PLACE: San Diego, California,
USA DATE: July 14, 1998
ISSUED BY: Badrinarayana Dasa Adhikary,
ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC),
Acting Chair of the GBC Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) regrets to inform ISKCON and its supporters that Harikesa Swami, aged 49, has recently suffered a serious physical and mental collapse.

It is not unusual that ISKCON leaders, when vigorously preaching Krsna consciousness even up to old age, follow the footsteps of great acaryas and tend to become aloof from bodily concerns. Consequently, leading preachers are sometimes afflicted suddenly with ailments that severely limit their ability to continue at their accustomed pace. In such cases, "slowing down" is not a sign of "giving up." Rather, it shows that a "long-term" vision can give a spiritual leader many extra years to preach Krsna consciousness.

Harikesa Maharaja's crisis resulted from an enormous overburden of work, the flare-up of many long-standing physical maladies and a fully committed attitude toward preaching. This attitude caused him to accept many more responsibilities than he could reasonably take on, especially in his weakened condition. We dearly love him, and devotees should all intensely pray for his swift recovery. However, it will be some time before he can resume his preaching work. He is regularly meeting with godbrothers and disciples and is in excellent medical care.

Harikesa Swami is this year's GBC Chairman and a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBTI). He has already relinquished and delegated his functions related to the GBC chairmanship to the other members of the GBC Executive Committee (Badrinarayana dasa, Ravindra Svarupa dasa, Sesa dasa, and Akhandadhi dasa).

He has also tendered his resignation from the BBTI's board of trustees, which was accepted on July 14th 1998. Brahma Muhurta dasa has been appointed to fill the vacancy left on the board and has already assumed his duties as a new trustee.

END OF STATEMENT

07/20/98 - Statement by the ISKCON Governing Body Commission

PLACE: San Diego, California, USA
DATE: July 18, 1998
ISSUED BY: Badrinarayan Dasa Adhikary, ISKCON Governing Body
Commission (GBC), Acting Chair of the GBC Executive Committee.

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) regrets that to date there has been no significant change in the condition of Harikesa Maharaja.

As mentioned in my letter of 13 July, he has suffered from a total physical and mental collapse. In this condition, he has been saying many things that are incoherent, implausible. He has moments of lucidity and then moments where he is irrational. When he has his clear spells he regrets what he has said and asks that it be disregarded. We are all naturally very concerned by these events. What seems clear to those nearest him is that his nervous system has broken down after years of austerity, incredible pressure, and prolonged and multiple illnesses. It is understandable that the body and mind have their natural limits and he has pushed himself beyond them.

At this writing Harikesa Swami is with a staff of several senior disciples. Niranjana Maharaj, Akhandadhi prabhu, and Krsna Ksetra prabhu have all visited him, and Bhakti-tirtha Maharaj is with him now. We are working to assure the best of medical and personal care for him. It is the advice of those who have visited him and those providing his care, that Harikesa Maharaj not be strained by a stream of visitors. His condition is delicate, although he is chanting, reading, and eager for devotee association. We ask that in deference to his health, visitors hold off, at least until we hear more from Bhakti-tirtha Maharaj, which should be in the next few days.

Contrary to rumors, Harikesa Swami, has not been "sent away." He is near our temple in Abentheuer, staying a little apart so as to assure him peace and quiet. The funds which Harikesa Maharaj oversees [sic] are safe. The BBT and the GBC executive committee have adjusted with temporary chairs, more permanent arrangements will be made if it is deemed his condition will continue to incapacitate him. It appears that the funding he was overseeing for education, child protection, Mayapur development and other ISKCON projects will be able to continue. Although in a troubled mental state, he has not fallen down or broken the regulative principles.

I will do my best to continue to update you with regular reports. Meanwhile, my humble appeal is that we all remember Harikesa Swami's years of service, sacrifice, friendship, and love for Srila Prabhupad. As he has helped many others over the years, now is the time for us to help him, with compassion, patience, and charity of spirit.

