she told me, 'I feel so bad.' Maharaja, I had the respect for him, and since I heard from her I lose respect to him."

It seems that the GBC – or some influential members of the GBC – agreed with Lokanath’s assessment that this incident was "a minor mishap" and a massive cover-up ensued to portray Lokanath as the poor victim instead of trying to help Satya dasi and her family heal from this despicable crime. 

[PADA: The GBC covered up for Jayatirtha right out of the gate, and covered up for many others subsequently.] 

The following description clearly reveals how the facts were twisted in favor of the perpetrator.

GBC Public Account of Incident (1999): "Although the girl was young, she had begun the transition to womanhood, and Lokanath Swami did not sexually relate to her presence as that of a child… Lokanath Swami had been brought up in a way that kept him entirely innocent of the experience of sexuality… some sexual feelings unexpectedly arose, but these feelings were new to him, and he did not know exactly how to acknowledge them or cope with them … 

Certain circumstances conspired to disassociate Lokanath Swami from his usual sense of himself and his normal behavior and to make him unusually vulnerable. First, his leg was broken, a serious disability for one's whose main service and raison d'être was Padayatra, walking. A broken leg, an overlong stay in a householder's dwelling, the obligation to the father to have dealings with the girl, and so on, all of which together operated to put Lokanath Swami in a vulnerable state. 

Lokanath Swami's own inexperienced condition, his unusual sexual innocence or naivete, meant that at the age of forty Lokanath Swami was suddenly ambushed by feeling he had never dealt with before … the GBC could recognize the truth of the psychologists' assessment that Lokanath Swami was eminently suited to his role as a spiritual leader and guide, and that not allowing him to act in that capacity would be utterly devastating to his personal identity, his sense of himself."

Investigating this case is like peeling an onion – more and more layers of deception are exposed.

Yasoda (lead investigator for the GBC, 1999): "The report is inaccurate in two areas. If I recall it correctly, when she played the harmonium he caressed her thigh. He moved close to her on the couch when no one was there and pulled away when someone entered. His hand did not brush against her thigh while reading Krishna book...it was on top of her genitals and I think he pressed down. The girl felt so violated because it was her vagina and also because he pulled away when someone entered and resumed when they were gone. This made her feel dirtier."

Tamohara (former CPO director, 2010): "While the official GBC report is technically correct, its careful wording tends to cast the incidents into a more favorable light. There are at least three specific instances where the wording of report underplays and minimizes the severity of the transgressions.

1) The report says, 'Sometimes he would praise her by patting her and saying "Very good." '

- The reality reported by the girl was that he rubbed her thigh.

2) The report says, 'he said "Go and take your shower!" and swatted her with his 

hand.'

- The report does not specifically mention that the swat was on her rear end.

3) The report says, 'Lokanath Swami's hand touched and moved across the girl's upper thigh over her clothing.'

- What actually happened was that his hand was resting for some time (possibly up to a half hour) on her 'private parts.' "

OK, enough of the sordid details. You can read more for yourself in the above mentioned link.

My question is, when are the GBC ever going to come clean and do the right thing regarding child abuse in ISKCON? When are they ever going to stop covering up for their friends at the expense of justice for the victims? When are they going to follow the rules?

We've already lost so many beautiful souls – the gurukulis – Prabhupada’s hope for the future of this movement and for the world. Where are those children now? Why have so many committed suicide? Why do so many former gurukulis hate Krishna consciousness when they should be happily chanting Hare Krishna in the association of devotees and putting an end to their material existence, as Prabhupada wanted? Does the GBC care about them?

[PADA: That is why there are many historical statements -- where a society that destroys its children -- destroys the entire society. It is like stepping on new seedlings and killing them just after they were planted, that destroys the whole farm.] 

Enough is enough. 

It's long past due that we kick out the corruption at the top levels of our movement. Everyone is suffering for it. The GBC have proven again and again that they're unable to police themselves. They've shown wanton disregard for women and children practically since the time the GBC was first formed in 1970. Their conduct has been dishonorable, unbefitting their position in our society.

Dhira Govinda (Director of the Child Protection Office 1998-2004): "When I served as CPO director, the GBC gave specific instructions for the CPO to not address the case of Lokanatha Maharaja. The dealings of ISKCON leadership around the case of Lokanatha Maharaja was filled with concealment, deception, inconsistencies, and lack of accountability."

