The Struggle for Truth

PEACE PROPOSAL BY ISKCON-BANGALORE

21 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Iskcon Bangalore, The Hare Krishna Movement, The Struggle for Truth Tags: code of conduct, ISKCON Bangalore, Iskcon bangalore society, peace proposal, Supreme Court of India

PEACE PROPOSAL BY ISKCON-BANGALORE
PLACED BEFORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
DATED MARCH 14TH, 2012

(THIS PEACE PROPOSAL IS OFFERED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE RIGHTS AND CONTENTIONS OF ISKCON-BANGALORE SOCIETY MADE BEFORE VARIOUS COURTS AND IN THE SLP BEFORE THE HONOURABLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA)

The dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai concerns:

I Theological issue: Who is the Acharya of ISKCON who will give diksha (initiation) to all the devotees of ISKCON?

ISKCON-Bangalore’s Position: Srila Prabhupada shall remain the Acharya of ISKCON and continue to give diksha and guide all devotees in ISKCON to the abode of Lord Sri Krishna.

ISKCON-Mumbai’s Position: Since Srila Prabhupada is no more physically present, one should take diksha from one of the present ISKCON gurus.

II Who owns the Sri Radha Krishna Temple property on Hare Krishna Hill in Bangalore? Is it ISKCON-Bangalore society or ISKCON-Mumbai society?

III Who shall manage Sri Radha Krishna Temple property on Hare Krishna Hill in Bangalore? Is it ISKCON-Bangalore society or ISKCON-Mumbai society?

The suit schedule property, Sri Radha Krishna Temple on Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, being a public temple and a immovable property which cannot be sold or mortgaged or encumbered in any manner in the process of managing the same, the real issue is to determine the permanent structure of management of this Sri Radha Krishna Temple property, on Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, hereinafter referred to as the Temple.

ISKCON-Bangalore wishes to propose the following:

1. System of initiation (diksha): the irrevocable and only system of initiation practiced and preached in the Temple shall be as per July 9th 1977 directive of Srila Prabhupada. According to this, Srila Prabhupada is the Acharya and all devotees of ISKCON shall be disciples of Srila Prabhupada.

Press Note

02 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Iskcon Bangalore, Siksa, The Struggle for Truth Tags: Bangalore society registered in 1978, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON Law, ISKCON Mumbai, Madhu Pandit dasa

We are willing to settle and handover the control of ISKCON Bangalore society registered in 1978 if the above ISKCON Law (ISKCON Law 6.4.7.2) is rescinded and it is openly declared that Srila Prabhupada is the only Acharya of ISKCON and that no one else should accept disciples within ISKCON. Any further discussions on the peace proposal can be worked out provided these facts are first accepted by ISKCON Mumbai. Only based on this first step can any peace or settling of issues can make meaningful progress.

Press Note

ISKCON Mumbai is not serious about peace
By Madhu Pandit Dasa
Bangalore 1st September, 2011.

We got to know through media sources that ISKCON Mumbai’s Bureau members conducted a press conference today and claimed that they are willing to settle the dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and Mumbai as per the Supreme Courts’ desire. We are sending this clarificatory press release so as to present the actual facts of the matter.

We wish to place on record that ISKCON Bangalore was the first to offer a peace proposal, we had offered peace proposal as early as 4th of February 2009. This peace proposal was given just before City Civil Court pronounced its verdict that ISKCON Bangalore registered in 1978 is an independent society and that ISKCON Mumbai registered in 1971 should not interfere with Bangalore’s affairs. This proposal was categorically rejected by ISKCON Mumbai. The proposal was sent in writing you can view the same by going to the following link: http://www.iskconbangalore.org/sites/default/files/Krishna-Voice-July-2011.pdf (page 48).

Dispute Between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai

06 Jul 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Iskcon Bangalore, Siksa, The Struggle for Truth Tags: battle over Iskcon Bangalore, current dispute, Diksha Guru, Founder Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON Mumbai, Madhu Pandit, ritvik, spiritual master

Communication to all stakeholders, regarding the current dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai

This communication is aimed at bringing into focus the core issue behind the current dispute between Iskcon Bangalore and Iskcon Mumbai, As a customer, donor, supplier, banker, faculty, consultant, employee or any other stakeholder in ISKCON Bangalore society, we believe you should be informed about the factual position of both disputing parties and be reassured about the safe guard of your interest in your relationship with ISKCON Bangalore.

From the time, His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, reverentially addressed as Srila Prabhupada, founded ISKCON in New York in 1966, ISKCON grew into a large, transnational organization spanning many countries, having 108 centers and more than 10,000 members, in a matter of 10 years. This was due to the immense spiritual stature and vision of our Founder Acharya, Srila Prabhupada.