Your servant, Badrinarayan dasa

07/24/98 - by Narasimha das

I appreciate and admire the years of service performed by Harikesa Swami. He is my personal friend since 1971, and I was always inspired by his Krsna conscious enthusiasm when I used to associate with him in the 70s.

Yet I object to the GBC's misleading words in defense of Harikesa Swami's condition. To hide the absurdity of their deviation from Srila Prabhupada's order, they have once again distorted the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. These are the same people who excuse the fallen condition of their guru club members by saying that even greatest mahabhagavatas in the universe sometimes become crazy or fallen due to lust or anger. But the GBC assures us that Harikesa Swami's problems are due only to his intense devotion. Badrinarayana das wrote:

"Harikesa Swami, aged 49, has recently suffered a serious physical and mental collapse."

"It is not unusual that ISKCON leaders, when vigorously preaching Krsna consciousness even up to old age, follow the footsteps of great acaryas and tend to become aloof from bodily concerns. Consequently, leading preachers are sometimes afflicted suddenly with ailments that severely limit their ability to continue at their accustomed pace. Harikesa Maharaja's crisis resulted from an enormous overburden of work, the flare-up of many long-standing physical maladies and a fully committed attitude toward preaching. This attitude caused him to accept many more responsibilities than he could reasonably take on, especially in his weakened condition."

"... his nervous system has broken down after years of austerity, incredible pressure, and prolonged and multiple illnesses. It is understandable that the body and mind have their natural limits and he has pushed himself beyond them."

Where in the scriptures does it say that devotional austerities and a life of full devotional service causes a devotee to become incapacitated by mental and physical illness? What kind of message does this convey? It sounds like what the deprogrammers used to claim. They would say that our intense schedule of devotional practices and austerities causes our mental derangement and loss of health. Srila Prabhupada never advised devotees to neglect their health. Indeed, he often chastised devotees for being irresponsible in this regard. Srila Prabhupada was meticulous in preserving his own health.

Pure devotional service liberates one from the influence of evil planets, ghosts, mental instability, and even the most deadly diseases. Devotion to Sri Guru and Sri Krsna never causes mental or physical breakdown. There is no history of pure devotees being affected by such calamities. Pure devotees may appear to become incapacitated due to old age or disease, but these conditions are ecstatic symptoms under the supervision of the Supreme Lord's internal potency. Such conditions in a devotee are not material. Advanced devotees are never mentally deranged, even on their death bed. We saw with Srila Prabhupada that although he was emaciated beyond belief for months, his mental state was always perfectly lucid. Badrinarayana das wrote:

"Although in a troubled mental state, he has not fallen down or broken the regulative principles."

We are left to wonder why, then, is he so deeply troubled? For sincere devotees, the only cause of anxiety is offense to other Vaisnavas or inattention and offense in serving the spiritual master. If devotees avoid offenses and perform austerities only to please Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, they will never experience mental collapse or so-called "burn out." Due to their having pure minds and pure lifestyle, the physical health of devotees is generally far better than that of ordinary persons. A peaceful, clear mind is "the first installment of transcendental bliss" in the practice of Bhakti Yoga. Thus the mind of a devotee becomes increasingly powerful and clear. Badrinararayana das wrote:

"As he has helped many others over the years, now is the time for us to help him, with compassion, patience, and charity of spirit. We dearly love him, and devotees should all intensely pray for his swift recovery. However, it will be some time before he can resume his preaching work. He is regularly meeting with godbrothers and disciples and is in excellent medical care."

The best kindness shown to a diseased person is to properly diagnose his ailment and prescribe a cure. According to Lord Sri Krsna in Srimad Bhagavad-gita, austerities that ruin ones health are demonic. The body is a temple because of the indwelling Supersoul. Severe austerities done for personal power rather than for the pleasure of Lord Krsna are destructive. Srila Prabhupada says that the performer of such austerities "torture the Supersoul within. "Such austerities are dangerous for body and mind, and they lead one away from the path of pure devotion. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, over-endeavor for mundane results is another cause of falldown. Similarly, if one accepts the post of guru or sannyasa without proper authorization and remains mentally addicted to sense gratification, he eventually falls down completely or goes insane.

