Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS)
This May 27–31, 2026, ISKCON North America will host the Spiritual Leadership Seminar: Being Guru in ISKCON for the first time on the continent. The seminar offers a valuable opportunity for devotees engaged in spiritual leadership and outreach to gain deeper insight, meaningful association, and inspiration through the guidance of senior Vaiṣṇava teachers. The seminar will be led by Anuttama Dasa, in coordination with Mahatma Dasa.
ONE OF THE BIHS CONTRIBUTORS
From Henry Doktorski
I had a question as I was reading the last chapter of Killing for Krishna. Please tell whether there is any proof that Radhanath, Janmastami, and other members were subpoenaed in 1993. Because Kirtanananda, if I am right, had successfully appealed against the judgment of the first trial that concluded in 1991.
Devotee in Kolkata (Name deleted by request)
Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath and Paramahansa - Krishna Swami and Bhakti - Rasa Swami were subpoenaed in Spring of 1993, Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath were asked to talk about the Sulochan murder charges, and PK Swami and Bhakti-Rasa on copyright issues. PK was director of Palace Publishing. At this time Bhaktipada had not yet won his appeal, but even if he had, there is no reason why the prosecutors would not continue their investigation, as they thought if Bhaktipada won his appeal, they would charge him again and try him again in court, which they did in April 1996.
Regarding Radhanath Swami and his father, we do not know what influence Gerald Slavin had / has on Federal Law Enforcement or Investigative agencies. We know, as stated in Radhanath Swami’s autobiography, that Gerald Slavin had become quite wealthy since the 1970s. Wealthy people often contribute generously to political campaigns, such as elections for judges, police chiefs, district attorneys, governors, Congressmen, etc. Wealthy people often have strong connections with political leaders.
Some claim that the father of Sri-Galim (Gary Gardner), a wealthy Texas cattle rancher, sold 100 head of cattle to pay off the West Virginia District Attorney who was in charge of the child sexual molestation case of Sri-Galim to convince him to drop the charges. Mother Kanka, whose son was molested by Sri-Galim, had several boys, including her son, ready to testify at trial that Sri-Galim had sexually abused the boys. However, suddenly and without warning, the charges were dropped. Very strange, in my opinion. Wealth certainly has a great influence on justice in the United States.
Lately it has come to my attention that Radhanath Swami may still be involved with a government agency, perhaps the CIA, as an informant within ISKCON. It is certainly possible, that the United States government in 1993 wanted a spy with a very high position at New Vrindaban, and they may have promised Radhanath Swami that any information incriminating him in the murder of Sulochan, or other crimes at New Vrindaban, would not be used against him, if he became a government informant, as Randall Gorby earlier had been.
Undoubtedly, as he was implicated up to his neck in the plot (to kill Sulochan), as revealed in Killing For Krishna, Radhanath Swami would have jumped at the opportunity to save his neck. A year later, when he rejoined ISKCON as an initiating guru and GBC member, he undoubtedly became much more valuable as a government informant highly planted in ISKCON.
We do not know any of this, but recent events, including a government agent familiar with the New Vrindaban case, has recently approached one of the devotees who participated in the murder plot, and strongly suggested that he keep his nose out of business which the United States government does not want anyone to know about. This devotee has decided to “retire” from his efforts to convince Radhanath Swami to confess his involvement in the murder as he knows he has absolutely no power against the vast wealth of the United States government.
Only in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman are the jiva souls known as tatastha sakti.
PADA: Right, so when the GBC program bans, beats, molests, sues and kills people like Sulochana, that is exactly where the victims "are supposed to be." WE are supposed to make YOU suffer, and you have to take it -- without complaints! I forgot, complaining simply makes you a bigger target. Sulochana is "supposed to be" -- dead? Honestly pilgrims!
Bottom line: a (gurukuli) child who was starved, beaten, molested, and maybe had to endure "anal reconstructive surgery" was "supposed to be treated that way" by the Mahatma / GBC's guru process. And a number of those ex-child victims are still suffering the results even as adults.
Some of them ended their lives due to all the trauma. And their suffering was all pre-planned and pre-intended and "was supposed to be." Because it was their karma? And making other's suffering is intended and supposed to happen -- by whose authority?
OK "it is your karma" to be banned, beaten, molested, sued and killed. And we GBC gurus are your karma masters. So WE have the karma of making a program of dishing out karma and victimizing others. Like you guys, suckers!
This is another version of the Jayadvaita's idea. The people who are victims of their bad gurus "made the wrong choice of guru." So when a five years old child is beaten, or maybe worse, that is because the five years old children "made the wrong choice of guru." WTF?
