8^TH NOVEMBER 1999

Welcome to the 7th edition of our newsletter. This edition we will be dedicating to highlighting the significant steps that were taken at the recent conference in Malaysia. For the first time, various leaders from around the world gathered to formally join together into a worldwide body to restore Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON back onto to the path set for it by Srila Prabhupada. This marks the beginning of a very exciting phase in the campaign to revive ISKCON.
Please read on to learn about all the developments.

1. United Worldwide Body Formed
2. Malaysia Conference Report  

Leading devotees representing various groups from around the world participated in an organisational meeting before the main conference. Participating were the following devotees:

Adridharan Das - India
Madhu Pandit Das - India
Mahajana Das - India
Visnumurti Das - India
Radhaprana Das - Malaysia
Kanta Krishna Das - Malaysia
Sundergopal Das - Singapore
Sudarshan Das - Singapore
Jitarati Das - Phillipines
Ram Das - Hong Kong
Devakinandana Das - Hong Kong
Krishna Balarama Swami - China
Yaduraja Das - England
Krishnakant - England
Jayananda Das - USA
Brahma Bhuta Das - USA
Vani Dasi - USA
Visvamitra Das - USA
Mandapa Das - Australia
Syamasundara Das - Australia

The resolutions passed at the meeting will be given below. Comments shall be given in parantheses, thus ( ).

The rationale for the name change is simple. Originally the IRG was formed out of a few Indian Temple Presidents from the Bangalore meetings in 1998. Thus the term 'group' was then appropriate. However now it truly has expanded into a 'movement', with many congregational members, life members, industrialists, regular temple devotees etc.

Secondly ISKCON is in such a dire state that there is not much left to 'reform'. Rather a wholesale 'revival' based on some key reforms are required. Further we have expanded beyond our original narrow aim of only dealing with existing temples, and are also opening new centers, and therefore the term 'revival', which encompasses 'reform', is more appropriate. Further the disease of 'changing' the systems and teachings that Srila Prabhupada gave us, runs deep throughout the whole of ISKCON, in every sphere of its management and daily functioning, not just in the realm of the Guru system. Rather this original deviation is what has caused most of the other deviations, and consequently, rectifying this deviation will need to be the first step in fixing all the other many deviations. Thus the task before us is much broader, and involves attempting a wholesale change from top to bottom in the way ISKCON is managed and treats its members. In effect we need to resuscitate ISKCON, which is now dying on its feet. Thus again the term 'revival' is more appropriate.)

Others may share the same aims, but may wish to work independently, or only give moral support, and that is their choice. However we feel that maximum results will only be achieved through the formation of a highly disciplined and organised cadre, with a clear line of authority, all ready to co-operate and work as a team, and who are prepared to dedicate the rest of their lives to the reform and rejuvenation of ISKCON, through working together with other devotees in a coordinated and planned manner. Therefore by definition, the membership is intended specifically for activists, whilst those who may agree with and support the IRM from a distance maybe much larger.  

The organisation will be composed of 2 units - Temples and Preaching Centers.

A temple will be a unit that fits the description given by Srila Prabhupada:

Consists of a President, Treasurer, and Secretary, and must offer regular morning and Evening Programs. They may or may not have dieties installed, but will aim to have them installed. The 3 key officers mentioned above MUST ATTEND the full morning program everyday, and must be engaged full-time in the service of the temple without any other outside engagements, and may only take on any outside work or business if it is undertaken solely to generate income for the temple. No Salaries are to be paid. All officers and temple residents must strictly follow the 4 regulative principles, and chant 16 rounds everyday.
In this regard the following letter from Srila Prabhupada is instructive:

Any grouping of devotees of 3 or more, who are unable to reach the above standard, but have signed the terms and conditions of membership as given, and who accept to abide by, and co-operate with the decisions and management structure of the IRM, may be classed as a preaching center. They do not need to have any formal building, nor do they need to be planning to become a temple. They must simply agree with the aims of the IRM and co-operate under its authority structure.
Every preaching center must affiliate to, and be under the authority of the IRM temple of their choice.

All individuals must either attempt to start their own preaching center by finding 2 other individuals with whom they can work, or they must affiliate themselves to an existing preaching center or temple of their choice, and agree to work co-operatively under its guidance.

An updated list of existing temples and preaching centers will be circulated on application for membership.

The IRM will be guided in its strategy and provided leadership and authority by the temple presidents body, which will be composed of temple presidents. The chairman and secretary of this body shall be Adridharan Das, and Madhu Pandit Das, respectively. These officers shall be changed by the temple presidents body as and when it is deemed necessary.

The temple presidents body will grow with the aim of electing GBC's, some of whom it is hoped can be drawn from the current GBC members. These GBC's will in turn elect ritviks. The GBC's and temple presidents must always be different individuals, though a current TP is free to resign as TP to take up a post as GBC. The timing of when this election of GBC's should happen, will be decided by the temple presidents body.

Applicants for membership as a temple will need to satisfy the following conditions:  

1. That it is a temple as per the definition given.
2. That they agreed to sign the terms and conditions document.
3. They get a majority vote of admittance from the temple presidents body.

Application for membership as a preaching center will need to satisfy the following conditions:  

1. That there are at least 3 devotees.
2. That they agree to sign the terms and conditions.
3. That they agree to affiliate to and be under the authority of the IRM temple of their choice, and the temple they wish to affiliate to agrees to accept them.

In this way all applicants for temple membership will be vetted and admitted by the temple presidents body, and all applicants for preaching center membership will be vetted and admitted by the temple president to whom they are affiliated and report to.