Knowing Harikesa Swami's weak condition, I have suggested to him (and others) that he spend time in the sacred forests of the divine Sahyadri, where we have ashrams with facilities for his comfortable stay. Faithful pilgrims to Sahyadri Tirthas have experienced miraculous cures just by bathing in and drinking the sacred waters. The best Ayur Vedic medicines and doctors are also available there. So far, he has refused or ignored my offer, but the offer is still open. I wish him the best. His guru buddies in iskcon may only make his condition worse. They refuse to admit the actual cause of his physical and mental collapse.

07/29/98 - In recent months ISKCON has provided the public with several sequels of "TV Soap Operas". From a stream of guru/sannyasis dropping like teenagers out of high school to a "Dallas" style multi-million dollar court case over BBT copyrights. Some have sarcastically called for a moratorium: "Lets keep it to one guru per month blooping, ok?" - from "Comedy Central"

VNN has just received another report of an official announcement in some Eastern European ISKCON temples that Harikesa Swami has given up sannyas. The CEO takes off with the massage therapist? In case somebody deemed this unusual, the GBC recently assured the public on its PR website "CHAKRA" that their top sannyasi needs a "female" massage therapist and there was no other "male" massage therapist available worldwide to do the job right, only she had that "special touch". - from "Bay Watch"

A recent GBC statement announces that "[The GBC] regrets that to date there has been no significant change in the condition of Harikesa Maharaja". In the same text they state later: "he has been saying many things that are incoherent, implausible". Does this mean he has been like this for a long time? - from "Unsolved Mysteries"

The GBC has also recently asked the public for sympathy and understanding that Harikesa Swami, "after years of austerity" his health and mental state was ruined. The GBC seems to be referring to a man, who is being chauffeured in luxury automobiles from one luxury apartment to the next, accompanied with a "female massage therapist". Each one of these "Hilton style" apartments comes with its own 24 hour service of opulent food, no obligation to rise early or attend any temple programs or adhere to any strict work schedule. If the GBC considers this "austerity" - we are left to wonder what they consider luxury? - from "Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous"

Amongst the latest allegations is a massive loss of many million dollars (some speculate as much as 30 million) of BBTI funds in the recent collapse of the Russian stockmarket. The upcoming BBT/BBTI court case, has given room to speculation whether the entire spectacle of Harikesa Swami's resignation was an elaborate scheme to get Harikesa Swami out of the line of fire, since he had become a serious liability for the BBTI and ISKCON in the court case involving the possible loss of the copyrights to Srila Prabhupada's books. A BBTI spokesperson has denied any such losses: "...no BBT funds whatsoever were invested in the Russian stock exchange. ...some business-minded disciples of Harikesa Maharaj had been making investments, but I have no details of any gains or losses they may have made." (end quote) However, VNN has received reports from well-informed sources that some BBT officials have admitted to some loss in the recent stock market collapse. There is even speculation that this had been the final straw, that has pushed Harikesa Swami over the edge. - from "Wall Street" the series

After the steamy "Bay Watch" episodes the "X-Files" suspense was not far behind, with eyewitness reports going back a decade, telling of UFO research, construction of Flying Saucers that take off from ISKCON properties, never to be seen again, to hazardous "Perpetual Motion Machines" and all sorts of "Woodo" stories. - from "The X-Files"

We are left to wonder what will indeed happen to an estimated 100 million dollars that are currently believed to be stashed away in secret BBTI or personal Swiss bank accounts, possibly exclusively controlled by Harikesa Swami, who in the GBC's own admission is "speaking incoherent" and "has moments of lucidity" and is currently contested in an international court case, that could jeopardize the copyrights to Srila Prabhupada's books. - from "Dallas"

All this could be mistaken to be amusing and funny, but may not sit very well with the countless rank-and-file devotees who have given the best years of their lives to ISKCON and the countless Prabhupada disciples, that had to leave the mission of their guru, to make room for a few ambitious.

