Hansadutta Excommunication A Myth Iskcon GBC

Hansadutta has never been excommunicated from Iskcon, it was an evil hoax only, perpretated by Tamal Krishna.

Hansadutta: "My personal experience is that Tamal is shameless and those under his diabolical influence in this matter are completely lacking in moral and spiritual integrity. Srila Prabhupada remarked correctly about Tamal that "Of all the GBCs, Tamal is the most intelligent. The trouble is: he wants to control everything. He wants to be the supreme controller." The fact that Tamal (leader of recent GOPI BHAVA, RASA-TATTVA, SIDDHAPRANALI, RAGANUGA BHAKTI CLUB), by his expert diplomacy and manipulation, could perpetrate such an evil hoax against me and the GBC and ISKCON godbrothers is certain testimony to his supreme control over the society of dvotees, both in and out of ISKCON."

Having fallen from the devotional standard of behaviour during the early eighties and undergoing many years of anguish, repentance and purification, sometime in 1990-1991 I began to feel a great desire to associate with ISKCON devotees once again.

I had always taken it for granted that I was excommunicated by the GBC, having read it in a newspaper at the time (1983). However, I never received any communication, either by letter or word, to confirm this fact. Naturally the thought came to me that I should address this question so that the GBC might not think that I was attempting to ignore their authority.

Bhakti Charu Swami suggested I inquire by letter to Virabahu das, the GBC Chairman at the time. A year passed—he never replied. I decided to associate personally with my godbrothers of by-gone days, hoping thereby to resolve past offences, suspicions and reservations that were standing in the way of my desire to participate in Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON once again. In 1991, I spent three months in the association of Bhakti Charu Swami, and later that year, two months in Vrindaban, India during Karttik. During those times I met many of my old godbrothers, like Tamal Krishna Goswami, Bhurijan, Giriraja Swami, Mukunda Goswami, etc.

It was a very enlivening experience for me, and I took the opportunity to reveal my heart and mind openly. However, I had one fear, and that was to become the object of official meetings, committees and formal resolutions. Therefore, I requested Tamal Krishna Goswami and Bhakti Charu Swami not to go back to Mayapur during Gaura Purnima and deal with me in a formal way by conducting a meeting and sending me a formal resolution. I was not interested in any formal position or formal declaration in regards to my person. I simply had it in mind to be able to associate with ISKCON devotees for my own spiritual well being.

Since Virabahu never replied my inquiry regarding the EXCOMMUNICATION ORDER against me, I suggested to Bhakti Charu that perhaps he could look into that for me and let me know what the actual fact was.

Feeling quite enlivened after two months in Vrindaban, I returned to USA. Then in April of 1992, I was shocked and astonished to receive the letter of "14 Guidelines for Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON." That letter and the subsequent correspondence make up the bulk of this presentation.

In September of the same year (1992), I again went to Vrindaban, India, thinking perhaps by personal association with my godbrothers this unhappy situation could be resolved, and even if it could not be perfectly resolved, I could live with an insensitive form letter from the GBC. After all, I haven't exactly been a saint in the past. In that sense, their letter was understandable. However, I received an even greater shock in October of 1992, during my visit to Vrindaban, India, when repeatedly questioning Bhurijan (then GBC Chairman) about the circumstances which led to the formulation of the "14 Guidelines" letter. Feeling guilty and sympathetic to my situation, he confessed in embarrassment: "Actually there is NO EXCOMMUNICATION ORDER. There never was any such EXCOMMUNICATION ORDER against Hansadutta." (Later in the USA, Mrigendra das, Attorney at Law devotee, researched the GBC resolutions and confirmed this fact. See letter enclosed, on p. viii) Bhurijan asked me to keep this revelation a secret, since he was not supposed to tell me.

However, I wanted to see if my old friend Tamal Krishna Goswami would be as candid and honest as Bhurijan had been with me in this matter, so I paid him a visit. Much to my disappointment, instead of being honest with me concerning the "excommunication order," he tried to intimidate me, questioning my integrity in allowing VVR to publish both the GBC's letter to me and my reply to them. Thinking I was still in the dark, he tried to perpetuate the myth that "Hansadutta was excommunicated" and now that I had acted so disrespectfully towards the GBC by letting VVR publish their letter of "14 Guidelines for Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON," my chances for lifting the excommunication order were practically nil. "You made a big mistake," said Tamal. "No one will ever trust you now."

What could I say? Lying point blank, my old friend and godbrother, His Divine Grace Tamal Krishna Goswami. I kept Bhurijan's secret a secret and left that place quite shocked and devastated.

