Let's just try what Srila Prabhupada has given us. He gave us the Direction of Management, and he gave us a system of initiation to keep this mission whole.

What do we have to lose (by following Srila Prabhupada's instructions)?

Dear Hansadutta das Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! I am very grateful to you for your informative and inspirational web page "The Bhaktivedantas". I frequent it regularly now, as I have a thirst for understanding the many issues facing ISKCON and the society of devotees today. It appears at times that this once great movement of Srila Prabhupada's is facing extinction. It is only the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, the most munificent incarnation, that is allowing it to continue in spite of so many grievous wrongs, and countless disobediences against the Pure Devotee, Srila Prabhupada.

I just had the good fortune to read "The Constitution of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness", which was written in 1970 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for the peaceful and prosperous ISKCON of the future. Otherwise known as the Direction of Management (DOM), which first established the Governing Body Commission (GBC) and the body of management known as the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), which was to remain independent. It was a simple 5-page document, legally signed and witnessed and should have been distributed to all the Temple presidents and all the congregation members in 1970.

It was introduced as the basis for the Constitution of ISKCON, but the GBC decided to keep this vital document "Top Secret", and have failed to incorporate many of these original instructions on management into the society. It is obvious to me today, why this information was suppressed, because it gave certain vital rights to the ISKCON Temples, Temple Presidents, and well as the Temple Members.

Among these rights is the right for each temple to cast a vote for who is to become the GBC member. This would have done much to control the spread of child molestation, embezzlement, abuse of power etc., as the offenders could be voted out of position rather than being promoted from within. Most devotees, unaware of the Direction of Management document that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to have, have had to suffer the nightmare of abuse of power, which created so many scandalous situations, wrongful deaths, child abuse and more.

It was obvious to me, as early as 1975, that some of my god brothers were mad after power and position. Some even wanted to take the exalted position of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, sit on the Vyasasan, re-write His books, and rob thousands of aspiring devotees from becoming disciples of Srila Prabhupada, insisting that new devotees needed to go through them now in order to get to Krishna. They should have been encouraging us more and more to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada's instructions, serving him in the mood of separation, showing the younger devotees by good example what it means to be a good disciple, rather than falsely playing the role of master. But sadly, some of them were mad after fame, adoration, and distinction. Thinking themselves the rightful successors to the throne, and desiring lavish attention, unalloyed obedience, and worship. Have we never read Lord Chaitanya's Sri Siksastaka prayer?

"O Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth."

I suggest the leaders take a good look at the present state of this society, and immediately bring about the necessary changes. All GBC members should at once put into action Srila Prabhupada's original 1970 Direction of Management. All GBC members should agree with Srila Prabhupada's recommendations and hold elections every three years for existing members. All self- or GBC-appointed Gurus should at once renounce their disciples and turn them over to Srila Prabhupada! The Letter sent to all GBCs and Temple Presidents in July of 1977 quite clearly stated that eleven "ritviks" have been appointed to conduct 1st & 2nd initiations on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. This system is to be followed "henceforward", meaning from now on. There was no mention that this system should be abandoned upon Srila Prabhupada's departure, or that the 11 appointed ritviks should turn into Gurus at that time. Rather this was the last and only recorded instruction on how initiations would occur in the future. Why is it so difficult to follow Srila Prabhupada's simple instructions?

In Srila Prabhupada's "Viraha Astaka" or "Eight Prayers in Separation From My Spiritual Master", it is written:

"Those devotees to whom the responsibility was given
to continue spreading this flood of love
somehow became overpowered by Maya
and were thus reduced to simply performing
ritualistic Hindu ceremonies
for the benefit of the materialists."
"Those disciples who were irresolute in performing
devotional service according to your instructions
have now divided your mission in many factions.
It appears that the tigress of ambition
For material name and fame
Has appeared and personally provoked this upheaval."

So in closing, I think everyone inside and outside of this ISKCON society knows within his or her heart, that there is something seriously wrong. There is no denying it. We have tried this and that, to no avail. Let's just try what Srila Prabhupada has given us. He gave us the Direction of Management, and he gave us a system of initiation to keep this mission whole. In the Direction of Management Srila Prabhupada states, "Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles, and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them." Srila Prabhupada is after all our ever-well wisher and the Founder-Acharya of this International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Let us all just try and follow his instructions. What do we have to lose?

The Author wishes to remain Anonymous