GBC Chaos in Phoenix, Arizona
BY: DASARATH DAS
Mar 13, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA (SUN) — I called Hari Vilas, GBC and Temple President for the Seattle temple, several days back, as he called me a week before to ask me what I thought of him being the new GBC of Phoenix. His initial call to me was cut short as he had to respond to a call from some customer for his Uncle Harry's business.
What he told me shocked me beyond belief, and I wish that I had recorded it for the benefit of the devotees. He said that there will be no Temple President in Phoenix, that he will run things via conference call to the Phoenix temple treasurer, an uninitiated Indian lady who, although trying to offer her services to the temple, owns a resort hotel that houses a bar/lounge that sells liquor and soon non-veg food.
I said that Srila Prabhupada always had a Temple President in charge. He replied that he is the Temple President in Seattle, Oregon, and now he will also be the man in charge of Phoenix. He said it works in those places and it will work in Phoenix.
He said he told the treasurer to sell the only temple vehicle immediately. "We don't need it", he said. "It is just a liability. Outside people can do everything that would require a car". I said to him that this doesn't sound like Srila Prabhupada's way of management. He then said the following words: "You want to become my enemy, I invite you. I already have 100 enemies in ISKCON among various leaders. You can be the 101st"! I was shocked.
He continued, "Some leaders and GBC's stigmatize me and brand me. If you want to do that too, go ahead. Broadcast it to the world. See if I care. I couldn't care less. There is not one single godbrother on the planet that I trust. Not one! ISKCON is simply an institution of people who like to argue and fight. That's all". I replied that I think ISKCON, as imperfect as it may be sometimes, is a vehicle for spreading love of God. He again stated that it was just an organization of people who like to argue and fight with each other. He said, "I trust the karmis more than I trust the devotees. I wouldn't even
be in ISKCON if it wasn't for Srila Prabhupada. I am the most disliked person on the GBC. Ask anyone. I am telling you this right now, I AM NOT A NICE PERSON! I repeat, I AM NOT A NICE PERSON! That's who I am. And if you don't like it, I couldn't care less".
I interjected that although I have some serious disagreements with some of the North American GBC members, I disagreed with his attitude. I said, "Srila Prabhupada trusted his disciples". He replied, "So you are Srila Prabhupada? I don't have to listen to you. You are not my disciple. We are all different, and this is who I am. If you don't like it, get me kicked out. See if I care".
"A madman is talking to me", I thought, and it sounds like something right out of the16th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita. And, he has just been posted as the new GBC to the temple in Phoenix! How is he going to be able to enthuse the congregation with this kind of attitude and representation? How is he going to be able to enthuse the only three temple devotees left living in the temple (we used to have twelve when I started it, diminished due to years of politics), but who are still trying to do their service. If this person who was talking so much arrogant nonsense doesn't trust ONE godbrother, why should we or anyone trust him (logic)??? Is "Insanity, a Component in Temple Management" a mandatory course for all members of the North American GBC? Why should I even have to take my valuable time from preaching to even have to bring all these points up? It reminds me of Yudhisthira Maharaj being asked, "what is the most amazing thing"?
Is this another good reason why the local Temple Presidents should be allowed to choose amongst themselves who the person is they would want to be GBC in their area (Srila Prabhupada's Direction of Management )? If time, place, and circumstance is a factor for implementation of this sacred document of the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, time is of the essense. This manifest scenario in Phoenix has
to be another classic example of either "blindness" or "I don't care" attitude of the North American GBC, or "maybe the problem will work itself out in the mess", or all of the above.
There are more numbers of Temple Presidents in North America whose vote Srila Prabhupada trusted, who could count in weighing in a GBC person amongst themselves, whom they trust, and even that window, a post for a limited time of four years. During that time, if the person did well as a GBC, they could get re-elected. And if they are doing badly or maintain an untouchable or tyrant type of mentality that sounds similar in this Phoenix case (and Hari Vilas is just starting - or at least thinks he is), or become too attached to power and control and misuse it, then they could find some other service in Lord Caitanya's mission that might be more helpful. Srila Prabhupada said that the worst maya that could destroy our Movement is fighting from within, and these kinds of politics seem to do just that.
We have found out that the present GBC of Phoenix, Hridayananda Maharaja, was told by the North American GBC Executive Committee that the Phoenix temple leaders wanted him to be replaced. Similarly, it was told to some of the unknowing members of the Phoenix temple board that Hridayananda Maharaja was stepping down and resigning. Neither was true, but was presented to the International body of GBC members in Mayapur last month and voted on.
As a result we have Hari Vilas stepping in, swinging his wet axe. It is both sickening and outrageous to many devotees, what to speak of most unfortunate that, because of the reckless mismanagement of a few GBCs in North America, this kind of unsupervised nonsense goes on and on, year after year. There is no oversight committee. Their (the NA GBC's) own votes protect them and their positions. No wonder people and devotees, like
myself, loose their faith in the NA GBC's ability, and sometimes question their intentions, motives, and intelligence.
There is no oversight committee. Or is there? It is actually the body of Temple Presidents that is or should be the oversight committee, and that's about 54 strong (55 counting Sedona temple). There are about 6 or 7 NA GBCs.
I continue to try and open new temples, as I have recently done in Sedona, and I would much rather work under the legal name and auspices of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON name. But when you have people on or working for the NA GBC itself, masterminding policies and intrigues to subvert the preaching and love and trust spirit, it is no wonder that sensible people have to proceed with great caution, or even go outside the ISKCON box to protect their life's preaching work for their Spiritual Master.
In my opinion that is a great offense to our Founder-Acarya and a crime amongst the Movement itself. A few years back, I was taking up some similar issues as this one, with the NA GBC through their own mediation process, the ISKCON Resolve. When the NA GBC had enough and wanted me to stop my proceedings, they threatened to have me officially banned from ISKCON, unless of course I backed off, which I did. (Nitai Gaura Hari bol!)
The original GBC to the Phoenix temple, Guru Prasada Swami, said to me recently, "In my opinion, the NA GBC has tried everything and it is not working. Therefore they should simply give the Phoenix temple back to the devotees who started it, Sandamini and Dasarath". The temple is already securely under their new bylaws. Anyone can ask the present Vice President of the Phoenix temple who continuously tells me, "there was none of these politics or problems present when you were here and in charge." With the authority of the GBC Hridayananda Goswami, we had a nice new Temple President lined up and all ready to come to Phoenix and spur our preaching and temple growth to new heights. I told this to Hari Vilas and said that, "we don't need one. The devotee can come and render some sincere service, but I will run things here from Seattle".
I believe Hari Vilasa prabhu has some serious issues, as he himself disclosed to me, that would probably bar any normal and thoughtful board of directors of a company from choosing him to represent them. But, this is ISKCON!
I invite anyone who wants to address me further on this topic, to email me at dasarath@sedonavedicculture.com. And I sincerely hope that there are no
other Vaishnavas out there who will invite me, or anyone else, to become their enemy. Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Dasarath das