Why have I taken the trouble to bring all this to your attention? Because I think unless we resolve all these knots in the heart (both theirs and mine), we will not be able to UNITE for the service of Srila Prabhupada, who brought us all together in order to help him push on his ISKCON. Without pleasing Srila Prabhupada, we cannot make any advancement, and therefore our life is spoiled. I greatly desire the company of all my godbrothers, but it is not happening for me and many other old godbrothers who are by the wayside, constantly remembering (SMARANAM) those happy days when all of us were united under the lotus feet of our MASTER, Srila Prabhupada. All of us want this association, but it is not possible if we continue to insist on maintaining the artificial postures we have assumed as GURU-ACHARYAS.

The correct position of the leading disciples of Srila Prabhupada is to present themselves as the rittvik representatives of the ACHARYA, as Srila Prabhupada specifically prescribed in his last letters (July 9th, 10th and 11th, 1977) and conversations thereafter. Anything other than this will only perpetuate the on-going disintegration of Srila Prabhupada's world-wide mission, ISKCON --"a house the whole world can live in.

Since I received no reply from the GBC or any other godbrothers regarding the excommunication order, I asked Mrgendra Prabhu to research the GBC files, and he wrote the following letter:

Dear Prabhus:
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have checked the published International GBC Resolutions before 1992 and found 27 references to Hansadutta or Hamsadutta. None of them indicated that he is or has been "excommunicated" from ISKCON or that he was not allowed to visit ISKCON facilities or lead kirtan or give classes.

Hansadutta: I was of course happy to learn that contrary to the commonly accepted assumption (that Hansadutta is an excommunicated disciple), I am as much part of ISKCON as any devotee and therefore eligible to participate in Prabhupada's ISKCON mission with full enthusiasm.

Hansadutta das, Geyserville, California
FebruARY 10, 1993

Dear GBC and Guru Godbrothers:

Please accept my humble obeisances. It has been almost a year since our exchange of letters initiated by your letter of "14 Guidelines Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON." To date I have received no official reply from the GBC to my letter dated 11 july, 1992. Why the silence?

Since meeting Tamal and Bhurijana last year in Vrindaban during Karttik, I have come to know that there actually is no excommunication order against Hansadutta. There never was (see Mrigendra's letter above)—a fact that any one of you could have easily accessed with the push of a computer button and informed me accordingly, when I inquired two years ago from the GBC Chairman and others. A fact, I am sure, Bhakti Charu Swami, Harivilas and Badrinarayan das were well aware of when they sat down to discuss my "Welcoming Back to ISKCON" letter. The obvious question is: Why is this kind of thing allowed to go on? Where is the honesty, integrity, love and trust? Why have Tamal, Bhakti Charu, Harivilas, Badrinarayan and a number of others who claim to be representatives of Prabhupada's ISKCON deliberately conspired in this underhanded way to try and keep me out of the association of Prabhupada's ISKCON movement ("a house the whole world can live in") and simultaneously make bombastic propaganda of re-uniting Prabhupada's family?

My personal experience is that Tamal is shameless and those under his diabolical influence in this matter are completely lacking in moral and spiritual integrity. Srila Prabhupada remarked correctly about Tamal that "Of all the GBCs, Tamal is the most intelligent. The trouble is: he wants to control everything. He wants to be the supreme controller." The fact that Tamal (leader of recent GOPI BHAVA, RASA-TATTVA, SIDDHAPRANALI, RAGANUGA BHAKTI CLUB), by his expert diplomacy and manipulation, could perpetrate such an evil hoax against me and the GBC and ISKCON godbrothers is certain testimony to his supreme control over the society of dvotees, both in and out of ISKCON.

Aside from the above-mentioned facts, how is it that the GBC body could dare to issue an official letter stating that "Hansadutta should lead no kirtan, give no lectures, may be barred from ISKCON temples, return BBT books, pay monies" for non-existent debts (see Bhakta Rupa's letter, p. 7), etc.?

These demands are diametrically opposed to all the gurus, sadhus and shastras. Are these demands inspired by Prabhupada? Do you think Prabhupada would have ordered me like you have ordered?

Hansadutta, an initiated disciple of 25 years, is barred from kirtan, lectures and temples, but admitted homosexual and heroine addict Boy George is asked to lead kirtan in Moscow before 30,000 people? Please explain. Please quote authorised sadhu, guru, shastra and examples from Prabhupada's personal dealings of how your demands are the acceptable instructions of the bona fide acharya gurus and direct representatives of Prabhupada, Founder-acharya of ISKCON, which you claim to be.

If you cannot bring authorised Vedic evidences to support your preposterous demands, I suggest that you resign your posts as guru-acharyas, to which you have no claim, because you have violated the most basic tenant of Lord Chaitanya's instructions: kirtanya sada hari: "One should chant Hare Krishna always."