Sorry, the persons selecting the gurus for ISKCON are the GBC, not the victims, certainly not the five years olds. This is called victim blaming. Jayadvaita also told me selecting a guru in ISKCON is like buying a used car, there is no guarantee.
So Krishna's gurus and His parampara are "like buying a used car"? The good news is at least they tell us in advance -- their gurus are prone to illicit sex with men, women and maybe kids. OK not a good place to find a guru, which is why their temples are empty.
But how can a five years old child be in charge of ISKCON's guru selection process, and he gets blamed when the selection is faulty? Victim blaming. You guys are suffering from our program, which is what you are supposed to have happen to you. We make you suffer, because we are "supposed to make you suffer." We are the authorized boss of karma, you are not! We make you suffer, now your job is to suck it up and accept your suffering as "supposed to happen."
There are also probably hundreds of ex-ISKCON gurukula kids living in California and the West Coast -- who avoid ISKCON, some of them hate and detest ISKCON, some of them eat meat, and some of them think the Krishna movement is a Satanic child sacrificing cult. And all that odious result is just what was "supposed to be" as the victims soured and destroyed idea of Krishna and His religion. Why is it that people are "supposed" to be thinking the Krishna religion is a Satanic cult? That is what was supposed to happen?
Wowsers pilgrims. Yeah, think about it! Thinking ISKCON is a Satanic cult is fine, it is exactly the perception that it is "supposed to be." OK so when we say ISKCON is a homosexual and pedophile messiah's club, that is fine, it is the description that Krishna's religion is "supposed" to have. Where is this stated by Srila Prabhupada or Krishna?
Yup! Making the nomenclature for ISKCON as the homosexual and pedophile messiah's club is supposed to happen and is "supposed to be." Who made all this "supposed to happen" -- happen? I think more than a few people would say Kali Yuga made all this happen and it is NOT what Krishna wanted to have happen.
Traditionally held in Mayapur during Gaura Purnima, this five-day in-person seminar will take place at the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) in Gainesville, Florida. Its availability in North America makes this training more accessible to those serving in guiding roles across the region.
PADA: Right, traditionally we hold our guru wanna be classes in Mayapur, head quarters of the Jayapataka / Bhavananda homosexual and pedophile gurukula problem, also known as Auschwitz for kids by some of the victims. But now we are holding these same seminars with the supporters, defenders and enablers of Mayapur. So the chief architect defenders and supporters of the Mayapur Auschwitz for kids projects are now going to rubber stamp -- more defenders and supporters of same?
The registration cost is $290, which includes prasadam, seminar materials, and shared seminar expenses.
PADA: Wow, I can become another Jesus for only $290! What a bargain price. I would have thought getting to have the same status as Jesus would cost billions, or trillions, therefore only $290 is a fair deal! Sign me up! Wait, what, I almost forgot, Mahatma is the person issuing the "you are the new Jesus" certificates. It might not pass muster at the pearly gates.
PADA: Right, traditionally we hold our guru wanna be classes in Mayapur, head quarters of the Jayapataka / Bhavananda homosexual and pedophile gurukula problem, also known as Auschwitz for kids by some of the victims. But now we are holding these same seminars with the supporters, defenders and enablers of Mayapur. So the chief architect defenders and supporters of the Mayapur Auschwitz for kids projects are now going to rubber stamp -- more defenders and supporters of same?
The registration cost is $290, which includes prasadam, seminar materials, and shared seminar expenses.
PADA: Wow, I can become another Jesus for only $290! What a bargain price. I would have thought getting to have the same status as Jesus would cost billions, or trillions, therefore only $290 is a fair deal! Sign me up! Wait, what, I almost forgot, Mahatma is the person issuing the "you are the new Jesus" certificates. It might not pass muster at the pearly gates.
The seminar is designed for experienced devotees involved in spiritual leadership, outreach, and congregational development. It brings together senior Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis in a setting that encourages thoughtful discussion, reflection, and shared learning. Through this association and mentorship, participants have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and refine how they guide, support, and care for others in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, drawing on both śāstra and lived experience.
Participants will explore a range of important topics related to spiritual leadership and pastoral care, including principles of effective spiritual leadership, personal spiritual well-being, and the role and identity of the guru within ISKCON.
Participants will explore a range of important topics related to spiritual leadership and pastoral care, including principles of effective spiritual leadership, personal spiritual well-being, and the role and identity of the guru within ISKCON.