All members must agree to the following, by signing at the bottom:

Goal of the IRM

1. That I will work towards restoring ISKCON's policies, standards and practices as they were given by Srila Prabhupada, and as they were practised in ISKCON just before the departure of Srila Prabhupada in 1977. This is known as the 'No Change in ISKCON Paradigm', and is enunciated in the paper of that name, by Adridharan and Madhu Pandit prabhus. This applies not only to the issue of the Guru, but all the various programs and issues within ISKCON - such as the treatment of women, the need for varnasrama dharma; child abuse etc. etc. Rather the 'Guru issue', (Srila Prabhupada's replacement as the sole diksa Guru in ISKCON, and the need for his re-instatement back to his rightful position) is seen as the root cause and the basis of the solution - for rectifying all other problems in ISKCON.

Position Paper

2. That I accept the document "The Final Order", as the definitive explanation of the process for initiating members into the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Allegiance

3. That in pursuance of the aforementioned goal, I will work co-operatively with, and abide by the guidelines and authority of the IRM body.
   I understand that any breach of the above terms and conditions will lead to an automatic cessation of my membership.

Signed: Dated:

Witnessed:  

Any matters that are not related to local development, such as contacts with GBC's, the press etc., must all be channelled via the IRM secretary, Madhu Pandit Das. This will ensure that the most effective and consistent form of communication is present at all times. Any statements made by individuals that have not been channeled in this way are not to be taken as representative of the IRM.

IRM members are not to propagate any literature or messages to the effect that Srila Prabhupada was deliberately poisoned. Rather they are instructed to at least wait until the outcome of the official investigation on this subject. Our position is that there is not enough evidence present currently on which to form any conclusions, and therefore we shall reserve judgement until concrete evidence comes to light. However members are encouraged to participate in any neutral investigation of this issue, that will help uncover the full truth of the matter. In order to clarify this, a paper on the subject will be released shortly.

The above resolutions seek to create a cohesive and powerful unit that will actually restore and revive ISKCON back to its former glory. A smaller, but co-ordinated and disciplined team working together will always be much more effective than a large amorphous mass of general discontentment with no particular plan of action for worldwide change.

The IRM is a temporary vehicle that exists only to promote positive change throughout today's ISKCON. It will cease to exist once Srila Prabhupada is restored as ISKCON'S sole diksa Guru. It is not a separate movement or entity to, nor outside of, ISKCON, in any way, but a 'movement within a movement', that will work for the renewal, rectification, and revival of the larger Society.

Applications to join the IRM are invited. Please contact any of the persons mentioned above, or contact the secretary Madhu Pandit Prabhu, Temple President, Bangalore directly on:
mpd@vsnl.com

The recent IRM conference held at Port Dickson, Malaysia, was a huge success. Over 100 devotees attended from all over Malaysia along with other representatives from over a dozen countries. Mandapa prabhu, former Temple President of Bombay, was MC, and called upon many devotees to give developments going on around the world from the USA right across to Japan. The movement to restore Srila Prabhupada's status in ISKCON is becoming truly international.

Vineet Narayan prabhu, the most famous journalist in India, also spoke with great conviction about how the devotees in Malaysia should not be fearful. He explained how he had brought down an entire government in India, and that in the process he had been offered ministerial posts, millions of dollars, and finally threats to his life and the lives of his wife and children. Nevertheless he stuck to the truth, remembering that 'if Krishna wants to kill you nobody can save you, and if Krishna wants to save you nobody can kill you'. He explained that if we stick with the truth, that Srila Prabhupada is available as everyone's diksa guru, then we shall certainly be protected by the Lord Krishna.

Kanta Krishna das spoke on behalf of the Malaysian devotees, and explained how rapidly devotees in his region were becoming free from their previous misconceptions. After just a few months of reading the 'Final Order', they have already 2 IRM temples, and will be opening another one in November. Many other devotees then enthused the audience with the developments from their part of the world. After a wonderful prasadam feast for lunch, the devotees reconvened for the afternoon session.

The afternoon session included an update on the court case in Calcutta against the GBC's deviation, given by Adridharan das, and a question and answer session with Krishnakant prabhu. At one point Krishnakant called two Malaysian devotees up to the podium. He pointed to one and said 'this devotee has said he would be willing to die for Srila Prabhupada'. He then pointed to Radhaprana das who had been recently beaten up by Jayapataka's gunda disciples and said - 'And this devotee nearly did give his life for Srila Prabhupada! ...I ask you all to support these devotees in their mission to bring Srila Prabhupada back as the diksa guru for ISKCON'.

The main aim of the conference which was to enthuse the local devotees to restore Srila Prabhupada as the only diksa guru for Malaysia, was clearly achieved as devotee after devotee pledged to preach vigorously in Malaysia until everyone was convinced about Srila Prabhupada's unique status. The Kuala Lumpar temple which is the one stronghold left for the GBC in Malaysia, was so rattled about this conference, being held as it was only 1 hour away from the them, that they sent a spy to find out what was going on!

After the conference its effects continued to be felt as Vineet Narayan and several other IRM leaders remained in Malaysia to meet with important ISKCON supporters and went to the Kuala Lumpar temple, and preached to the devotees there. They also went to members homes in KL to preach the Final Order.

It is clear that just as in New York and so many other places around the world, the fuse has been lit here in Malaysia as well, and it is only a matter of time before Srila Prabhupada is restored to his rightful position in ISKCON.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please keep your letters, and e-mail addresses of other devotees who should be added to our list, flowing in. A hard copy of our main position paper 'The Final Order' is available on request.

If you would like to receive any of the back issues of the Newsletter please let me know.

No1. Invitation to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja

No2. GBC Lose First Round of Court Case

No3. The Story VNN Refused to Publish

No4. Poison Theorists Accuse Adri of Complicity

No5. Iskcon Continues to Promote Child Abusers

No6. Invitation to Malaysia