While the growth of the organization was impressive, in 1977, just prior to Srila Prabhupada’s leaving this world, it was a young organization and most of the members and devotees, mainly westerners, had not developed the required spiritual stature, knowledge, realization, immense purity and gravity that is required to occupy the post of his spiritual successor, as an “Acharya”.

20 Jun 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Iskcon Bangalore, The Struggle for Truth Tags: devotees of Iskcon Bangalore, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit dasa, Srila Prabhupada, The Struggle For Truth.org

The Struggle For Truth
By The Devotees of ISKCON Bangalore

The pains of this struggle for truth have been borne silently by the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore for the last nine years. So far we have been trying ourbest to contain this within the institution.

However, it has become necessary today, unfortunately, to disseminate the sensitive information of purely internal nature in this paper. Our adversaries are exploiting our silence by perpetrating false and maligning propaganda against the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore, even more vigorously than ever before, in order to demean our cause, and sidestep the real issue.

As supporters and donors of this organization, we believe it is your right to be informed by us of the real issues that have transpired in this matter. In this second issue, we present more details concerning the developments in ISKCON post 1977.

Link: http://struggle-for-truth.org/sft2/index.html

Particularly At That Time When You’re No Longer With Us

14 Jun 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Guru & Disciple, Iskcon Bangalore, The Struggle for Truth Tags: GBC, guru mukha padma vakya, Initiation, May 28th 1977, May 28th room conversation, officiating acharya, ritvik, ritvik-acharya, Tamal Krishna Goswami

Particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us…
Struggle For Truth

It is a matter of undisputed evidence that several of the GBC members approached Srila Prabhupada on May 28th 1977 with a set of questions to be asked to him. One such question was, how first and second initiation would go on particularly when he was no longer with us. Srila Prabhupada’s immediate reply was, “I will appoint some of you to act as Officiating Acharya.” And to this HH Tamal Krishna Maharaj said, “Rtvik Acharya?” and Srila Prabhupada said, “Rtvik, yes”. This is Guru Mukha Padma Vakya.

A great misunderstanding has been perpetrated in ISKCON that the parampara will be lost if we had a rtvik system and in order to maintain parampara we must have living initiating gurus. But Srila Prabhupada says differently on when parampara is lost or stopped:

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, if the knowledge was handed down by the saintly kings, evam parampara-praptam, how is it that the knowledge was lost?

Prabhupada: “When it was not handed down. Simply understood by speculation. Or if it is not handed down as it is. They might have made some changes. Or they did not hand it down. Suppose I handed it down to you, but if you do not do that, then it is lost. Now the Krishna consciousness movement is going on in my presence. Now after my departure, if you do not do this, then it is lost. If you go on as you are doing now, then it will go on.” (Room conversations, May 9th , 1975, Perth)

ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada built

10 Jun 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Iskcon Bangalore, The Struggle for Truth Tags: bhagavad-gita, disciple, guru, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddantha Saraswathi Thakura, Indian sannyasi, Jaladuta, Lord Sri Krishna, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vedic Scriptures

ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada built

In 1965, at the age of seventy, a simple Indian sannyasi, a pure devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, boarded the cargo ship, Jaladuta, to sail to America. Neither did he have the money to set out on such a journey, nor did he know what to expect at his destination. However one thing he was sure of. His mission. As instructed by his guru, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddantha Saraswathi Thakura, an acharya in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534), this stalwart disciple was taking a gigantic step to present to the world the message of Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic scriptures. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (reverentially called Srila Prabhupada) thus embarked on his monumental and historic service to God and mankind.

In July 1966, Srila Prabhupada stablished the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York city. During the next 10 years, he relentlessly worked towards his mission. He traveled around the globe 14 times and established 108 Krishna temples, authored over 70 books and guided a worldwide movement of over 10,000 Krishna devotees from all continents of the world.

When Srila Prabhupada departed from this material world on November 14, 1977, the world lost a glorious soul, a genuine spiritual leader of modern days.

ISKCON after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada

Just before his passing away, Srila Prabhupada was confronted with several issues of the institution he had founded. One of them was: who would be the acharya or guru of ISKCON after his time. Who will initiate (give diksha) to the new entrants to ISKCON?

The Struggle For Truth

29 May 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Iskcon Bangalore, The Struggle for Truth Tags: Bangalore court case, Bangalore legal case, devotees of Iskcon Bangalore, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit dasa, the struggle for truth

The Struggle For Truth
By The Devotees of ISKCON Bangalore

This is a link to their websitehttp://www.struggle-for truth.org

The pains of this struggle for truth have been borne silently by the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore for the last nine years. So far we have been trying our best to contain this within the institution.