For many years Harikesa Swami's officially policy for sankirtan veterans, godbrothers, as well as disciples, was anything from: "If you cannot make your sankirtan quota, we have some other ass-like service for you" or "If you don't want to go on sankirtan anymore, all you can do here is wash pots in the kitchen" to "If they want to leave sankirtan kick them, if the want to leave sankirtan again - kick them again and if they want to leave sankirtan again - kick them again", pushing some of these sankirtan men and women to the point of attempting suicide (names withheld).

It is high time for some of these leaders to taste some of their own medicine which they have so generously prescribed to their godbrothers and faithful followers for decades.

But most likely it will be more of a "Golden Parachute", as it is called in the corporate world, where the top executives are paid millions of dollars to leave the company after they have run it into the ground.

And some are still wondering why the Ritvik idea is so popular today?

07/29/98 - by Ameyatma das

I have no new information about Harikesh, but I have to say something, like Nalini Kanta who wrote a few days back, I am more then fed up with the whole mess. I wrote most of this letter last week and was going to send it anonymously, but held off. Now that another devotee has posted an article on VNN that expresses the same sentiment ( by Narasimha das) I decided to go ahead and send you my letter.

I do not know the devotee Narasimha (that I recall, anyway) and I have had very little association with Harikesh over the years. I understand that he has performed great service to Srila Prabhupada over the years. Whatever good there is in anyone must be considered first and given all due credit.

But, on the other hand, if there is in-propriety in a leader, we must attack the improper behavior vehemently, we must attack misrepresentation of our spotless philosophy, and we must attack inappropriate actions, not the individuals.

Therefore I question Badrinarayan's, and the GBC's, position regarding Harikesh Prabhu.

Writing officially on behalf of the entire GBC, Badrinarayan Prabhu wrote concerning Harikesh:

"As mentioned in my letter of 13 July, he has suffered from a total physical and mental collapse. In this condition, he has been saying many things that are incoherent, implausible. He has moments of lucidity and then moments where he is irrational. When he has his clear spells he regrets what he has said and asks that it be disregarded. We are all naturally very concerned by these events. What seems clear to those nearest him is that his nervous system has broken down after years of austerity, incredible pressure, and prolonged and multiple illnesses. It is understandable that the body and mind have their natural limits and he has pushed himself beyond them."

The above description sounds like that of a madman. He has suffered not just a physical collapse, but a mental collapse as well. He is saying things that are incoherent and implausible. He is irrational at times. His nervous system has broken down...

These are very grave and serious maladies.

Where I get very upset is that the "official" GBC view of this is that they have totally bent, twisted and broken our divine philosophy in trying to inappropriately protect one of their members. He later tells us that none of this is due to any fall down, that Harikesh has not fallen down, he has simply become an incoherent, irrational, lunatic at times. The GBC wants us to believe that this is all due to Harikesh having performed so many austerities for so many years. Austerities performed in carrying out his devotional service to his guru and Krishna. He pushed himself in execution of devotional service and as a result of this, he has suffered a total mental collapse and now speaks incoherently and irrational at times, saying absurd things that he latter tells everyone to disregard. That is the behavior of a madman.

Another devotee tells us that what he is saying is way over the hill. He says he is Krishna and a girl he wants to marry is Radha. The GBC remains silent. If this is what Harikesh is saying, this is sahajya, total nonsense. Even if this is not fully true, I don't have any way of knowing one way or the other, still, from even what Badri told us, I am still upset with the way the GBC has misrepresented this.

My point is that we must see everything with the eyes of shastra. Where in shastra does it say that the result of pushing oneself in pure devotional service to one's guru and Krishna will result in a total mental collapse? Where in shastra does it state that the result of austerity performed in the execution of pure devotional service will result in one becoming incoherent and irrational. Yes, actually that is there, but not in the way we are speaking of here. Lord Caitanya exhibited the perfection of madness of love for Krishna, but that is not the madness we are speaking about here. If the other devotee was correct, then it seems that Harikesh is not mad after Krishna, but mad after a vagina made of blood and puss and covered with pubic hairs. It sounds like he is mad with the idea of becoming not just the supreme controller of the BBT and the Mayapur city project, or of ISKCON, but now he has the grand illusion of actually being the Supreme Absolute Controller--period! I have no way of knowing if that is true or not, but even if it isn't that bad, still, just what Badri admits to is bad enough.