In addition, I have observed, along with other new and old devotees alike, in my travels and meetings with various gurus, GBCs, etc. that at least five of you live in fabulous private homes, comfortably staffed with female cooks, a number of butlers and a number of messengers. The only thing missing in that environment is a wife. Other than that, I'm sure these homes would qualify for a feature story in Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

I can understand why literally hundreds and thousands of Prabhupada's disciples world-wide find your leadership totally lacking in moral and spiritual integrity. When I fell from my spiritual standard 10 years ago, I felt I must be honest and so voluntarily withdrew from my official ISKCON responsibilities, handing over all assets to ISKCON leaders. Perhaps the most painful thing for me to see over the years about many GBC guru godbrothers is that they are lacking in honesty and integrity, and their practical activities are full of hypocrisy and ambition to enjoy the prestige and luxuries of spiritual leader-ship, but they cannot deliver real spiritual goods when called for.

Be honest with yourselves. If Prabhupada were here today, what do you think he would say, seeing your private households, hearing your talks of raganuga bhakti, vjallanilamani, siddhapranali, etc. and your letter of "14 Guidelines for Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON?" Prabhupada is the yardstick by which we can measure the spiritual substance of a thing.

The demands you have made in your letter of "14 Guidelines" -- "Lead no kirtan in temples or large public functions" and that I give no class in temples or large public functions and that I may be barred from entering any temple at the discretion of the local authority -- are exactly like the advice given by Shukracharya to Bali Maharaja to give nothing to Vishnu in the form of Vamana Deva. Bali deliberated on this advice and decided to reject his guru, because his guru had instructed him to act against the principles of Vishnu bhakti or Krishna consciousness.

Prabhupada's comment in the purport to this incident: "Anyone who is supposed to be a guru but goes against the principles of Vishnu bhakti cannot be accepted as a guru. One should reject him." So I must reject all of you GBC godbrothers and gurus of ISKCON and advise others to do likewise, if you insist on this line of instructions.

I am not objecting to your letter of "14 Guidelines" simply because it was written to me, but because IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO ANYONE. Your letter is NAMA APARADHA, GURU APARADHA and VAISHNAVA APARADHA, all in one stroke. No one can be restricted from chanting NAMA. To lead or to follow kirtan—both are the same. Everyone is a Vaishnava, either conscious or unconscious. So no one can tell anyone under any condition to stop chanting, leading kirtan or following kirtan. The fact that one is trying to control the kirtan by checking the singer is symptomatic of a material conception of the Holy Name. The guru is supposed to be above such mistakes.

I humbly suggest you give up your false postures before your godbrothers and sisters and before Prabhupada. Let us truly unite under the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada without all this false posturing and serve Prabhupada's mission together, as we did when he was with us physically and thereby demonstrate our love for him now.

I hope this letter finds you well.
Your humble servant, Hansadutta das

P.S. Regarding your alliance with Narayan Maharaja, especially in regards to raganuga bhakti, etc., it is the greatest offence to entertain this kind of unfaithful disloyalty to Prabhupada. "One who has unflinching faith in the spiritual master and the shastras—to him only all the imports of Vedic literatures are revealed." Prabhupada said, "Everything I had to say I have given in my books." (May 17, 1977, Vrindaban) And in October, 1977, he declared, "I shall always remain your personal guide, whether I am present or not." What need is there of amendments to Prabhupada's teachings by doubtful outside authorities who claim: "He (Prabhupada) only had a little time, so he preached only general things....He has written so many things in his books, but he could not give it all." (Narayan Maharaja) Has Narayan Maharaja actually read all of Prabhupada's books?

Hansadutta Prabhu was excommunicated from ISKCON (or so it was commonly accepted) by the GBC in 1983. He was once very much a part of the GBC/guru elite, and he regretfully experienced many problems in his spiritual life. For the last nine years or so, he has lived in California, humbled and repentant. Last year, he spent four months travelling in India with senior GBCs and became inspired to try to contribute some service directly to Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON once again. He submitted a request for his excommunication to be lifted and for some devotional service. What follows are the GBC reply and Hansadutta Prabhu's comments along with letters written by him and concerned devotees. This exchange is valuable for showing the restrictive mood in the GBC, and also shows the need for compassion and forgiveness amongst our own brethren.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I'm writing this letter on behalf of the GBC body. Somehow, by a quirk of fate, I am the Chairman this year. You wrote to Virabahu months ago about lifting the "excommunication" order against you. I've been requested to answer it. The body discussed your situation and concluded that you should follow the following guidelines.

Hamsadutta Prabhu and his followers must sign the ISKCON "oath of allegiance." Proof must be given that a good faith, serious effort to get his followers to comply was made.

All antagonistic activities against ISKCON must stop. (Hamsadutta Prabhu should instruct and supervise his followers to see that they co-operate.) He should confirm co-operation with the GBCs in Malaysia and Singapore—Prabhavishnu Maharaja and Kavichandra Maharaja.

There should be no visits to Malaysia or Singapore. Correction of followers can be done via the mail and telephone, etc.

The GBC executive committee will appoint a committee to determine Hamsadutta Prabhu's financial obligation in the Rahugana vs. ISKCON Berkeley case. He must make reasonable and regular payments.

Hamsadutta Prabhu and his followers should cease infringing on BBT copyright material, especially Every Town And Village.

