May 01, 2017 — MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SUN) —
With the resignation of the former GBC of Moscow, Russia, who's in charge in Russia? What's the future of Krsna Consciousness Standards and Practices in Russia? Is it' future going to be more in line, or less in line with HDG Srila Prabhupada?
Following is the recent resignation letter of the Moscow GBC in Russia, H.H. Bhakti Vijana Goswami, whom I've known personally as a friend since 1999. He is under too much pressure. He has overstepped his authority as GBC and has decided to do ISKCON his way (Radhanath Swami-style and other strange ideas).
On a sincere personal note, I care about Bhakti Vijana Goswami. I have seen him change dramatically since he got initiation from Radhanath Swami and became a GBC and Guru. Then I became very concerned things were going off in a strange direction for ISKCON in Russia. I told them, my fears are correct.
The fact is, the GBC and leaders must follow Srila Prabhupada to the letter. It's a razors edge. If not they will suffer reactions, and it's been seen that Krsna will act to clean up Srila Prabhupada's house sooner or later, and when Krsna acts it will be dramatic.
I have sincere good feelings about Bhakti Vijana Goswami as he is a good soul, but no one is perfect and power and too much independence can be a danger to any leaders in ISKCON. I know he is a sincere devotee. I also am of the opinion that personality cults are now in ISKCON. Aligning himself with Radhanath Swami was a fatal mistake on his part.
HDG Srila Prabhupada is Founder-Acharya of ISKCON and the Sampradaya Acarya. Every GBC and guru should follow him in strict detail and without compromise. Due to compromise and mission drift, sooner or later it catches up with the doers and when it does, burn-out occurs. Or worse, bloop-falldowns. I knew Maharaja is no manager, That was the GBC body's fatal mistake, giving Russia to him with full control with no accountability whatsoever. We have seen this before and every time the same results: a falldown or burn out big time by a GBC or guru.
Bhakti Vijana Goswami's history as a Krsna Consciousness leader here is great. He held the show together for a long time, to his credit. But it's too much for one man and without accountability, or help and guidance, it's fatal.
Maharaja did much to save the Moscow Yatra and was here during the Soviet Union times. That in itself makes him a hero. He was initiated by Harikesa Swami and then took re-initiation and sannyasa from Radhanath Swami - a man with a very dark past and questionable Krsna consciousness.
This is another sad story and history reads itself in ISKCON-all over again. Jiv Jago. GBC Body wake UP! When will the GBC and gurus properly follow Srila Prabhupada's standards and practices for Krsna Consciousness? How many more GBC and gurus will hit the dirt and burn out?
Bhakti Vijana Goswami's letter below reveals that he is in stress and exhaustion from management. What management? I ask that sincerely. I have seen so many Krsna consciousness standards lapse in Moscow. Who's in charge in Moscow, Russia? Remote control? Empower form a distance, micro managing unqualified people? Delegate and forget about it?
Then we have a Temple Board. Show me where Srila Prabhupada gave permission for any such management? Where is it he gave the instructions for Temple Boards? It's nowhere to be found... And moreover, why is the community here shrinking and leaders gone into cults or independent mode?
Where is the accountability for the millions of dollars raised for the building of the Moscow Temple that NEVER GOT BUILT? Where's the money gone? Into Outer Space? Mismanaged? Into speculations, concoctions? Is it lost… stolen??? No information available... just resign.
What's the story? Silence from the Russian GBC. Devotees in Russia are now asking questions and its about time we reviewed all the mistakes made in ISKCON Russia and not to repeat the same mistakes being made in the West. Anyone in Russia care? Sleeping?
This dramatic scene playing out again in ISKCON, and the excuses behind the resignation from the GBC we have heard time and time again... Harikesa Swami, Mr. Ping Pong Swami from Beverly Hills, California… Satsvarupa Goswami insanity, Prabhavisnu Goswami, etc., all went down with the ship the same way. All GBCs and gurus used the same excuses to hide their same problems in flowery words of "I'm exhausted".
I have cautioned the GBC for Moscow for many years, not to deviate from Srila Prabhupada's standards, programs and practices for Krsna consciousness – not even a micro inch. He has not listened to my warnings, not at all. He just gave them lip service.
