DECLARATION OF WILL

I, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna consciousness, Settlor of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and disciple of Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada, presently residing at Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana, make this my last will:

1. The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

2. Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors. The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change.

3. Properties in India will be managed by the following executive directors:

a) Properties at Sri Mayapur Dhama, Panihati, Haridaspur and Calcutta: Gurukrpa Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Bhavananda Gosvami and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
b) Properties at Vrndavana: Gurukrpa Swami, Akshoyananda Swami, and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
c) Properties at Bombay: Tamala Krsna Gosvami, Giriraj das Brahmachary, and Gopal Krsna das Adhikari.
d) Properties at Bhubaneswar: Gour Govinda Swami, Jayapataka Swami, and Bhagawat das Brahmachary .
e) Properties at Hyderbad: Mahamsa Swami, Sridhar Swami, Gopal Krsna das Adhikari and Bali Mardan das Adhikari.

The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of death or failure to act for any reason of any o( the said directors, a successor director or directors may be appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new director is my initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books, and provided that there are never less than three (3) or more than five (5) executive directors acting at one time.

4. I have created, developed and organized the International Society for Krishna Consiousness, and as such I hereby will that none of the immovable properties standing in the name of ISKCON in India shall ever be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or alienated. This direction is irrevocable.

5. Properties outside of India in principle should never be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred or in any way encumbered, disposed of, or alienated, but if the need arises, they may be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, etc., "with the consent of the GBC committee members associated with the particular property.

6. The properties outside of India and their associated GBC committee members are as follows:

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The above is the last Will of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, his originally signed and approved paper

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I. "The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire. International Society for Krishna Consciousness." Srila Prabhupada's Will Point 1

(N.B. Note that the Governing Body Commission (GBC) is NOT described as the ultimate authority but as the "ultimate managing authority". [That is a big difference.] The GBC is the ultimate for management, but the ultimate in ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada, himself and his instructions. These instructions cannot be changed even by the ultimate managing authority, the GBC. The GBC may only implement Srila Prabhupada's instructions and never change them.)

2. "Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors." "The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of death or failure to act for any reason of any of the said directors, a successor director or directors may be appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new director is my initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books, and provided that there are never less than three (3) or more than five (5) executive directors acting at one time." Srila Prabhupada's Will Points 2, 3, 6.

(N.B. All ISKCON property to have 3 to 5 initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada's of good spiritual standing, as executive directors or GBC committee members. Note .here that Srila Prabhupada clearly says, that the executive directors or GBC committee members are to be  [Srila Prabhupada's] initiated disciples, in good spiritual standing (ie: "my (Srila Prabhupada's) initiated disciple following strictly all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my [Srila Prabhupada's] books")

In order to ensure that an "my [Srila Prabhupada's] initiated disciple," who is "strictly following all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my [Srila Prabhupada's] books," will always be available to replace the "executive directors" or "GBC committee members responsible for the particular property".

3. "The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change." Srila Prabhupada's Will Point 2.

(N.B. Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acarya and ultimate authority of ISKCON could make changes in the system of management at any time during his physical presence with us. By saying "The system of management will continue as it is now and there is no need of any change." Srila Prabhupada is insisting that now and in future only his initiated disciples act as trustees for ISKCON properties, and there is no need of any change.)

Therefore taking into consideration all of the above. In accordance with the will of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, we call upon the executors of Srila Prabhupada's will in cooperation with the GBC body of ISKCON to kindly furnish written proof that they are following each and every mandate given to them by Srila Prabhupada in the above documents, as a sign to all the assembled vaisnavas that we can have faith in them to lead Srila Prabhupada's movement. Specifically we call upon the executors of Srila Prabhupada's will and/or the GBC body to show compliance with sections 2 through 6 of Srila Prabhupada's will by:

1. Publishing the complete list of ISKCON properties [see below] and the list of names of the 3 to 5 "initiated disciple(s)" of Srila Prabhupada's who are the "executive directors" or "GBC committee members responsible for the particular property" and who are "strictly following all the rules and regulations of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as detailed in my books" along with corresponding notarised recorded documents, proving that the GBC are complying with sections 2, 3,and 6.

In accordance with Srila Prabhupad's written will, that system of management was to continue on as it was, without any change. The system of management that Srila Prabhupad had worked so hard to put into place and used in managing all of ISKCON for years prior and at the time of those instructions and up to the time of his passing physically from this material world; that system has changed dramatically. This is a deviation from Srila Prabhupad's order. It is our duty to undo those changes and revive the original system of management that our beloved Founder-Acharya worked so hard to establish.

