Always Thinking "How to Expand the Krsna Consciousness Movement"
BY: MARGARET CONNORS
Jan 29, USA (SUN) — Gadadhara das, you have asked me to address two points:
1. The truth about the case of Gauri das.
I have given you my answer in the previous two articles I offered. I humbly suggest that you read them carefully. They address what I believe are the essentials of this "case", as you describe it.
2. How much salary each devotee is paid at Bhaktivedanta Manor
How much a man receives for his labor is a matter between himself and his employer. Employers "bid" for our labor and the highest bidder gains access to our labor.
Each temple in Bhaktivedanta Swami's International Society is incorporated as an independent identity and such matters are entirely up to the management of that center. As their efforts to maintain and expand their influence grow - they will discover that they require the labor of various men and women whose skilled or unskilled labor is just the ticket to help them in their efforts. The division of labor is the means that naturally evolves to meet these various demands.
Your question - at least to me - misses the point. You appear to be expressing concern with the fact that the management of this or any ISKCON center should NOT being compensating anyone for what should be done in the mood of devotionally embraced "involuntary servitude" only. However the centers' mandate is to get a job done and oft times - a particular task requires a particular talent or aptitude that is simply not available from the ranks of those who work for "room and board" only - but require the talents of men or women who are themselves tending to the myriad of needs of dependent families. In this case - such individuals are precluded from offering their labor for room and board only and if their labor is vital to the center's accomplishing its goals - then in the interest of their dependents they can only include the ISKCON center as a potential employer who is fairly bidding for their labor.
So, your question - "how much salary each devotee is receives" - is a private matter between him and the Bhaktivedanta Manor management - and those who provide the Manor with the financial capacity to push forward their programs, which may require their hiring such men and women. Ideally, of course, if any task can be accomplished with what is essentially the "slave labor" of men and women who are quite willing to do that task for nothing more than room, board, kirtan and kichari, then by all means, it should be. The reason for this is nicely established by the words of HDG Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in the wonderful little book entitled, "This is my request". He said that his Guru had counseled him "If you ever get money - print books". So if this gentleman's compensation has in fact not competed fair and square in the market - which includes any of the happy, capable and willing "slave labor" from amongst the devotees in that center - THEN that IS a problem. Supposing another devotee could accomplish whatever he is doing for half the compensation he receives - then the center is squandering that % of money raised from amongst the congregation or the book sales, that Srila Prabhupada said should for printing and distribution of his books. And if there is actually a devotee or two who are capable and willing to do his job for nothing - this only increases the obvious extent of the mismanagement.
That the Bhaktivedanta Manor is compensating anyone - for any labor - is not an issue. Whether or not they are doing it under the all encompassing rule of "all money is for books" as far as possible is the issue. If my study of Bhaktivedanta Swami's counsel is correct, it appears then that all tasks must be accomplished as nicely as possible - while doing everything possible to avoid paying one dime more than in necessary to accomplish all other tasks related to or born out of this effort for the mass distribution of Bhaktivedanta Swami's books.
I do not feel compelled to "investigate" this employer/employee relationship at all. I do not see it as relevant to the discussion of child abuse and ISKCON'S dealings with that - which by the way were so nicely described by Dhira Govinda das today on the front page of this site. You are surely welcome to pass along these comments to whomever you think might appreciate them as they pertain to the issue of this one man's labor in one location - the Bhaktivedanta Manor. I myself do not think this particular man's world is relative to my own in the slightest way. Though the principle at stake in the management of any of Bhaktivedanta Swami's centers - earmarking all money first for printing and distributing his books - if properly positioned as the foundation of every center's management of money and labor - will go a long way towards achieving the goals of the Krsna Consciousness movement.
Nectar of Instruction describes the uttama-adhikari devotee:
"Out of many such Vaisnavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Krsna consciousness movement. Such a Vaisnava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikari, a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought".
"Always thinking of how to expand the Krsna consciousness movement" will require that we constantly monitor the success and failure of our individual and collective efforts to accomplish this "expansion". There is no harm in discussing any policy or its implementation in relation to such success and failure. So discussing how a center allocates all its labor and money - in the service of the mission of Lord Chaitanya is wise, practical and always necessary. But your comments appear to me to be misdirected. You appear to be quite biased in your analysis of both this man Gauri das and the devotees who have seen it necessary to bid for his labor. As I said above - if they did not fairly bid for his labor and his labor has been secured via mere bureaucratic nepotism - then you have a legitimate complaint and you should take it up with the proper authorities. Otherwise I would most humbly suggest you forget about it and move forward with your own life and service to Lord Krsna.
I hope I have addressed your questions satisfactorily.
Margaret Connors