From shastra we understand that when a devotee has created a mad-elephant offense to the feet of his guru or other Vaishnava's, the result will be a collapse of that persons nervous system, they will go mad - speaking and acting irrationally.

I totally agree with Narasimha's assessment in this whole matter. What the GBC just stated, officially, in this regards is a total misrepresentation of our philosophy. What they have said is that Harikesh's mental collapse, his nervous breakdown is not a fall down, it is not due to any offensive action he may have taken, but instead is only due to his over exertion in executing pure devotional service. Stop this crazy madness.

That is NOT the result stated in shastra for such transcendental actions. Does the GBC expect us to swallow this total nonsense garbage?

The next time a GBC or TP asks the devotees to really put their full effort into distributing books, or to really push themselves to make the next ratha yatra or janmastami festival really nice, or any truly transcendental service, devotees can now quote from the chairman of the GBC, and refuse on the basis that if they push themselves too far, if they exert themselves too much, in performing devotional service, they will surely wind up like Harikesh and suffer a total mental nervous breakdown. I mean, this they can now quote from the acting chairman of the GBC, that if one overexerts himself in pure transcendental devotional service, he will surely have a mental collapse and begin to speak incoherently and irrationally and become a nervous wreck. This has now been stated as the official GBC point of view in this regards.

So, from now on, devotees had better use caution in exerting themselves in their devotional service. Book distributors had better not try to over do it. We had better take a real laid back, take-it-easy attitude or we will all wind up in straight jackets mumbling to the walls in incoherent irrational speech. (And not in the mood of the Gopis out of mad love for Krishna either).

Enough is enough. I am sick and tired of such garbage misrepresentation of our divine philosophy. What is obvious is that Harikesh has fallen down. Badri tries to tell us that to speak irrationally and say implausible things is NOT a fall down. With what shastric reference does he make such a bold new conclusion? Rather, I have always heard that you can tell how advanced one is by the words that he speaks. One pretender may act very elegantly, but when he speaks you can see how big a fool he is. But now we are to take Harikesh's irrational speech as some sort of transcendental ecstasy - the result of his performing pure transcendental service. You can tell how well one has understood the philosophy and applied it to one's life by the words one speaks. We are to know one's mind by his speech. That is our philosophy, but now, in order to protect another GBC-guru whose offenses have caused him to go over the edge, the GBC has had to concoct a new philosophy: that speaking totally irrationally and making implausible statements is not a fall down, but rather it is the result of rendering pure devotional service.

What is obvious is that another big, big guru has gone down, and the GBC just doesn't want to admit it. They just don't want to admit that something is really wrong with their whole off-the-wall party. Rather than to stick strictly to the philosophy, they have twisted and broken the philosophy in order to protect yet another fallen guru. They just don't want to admit that they have been wrong. It is obvious that a very really serious revamping of the whole current mess known as the GBC is needed. Rohini Kumar, an authorized guru was forced to remove himself after it was exposed that he asked an aspiring male disciple for gay sex. ...and just a month before the GBC was to approve Muralivadaka to become a new GBC-guru, finally the boys whom he had previously molested forced him to admit to it, and he was ousted by the community here. And now we see the GBC defending the implausible, incoherent and irrational behavior of another big GBC-guru, telling us these symptoms are not the results of fall down, but of performing pure devotional service. I would like to say that this is a joke, but this is not a joke, it is pure insane madness. This madness must be stopped.

Srila Prabhupada has said that our leaders, even the TPs, must be ABOVE SUSPICION. He has said that if a GBC has fallen, he must be removed. But, they will do any damn thing, twist everything all around, just to try and make us believe no fall down has taken place, therefore they are justified in not removing him. But, in doing so they are doing Srila Prabhupada a great disservice for they are misrepresenting our philosophy. Because of their misdeeds in handling this matter, maybe they all should be removed!!!

