[Posted October 31, 2006]

Wages for Sages

John Sinkowski - October 27, 2006

It just goes to show that the leaders are unable to motivate the followers to selflessly dedicate their lives to serving them as they would do for Srila Prabhupada.

Currently available for everyone's inspection on most of the ISKCON-friendly websites are the euro GBC resolutions. For now, let us consider this one "gem", WAGES FOR SAGES.

In their attempt to justify, at least in their own minds, the chicanery that has gone on in the name of "financial managament" throughout the institution post 1977, they now consider themselves "so valuable" to Srila Prabhupada's movement that they can disobey his instructions— myriad instructions—on the matter of salaried employees of The Corporation.

The Bhaktivedantas World Sankirtan Party and Inside Nam Hatta are hosted by Hansadutta das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and trustee of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Participate or learn more about World Sankirtan Party.

First, we justify Guru Aparadha by "sadhu". What "sadhus" speak, and what do they say?

Param Gati Swami offers us these tidbits:

"I am aware that Srila Prabhupada didn't sanction paying wages in temples. I am supporting the hypothesis... providing financial aid... can be interpreted as 'protection' or 'shelter-giving'..."

Next Pragosha, the verbally flatulent one, says:

"The pros and cons of salaries in ISKCON since 1977, many questions... we wish Srila Prabhupada could personally answer for us... salaries are important... they need to be maintained... it's a simple formula... .all charities and 'volunteer organizations' have salaried staff... the public is well aware that a percentage is going into staff salary... in ISKCON there is unease about salary... some challenge that Srila Prabhupada never wanted salaried staff... there is a claim in ISKCON that salaries in ISKCON are removing the devotional spirit upon which ISKCON was built... WE HAVE SPLIT..."

In the list of "cons" against stopping the unauthorised salaries they are all currently paying themselves (in direct defiance of their own—EVERYONE'S own—Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada), they offer this "potential risk": "It most likely would spark a 'BRAIN DRAIN' in ISKCON..."

WHO THE SHUCK ARE YOU FITTING???? LIARS!!!!!!

If the kosher mafia leaves for Israel tommorrow, WHO THE X#@! CARES?? The wise man laments not for the living nor the corrupt former money managers now being selected for a caning for all the world to see.

Now he advances into uncharted spiritual waters, and one wonders if the captain is still aboard their ship of state or not.

"ISKCON is required to consider two things: a) identify the varnas of devotees so we can exclude brahmins from salaries; b) establish the criteria for the rate of salaries received... some 'broad guidelines' on the basis of need, not on the basis of want... the temple president decides the 'needs' of the members..."

Hasn't that been a problem all along? Too many of the temple presidents have been making decisions on the basis of the needs of their throbbing members.

Then His Haughtiness attempts to scripturally justify Guru Aparadha as "something Srila Prabhupada would have wanted us to do, were He only here with us to give us some bonafide direction" with four pages of some, oft time, highly inappropriate quotes from related issues... Sadhu, shastra and then "guru"—or now, even BIGGER than "guru", is the combined will of the INFALLIBLE GBC offering us these nuggets to squirrel away with until the next scheduled GBC sitting at Gaura Purnima.

Six groups clearly delineated the problem: "Was it in the interests of the present ISKCON that members be given salaries?" OR "in keeping with the instruction of Srila Prabhupada?" And what did this SAC decide? GURU APARADHA UNTIL DEATH DO US PART!!!! THAT, gentlemen can very well be arranged, by mantra and mutual agreement. "SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE."

Now they go on to defend their preconceived conclusion to disobey their own Guru's instructions and to justify the disobedience with a GBC (now BIGGER than "guru") endorsed resolution. Resolution follows:

Generally, ISKCON sponsors simple living in order to remove the need for salaries.
There should be support for "valuable devotees", but that should be offered according to their means. [In Washington DC on certain snowy days they ask "non-essential employees" not to come to work, and 85% of them stay home. Gotta be something scary about being in the "non-essential" 85% of that population, isn't there?]
Definitions: salary means an exchange of money in return for service. The temple president decides the "needs" of the member.
Maintainance is okay, even if you "officially" label it salary for the government. [Sounds like an open license to defraud any government in any justification, doesn't it?]
In principle we are against salaries but for maintenance. Salaried people should be involved in generating income. It should be known by all how much funds are being given in exchange for how much service. Opportunities to participate in commercial ventures should be given to community members, not only temple devotees.

THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT, EQUIPPED WITH HIS VARNA POLICE WILL BE LABELLING EACH OF YOU SHORTLY. PLEASE HAVE YOUR TRAITS EXPOSED AND TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES.

If this be so, we await the GBC exposure of the salaries of all those drawing them at New Vrindaban. We humbly request that these brothers find the wisdom to reveal who was paid what for how many years as far back as the take over from Kirtanananda Swami twelve years ago. We, as members of the real ISKCON society, demand our right to an accurate "settling of accounts", to quote Srila Prabhupada, on the matter of the financial affairs at the society's "place of pilgrimage". We demand a public posting on any and all ISKCON-friendly websites to clear the air and save further legal entanglements.

LIBERATED YOGI COLLECTIVE

ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!

P.S. Perhaps others viewing this could post here some of the "Srila Prahupada says" quotes on the matter of salaried "devotees".

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His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada