GBCs are Racist and Envious

BY: JNANA-NETRA DASA

The GBC Executive Committee in their article, “Answer to Madhu Pandita Prabhu” writes:

“The multiple legal suits you have brought against ISKCON amounts to an explicit attempt to get control of assets which loyal faithful ISKCON devotees have contributed. This is our issue with you, and this is the issue we are more than prepared to discuss.”

GBCs are trying to project a picture that this is a fight between Madhu Pandita Prabhu and the GBC. There are a few questions here. What about the role and desires of other devotees of Bangalore temple? Could Madhu Pandita Prabhu fight with the GBC without their support and cooperation? It is not only Madhu Pandita Prabhu, but the majority of ISKCON Bangalore devotees disliked the GBC and revolted against them. And the bogus Guru system was also a reason for that.

The GBC is a gang who wants to control the life of each and every individual of ISKCON. This gang seems to believe that they are the most qualified and most important people present on the earth. There is no one equal to or greater than them, though outwardly this gang acts like humble people. I personally have experienced one of these gang members. I had a small disagreement with one of the GBCs of my area, and he made sure that I don’t survive in that temple. I could see the hidden animal in him. How much angry he was because of a tiny disagreement. One need not dig too deep, just scratch little bit on the surface and you will see the hidden animal behind saffron robes.

A group of Bangalore devotees, by the success of their Akshaya Patra programme and other preaching activities, have practically proven that by following the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, even ordinary devotees can do miracles. Miracles are not a monopoly of Gurus and GBC members only. This is a very practical demonstration and there are no other proofs required for that.

Another point is the role of H.H. Radhanatha Swami. Chowpatty temple is not a part of ISKCON, but still the GBC don’t say a word about it. Why so much fuss about Bangalore temple? Because Radhanatha is their gang member, in good understanding with them, there is no problem if he keeps Chowpatty temple for himself, separate from the control of ISKCON.

This gang called the GBC cannot tolerate how someone who is not a part of their club can do so much preaching. I am more than 100% confident that if Madhu Pandita Prabhu would have a White body like Radhanatha Swami has, he would have much less problem with the GBC than what he has now. This present GBC body is very envious and racist. Many Indian devotees who have nothing to do with the Bangalore conflict have expressed to me their feelings of being racially discriminated against by ISKCON authorities.

I will end my article with a small story. Once Narada Muni, while travelling on planet earth, came across an old hunchback woman. He felt very kind towards this woman and wanted to fix her back as a boon to her. So he said to the lady, O Mother, I am very much pleased with you, come here and I will fix your back. The old lady replied ” O Great Sage, if you are really pleased with me and want to give me some boon, please give me a different boon. Surprised Narada Muni asked, “What boon would you like to have”. The old lady replied, “The lady who lives next door to me, please make her also a hunchback.

I do not know the source of this story, neither do I know how bona fide it is. One old sadhu told me this story in Vrindavana, when I visited Holy Dhama. He told me this story as an answer to my question, “what is enviousness”?

Bangalore devotees are doing great preaching, so I request the GBC to please stop their envious attacks like blocking land allotments, etc. And please stop being racist.

They should lift their standards and do something so that the government feels like awarding them, as well. That will be beneficial for thewhole society.

Hare Krsna.

Jnana-Netra dasa

A Response from LA to personal criticisms on BDA websites

Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You are yet another envious demon resorting to inventing silly stories exposing a cheap karmi mentality as well as a total lack of intelligence, in an attempt to debase a heroic Vaishnava, Madhu Pandit Prabhu. Yours are the words of a fool, a rascal, and a liar.

If someone is feeding Krishna prasadam to 1,000,000 children per day, namely Madhu Pandit Prabhu, can you say that you are doing better in that regard? Are you feeding 100,000? 50,000? 20,000 impoverished Indian children? And what is wrong with engaging poor Vaishnavi ladies in preparing the bhoga to be offered to Lord Krishna? Do you think that ISKCON Food-For-Life uses only Pure Brahmins for preparing the relatively small amount of Prasad that they distribute to the public?