Hamsadutta Prabhu and his followers should make satisfactory restitution to the BBT for all past infringements.

Hamsadutta Prabhu and his followers should turn over all books and literature containing BBT material which they cannot prove, to the BBT's satisfaction, was purchased from a current division of the BBT.

Hamsadutta Prabhu may be barred from particular temples at the discretion of the local leaders.

The following guidelines are particularly for Hamsadutta Prabhu's personal development and purification.

Hamsadutta Prabhu should make a conscious effort to maintain a humble profile.

Hamsadutta Prabhu should assume no leadership role.

Hamsadutta Prabhu should give class in temples or large public functions. Home programs are acceptable. [I think here the typist must have made a mistake—"You can give class, but no kirtan!" "You can pass stool, but not urine!"—Hansadutta]

Hamsadutta Prabhu should lead no kirtanas in temples or large public functions. Regular street harinama or home programs are acceptable.

Hamsadutta Prabhu should present a public written apology.

Hamsadutta Prabhu should visit Mayapura prior to Gaura Purnima next year and meet with a group of GBC men to discuss his past difficulties. The purpose of this meeting is to help him ascertain and rectify the internal difficulties which led to his past problems.

We sincerely hope that you will follow these guidelines and facilitate the GBC body's welcoming you back to ISKCON. Please write me in Vrindaban if I can be of any service.

Your servant,
Bhurijana dasa
Chairman 1992-1993

[Bhurijana did write later and expressed his regret about this letter and assured me I was always welcome to lead kirtana in Vrindaban.—Hansadutta]

Letter to Bhakti Charu Swami

Hansadutta das, Vrindaban, India
October 29, 1992

Dear Bhakti Charu Swami:

Please accept my obeisances. I received your letter dated 27th September 1992. You did not send a copy of the letter you supposedly sent me in warning of the "14 Guidelines" letter of the GBC.

First of all, the GBC's letter is a response to points I never asked them to consider. I did not ask for position, engagement or to lead kirtan or to give class or to be welcomed back to ISKCON. This unsolicited response is self-incriminating, as in the story of the master of the house who woke to the sounds of an apparent intruder. When he called out, "WHO'S THERE?" the servant foolishly replied, "NO! NO! MASTER, I'M NOT STEALING!!!"

The next point is, of all people, you being such a well-read and cultured devotee, sitting on the sub-committee, how could you write: "Hansadutta should lead no kirtan in temples or large public functions" and "Hansadutta should give no class in temples or large public functions," further: "Hansadutta may be barred from entering temples!"

You can't understand that you all have committed NAMA APARADHA, VAISHNAVA APARADHA and GURU APARADHA?? All in one stroke! Why can't you see that? Prabhupada personally ordered me: "Lead kirtan and preach all over the world." Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is KIRTANYA SADA HARI. Are you all big GBC GURUS more authoritative than GURU and GAURANGA? PURE IMPUDENCE.

I think you have misunderstood my determination. I think you have misunderstood Prabhupada. If you are fortunate, Krishna will take everything away from you and then it will be seen what your actual spiritual substance is.

I cannot believe, of all people, that you and Tamal Krishna and who else is involved could write to anyone: "Should lead NO KIRTAN in temples or give no class in temples." Where else does one give class or lead kirtan except in temples and PUBLIC FUNCTIONS? Do you think Prabhupada would ever ORDER ME LIKE THAT? Why do you DARE TO STEP BETWEEN myself and my spiritual master, Prabhupada? You or any GBC do not have that right. I am not your disciple! I am the DISCIPLE of PRABHUPADA—NOT the GBC!

You all are so obviously envious that "If he (Hansadutta) leads kirtan, someone may be attracted to him, and then what will we do?!" You are such a fool. You dare to ORDER against all Vedic authorities—"NO KIRTAN"—and still after writing to you GBCs my seven-page reply to your "14 GUIDELINES for Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON," you keep silent and plead innocent—"I was not there." What audacity! Your whole letter is PURE VAISHNAVA, NAMA and GURU APARADHA! SAVE YOURSELF, NOT OTHERS!

You want to represent Prabhupada and dictate orders, but the most basic and elementary truths you have not realised! Kirtanya sada hari!

I suggest you and others involved resign from the GURU and GBC BUSINESS, because it appears you are spiritually bankrupt.

Your humble servant,
Hansadutta das

Dear Lokanatha Maharaja :
Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances.

vande sri krishna chaitanya nityanandau
sahoditau gaudodaye puspavan tau chitrau
samdau tamo nudau

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and the moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all." (Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi-lila 1.2)

I am humbly writing Your Holiness to clarify a few points which have been discussed by numerous devotees, especially in the west coast of the United States. It has been brought to my attention that the Governing Body Commission (GBC) of our movement has issued a 14-point letter, demanding various conditions to be fulfilled for the lifting of the excommunication of a former GBC member and guru, Sriman Hansadutta das.