PADA: The role and identity of a guru in ISKCON is -- for most of them -- they fell down, got sick from taking karma, blooped, made big scandals, and people like Giriraj, Trivrikrama and others decided to have affairs with female disciples when they were older than gran-pappy Moses. OK more scandals on top of more scandals.
The seminar will also examine the guru–disciple relationship and discuss healthy dynamics between spiritual leaders and the broader ISKCON structure, encouraging thoughtful reflection and practical application in service and community life.
This yearly seminar was organized by the GBC Guru Services Committee, with direct input from senior leaders including Bhakti Charu Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Radhanatha Swami, Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, and other senior devotees and educators.
PADA: Oh swell the Mayapur Auschwitz for kid's program's cheer leaders.
The seminar is highly interactive, creating space for meaningful exchange and allowing participants to grow through dialogue, reflection, and shared realizations among peers engaged in similar service.
In the context of the 3/35 Initiative—aiming to engage 3% of North America in Krishna consciousness by 2035—there is a growing need for experienced, spiritually grounded leadership to guide and care for existing communities, while also cultivating steady growth that genuinely connects with local populations and people from diverse backgrounds.
PADA: Spiritually grounded people do not support an illicit sex with men, women and children messiah's project, and they never will.
Many senior devotees carry years of dedicated service and valuable realization, and this seminar connects them with other senior Vaisnavas in meaningful sanga. The building of kinship and community among senior Vaisnava leaders strengthens their ability to navigate the responsibilities of spiritual leadership and to guide and support others.
Scholarships Available
While the seminar’s presence in North America removes the barrier of international travel, financial limitations still prevent some qualified devotees from attending due to the costs of travel and course registration fees (which help cover the costs of hosting the seminar and providing prasadam for all attendees).
As many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and senior devotees enter later stages of life, those who have dedicated themselves to preaching and service have not always had the opportunity to build financial security, making it difficult for some to participate without support.
Reflecting on his own experience attending the seminar in Mayapur, Swami B. A. Ashram shared: “I took the Spiritual Leadership course in Mayapur, and I’m grateful to the Guru Services Committee for developing and presenting the course. I found the association among fellow participants and seminar presenters a highlight. The company of so many dedicated devotees provided for many frank, lively discussions, helping us make better-informed decisions about how we might serve the broader society of devotees.
“However, not all of us considering this service can afford the travel, lodging, and fees associated with the course. I believe anyone who has the means to help by sponsoring scholarships would find this a satisfying way to participate in the growth of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
To support wider participation, a scholarship fund has been established to assist those eager to attend but who require financial assistance. This initiative helps ensure that qualified and dedicated devotees are able to attend, regardless of financial circumstances. To make a donation, click here.
By helping devotees attend, supporters help strengthen leaders who are better equipped to guide, support, and care for others. In this way, each contribution helps strengthen the quality of leadership and care within ISKCON communities for years to come.
The seminar is open to ISKCON gurus (diksa and siksa), sannyasis, regional directors, temple presidents, and other senior leaders and teachers (both Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis) with at least ten years of active service in ISKCON.
As per ISKCON Law, it is required for those preparing to serve as diksa-guru, and is highly recommended for those engaged in guiding and supporting others. Those who are able are warmly encouraged to consider supporting this effort, and to encourage qualified senior devotees who may benefit from this training and saṅga to attend.
Devotees who have been actively engaged in outreach and spiritual guidance for over ten years are invited to attend. For registration and inquiries, please email here.
“Simply, you have to become sincere to Krsna, and you learn Krsna through His representative. You become sincere to the representative of Krsna and Krsna, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [SU 6.23], then you are spiritual master. It is not very difficult. And become, every one of you, become spiritual master and preach this gospel of Bhagavad-gita as it is, then the world will be saved.” — Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Vrindavan, February 12, 1974
Abhaktisastri Victorino
Why is Hridayananda teaching if he wrote an essay against Srila Prabhupada's teachings called 'Vaisnava Moral Theology and Homosexuality'? Honest question.
PADA: Oh swell the Mayapur Auschwitz for kid's program's cheer leaders.
The seminar is highly interactive, creating space for meaningful exchange and allowing participants to grow through dialogue, reflection, and shared realizations among peers engaged in similar service.
In the context of the 3/35 Initiative—aiming to engage 3% of North America in Krishna consciousness by 2035—there is a growing need for experienced, spiritually grounded leadership to guide and care for existing communities, while also cultivating steady growth that genuinely connects with local populations and people from diverse backgrounds.
PADA: Spiritually grounded people do not support an illicit sex with men, women and children messiah's project, and they never will.
