Who are the leaders in Iskcon?
2,250 Views / EMail This Post / Print This Post / Home » Who are the leaders in Iskcon?By Kesava Krsna dasa
Let’s face it; nobody in this material world likes to be bossed around. There is one experimental reality show called ‘Survivor’ in which contestants get stranded in some remote place far removed from modern civilization. Working in tribes, the members have to compete and cooperate at the same time. There is a process of elimination as fellow tribe members vote off those deemed as threats to their ambition to win the ultimate million dollar prize.
Those individuals, who display natural leadership traits and get things done around the camp, are usually the ones to get voted out ‘ people do not being bossed around. The canny ones however, keep low profiles; yet manipulate things to their advantage and improve their chances of winning.
This scene is quite far removed again from how things play out in the devotee community, yet Iskcon needs leaders. But how to choose them based upon what criterion has often been a thorny issue. Are we looking at spiritual advancement? Are we demanding expertise and administrative abilities? Do we consider those high in the popularity stakes? How about those with strong personality types? Or even those who are together and balanced and so on.
If we look back at our disciplic succession we will find unlikely leaders and acaryas who may not fit our modern day portrayal of leadership as required by Iskcon. Our largely vaidhi and sadhana based lifestyle would probably not accommodate them.
If we take Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja for instance, would he fit in comfortably into one of our temples as a leader? He isn’t just a leader, but an acarya recognizable by those possessed of pure spiritual vision. Yet his penchant for seclusion, constant chanting and avadhuta behavior may not endear him very much to those who see with external vision. In fact, hardly anyone would recognize his true worth, and his apparently unproductive contribution to the temple may result in his sadly being asked to leave the temple.
His leadership is borne of sheer purity and renunciation, and he performed spiritual life in his siddha-deha in tune to the asta-kaliya times of the day. He wasn’t a coordinator or anything like that, but his command would be sacrosanct to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur who coordinated and organized thousands of disciples.
From the above example we can see that being a leader is not all about organizing, coordinating and administrative work. Needless to say, those who are vaisnavas are above all other designations. If a sannyasa or brahmana is a leader of the various orders of life, this role is fulfilled more by exemplary behavior, giving wise counsel, advising, teaching and so on.
When the sannyasa and brahminically minded devotees engage in affairs of management more suited for a ksatriya administrative type, even though vaisnavas can bypass the varna and asrama roles, it does not bode well for any prospect of implementing varnasrama-dharma within Iskcon. We either stick with what we are doing now, or forget about varnasrama talk for a couple more decades.
It usually happens if someone excels in a particular service, they become party leaders or departmental heads. Then we get some individuals who are competent or educated, will also be given a chance to manage. Then the vexing question must arise, does the position being held equal the spiritual advancement of the devotee? We can turn the question around and ask, does one have the spiritual qualifications for a certain managerial or important position?
The questions are raised because in many cases there seems to be a fixation on awarding outward results with responsibility, as opposed to apparent meager results shown by more inward brahminical devotees. Yet both types are leadership material in their own rights. Then we could have a scenario where a less spiritually qualified person is dictating to a more spiritually qualified devotee under his care, which has happened before.
So really there are two types of leaders under discussion, and they are not always being occupied in the right places. The GBC can be likened to a collective king or monarchy, but we do not have an advisory council for this body. Do we need one?
Not too long ago there were times when Srila Prabhupada countered and overruled certain policies endorsed by the then GBC. Was he not playing the sagely advisory role then, even though it was his solemn right to do so? In other words, the sannyasis and brahminical devotees who are presently managing the GBC affairs which could be done by trained sober ksatriya devotees can find their rightful place in an advisory council for the GBC.
This is not to say the GBC loses its power. It still retains the ultimate managerial authority. In politics the general politicians run the country. But they do not decide on every single bit of legislation that passes before them. The important ones are passed on to the upper chamber, or upper house (House of Lords) for the wise experienced men to deliberate and pass judgment. It goes back to parliament, or in Iskcon’s case, the GBC, where it is passed into law or whatever. By the way, this British system has endured for centuries, so something must be right.
Such a system in Iskcon will provide equitable employment for the brahmanas and sannyasis in the upper house of the advisory sagely committee, and the naturally gifted ksatriya devotees to run the GBC. Should this ever happen it will kick start the implementation of varnasrama-dharma at it would have started from the top.
There has been talk of a leadership academy to help train future leaders in Iskcon. While nothing can compensate for real ‘tread of the mill’ training learnt through the local temples with a little outside ‘pundit’ management know-how, nothing can beat following the core principles set by Srila Prabhupada. We want the right devotees to be in the right places.