The issue has been brought up in the controversial Vedic Village Review (issue #18). His reply to the general mass of devotees was also published in the same issue.

If I may respectfully submit a few observations before Your Holiness, I trust you will forgive my taking a few minutes of your precious time.

1) While I do not have all of the resolutions of the GBC in this regard, I have heard from various sources that the GBC never in fact passed a resolution excommunicating the said Hamsadutta. Then why did they state in their letter (Bhurijana's letter to Hamsadutta, dated March 16th, 1992): "...Lifting the excommunication order against you?"

2) Point #8 in that letter stated: "Hamsadutta Prabhu may be barred from particular temples at the discretion of the leaders." I fail to understand the shastric validity of this pronouncement. Srila Prabhupada always encouraged his disciples to take part in the functions at our ISKCON temples. This is the kind of edict one might expect from the KGB or some banana republic state police, but is this the kind of Vaishnava treatment that we are supposed to bestow on a godbrother?

What kind of Vaishnava hospitality is this? On one hand the GBC claims that they have reformed and that the old exploitive system of the "zonal acharya" days are supposedly over, and yet they send a letter like this to a Vaishnava godbrother who has sincerely tried to rectify his character and resume his sadhana and make every conceivable effort to adopt a humble attitude and apologize for his past mistakes.

This letter sends very dangerous signals to the mass of devotees currently alienated by the GBC and their past behaviors, and in many instances unrepentant and unapologetic attitudes. What does this say to all of those people who may want to again sincerely render some tangible devotional service for Srila Prabhupada's movement?

What is the big fear if this Vaishnava visits a temple? What are they so afraid of? First, it is important to consider that Prabhupada adopted a very different attitude than the one reflected in their letter. His attitude towards his disciples who had left the mission but sincerely wanted to come back and serve was: "Come back and chant, preach and take prasadam." He never told anyone, "Yes, you may come back, but be aware that we can kick you out anytime at the discretion of the temple leaders." What is this mentality? What does this have to do with kripa sindhubhya eva cha?

This mentality has nothing to do with Vaishnava compassion and mercy, but seems to be one of fear nad materialistic consideration.

3) Point #9 states: "Hamsadutta Prabhu should make a conscious effort to maintain a humble profile." Amazing. Absolutely astounding. I mean, what a profound statement! What else is Hamsadutta trying to do? After being publicly humiliated, being elevated to the highest respect and then falling down and now sincerely trying to pick himself up and follow the instruction of our spiritual master, now he is being told to make a conscious effort to be humble! But the way this is being presented, it indirectly implies that he is trying to be the most arrogant fellow in the movement.

What other attitude than trinad api sunichena is he adopting by humbly asking to render some service and again associating with devotees?

Another point is that many of the individuals on the current board could use some of the same advice themselves. Some of their behaviors towards Prabhupada's disciples, as well as their own duplicitous behavior among themselves, could use a dose of trinad api sunichena. You may take a look at the language in the ISKCON Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1 to get a little idea of what I am referring to. And besides, the impudent imitation of His Divine Grace (with lavish guru pujas, simultaneous guru pujas, pada pujas in front of the deities, self-bestowed titles, etc., etc.) for 10 years following his disappearance in 1977 by many of the very individuals on the board who are now advising him to adopt a humble profile, has yet to be publicly apologized for. Should they not show by example?

4) Point #11 states: "Hamsadutta should give class [typing mistake here from the GBC letter] in temples or large public functions."

Maharaja, as you can obviously see, this letter gets better and better. Why is he being told that he can't preach in a temple? What else is there to do in a temple but to preach about Krishna, Lord Chaitanya, Hari Nama, etc., etc.? But what do they expect he would do in a Krishna temple? What is the harm if he goes there and preaches about Krishna and Lord Chaitanya? He is (was) not going to Christianity or yoga classes or Mayavada philosophy! I mean, this devotee was personally trained by Prabhupada to preach for over 11 years, and despite his past problems, he wanted to come back and preach, and the leaders on the GBC say, "No class or lecture in the temple for you." Where is the scriptural evidence for this kind of prohibitive behavior?

As a matter of fact, this prohibition goes against the principles of Krishna bhakti.

If I may respectfully point out one personal experience to Your Holiness. In 1975, in January, we (Gurukripa and I) had returned from Japan, and we went to Hawaii for one month. Hamsadutta Prabhu had returned from Germany, where the police had confiscated a large sum of money and started legal proceedings against our movement. Prabhupada had chastised Hamsadutta Prabhu (Maharaja at the time) for the problems in Germany. However, Prabhupada, upon seeing the genuine repentance and sincere service attitude, allowed him to lead kirtana and give classes in the Honolulu temple.

I personally saw in one instance where in front of all the devotees Prabhupada requested him to lead kirtana, and as a matter of fact was very pleased with his kirtana.