As far as I'm concerned, as a Harikesa disciple he took a unnecessary re-initiation. The rest is going into these details…
When asked questions about Krsna consciousness problems in Russia, I've always gotten the polite run around or have been ignored for pointing out the deviations in Moscow and Russia ISKCON. But now it's coming out.
ISKCON is not some GBC /guru toy to experiment with and change things. The gurus are not Srila Prabhupada's successors, and are not empowered to change anything in ISKCON. NO Change. It's nt bona fide. Srila Prabhupada's direct disciples are treated so badly, ignored and even banned simply for repeating Prabhupada's instructions now in ISKCON. That's a fact. Meanwhile, the Prabhupada disciples who keep their mouths shut, rise in the institution. But that's just what we have seen since 1978, after Srila Prabhupada left the planet. We saw 11 zonal gurus pretend to be pure devotees, and its still being done now. When will there be guru reform, and reform of the GBC and BBT? When will reform be introduced and made mandatory in ISKCON?
When will the GBC Body get off their collective asses and admit that Srila Prabhupada is the only one to be worshiped? When will they stop changing his books and put HDG Srila Prabhupada BACK IN THE CENTER in ISKCON? It will take more than mere lip service to save ISKCON from being destroyed from within by its own leaders and devotees.
So many of the problems that we read about in current ISKCON are a direct result of "Mission Drift. The leaders are disobeying Srila Prabhupada's Instructions on guru-tattva, and his pure Krsna consciousness standards and practices on so many issues are being ignored.
I wish Bhakti Vijanan Goswami well, very sincerely, but I am seeing history repeat itself. The bigger you are, the harder you fall... Falsely imitating Srila Prabhupada's position and worship must end in ISKCON, once and for all time.
Here is Bhakt Vijana Goswami's Farewell to arms... another sad story.
MOSCOW GBC RESIGNS --- April 2017
Dear Vaishnavas,
Please accept my obeisances. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!
The last two months were very difficult for me. The tension of the past weeks have been superimposed on the chronic fatigue, accumulated over the years. All this has led to nervous and physical exhaustion - the state in which I now reside. Similar, although not as severe, the condition I had occasionally before, but once I get out of them. Short breaks helped you to recover, but recovery was not complete. Even during the recovery periods of inertia and a sense of duty did not allow me to fully retire. Now, however, the situation is more serious, so the senior Vaishnavas recommended me to take a vacation and
for an indefinite period to depart. My communication with the outside world during this period will be reduced to a minimum
. My body and mind are in need of complete unloading.
I really hope for your understanding and support.
It is difficult to say how much time I need, so I
will not be able to participate in any programs planned for the coming months
. As for the more remote liabilities, they are also open to question.
Dina-Caitanya will contact the organizers of all planned programs, we will look at how to minimize undesirable consequences of this decision.
My condition forces me to look differently at what I was doing all this time. For many years I often acted not in their nature, being forced to deal with management. According to Krishna, it is dangerous and can only lead to exhaustion. Just the opportunity to talk about the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, the taste for which, by the mercy of spiritual master I have saved me all this time. I love diving into the Scriptures, to talk about Krishna and to help people, but management is not my strength, although the role of Dzhi-bi-si constantly demanded of me. Some time ago I wanted to pass this on to the younger devotees, created for her. I now feel a
deep need to drastically take a more natural position, more appropriate to my abilities.
At the same time, I am very grateful to Srila Prabhupada and senior Vaishnavas because they have given me the opportunity to serve - albeit imperfectly - of the mission.
I also feel a very deep gratitude to the devotees, with whom I share bonds of a joint service. I want to believe that by taking a more natural position, I can continue to help them, but not as a Manager. So I can do the most good. Support from devotees I've always felt, I hope that this decision will also meet her. I think that my retirement and change my role will help many young, talented devotees to more fully demonstrate their abilities in serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada and take on more initiative and more responsibility.
Take this opportunity to apologize to all the devotees who wittingly or unwittingly offended or hurt. Relationship with the vaiṣṇavas, the most dear thing in my life.
Your servant, BV Goswami