By shastra we understand that one goes mad and becomes irrational when one has made an elephant offense. Therefore the GBC should have defended shastra first, instead of defending the irrational behavior of another GBC-guru who has gone mad.

I don't mean to say that we should overlook his good qualities and his efforts to establish book distribution, but we can't overlook the obvious either.

Seeing through shastric eyes, the GBC should have immediately concluded that this was a reaction due to offenses. Then they should have examined what offense or offenses might have caused such a horrible reaction. Only then should they have spoken out to the community of Vaishnava's, who are obviously more intelligent than they give us credit for. They think we don't know the philosophy, they think they can tell us anything and we will accept it. Badri should have made note that shastra tells us that this behavior is the result of offenses, not of "over exerting" ones' self in devotional service.

We then must look to see what actions he had been currently engaged in that could have caused such a reaction. The most glaring possible candidate for making such a mad-elephant offense was the BBT court cases. Dragging Srila Prabhupada into the dark slimy stinking pit of open non-devotee courts to be striped naked of all dignity, to stand by while he is referred to no more than a hired servant of the BBT, and then to allow non-devotees to perform a delicate and very serious surgery on Prabhupada's heart. Spending 100's of 1,000's to sue another devotee - another dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Hamsadutta has had his fall downs as well, like all the rest of them, and us, but his biggest fault of late for the GBC to swallow has been his open position regarding the ritvik issue. If it were not for that one single issue, I am sure many of the GBC would have welcomed back his association into ISKCON. Because of that one issue, Harikesh has taken impetus to take Srila Prabhupada into the disgusting realm of karmi courts, strip him naked of all dignity, and operate on his heart in open public, misusing Prabhupada's own money, just to sue a life long trustee to the original BBT because he printed and distributed Prabhupada's books without Harikesh's permission. (I know I am taking liberty in dealing with a topic that I do not know many details about, but, I think the basic principle is well founded). And, yes, I have had personal bad experience with "Lord" Bhagavan, but I felt his letters were very refreshing and Krishna Conscious. He was offering that everyone come and meet together and discuss and reach some cooperative agreement, but Harikesh seemed to oppose this open mood to cooperate. He seemed to have been determined to strip Prabhupada naked in an open court, and have a karmi court settle the matter before he would dare stoop to cooperating with these devotees. I feel his current mental collapse and nervous breakdown is directly the result of these offenses.

Nalini has asked that we, Prabhupada disciples, vote out the entire existing GBC and vote in all new members. But, who? Who is there who is any more qualified than the last batch? I feel that as soon as we elect a new batch, they too will succumb to such nonsense activities because they too will not be any more pure. Then what is the solution? I don't know. I am not writing with some lofty idea and saying that I have all the answers, but, I don't see anyone who does either.

One thing that's for sure, it is time to openly welcome back all of Prabhupada's disciples who were pushed out due to the Ritvik issue. I, personally, do not agree with the Final Order book, but I sure in hell do not agree with the previous or current system either. I don't agree with the Final Order conclusion, but I see it as being more palatable than the previous or existing systems. And I totally disdain the GBC's feverish attitude to go after, and run out anyone who does not accept their position on this matter. It has splintered Prabhupada's movement and it has chased out most of his direct disciples. You judge by the result, and I have no doubt that Srila Prabhupada would not be pleased with a management team that has wreaked such havoc. Would Srila Prabhupada be pleased with the fact that most of his own direct disciples are no longer able to live nicely in his temple/communities? No longer welcome in his temples? They were run out, or made to feel unwelcome not because they no longer respect their guru, but because they want everyone to respect him even more.

I always have too much to say about many things, so I should end this now. Hari Bol.

ys
Ameyatma das adhikari

In Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says: "The thoughts of my pure devotees dwell in Me, their minds are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me." (BG 10.9)

07/31/98 - by Badrinarayan Dasa Adhikary, ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), Acting Chair of the GBC Executive Committee

Dear Maharajs and prabus :

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

This just went out to Harikesa Maharaj's disciples. Our hope is to get some advice and prognosis from professional medical doctors. We cannot get Harikesa Maharaj to a clinic, some disciples would flip if we tried and Harikesa Maharaj is probably not at all willing to cooperate with that. (Hari Sauri is checking out how Harikesa Swami feels about getting professional help).