Prabhupada did not try to cast him in the bottom of the ocean. No. He encouraged him. He gave him mercy and asked him to keep preaching.

But the GBC has an entirely different attitude. No classes in the temples. What is this? Are they afraid that he might attract some souls with his preaching? Oh, what a great danger. Imagine if some conditioned souls should be attracted upon hearing the glories of Krishna or Lord Chaitanya from Hamsadutta in a class? Prabhupada was not the least concerned. Though he did directly encourage him to preach and lead kirtana in Hawaii in 1975, why is it that Prabhupada's representatives cannot adopt the kind and merciful attitude that he manifested?

5) Point #12 reads: "Hamsadutta should lead no kirtana in temples or large public functions. Regular street harinama or home programs are acceptable."

What more can be said? Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, kirtaniyah sada harih, but the GBC says NO kirtaniyah sada harih. On one hand they say that everyone should always chant Hare Krishna, but not Hamsadutta in the temples. if Hamsadutta is considered good enough to chant Hari Nama in the street, why is he not good enough to chant in the temple? What is the harm there?

Why the discrimination? It is okay in the street, but not okay to lead in the temples. What kind of mentality is this? Again, Prabhupada never approved of this kind of partial discrimination. The chanting of the name of Krishna is the recommended panacea for anyone who has experienced difficulties in his spiritual life. If a devotee is considered good enough to lead kirtana in a harinama party, or at home programs, why is he not good enough to lead in the temple? As a matter of fact, Your Holiness may be aware that many of our temples, especially in North America, are currently very short of devotee (man) power, so if an experienced devotee would lead kirtana, this might attract both devotees and non-devotees to participate. But our GBC godbrothers do not seem to agree.

One point which I find difficult to understand is that in 1986 the GBC re-instated and placed almost no restriction on a known homosexual guru, known to have engaged in deviant sexual relations with taxi drivers, so-called brahmacharis and young boys, but in this particular case of a sincere devotee who has resumed his sadhana and his regular chanting and sincerely wants to do service and chant the Holy Name of Krishna in the Vaishnava temples, he is being told of so many restrictions. If a homosexual can be allowed to function as a guru, then why can't a reformed Vaishnava be allowed to chant in Prabhupada's temples?

Maharaja, I do not wish to bother you with all of this, but you are a respectable sannyasi and one of the foremost Hari Nama preachers in our movement. Besides, you are born in the land of Bharata Bhumi, the place of Vaishnava Vedic culture. You have had the merciful association of a pure devotee of the Lord, Srila Prabhupada. As such, I am appealing humbly before your lotus feet to kindly enlighten me regarding these contradictions and these various points.

It would seem to me that if our movement stands any chance of re-uniting and bringing back Prabhupada's disciples under the shelter of HIS MOVEMENT, the insensitive attitude manifested by the GBC's letter to Hamsadutta will have to change. Hopefully Your Holiness will be a catalyst for such change.

Yours in Prabhupada's service,
Yashodanandan Das

P.S. I have noticed that in your first Prabhupada Centennial proposal paper at Mayapur in March of 1992 you included a recital for resolving contentious philosophical issues, but in your official publication published from your New Delhi headquarters the same point was omitted. Why? Why is the GBC not committed to resolve and/or discuss the still unresolved contentious philosophical issues? Hare Krishna.

Hansadutta das, Geyserville, California
July 11, 1992

Dear Nityananda Prabhu:

Please accept my most humble obeisances. Enclosed is the letter you requested which I received April 28, 1992, in response to a letter sent to Virabahu a year earlier, inquiring of him (he was the GBC Chairman at the time) what I should do to be able to associate with ISKCON devotees once again.

The GBC's reply, as you can well imagine, was very disheartening for me. Since receiving it, I have thought long and hard how to reply to it. To date I have still not been able to formulate a suitable response.

I thought if Prabhupada were physically present, kirtan and preaching are the two engagements he would have me do. But my godbrothers have prescribed NO KIRTAN, NO PREACHING for my spiritual well being.

A few days before leaving his body, Prabhupada remarked, "Hansadutta is expert in kirtan and preaching." However, Prabhupada's "representatives," the GBCs, have ordered no kirtan, no preaching for Hansadutta. Why?

Kirtan and preaching are the two engagements Prabhupada saw me fit to execute, and he always gave me tremendous encouragement, even when there was some mistake or discrepancy on my part, as there was in Germany. Therefore the contents of the GBC's letter left me lifeless. I did not expect this kind of insensitive and impersonal treatment from my godbrothers like Tamal Krishna Goswami, Harikesh Swami and least of all Bhakti Charu Swami, who last year practically took my hand, forcibly, but personally and with great affection was leading me back into ISKCON devotee association. Although I was hesitant, he reassured me again and again, "The mood has changed." Therefore you can understand how surprised I am at having received the enclosed letter. I am puzzled, and my mind has been unsettled for months. I have not been able to find the words to reply, nor do I know to whom I would address a reply. I thought I was among friends, a family, the family of Prabhupada, the family of KRISHNA.