This case is the straw that broke the camel's back. It's not going to go away and it can't be swept under the rug any longer. The worldwide community of devotees is watching this case, and so is the public. When the people no longer trust their leaders, the society is finished. Hardly anyone wants to live in ISKCON anymore. Mothers are afraid for the safety of their children in Prabhupada's temples. How sad is that?

[PADA: Yes, well this has been going on for decades, the women, children and vulnerable elders have been victimized -- and that is one reason the temples are like ghost towns. Oddly, it was Lokanath swami himself who said in 1988, the ISKCON temples are like empty ghost towns. Where did all the devotees go? One ex-samkirtan lady here told me some years ago, "I don't go to ISKCON's temples anymore. If I want to be depressed -- I will watch a horror movie on TV."]

When Srila Prabhupada discovered deviations in the GBC, he wasn't afraid to disband it.

"What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 11, 1972)

I would like to remind the GBC that this is not their movement. It's Prabhupada's movement. Srila Prabhupada worked very hard to create ISKCON, as we all know, and he was deeply concerned for its future.

"We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 1, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada kindly blessed the GBC with temporary stewardship of his society which includes many benefits, but if they're negligent in their duties and offend the Vaishnavas then there are grave consequences.

"Therefore we have created these GBC. So they should be very responsible men. Otherwise, they will be punished. They will be punished to become a sudra. Although Yamaraja is a GBC, but he made a little mistake. He was punished to become a sudra. So those who are GBC's, they should be very, very careful to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise they will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly, the punishment is also very great."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Geneva, June 4, 1974)

Please watch the following video of two courageous Vaishnavis, Saraswati and Krsna-devata, who offer some practical solutions to help put a stop to the institutionalization of child abuse in our society once and for all. These devotees should be admired and respected for their bravery and for their love of Srila Prabhupada's movement. 

Even if you disagree with them, please remember that these young ladies are mothers. They’re speaking out on behalf of Satya and for all of our children. Srila Prabhupada said that child worship is more important than Deity worship. I, for one, admire these young Vaishnavis and their bravery in speaking truth to power. They give me hope for the future of our movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiLYMxNu0nQ

In particular, these devotees are asking for the Lokanath case to be investigated by the trained CPO for "due process" without hindrance or interference from the GBC. The CPO must be free to adjudicate every abuse case independently, and no one should be exempt from child protection guidelines regardless of their position in ISKCON. I fully support their position and cause.

In addition, I personally recommend that in extreme cases of abuse where life and limb are endangered, devotees should immediately go to the police and press charges.

I would also like to see a review of sannyasa standards in ISKCON. It's a privilege to wear saffron, granted only to the pure at heart. And for goodness sake, it should go without saying that if a so-called "guru" molests an innocent child, they should never be allowed to sit on a high seat and be worshiped.

"No one should be allowed to sit on the vyāsāsana who is not spotless in character..."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.6, Purport)

As for Satya dasi and her family, I think they should be financially compensated for the decades of suffering they've had to endure because of this repugnant episode in their lives. They’re still suffering. What is the GBC going to do about it? What is Lokanath going to do about it? Ignore them? Sorry, but it’s too late. The cat’s out of the bag. The world is watching.

Satya dasi: "We were promised that Lokanatha would be punished. He was NOT.
OUR SILENCE WAS OUR MISTAKE -- OUR SILENCE WAS WHAT ALLOWED HIM TO SLIDE BACK into NORMALCY, GOING UNNOTICED FOR HIS CRIMES that are DUE FOR PUNISHMENT.

HOW DARE HE. AND HOW DARE THE GBC. THEY WILL ALL HAVE TO PAY."

It seems to me that ISKCON leaders should be educated in the long-term negative effects of child abuse, including child sexual abuse. Why are sannyasis dealing with this matter anyway? Many of them have never had children. The GBC should forward all child abuse cases to the CPO and stay out of the way. There must be transparency and accountability from the GBC, especially on such an important issue. The CPO needs to be made completely independent and autonomous from the GBC.

If the GBC can't fulfill their mandate and protect the devotees – and especially the children – from abuse in Prabhupada's own movement, then it's time for them to retire and let someone more qualified and honest do the job.

Srila Prabhupada wanted this movement to save the world, and unfortunately, it seems that the GBC is the greatest impediment to realizing Prabhupada's glorious vision. Let's hope that will soon change.

[PADA: Enough is enough, and it was already enough for a number of victims who committed suicide. I hope that more devotees will start to put their foot down on these leaders and get some form of accountability going on here. Failing that, they need to be exposed and repeatedly, as not representing Krishna. ys pd]