Srila Prabhupada's Arrangement Stands

Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 17:40:08 -0800 (PST) From: Patrick Hedemark <pdhedemark@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Prabhupadanugas Press
To: nimaipandit@yahoo.com, Diane Marie Chan <daschan@pop.jaring.my>, Nara Narayana Das <zakheim@earthlink.net>

Dear Nimai Prabhu, PAMHO AGTSP.

Thank you for this letter. Due to its being Friday, I don't have a lot of time. If it is ok with you, I will offer you my answers to your very good questions on Monday.

You have actually hit upon the principle issue and if this issue can be correctly understood, then dealing with all of this should not be difficult. I am very confident that in time it will all be very nicely resolved. This sort of conflict is not difficult to understand. It can be likened to Srila Prabhupada's example of the sons of the father fighting with each other while providing him a massage. Their quarrel prevents any real comfort to the father. Having 6 kids myself, I have direct experience of this one.

I will be delighted to respond to your sincere inquiries on Monday.

YS Praghosa

PS Just a short note on your idea that Hansadutta Prabhu - in the end - faltering or failing. This is NOT the case at all. WE - the devotees of Srila Prabhupada - too distracted with our lives and concerns - failed to step up and do the needful when it was time to do so!!

1.Hansadutta was misguided by his counsel for one.

2. Hansadutta Prabhu is a sankirtan devotee. He considered that in the end his "counsel" was right in pointing out that the case would drag on for years and cost additional sums beyond what he could find. (Lawyers are notorious for urging their clients on and on "YEAH we got em right where we want em blah blah blah - until they discover their clients are now broke... suddenly "You know, I think now is the perfect time to settle." They are finished. You know "We got in some good licks... they got in some good shots too... maybe now we can find some common ground blah blah blah."

When I was undergoing medical treatments, one thing they were discussing was the possibility I might need bone marrow transplants. I laughed "Are you freaking kidding me? I can barely afford the Chemo. Bone marrow transplants? Hah - I will be lucky if I can transplant a tulsi plant to Mayapur when you guys are done with me!" They never broached the subject of moving my marrow anywhere after that!

So Hansadutta NEVER gave up. The general rank and file devotees did not know what he was forced to endure.

3. BUT no matter what HAPPENED THEN, we are talking now. Had he been properly counselled he never would have relented. He is no pushover, my young friend. Being a sankirtan devotee, he considered compromise the best course in the interest of Srila Prabhupada. Of course he regrets it now - but Srila Prabhupada's appointment stands. And the moment one fully embraces the order of the Spiritual Master, he is right back in the saddle.

Your statement "Well, let's see what Srila Prabhupada arranges" is just fictitious imagination. What Srila Prabhupada arranged STANDS. Nothing anyone can do or say can change this. Hansadutta is the Trustee for Srila Prabhupada. NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT. Do you think Srila Prabhupada is going to "Pop out of a Pillar" and show us the Light and the Way - with Big Neon Lights "Hans is my Man"?

Doesn't work that way, Prabhu.

What he ordered is clear. Now it is up to us to match present reality with the ETERNAL DIRECTIVE.

I will address the balance later.

Good to hear from you.

PPS Please do not take my comments personal and get cranky with me. I am Praghosa. I speak and write exactly as I speak on SKP. I am lighthearted and so my words are meant for that too. I have nothing but appreciation for you, your intentions and your efforts, no matter how strongly I may disagree with your tactics. We are just discussing. Is that all right? If you spent 2 hours on sankirtan with me you would never be bothered by anything I write. You would easily get it....

Best,
Praghosa

nimaipandit@yahoo.com wrote:
Pragosh Prabhu and Das dasi Mataji,

Please accept my most humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

First of all Pragosh Prabhu, I agree with you that all sincere questions and inquiries should be respectfully discussed. BBT or any other rectification, as far as I understand it, is for bringing us, Srila Prabhupada's family, closer together in spiritual harmony serving Lord Caitanya under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada. Why should there be bad blood discussing such spiritually potent topics? Only lovers of Srila Prabhupada can be discussing these topics with the aim of understanding Srila Prabhupada's current desires more and more. Bodhayanta parasparam.

While researching the BBT rectification strategy 2 years ago, I had come across this question as you ask: whether Hansadutta is still trustee in the eyes of Srila Prabhupada. It was so crucial that I pondered over it for many days as that would decide the course to take. I came to a conclusion but with the understanding that still it is finally upto Srila Prabhupada to decide. BBT is his heart.