But this Letter of "14 Guidelines" is more like something one might receive from the IRS or KGB. This is nothing heartfelt, compassionate or spiritual that one might expect from Prabhupada or the representative of Prabhupada or godbrothers with whom we spent almost 25 years executing Prabhupada's mission in different parts of the world.

After many weeks of serious deliberation, I decided that I should not take this letter as a personal affront, but as sent by providence, and as with all things one receives in this world of fortune and misfortune, offer this letter to Prabhupada and KRISHNA. I am Prabhupada's servant under all circumstances, in fortune and misfortune, for better or worse. Having been inspired to this conclusion, I have put the letter on the altar here at the lotus feet of Prabhupada and the beautiful deities of Radha Govinda. I have faith that by doing this I have done the correct thing, and Prabhupada and Krishna will guide me accordingly.

I do not wish to become ensnared in a vortex of actions and reactions, tit for tat, cursing and counter-cursing. It would be safe to say that Hansadutta is emblematic of the fallen ISKCON devotees and the GBC godbrothers, emblematic of the non-fallen ISKCON devotees. I ventured forward to find forgiveness, mercy, compassion and association of devotees, but an official letter is what I got. Perhaps others will have more luck.

My first response, after receiving this letter, was to write a point-for-point retaliation. Retaliate: meaning to tally up, to re-evaluate, to add up, calculate and then reply to the GBC body according to my calculations. But after a long, long time of praying to Prabhupada and Krishna, I have understood that my godbrothers (as the agents of Prabhupada and Krishna) do not want me to associate with ISKCON devotees, and I should remain at a distance. There is no service for Hansadutta in ISKCON, and I now humbly accept this as the arrangement of Krishna and Prabhupada.

However, for your readers, I do wish to make a few points. I have no followers anywhere in the world. I do not maintain anyone as my disciple, nor do I recruit disciples, although I do preach and lead kirtan when the opportunity presents itself. Whoever approaches me I instruct them to worship and follow Prabhupada as everyone should do. This I shall always continue, in spite of GBC resolutions.

Regarding Rahugana vs. ISKCON Berkeley, I left all ISKCON properties (real estate, books, monies, vehicles, etc.) and management responsibilities in the hands of the authorised ISKCON representative at the time of my expulsion from ISKCON ten years ago. These agents were responsible for all financial and administrative affairs upon their assuming office at that time. Why are these claims and demands for money being made at this late date after management has changed hands a dozen times after 1982?

Berkeley ISKCON has a tax problem with the IRS—not with me. At any rate, I have no responsibility in the matter since I left all assets in the responsible hand ten years ago. *See Bhakta Rupa's letter attached.

In my letter to Virabahu I did not request any leadership role or special engagement. My heartfelt desire was simply to be able to associate with Prabhupada's devotees again, for no other reason except my own spiritual upliftment and well being.

For almost ten years now I have had a dreaded phobia about my excommunication from ISKCON (like Christians have about mortal sin and condemnation to everlasting hell), but since the last year, I have realised that I have access to Prabhupada's mercy and the mercy of Krishna simply by my desiring sincerely to have their mercy through the chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna and strictly following the instructions of Prabhupada, as per his books and of course, as I heard them from him personally time and time again.

I do chant 16 rounds daily, have mangal artika and worship the beautiful deities of Radha Govinda (six-foot high marble deities). By the mercy of Krishna and Prabhupada, we have a beautiful property here in California, and also we have our own temple. There are about ten devotees here, and I cook prasadam for them and my family daily.

Last Sunday the mayor of Cloverdale, the Sonoma County Buildings Inspector and some other respectable guests attended our Sunday feast and participated in kirtan, enthusiastically chanting Hare Krishna. But I'm sure ISKCON would not approve of this "bogus arrangement," because in all the five years I have been here, they have neither visited nor communicated with us.

There is so much wrangling over ISKCON—what is ISKCON? Simply put, ISKCON is the flow of the transcendental knowledge beginning with Krishna, who imparted it to Brahma, who instructed Narada, on down through the stalwart acharyas in the disciplic succession, to our Srila Prabhupada and his sincere disciples.

ISKCON is like the flow of the Holy Ganges River coming down from Vaikuntha through the heavenly planets, falling on the head of Lord Shiva, then continuing down through the mighty peaks of the Himalaya Mountains, winding through the plains of India, entering the Bay of Bengal and mysteriously returning in its own way to Vaikuntha. Although heaps of garbage, debris and dead bodies can be seen on occasion to float in the Ganges, it is understood the Ganges is always pure, and no one can be restricted from taking advantage of the purifying power of the Ganges. One may bathe in the Ganges, but that does not mean he has become the Ganges. The Ganges remains the Ganges. It is not the property of any man, regardless of how pure and holy he may be. So one may be in ISKCON, but that does not mean he has become ISKCON, individually or collectively. ISKCON means the flow of transcendental instructions coming down from the spiritual world to the mighty mountain peaks of the great acharyas, Brahma, Narada, Vyasa, Madhvacharya, Ramanuja, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada and recently through His Divine Grace, our spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his sincere disciples.