Many senior devotees carry years of dedicated service and valuable realization, and this seminar connects them with other senior Vaisnavas in meaningful sanga. The building of kinship and community among senior Vaisnava leaders strengthens their ability to navigate the responsibilities of spiritual leadership and to guide and support others.
Scholarships Available
While the seminar’s presence in North America removes the barrier of international travel, financial limitations still prevent some qualified devotees from attending due to the costs of travel and course registration fees (which help cover the costs of hosting the seminar and providing prasadam for all attendees).
As many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and senior devotees enter later stages of life, those who have dedicated themselves to preaching and service have not always had the opportunity to build financial security, making it difficult for some to participate without support.
Reflecting on his own experience attending the seminar in Mayapur, Swami B. A. Ashram shared: “I took the Spiritual Leadership course in Mayapur, and I’m grateful to the Guru Services Committee for developing and presenting the course. I found the association among fellow participants and seminar presenters a highlight. The company of so many dedicated devotees provided for many frank, lively discussions, helping us make better-informed decisions about how we might serve the broader society of devotees.
“However, not all of us considering this service can afford the travel, lodging, and fees associated with the course. I believe anyone who has the means to help by sponsoring scholarships would find this a satisfying way to participate in the growth of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
To support wider participation, a scholarship fund has been established to assist those eager to attend but who require financial assistance. This initiative helps ensure that qualified and dedicated devotees are able to attend, regardless of financial circumstances. To make a donation, click here.
By helping devotees attend, supporters help strengthen leaders who are better equipped to guide, support, and care for others. In this way, each contribution helps strengthen the quality of leadership and care within ISKCON communities for years to come.
The seminar is open to ISKCON gurus (diksa and siksa), sannyasis, regional directors, temple presidents, and other senior leaders and teachers (both Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis) with at least ten years of active service in ISKCON.
As per ISKCON Law, it is required for those preparing to serve as diksa-guru, and is highly recommended for those engaged in guiding and supporting others. Those who are able are warmly encouraged to consider supporting this effort, and to encourage qualified senior devotees who may benefit from this training and saṅga to attend.
Devotees who have been actively engaged in outreach and spiritual guidance for over ten years are invited to attend. For registration and inquiries, please email here.
“Simply, you have to become sincere to Krsna, and you learn Krsna through His representative. You become sincere to the representative of Krsna and Krsna, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [SU 6.23], then you are spiritual master. It is not very difficult. And become, every one of you, become spiritual master and preach this gospel of Bhagavad-gita as it is, then the world will be saved.” — Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Vrindavan, February 12, 1974
Abhaktisastri Victorino
Why is Hridayananda teaching if he wrote an essay against Srila Prabhupada's teachings called 'Vaisnava Moral Theology and Homosexuality'? Honest question.
PADA: Yep, as soon as you become a member of the illicit sex with men, women and children messiah's club, you are Krishna's representative. Where does Krishna say that? Anyway, to become a member of the illicit sex with men, women and children messiahs club, that bans, beats, molests, sues and kills Vaishnavasa, only costs $290!
That is the bargain price to head to Beelzebub's kingdom in Hades. Yep, you were banned, beaten, molested, sued and killed, as was supposed happen! Because we GBC, and Krishna, are masters of your karma and destiny. We are the master Gods of your karma, because we are the same authority as God. And for only $290 you too can become equal to God, shaksat hari no less. Who knew!
"Being a guru" is now like "being a plumber." You get your guru certificate and voila, you are now God's shaksat hari successor. And you take a plumber's course, get your toilet plunger and drain cleaner tools, get a certificate, and you are a plumber! Except, a plumber is not going to create a mass of banning, beating, molesting, lawsuits and murders, because he knows how to behave better than these messiahs.
ys pd angel108b@yahoo.com
ONE OF THE BIHS CONTRIBUTORS
From Henry Doktorski
Hello, Henry-ji.
I had a question as I was reading the last chapter of Killing for Krishna. Please tell whether there is any proof that Radhanath, Janmastami, and other members were subpoenaed in 1993. Because Kirtanananda, if I am right, had successfully appealed against the judgment of the first trial that concluded in 1991.
Why were they subpoenaed? Please tell in some detail about how Radhanath Swami’s father was able to protect him from the government? He was not a big man! There was no evidence that Radhanath was involved in the plot at that time. There was no witness who would testify against him. So why would he take the help of his father in the first place.