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  USA, Sep 18 (VNN) — PETITION

To all Iskcon devotees world wide temple-presidents, Sannyasis

Dear maharajas, prabhus, matas and didis. Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada.

As an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and as a member of the International Society for Krishna consciousness, I herewith call upon all devotees world wide to reject Iskcons bogus GBC/Guru leadership and elect a new Governing Body Commission as outlined by Srila Prabhupada in his DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT FOR AN ELECTED GBC.

“Importanly, the GBC was to be elected from the body of temple presidents.”

He created the DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT, which was signed, witnessed and notarized. This document created the GBC, and gave the EXACT DIRECTION AS TO HOW THE GBC SHOULD ACT ...Importanly, the GBC was to be ELECTED FROM THE BODY OF TEMPLE PRESIDENTS. The Temple presidents were instructed to hold elections every three years, and either re-elect existing GBC members, or elect new ones from a ballot of candidates chosen from the body of Temple Presidents.

Srila Prabhupada also wrote several letters stating that the temple presidents were to be elected by vote by the congregations of the individual temples, and that the GBC would have practically no AUTHORITY over the individual temples.

The devotees who live in ISKCON temples should be educated so that they understand the full extent of their constitutional powers. By the constitution of the ISKCON temple corporations, the members have the legal right to elect a new leadership. This is a little-known fact, but it is a law.

They also have the right to vote to impeach that leadership if they lose their qualification as leaders. Legally, they have voted to accept the appointed leaders by failing to vote them out. That is, unless the members assert their right to vote it is assumed they wish to follow the appointed system.

Because the GBC assumed dictatorial powers NOT PROVIDED in the DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT, they were in a position to "cover up" crimes committed by each other, and to terrorize the temple presidents by threatening to "kick them out" for insubordination. Since they were not authorized to do either of the above, we can see that their pattern of abuse followed the typical pattern of abuse in "rogue states" and other dictatorships and oligarchies that ARE NOT ANSWERABLE TO THE PUBLIC. It would have been almost impossible for the molestations of the children in the Gurukulas to have taken place if Srila Prabhupada's DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT had been followed.

The only thing that can be said in our (congregational member's) favour is that the GBC VERY CAREFULLY HID THE TEXT OF THE DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT UNTIL THE 1990'S. (Over twenty years!) So that NO CONGREGATIONAL MEMBER OF ISKCON REALIZED TO WHAT DEGREE THEY WERE (AND SITLL ARE) BEING RIPPED OFF!

The devotees should assert their rights under the law, at least in the United States, and immediately hold elections to force the GBC to resign as managers and trustees of all ISKCON properties. This is the only chance to save Srila Prabhupada's legacy from total destruction. If after the prosecution and defense presentations in the court, where all the details of the GBCs' intransigence will become public knowledge, the jury finds the defendants culpable, and if they did not resign when the case first began, this arrogant attitude will influence the judge and jury to increase the penalty.

A similar thing happened in the case the Turley firm recently won against the Catholic Church. None of the church leaders who covered up the abuse resigned, and partly because of this insolence the damages were in the tens of millions of dollars for only two victims. The ISKCON case may ultimately have over 1,000 victims. The GBC resignations will save ISKCON millions of dollars and win support from the court and all right-thinking people.

Srila Prabhupada: "Yes. This was the system, that one must retire. Just like at the present moment, although people are asking the president that 'You retire, you resign,' he is not resigning, obstinate. Because he knows, 'This is the first and last chance. I am not going to be elected again. So stick to the post and take as much money as possible.' That's all." [Lecture, 12/17/73 LA]

The GBC will not resign, they will stick to their posts and take money from Srila Prabhupada as long as they possibly can. Now the consequences of their actions threaten to destroy the entire ISKCON society.

Therefore the only chance to protect Srila Prabhupada's reputation is a general rebellion by vote of the members of ISKCON against the GBC. They have frustrated Srila Prabhupada's orders by mismanagement, by changing his books, by preaching bogus philosophy, and in countless other ways. They have driven away thousands of Srila Prabhupada's disciples and they have failed to maintain his institution. Now they deserve to be impeached.

As explained by Dasanudas, the member ship of any nonprofit religious corporation has the legal right to remove its leaders because nonprofit corporations are institutions meant to serve the needs of the community.

Therefore, a constituent assembly consisting of the current members of ISKCON (past and present Srila Prabhupada's disciples) should now come forward and do the needful, even another lawsuit if necessary, for electing a new GBC body.

There should be an organized petition presented to the GBC stating our demands for attaining the goal of an elected GBC as Srila Prabhupada outlined in his Direction of Management for the GBC.