As supporters and donors of this organization, we believe it is your right to be informed by us of the real issues that have transpired in this matter.

http://www.struggle-for-truth.org

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore to go on appeal

24 May 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Iskcon Bangalore, Siksa, The Struggle for Truth Tags: Disksha guru, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit, Srila Prabhupada as the sole acharya, Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore to go on appeal
Bangalore, 23 May 2011.

For ISKCON Bangalore, this is not a fight for properties but a sincere effort to re-establish Srila Prabhupada as the sole acharya or diksha guru of ISKCON. We are confident that truth will prevail and by the mercy of Sri Radha Krishna-chandra, our services to Their Lordships will continue unhindered.

Battles may be lost but war for Srila Prabhupada will be won

The divisional bench of the High Court of Karnataka gave its verdict on the appeal filed by ISKCON Mumbai. Honorable Justice H M Nagamohan Das and Honorable Justice Arali Nagaraj today gave their verdict on appeal filed by ISKCON Mumbai and set aside the Civil court’s judgement.

However, ISKCON Bangalore will pursue its case within the legal framework and will appeal against this decision in the Supreme Court. We have full faith in the judiciary of our country and are confident that we will be able to present the case in our favor.

It may be recalled that the City Trial court of Bangalore had given a judgment on April 17, 2009 stating that ISKCON Bangalore is the absolute owner of Sri Radha Krishna temple on Hare Krishna Hill. The Honorable Civil Court judge had also declared that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity and further restrained ISKCON Mumbai, their agents or representatives from interfering in the affairs of ISKCON, Bangalore by granting a permanent injunction.

Unfortunately, the Honorable High Court today set aside this 350 page judgement and gave its verdict overruling the earlier order.

The genesis of this dispute between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore is related to the spiritual succession of the movement founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada had taught from the Vedic literatures that an Acharya plays a prime role in the development of Krishna bhakti in the heart of a disciple. In order to play that role of an Acharya, one must have extraordinary spiritual qualifications and purity.

Just months before his physical departure from this world Srila Prabhupada instituted a rtvik system of initiation thro’ a written directive sent to all its GBC’s and Presidents on July 9th 1977.

He made it clear in this written directive that he remained the diksa guru or the acharya of ISKCON and that his disciples acting as his representatives or rtviks would initiate new disciples as disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON Mumbai which is predominantly controlled by foreigners who are themselves voted in unauthorized gurus has disregarded this particular instruction and has manufactured its own system of succession. ISKCON Bangalore on the other hand tries to follow this and many other directives of the founder and acharya of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada strictly.

Battle Over ISKCON Bangalore

11 May 2011 2 Comments

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Diksha, Iskcon Bangalore, Siksa, The Struggle for Truth Tags: Bangalore court case, direct written order of the Founder Acharya, Founder Acarya, GBC elected representatives, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON News, Nara Narayana Visvakarma, Srila Prabhupada, Sun

Sometime back there was a News article posted on ISKCON News entiltled “Bangalore Splinter Group Wins Court Case”. And a rebutal letter written by Sriman Nara Narayana Visvakarma Prabhu, which we think is still relavant today, as the battle continues…”

Although Bangalore represents a minority of ISKCON it is actually uniquely faithful to the direct written order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON that the GBC be elected representatives of the temples, not unaccountable dictators with despotic powers.

Comments on ISKCON News Article
By: Nara Narayana Visvakarma

Apr 21, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — On April 20, 2009, ‘ISKCON News Weekly’ published an article entitled, “Bangalore Splinter Group Wins Court Case. “Bangalore, INDIA – In the latest development in the longstanding feud between the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)”

Both parties are ISKCON, the Bombay faction deviated from the teachings of the Founder Acharya by creating a group of self-appointing managers who even claim ecclesiastical power and who wield illegal dictatorial powers over the innocent membership of ISKCON.

The actual GBC is meant to be an elected body representing the heads of the independent temples who the GBC are meant to represent. The Bombay ISKCON GBC as well as the Bangalore GBC were created by the Founder Acharya of ISKCON in 1970. Since that time, few temples besides Bangalore and their 28 affiliate temples have recognized the elected status of the GBC, and have actually held GBC elections. The GBC suing Bangalore, has not legal status to exist, and has clearly deviated from the charter under which they were created in 1970.

Bangalore is being sued for obeying the order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON. Nothing more and nothing less.

“…and a breakaway group of devotees who took over the prominent ISKCON temple here, a City Civil Court issued a ruling in favor of the splinter group on Friday, April 17. The decision seems to be a blow to ISKCON and its leadership in India, although sources close to ISKCON leadership in India indicate that the organization plans to appeal the decision.”

Although Bangalore represents a minority of ISKCON it is actually uniquely faithful to the direct written order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON that the GBC be elected representatives of the temples, not unaccountable dictators with despotic powers.