If any insinuation of exclusivity is attached to the academy it will brew resentment and other unwanted feelings. In the military and corporate world the officers and management have their own canteens, bathrooms and other amenities separate from the gentry. We cannot emulate their ways.
While doing service in management, if it is taxing enough to interfere with basic hearing and chanting, we cannot always plead for Srila Prabhupada’s example of managing Iskcon and doing many other things too. He was after all a self realized soul. For him, managing or living in a grass hut were the same, his equilibrium stayed intact. For a Sadhaka busily engaged in management while trying to be self-realized, can be a slower way if the basics are compromised.
The devotees within Iskcon try to develop humility and glorify other devotees. This very liberal behavior can empower a leader among us who must have his senses under control. The humility of the devotees can cause a leader to abuse his position. It should go without saying that choosing the right devotees for leadership positions is a serious duty.
The ideal blend of being together and organized, and spiritually serious should put one up for candidature. It may be difficult to detect unwanted motivation in a leader until some unpleasant behavior is exposed. But then, if it comes to choosing between someone who wants to be a leader and someone who doesn’t, would it not be better to go for the reluctant leader?
Ys, Kesava Krsna dasa.
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Leadership in Krishna consciousness translates as service to Sri Guru and Vaishnava. There is naturally suspicion that creeps up upon us when we see others who have let us down. That is natural. But, we must believe that Krishna must provide us with association of bhaktas commensurate with our surrender to Him. “As they surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly”. We need to cultivate sincerity within ourselves and have faith that our service is reaching to the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord by the grace of Sri Gurudeva.
I have shared this elsewhere, but Srila Prabhupad used to use the expression: “England with all her faults, still I love thee.” He used this in context of acceptance of one’s gurudeva, even if I perceive some flaws,…that I accept Sri Gurudeva with love and faithful service. It is not such a “heady” position, really. adau shraddha sadhu sanga…this is the only process we have. Then, what of unfortunate situations where one’s guru might fall away from acceptable vaishnava behavior. It is a difficult situation. We simply must have faith that Krishna will supply us with proper association to continue the progressive march back to Home, back to Godhead.
Remember that Lord Chaitanyadeva gave us the formula for purity, the guide for Sankirtan, in His 8 prayers. There we see that one should not desire wealth, following, sensual enjoyment exploiting matter, nor more subtle tendencies. Desiring, hankering for the service of Sri Guru and Krishna is all that matters. When in my early days in Krishna consciousness, I had taken sanyas from Srila Prabhupad for preaching, Srila Prabhupad wrote me one letter advising me to “do as I am doing…sometimes managing, sometimes cooking, sometimes cleaning, etc.” In other words, we should not be puffed up and think that something is beneath us when it comes to service. Srila Prabhupad practically demonstrated that as he established the movement. When one does not follow that simple recommendation, then pretentiousness can enter, and ‘pride precedeth the fall.”
Aspire to chant the Holy Name with a clean heart, to share Krishna consciousness with deep responsibility to the Parampara, and to expect Krishna’s protection at all times. Management should be undertaken with the spirit that Srila Prabhupad described, as one’s duty to Sri Gurudeva, and not to expect special favor. Pusta Krishna das
Very nicely phrased! Important points by both Keshava Krsna and Pusta Krishna Prabhus!
Although I’m not sure if I necessarily agree about England having a system of management that’s really been truly tested by time. It’s still too early to tell. It would be good if the right type of varnashram discussion were continued by deeply commited actual participants under the truly impartial and capable guidance of real brahmanas (those who have actually realized Brahman). Personally, my own conviction is that there is no other socio-religio-economic system that even remotely compares in terms of achieving perfect world harmony for the real benefit of everyone. And now is the time. Sometimes if not for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.
Perhaps we might completely disregard apparent external qualification for manifest spiritual authority and therefore consider Srila Babaji Maharaj himself as an ideal example of perfect spiritual leadership. If spirit is truly our prime concern. And he was well-known for his reluctance to accept even Srila Saraswati Thakur himself as a student.
Possibly, we might consider that any temple within the real line of Srila Saraswati Thakur which lacked the vision to see what truly spiritual benefit might be mutually derived from such reluctant transcendental guidance can’t have much real spiritual benefit for anyone.
Real quality guidance and leadership is what we all really need. And not mere external bureaucratic administration, however expert. The real thing that drives the true dynamism of any ostensibly religious body is it’s true inner heart and soul. Doubtless, organization and order are indeed useful and necessary. But in the same way that form and function should support and serve actual inner substance. And the promotion or cultivation thereof. Within everyone.