My conclusion was that Srila Prabhupada entrusted BBT to hansadutta with Bhagavan. This was going to be their lifetime occupation. And Hansadutta Prabhu with the very admirable assistance of Bhima Prabhu and Das dasi mataji and Gupta Prabhu and Nara Narayana Prabhu were able to revalidate the CA trust with all its copyrights.

Having being fighting legal battle with the "gbc" for some years now I can admire his guts, spiritual determination, perseverance and dedication to Srila Prabhupada's service instruction. This is history and will be part of folklore.

But then, he gave up the service. Mother Das dasi gives many reasons including of no funds and being cheated by Gupta. 2 years back. Reading her earlier postings on the web I had gone thru them in my mind and tried to understand what would be Krishna's and Srila Prabhupada's point of view on it.

My conclusion was, and let us discuss THIS point Pragosh Prabhu, if I can request your kind perceptions on the matter, that for a disciple the spiritual master's instruction is on's life and soul. In Prachinabarhi's pastime in the 4th canto Srila Prabhupada quite feelingly states that a disciple should give up one's life but live only to fulfill his master's instruction. Other places he has mentioned that one's body, mind, soul, everything is given over to one's spiritual master and one should undertake all troubles for executing the instructions of one's spiritual master. Ref Sudama and Krishna lost in the forest.

Will a disciple make excuses and accuse others for not continuing to obey his master's instructions?

I could not gel the difficulties faced by Hansadutta and team to Krishna's instructions in the BG. "I provide the intelligence by which one can come to me, I sitting in the heart remove with the shining lamp of knowledge all darkness born of ignorance" ref BG 10.10-11. How could it be then tha GUPTA WAS ABLE TO CHEAT?

Krishna also says in the BG, "I provide what you lack and fulfill what you have". Then why was the money lacking for Srila Prabhupada's service at the crucuial juncture.

I could only surmise that with all his sincerity of purpose and a good fight till now, Hansadutta Prabhu faltered at the end. Spiritually. In his motives or his determination or his servant consciousness. I do not know what happened inside his consciousness, but I do know that he resigned his lifetime service, AGAINST THE DESIRES of Srila Prabhupada.

Now that is the question. Legally, he is no more the trustee. He resigned and in full consciousness, agreed to appoint Jayadvaita and others the trustee. There is an order passed by Judge Shook to the effect. You may now say that Gupta had other intentions but how does that change the fact. Hansadutta Prabhu deliberated on it and resigned. It will take many hundreds of thousands of dollars to disprove that it was fraud, and IF it could be done.

And as you say he should just print, let the BBTI try to stop him. Then what is stopping you now. Go ahead. If it works and if Gupta let's that happen then it will be easy for all to see who is Trustee. But as it stands now, if Gupta or BBT sue him, the prima-facie evidence of the settlement will throw you out of the court. Unless you can put up a spirited defense with many hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Coming back to Srila Prabhupada's desires, we know for sure he is not pleased when a disciple disobeyes the spiritual master. He has said so many times. Giving up the trusteeship, and failing the test does not make Srila Prabhupada reject him, of course not, but Hansadutta Prabhu needs to pass that test for him to again become qualified to continue his service. It may have already happened so. I have no way of knowing.

But what I do know is that Srila Prabhupada ordered ISKCON, inc (whose principal office happens to be at the outpost on Long Island) to be the sole beneficiary of the trust. It says so in the validated 1972 BBT agreement. And somehow I happened to be the President of it. Nara Narayana Prabhu is a trustee of the beneficiary. Do you think it is only some legal manipulation. Could it just be Srila Prabhupada's working?

Only the beneficiary can ask the BBT Trustees of the accounts and order them to print as the beneficiary wants. And if they do not then cause their removal. That is how Srila Prabhupada made the Trust Instrument. And that is what we are doing. It is my duty. Legal and as a disciple of Srila Prabhupada fulfilling his service. What can I do if Srila Prabhupada has put me here? I did not apply for this service. I am of course not qualified for it and the major responsibilities it involves. Maybe this service may make me an "experienced" devotee....

Coming back to Hansadutta Prabhu. At certain point the judge if he thinks these trustees are not doing their job properly, may ask for nominations for new trustees. At that time Hansadutta Prabhu can apply for the service. And if Srila Prabhupada thinks he is now corrected, he may again be made trustee with 4 others by the Judge.

That is where I have left it.

What do you think?

By the way we have not asked the BBTI for accounts. We have asked the BBT trustees who are Jayadvaita, Svavasa, Narsvara and Brahma Muhurta to show accounts and report tHe operation of BBT. ISKCON, inc. the beneficiary is the only who can ask accountability from the BBT. We have not done otherwis. I am a little puzzled at your rhetorical question. Can somweone help?

Your servant,
Nimai pandit das
Hare Krishna!