Devotee in Kolkata (Name deleted by request)
Author’s reply: Thank you for your inquiry, Sir. Very soon after Bhaktipada was convicted on Good Friday, 1991, he made a motion to appeal his case. If the motion was approved by the judge, the prosecutors knew if he won his appeal that they would have to try him again in court. As it was, Alan Dershowitz, whom Bhaktipada hired in May 1991, won Bhaktipada’s appeal two years later, on July 1, 1993, as explained in Killing For Krishna.
Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath and Paramahansa - Krishna Swami and Bhakti - Rasa Swami were subpoenaed in Spring of 1993, Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath were asked to talk about the Sulochan murder charges, and PK Swami and Bhakti-Rasa on copyright issues. PK was director of Palace Publishing. At this time Bhaktipada had not yet won his appeal, but even if he had, there is no reason why the prosecutors would not continue their investigation, as they thought if Bhaktipada won his appeal, they would charge him again and try him again in court, which they did in April 1996.
Regarding Radhanath Swami and his father, we do not know what influence Gerald Slavin had / has on Federal Law Enforcement or Investigative agencies. We know, as stated in Radhanath Swami’s autobiography, that Gerald Slavin had become quite wealthy since the 1970s. Wealthy people often contribute generously to political campaigns, such as elections for judges, police chiefs, district attorneys, governors, Congressmen, etc. Wealthy people often have strong connections with political leaders.
Some claim that the father of Sri-Galim (Gary Gardner), a wealthy Texas cattle rancher, sold 100 head of cattle to pay off the West Virginia District Attorney who was in charge of the child sexual molestation case of Sri-Galim to convince him to drop the charges. Mother Kanka, whose son was molested by Sri-Galim, had several boys, including her son, ready to testify at trial that Sri-Galim had sexually abused the boys. However, suddenly and without warning, the charges were dropped. Very strange, in my opinion. Wealth certainly has a great influence on justice in the United States.
Lately it has come to my attention that Radhanath Swami may still be involved with a government agency, perhaps the CIA, as an informant within ISKCON. It is certainly possible, that the United States government in 1993 wanted a spy with a very high position at New Vrindaban, and they may have promised Radhanath Swami that any information incriminating him in the murder of Sulochan, or other crimes at New Vrindaban, would not be used against him, if he became a government informant, as Randall Gorby earlier had been.
Undoubtedly, as he was implicated up to his neck in the plot (to kill Sulochan), as revealed in Killing For Krishna, Radhanath Swami would have jumped at the opportunity to save his neck. A year later, when he rejoined ISKCON as an initiating guru and GBC member, he undoubtedly became much more valuable as a government informant highly planted in ISKCON.
We do not know any of this, but recent events, including a government agent familiar with the New Vrindaban case, has recently approached one of the devotees who participated in the murder plot, and strongly suggested that he keep his nose out of business which the United States government does not want anyone to know about. This devotee has decided to “retire” from his efforts to convince Radhanath Swami to confess his involvement in the murder as he knows he has absolutely no power against the vast wealth of the United States government.
He does not want to end up as Randall Gorby, another government informant, ended up: dead. It was officially ruled a suicide, but under extremely suspicious circumstances.
Perhaps Radhanath Swami also fears the United States government. If he is and has been an informant for the last 27 years, he has undoubtedly contributed much information about criminal activities which may be still going on in ISKCON. Maybe he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If he confesses that he helped in the conspiracy to murder Sulochan, he would certainly lose his favored informant status, and might expect an assassination attempt, similar perhaps to what happened to Gorby.
We can only pray for Radhanath Swami’s deliverance. When I last saw him, he appeared to be in great anxiety, and I expect he is still in anxiety today. Certainly the actual facts regarding the story of the murder of Sulochan are difficult to discern, and it is likely, in my opinion, that Radhanath, Kuladri, and others in ISKCON and the government will take these secrets with them to their graves.
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TATASTHA SHAKTI
Only in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman are the jiva souls known as tatastha sakti.
The jiva soul's do NOT originate from the marginal plane because they ARE the marginal plane that has ALWAYS existed.
No jiva soul originates from a dormant inactive impersonal condition some call Tatastha-sakti either as some teach, their impersonal understanding is NOT the real meaning of Tatastha-sakti.
Srila Prabhupada – "Those who are in the dormant brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness". (Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)
Therefore no jiva soul literally originates from Tatastha-sakti (the marginal plane) because it is NOT a place, it is what the jiva tattva souls are known as eternally without beginning or end, "the marginal living entities".
Therefore no jiva soul literally originates from Tatastha-sakti (the marginal plane) because it is NOT a place, it is what the jiva tattva souls are known as eternally without beginning or end, "the marginal living entities".
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We are winning! Again!
Winning what?