Here in Los Angeles at New Dwaraka, drug-addicted karmis trying for green cards are in the kitchen preparing food for the devotees and washing every single pot and pan between cigarette breaks while listening to Gangsta rap on their Ipods. My husband and I have seen the Akshaya Patra cooking facilities in Vrindavan, and not many ISKCON temple kitchens that prepare foodstuffs for the initiated devotees can boast a level of cleanliness that we saw in Vrindavan. Please, you tell us which is better.

Consider also the history-making event of Madhu Pandit Prabhu successfully instating Srila Prabhupada’s DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT into the first 30 ISKCON temples ever, namely Bangalore, thereby setting a precedent for the entire rest of Srila Prabhupada’s Movement ISKCON. Do you dare to put yourself above such a person? There are so many other activities in which you could be humbly engaged, cultivating Pure, Unalloyed Love of Godhead, rather than producing this concocted refuse in your spare time.

In the interest of preventing a far more miserable condition in the future, why not take up chanting 16 rounds and surrendering yourself sincerely to Krishna? Such abominable acts as these which you and your cohorts are committing against a first class devotee, Madhu Pandit das, do not go unnoticed by the court of Yamaraja upon death. Why not turn over a new leaf? The time for change is now.

In eternal service to Srila Prabhupada,

Roupa Manjari devi dasi

Srila Prabhupada on Standard of cooking for Prasadam Distribution

Yesterday, in our article, “Akshaya Patra-Bhoga or Prasadam?-1” we discussed the reasons why Akshaya Patra is serving 100% prasadam as aopposed to Varada Krishna & co.’s envious remarks that it is not. We also promised that subsequently we will share with you various research notes we base our conclusion on. Here is what Srila Prabhupada says about the subject, gotten from the Vedabse.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in many places that the cooking should be done by second initiated brahmanas:

In the kitchen also, things should be kept spotless and cooking should only be done by brahmanas; others may assist. That is the same procedure followed with Deity worship. [Letter to: Laksmi Narayana, Los Angeles, 8 July, 1971]

Regarding the prasadam, I never approved Mr. Malkani cooking in the temple. He is not initiated. Of course he is Hindu, but he went there to start his business. But, he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable. Who was cooking formally? He wanted to start his business, not to be engaged by us. The independent cooking done in the temple kitchen is not good. [Letter to: Kirtanananda,,Bombay, 23 November, 1974]

Regarding the cooking, a non-brahmana may assist but he cannot cook. [Letter to: Sukadeva, Bombay, 24 November, 1974]

Unless one is initiated they cannot cook. They must be regular disciples then they can do Deity worship. So there is no question of the outsiders cooking in the New Delhi temple. [Letter to: Gopala Krsna, New York, 11 July, 1976]

But with respect to mass distribution, there are also instructions to employ professional cook, at least in India:

In the evening, you must have many varieties of first class ghee-cooked preparations offered to the Deity and you can sell the prasadam. The L.A. standard is good, but still you should have a better standard. You should make kacoris, samosa, etc. If it is required, a professional confectioner may be employed. The Deity worship must be done very gorgeously. [Letter to: Aksayananda, Dhananjaya, for Vrindavan temple, 26 May, 1975]

Give them nice prasädam by which they are attracted. It doesn’t matter khichadi, puri, kacuri, läòu. Whatever they are attracted, we must give. Whatever that will attract them. That I want. Krsna-prasädam. Don’t waste, give them nice palatable foodstuff. Give them one finest kacuri, one nice samosä, two puris, they will be very glad. Make very, very, nice prasädam. What is this rubbish, the dog cannot eat even? They have done a great mistake, all rascals. I am very angry. I say that if you have got no money, I’ll spend, I will give you money. Why should you make such tenth class, and no food at all. It is to be thrown away. Simply waste of grains and energy. Engage nice professional cook, prepare nice foodstuff. I shall spend for that if you have no money….. [Room Conversation, on Hyderabad Farm Management, December 10, 1976]