So I do think it is presumptuous and sanctimonious of our godbrothers to think of themselves as the exclusive dispensers of Prabhupada and Krishna's mercy as a pharmacist dispenses prescription medicines in his shop. My personal realisation is that Prabhupada only is to be worshipped, and his disciples should teach that to all the world. They have suggested no kirtan, no preaching for Hansadutta. Such instructions are opposed to all the gurus, sadhus and shastras—how can I or anyone accept them? Krishna was kind to me: He humiliated me cent per cent, and now I can understand how utterly foolish, arrogant and polluted this egocentric ISKCON GBC leadership attitude is.

Prabhupada did not create ISKCON to give a few devotees administrative posts or positions of religious mentors for their personal sense gratification. He created ISKCON so the whole world could associate with him (the pure devotee), not his neophyte disciples. Prabhupada's disciples are supposed to help everyone associate with and serve Prabhupada, not spend Prabhupada's time and money and property for making endless administrative posts and regulations that do nothing more than entangle one in a network of friendship, society and diplomacy for perpetuating institutional positions.

As far as ISKCON gurus are concerned, having been one of them, I would like to say a word about the matter. Guru has a wide spectrum of understanding. If one says he is a businessman, that could mean he is the CEO of IBM, or he might be the owner of a small grocery store. So what calibre of a guru one is—that has to be understood by the one acting as guru. For a student of science, a professor is required in oder to study Einstein, and the students should have great respect for their professor, but if the professor thinks he should be regarded on the same level as Einstein or other such greats, he becomes ludicrous. Naturally the students may become infatuated or overzealous about their professor, thinking him to be as great as Einstein, but the professor should not think in that way. Children tend to think their father as the greatest man in the world, and that is healthy on the part of the children, but if the father were to thinks he is the greatest, he would be ridiculous. So our ISKCON situation is something like that. In other words, unless one knows what he actually is (self-realised), he is apt to lose his head (no pun intended).

So to some degree I have realised how foolish and utterly insignificant I am, and the process seems endless—seeing one's wretched, fallen position. But I feel fortunate. I feel Krishna has blessed me, because He has removed (most painfully) the three great obstacles that were blinding me to be able to make spiritual progress: wealth, woman and most of all prestige. So being freed to a large degree from these three material opulences, I find it possible to chant the Holy Name and speak straightforwardly about Krishna consciousness a little better than before, when I was practically a madman, being intoxicated with the idea that I was better than everyone else, thinking I was a guru, GBC, etc.

Kshatriyas administer justice, but brahmanas are supposed to be forgiving and merciful. The strength of the brahmana is in his ability to forgive, and Vaishnavas are supposed to be above even the brahmanas.

I suggested to Harikesh Swami, "Treat me like Prabhupada would. If Prabhupada were here today, what would he do with me? You are supposed to be representatives of Prabhupada, so treat me as Prabhupada would treat me." He answered, "That is very difficult." "Then how are you representative of Prabhupada?" I asked. When someone needs to be whipped into line, then one is Prabhupada's representative. When one requests mercy, understanding, compassion and forgiveness, "It is very difficult." There will be meetings, committees, guidelines, resolutions. Prabhupada managed to love us; he did not love to manage us. Perhaps here lies the clue to our problems.

Anyway, I have no money with which to buy my way back into the association of my godbrothers, and even if I did, under the circumstances I would be better off buying a life membership, thus being guaranteed three days' free accommodation at some temple.

I pray for the mercy of all the devotees world-wide, that I may have their forgiveness and blessing. I know that I have offended every one of them, and I do humbly beg for their forgiveness perpetually. I know without the blessing of the devotees my life is useless, and one cannot attain the mercy of Prabhupada and Krishna. I ask all my GBC guru godbrothers to also forgive me, so that I may be able to purify my life and be of some service to Prabhupada. Even though I may be physically absent from ISKCON, I shall always be there in spirit. I hope this letter finds every devotee on the planet well and happy.

Your humble servant,
Hansadutta das

P.S. I have not infringed on BBT copyrights, because I am a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and he personally appointed me a a BBT trustee for life, back in 1974. The GBC has absolutely no authority over the BBT. Prabhupada instructed all of his disciples to preach his message, especially through the publications of literatures in all languages of the world. I asked Prabhupada why, of all his disciples, he would appoint me as a BBT trustee, when he had so many other disciples who were far more qualified. He replied, "Because without being asked, you published and distributed my books. You have understood the importance of my books." Then he said in a very grave mood, "The temples may fail, the devotees may fail, but my books will live forever." What more can be said in this regard?