AGTSP paoho

We get letters from nice devotees about corruption in ISKCON. This can range from Leaders involved in breaking Four Principles, not chant their rounds, arrogant and abusive behavior, mis-managment of money and exploitation of resources.

Of course, there are big and little thieves. Using temple auto to go for refreshing drive on the way back from the bank.

First, we personally heard from Srila Prabhupada's lips when we was in Berkeley (San Franciscco) in 1973, when asked by a reporter, 'Swamiji, are there problems in your Temples?', "This is the material world, there are problems everywhere!".

When Krsna was personally present in Vrndavana there were demons entering that were so terrifying that they were causing some of the girls to have mis-carriages!

So, we can expect problems in the Temple, ISKCON, but if it is Braja, if it is an ISKCON Temple, then it is under Krsna's control, awareness.

What should we do?

In Braja only Krsna and Balarama kill demons - The rest of us can all chant, "Hare Krsna!!! Hare Rama!!", and Krsna and Balarama will take care of the situation, and, yes, they may empower us to deal with it.

I have personally experienced this even to being physically violent with insane visitors at times.

We will see that Krsn took physical charge of my senses like in Kurukshetra. Or that Krsna gives us unavoidable, clear intelligence how to do our part and we see simultaneously He does his part. We have had strong experience of this.

Yes, in the beginning force may be necessary, physical or verbal, but unless it is done expertly, empowered by Krsna, then there will be a bad taste for everybody.

The Gopis, members of ISKCON live at three levels:

1. We are good citizens of Nanda Maharaja's village. We pay taxes. We act properly in the institution give respect and following instructions, but if there are problems we take institutional action.
2. We have our friends. ISKCON is a society of friends independent of the institution.
3. We have our own individual, direct experience of Srila Prabhupada. He knows what we are doing, and we know what he wants of us. Of course, we know that this only will increase as we become more sincere. It will be through so many transparent via-media, other devotees, books, deities, parama-atma, but the experience is direct.

We must be brave and honest to deal with problems in the Institution. We go to GBC, three GBC, Executive Committee, GBC general Assembly and we can even go to Srila Prabhupada directly, but if everyone is crazy then we should personally declare that in an institutional framework and take charge of Srila Prabhupada's institution.

At this moment, we try to deal with so many problems from our perspective as member of the institution and we see that things are moving on. ISKCON seems about 75% functional at this point, but if I can personally claim that level of functionality it is great.

Look at your own weakness before your criticize others.

Some thoughts.