Give them prasädam, nice prasädam. Any gentleman comes, immediately there must be some prasädam. Engage first class cook. Spend money, don’t be a miserly. If you have no money, I will pay. So long I am living, I shall go on paying. You don’t be miserly. Bring devotees for eating, and then chanting, then cinema, then lecture, in this way you have to develop. [Room Conversation, on Hyderabad Farm Management, December 10, 1976, Hyderabad]

The following conversation [Room Conversation, December 12, 1976, Hyderabad] is specifically on hiring professional men for cooking, at least in India:

Prabhupäda: No uninitiated person should cook. Brähmaëa cook.

Mahämsa: What about professional cooks?

Prabhupäda: Real brähmana.

Mahämsa: Professional cooks?

Prabhupäda: Profes…? They are brähmanas.

Mahämsa: Yes, but they… Even though they are brähmanas, they have this habit of smoking, and if we try to find a professional cook who doesn’t smoke, it is very difficult.

Prabhupäda: Hm. As far as possible, our men should cook, a professional man who is in good habit, who has promised that they will not do this smoking. We have to manage somehow.

Mahämsa: As far as our devotees’ cooking, it’s practically impossible. We have tried so hard. They just can’t do it. Yesterday two of the boys tried to help, and the rice was not cooked because it was not done and he burned his leg. The water fell on his leg, and he couldn’t handle the pots properly and he got… Now the poor boy, he is suffering. He’s got a wounded leg, one of the German boys, the one with long hair. So our devotees, they are not… This boy, Bengali boy, Divid (?), he’s good. He can do it but he needs at least four or five men to help.

Tejas: He was a professional cook but he’s not… He can’t do it himself. He needs too much…

Mahamsa: He needs at least four people to help. It’s a big cooking, so it’s also very difficult for one man to do and nobody wants to help the cooking because it’s so hot, the smoke goes in the eyes and it’s very troublesome. So nobody wants to help in the cooking, devotees.

Prabhupäda: Not willing. They are not willing.

Mahämsa: They’re not willing to help in the kitchen because it is very hot, very hard, the eyes get burned, things like that. So this one Bengali boy, he’s a very good cook. He can do it very nicely but he wants help. And if no one helps, then he refuses to cook. And if you press him, then he runs away. Yesterday he tried to run away four times because we were trying to press him.

Prabhupäda: No, no, cooking alone, it is not possible. So that you have to do. Find out some men. Cooperate. Otherwise how it is possible?

Haàsadüta: Yes, therefore I’m asking you about hired people, whether hired people are good. In my experience…

Prabhupäda: So if they are, if our men not available, then you must hire, hire people. But not these carpenters or like that.

Mahämsa: No, we should get professional cooks who are really good, like this man who cooked today.

Prabhupäda: Yes. And this man is coming. He can bring.

Mahämsa: Yes, he himself will come. But he will have the habit of smoking and I think we can at the most regulate his smoking. “If you want to smoke, you go somewhere far away and smoke and before you start cooking you must wash yourself, have a bath, and then do the cooking.”

Prabhupäda: Yes. What can be done? Ne mämä che känä mämä (?) “If there is no uncle, one blind uncle is all right.” So the matter is now clear. You do it and develop it.

Another conversation: [Room Conversation, February 19, 1977, Mäyäpura]

Hari-sauri: The thing is, those men that Bhogilal sent were smoking bidis and everything.

Prabhupäda: That could be checked, that “You do not do this.” If you have to keep hired cook, so you’ll have to manage in that way. Everything depends on management. Change of menu is very good, not that the same thing should be…

So far your hired Brahmin cook, since we have our prasadam distribution program this may be necessary, but he must be clean, no smoking, and he must wear kunti beads. As far as possible he must follow our principles. [Letter to: Giriraja, For Mumbai Juhu Temple, 23 April, 1972]