Please contact Harinamdas at harinam@ilhawaii.net. [email no longer valid] He will send you the PETITION FOR CARRYING OUT SRILA PRABHUPADA'S DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT FOR AN ELECTED GBC (GOVERNING BOARD COMMISSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS)

Urdhvaga das,
in the service of Srila Prabhupada

For the Petition and SRILA PRABHUPADA'S DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT please write to: harinam@ilhawaii.net [email no longer valid]

Original Story URL: http://www.vnn.org/world/WD0009/WD18-6260.html

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The bankruptcy lawyers have provided a seven page Release to all claimants. That Release contains a list of the Debtors and those legal entities and persons who contributed to the compensation fund. No known perpetrators are included in the Release.

California Debtors and Debtors-in-Possession
(1) International Society for Krishna Consciousness of California, Inc. ("ISKCON CA"); (2) ISKCON Television, Inc., a California corporation, aka ITV Productions, Inc. ("ITV"); (3) Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc., a California corporation ("BBTI"); (4) International Society for Krishna Consciousness of Southern California, Inc., a California corporation, aka ISKCON of Southern California, Inc. ("ISKCON SoCal"); (5) International Society for Krishna Consciousness of Los Angeles, Inc., a California corporation, aka ISKCON of Los Angeles, Inc. ("ISKCON LA"); and (6) International Society for Krishna Consciousness of San Diego, Inc., a California corporation, aka ISKCON of San Diego, Inc. ("ISKCON San Diego," and collectively, the "California Debtors"); as well as (7) JAGA, Inc. ("JAGA"); (8) International Society for Krishna Consciousness New Mathura Vrindaban ("ISKCON NMV"); (9) NRS, Inc. ("NRS"); (10) International Society for Krishna Consciousness of West Virginia, Inc. ("ISKCON WV"); (11) New Vrindaban Community, Incorporated ("NVC"); and (12) Cathedral of Healing, Inc. ("COH, INC." and collectively, the "West Virginia Debtors").

"ISKCON CA" [of California, Inc.]
"ITV" [ISKCON Television/ Production Inc.]
"BBTI" [of California, Inc
"ISKCON SoCal." [of Southern California, Inc.]
"ISKCON LA" [of Los Angeles, Inc.]
"ISKCON San Diego"

"JAGA" [JAGA, Inc.]
"ISKCON NMV" [of New Mathura Vrindaban]
"NRS, Inc." [New Vrindavans real estate holding company.]
"ISKCON WV" [of West Virginia, Inc.]
"NVC" [New Vrindaban Community, Inc.]
"COH" [Cathedral of Healing, Inc.]

Non-Debtor Defendants:
Those non-debtor entities or Persons that are named defendants in the Court Actions, including the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Texas Krishnas, Inc., ISKCON Foundation, Inc., International Society for Krishna Consciousness of Washington, Damodar Title Holding Corporation of Dallas, Inc., ISKCON, Inc., ISKCON Krishnafest USA, Inc., ISKCON of Lake Huntington Property Corporation, ISKCON of Port Royal, Inc., Gregory Gottfried [Gurukripa Swami], Robert Grant [Ramesvara Swami], Thomas Herzig [Tamal Krishna Goswami], Gopal Khanna [Gopal Krishna Goswami], Howard Resnick [Hridayananda das Goswami] and Glen Teton [Giriraj Swami],

as Executors of the Estate of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhapada, Faramarz Attar[Atreya Risi das], Charles Bacis [Bhavananda Goswami], William Berke [Bali Mardan das], Robert Corens [Rupanuga das], William Deadwyler [Ravindra Svarupa das], III, William Ehlichman [Bhagavan dasa Adhikari], John Favors [Bhakti Tirtha Swami], Steven Gorego a/k/a Steven Guarino [Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami], Michael Grant [Mukunda Goswami], Keith Ham [Kirtanananda Swami], Theodore Richard Harris [Panca Dravida Swami], Thomas Herzig [Tamal Krishna Goswami], Jeffrey Hickey [Jagadish das], Hans Kary [Hansadutta Swami], Gopal Khanna [Gopal Krishna Goswami], William Ogle [Balavanta das], Howard Resnick [Hridayananda das Goswami], Bruce Scharf [Brahmananda das], Bruce Jacobs [Bir Krishna das Goswami], and John Patane [Ramai Swami].

Iskcon Managers: their names, position, salary, wages
according to the chapter 11 bankruptcy disclosure statement

Please send in the devotee names of the following persons to:
pada1008@aol.com