It’s certainly reasonable to expect and hope for sincerity and utmost integrity as a prerequisite for true leadership. However, individual conscience itself (or what Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur refers to as “…the peace of conscience…”) is the introspective gauge by which all might harshly judge their own inner sincerity, integrity and motivations. By subjective conscience, the greatest leaders of our Sampradaya such as Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu Himself reckoned Themselves unqualified to lead and were therefore extremely reluctant to do so while remaining eternal fools at Sri Guru’s Lotus Feet.
Who has realized Brahman? No, who has realized Krishna! Tattva vidhas, jnaninas tattva darshanah. We want leaders to whom Sri Krishna has come and revealed His truth, and if not, leaders who have full faith in this truth. Param brahma, param dhama…we are interested in Varnasrama Dharma in as much as it organizes society the way that Krishna has created it…catur varnyam maya sristam. It is because it can serve Krishna’s purpose that it becomes of value. And, babaji or grihastha or sanyas, if we find a vaishnava, then we want their association and guidance and example. That is our hope.
Now, we are part of a society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, that is similarly a society based on one thing: Krishna Consciousness. And, we have the guidance of Srila Prabhupad who willed that this worldwide society would be managed by a multi-headed group called the GBC. We have heard that Krishna is an Autocrat. But, Srila Prabhupad wants a society that will serve that Autocrat, not people who want to imitate the Autocrat. In other words, Srila Prabhupad saw in the Gaudiya Math how desire for position distorted the message of Sarasvati Thakur, not universally but generally. Even the leaders of their offshoot missions do not trust one another. Hence, the GBC!!!!!!! Not perfect, but obedient to the spirit of Srila Prabhupad. Consider even some of our Godbrothers who have achieved so much success and adoration within their family of disciples or in their preaching areas, stalwart Godbrothers like BhaktiSwarup Damodar Maharaj, Gour Govinda Maharaj, even our beloved Jayapataka Maharaj currently striken by a serious stroke, if any of these bhaktas had been elevated to the “post” of singular leader of ISKCON, there would have been chaos time after time after time…Hence, Srila Prabhupad’s ideal of a multi-person GBC is brilliant, sustainable, and provides the checks and balances to avoid despotism, misdirection of a dangerous kind, and provides the practical management that a society such as ISKCON needs to continue its mission of service to Srila Prabhupad, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, and to the worldwide family of bhaktas past present and future. Voila! There you have it. At least, that is how I have captured what Srila Prabhupad wanted to convey to us. If presented like this, perhaps it will be sustainable, without envy. If you will lead, you must be first and foremost a servant not interested in leading. Pusta Krishna das
Leadership and management aren’t exactly the same thing. Leaders guide, whereas managers organize order out of chaos under hopefully good guidance. In the varnashram social model, the administrators manage society under the capable guidance of wisely impartial intellectuals in the earnest attempt to achieve mutual benefit and harmony in a God-centered civilization wherein all souls cooperate to satisfy the Center of the Complete Whole.
Please consider the following quotes from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada which I strongly feel concisely encapsulate his own view of how real spiritual leadership and management might manifest within his sacred mission:
“Please accept my blessings. Now you must arrange in each temple there must be sufficient stock of prasadam for distribution. You can keep first-class cooks, two or three, and they should always be engaged. Whenever any guest comes, he must get prasada. This arrangement must be made, that the cooks prepare ten-twenty servings at a time, of puris and sabji, and you can add halavah and pakoras, and the visitors must be supplied immediately. Whenever a gentleman comes, he must be served. As the twenty servings are being distributed, immediately the cooks prepare another twenty servings and store it. At the end of the day, if no one comes, our own men will take, so there is no loss. You cannot say, ‘It is finished. It is not cooked yet. There is no supply for cooking, etc.’ This must be enforced rigidly. The temple is managed by Srimati Radharani, Laksmiji; so why should there be want? Our philosophy is, if anyone comes, let him take prasada, chant Hare Krishna and be happy. Everything is being supplied by Krishna, Krishna is not poor, so why should we deny them? This should be done at any cost. There is no difficulty, it simply requires nice management. At the end of the day you may sell or give away. If we believe that Krishna is providing and maintaining everyone, then why should we be misers. This means losing faith in Krishna and thinking that we are the doers and suppliers. We are confident Krishna will supply! Let the whole world come, we can feed them. So, please, do this nicely, begin at once.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to all ISKCON, 1-18-1977)
“Yes, preaching is more important than managing. Just because you are preaching nicely and distributing so much prasadam, the management will follow like a shadow and Krishna will send you no end of help.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to SDG)