But at least we can relay all the symptoms etc. and get some insight as to what is actually happening here and some prognosis of what can be done and what may happen next.

Just on a personal level, there is the concern that any descion he makes now (in a confused state) such as marriage etc, may only compound his problems. What happens if the fog clears and he realizes he had made a horrible mistake? One of Harisauri's goals is to encourage Harikesa Swami to hold off on doing any major life change until he has stabilized and or gotten some serious medical help.

That's it for now (and probably enough for you to deal with in one shot) We have to get back to the other situations in Bombay.

We are trying to keep the GBC members as informed and up to date as possible, however this is made difficult because of the apparent carelessness of some members has removed confidentiality from this conference. Be prepared that regrettably whatever is said or posted here is read by the world.

Your servant, Badrinarayan dasa

Here is what went out from the disciples : Sri Visnupada's condition

1. As everyone knows he had a sever physical and mental breakdown.
2. The breakdown was caused by his unitiring efforts to push on Srila Prabhupada's mission and serve the devotees and the society.
3. When he was in Hospital we called in a therapist (Monica) who started treating him for his physical condition. She saved his life.
4. She recognized psychological problems, and while treating them determined that they had arisen from childhood traumas.
5. The other side of her therapy consists of treating his ethereal body, and she is not doing anything that involves physical contact.
6. Although not a professional psycho-therapist, she has a lot of experience in counseling persons affected by childhood trauma.
7. She has slowly brought Sri Visnupada to the point where he is beginning to accept that he is suffering due to this trauma, but he is very adamant that he wants no other therapist apart from her, and since any therapy is dependant on voluntary participation, we have to be satisfied with that at the moment.
8. Sri Visnupada's condition was that previously blocked emotions started to break out, and as is often the case, he has attached those emotions to the therapist.
9. At this stage of the therapy, in his present state of emotional confusion, Sri Visnupada has repeatedly stated that he wants to marry her.
10. She has gone along with it a little, seeing that it is presently his only hold in this world ( his attachment to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada do not commit him to stay).
11. She si s good person and wants what is best for him, but is not interested to marry him.
12. Although the current situation is not balanced, the question of a future asrama change is still open.
13. We should understand that Sri Vishnupada is in the middle of a therapy which is bringing him slowly out of a complete mental collapse. Although many of the concepts he speaks about at present make sense, they are often thrown out of balance due to the emotional transitions through which he is going.
14. Certain points have been clear and consistent throughout : he has not in any way lost his attachment for Srila Prabhupada, Krsna and ISKCON. He wants to continue in his duties as far as possible (e.g. guru, education minister, Mayapur)
15. It will take a lot of time for this all to work out, and he needs our understanding, patience and love.
16. He will eventually get a house, and is eager to work in the garden, cook and clean for himself. He is also associating enthusiastically with god brothers such as Bhakti-tirtha Maharaja for support and friendship.
17. We cannot expect him to be able to fulfill his various functions until he is through this crisis in his life.
18. Some have tried to attribute the whole problem to the effects of black-magic, but although subtle attacks are there, they are not the main issue.
19. Many aspects of this complex situation are private and we have tried to respect Sri Visnupada's right to some privacy during this whole time. Some have resented this, but we still think this is and was the best policy, we simultaneously respect the right of the disciples and devotees in general to be informed about what is going on.
20. Although we are eager to prevent hysteria and report as much as possible to the disciples, development and growth through such a crisis is often very slow, and best with set-backs and challenges. Considering this, there is a need for peace and privacy, and there is not really much to report as things go on.
21. We are all convinced that the ultimate outcome of this situation will be positive growth for Sri Visnupada, his disciples and ISKCON in general.

Your servant,
Badrinarayan dasa

(Text COM : 1534579)