Direction of Management
BY: SUN STAFF
Jul 12, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) —
Today we begin an excerpted reprise of a 2013 Sun editorial series entitled "The DOM, ISKCON Inc. and Ritvikism". At the time of initial publication, we were still four years away from settlement of the ISKCON GBC vs. Long Island, NY Temple lawsuit. At the center of that legal dispute were two historical documents: Srila Prabhupada's "Direction of Management" (DOM) and "Topmost Urgency" memorandum.
Our series on the DOM was primarily a byproduct of the groundwork we had done for the Constitution of ISKCON As It Is, released in 2015. It also encompassed some of the research done for our 2012 paper, "Defeat of Ritvik-vada.
In this reprise series, we will only publish the first 11 parts of the complete 22-part presentation of "The DOM, ISKCON Inc. and Ritvikism". The remaining 11 segments dealt primarily with the Ritvik strategy of promoting the DOM and attempting to use it to bolster their position in the Long Island temple lawsuit, and our speculations about potential outcomes of the lawsuit. (We will provide links to that content for those interested in the history.)
Fortunately, the Long Island lawsuit was settled in 2017, in favour of the GBC and against the Long Island Ritvik devotees. But given that the DOM is still occasionally mentioned in ISKCON discussions, and we thought it might be helpful to refresh our memories and inform new readers of this important aspect of history.
The DOM, ISKCON Inc. and Ritvikism
By SUN EDITORS
May 17, 2013
A study of the confluence of three separatist movements: the DOM, ISKCON Inc. and Ritvikism.
Over the course of the last year, as part of an extensive project the Sun editors are working on, we've had to become better educated on issues surrounding the Direction of Management (DOM) and Topmost Urgency documents, and how they are being represented and promoted. We have over the years published many articles on the subject: from DOM adherents, from challengers, from the GBC, and our own preliminary comments. Prior to this year, having been absorbed in completing Defeat of Ritvik-vada, we had not yet taken the time to study the matter as carefully as needed, and therefore had not taken a position one way or the other, for or against the DOM position.
In addition to making a study of the DOM and Topmost Urgency, we looked carefully at the history surrounding these documents and circumstances present in the Society that appear to be relevant to their issuance by Srila Prabhupada. And, we studied how the DOM is now being presented to the devotee community as a 'silver-bullet' solution for ISKCON's woes. Towards that end, we engaged in a lengthy and extensive exchange with two leading proponents of the DOM position -- Nara Narayana Viswakarma das (ACBSP) and his wife, Roupa Manjari devi dasi.
More by circumstance than by design, our discussions with Nara Narayana das unfolded simultaneously with our study of the ISKCON Inc. situation, which is more commonly known as the 'Long Island lawsuit'. We were entirely surprised to discover how closely the DOM movement is related to ISKCON Inc., which itself now qualifies to be called a separatist movement within ISKCON.
Today we begin a serial presentation of our findings, in what will likely be a fairly extensive Sun series. We trust our readers will find the details of the presentation interesting. Some will already be well versed on the subject. But many, like us, will become aware for the first time of the tremendous significance for Srila Prabhupada's movement of the outcome of the ISKCON Inc. lawsuit, and ISKCON Inc.'s convergence with the DOM and Ritvik movements. The confluence of these three separatist movements represents a significant threat to the Society.
Before commencing our lengthy commentary, we begin with two of the key documents under discussion: The Direction of Management and the Topmost Urgency document:
DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT - July 28, 1970
True copy of Direction of Management (PDF) [1]
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INCORPORATED
FOUNDER-ACHARYA: HIS DIVINE GRACE A. C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA
DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT
I, the undersigned, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple of Om Visnupad Paramhansa 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, came in the United States in 1965 on September 18th for the purpose of starting Krishna Consciousness Movement. For one year I had no shelter. I was travelling in many parts of this country. Then in 1966, July, I incorporated the Society under the name and style the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, briefly ISKCON. The lawyer was Mr. J. Goldsmith. Gradually the Society increased, and one after another branches were opened. Now we have got thirty-four (34) branches enlisted herewith:
Amsterdam..................Holland
Atlanta.........................Georgia........................1476 Oxford Rd. N.E. 30322
Baltimore.....................Maryland.....................1300 N. Calvert St.
Berkeley.......................California....................2710 Durant Avenue 94704
Berlin............................West Germany
Boston..........................Massachusetts.............40 N. Beacon St. 02134
Boulder.........................Colorado.....................623 Concord St.
Buffalo..........................New York...................40 Englewood Ave. 14214
Chicago.........................Illinois.........................2210 N. Halstead St.
Columbus......................Ohio............................318 East 20th Ave. 43201
Detroit..........................Michigan.....................74 West Forest St. 48201
Edinburgh.....................Scotland, U.K.
Hamburg.......................West Germany.........2000 Hamburg 6, Bartelstrasse 65
Honolulu.......................Hawaii........................2016 McKinley St. 96822
Laguna Beach...............California....................130 Woodland Drive 92651
London.........................England........................7 Bury Place, Bloomsbury, W.C. 1
Los Angeles..................California....................3764 Watseka Ave. 90034
Montreal.......................Canada.........................3720 Park Ave.
New Vrndavana...........W. Virginia..................RD 3 Moundsville 26041
New York City.............New York...................61 Second Ave. 10003
Paris...............................France..........................c/o Serge Elbeze, BO 113 Paris 14
Philadelphia..................Pennsylvania................416 South 10th St. 19147
Provincetown...............Massachusetts..............104 Bradford St.
San Diego......................California.....................3689 Park Blvd.
San Francisco................California.....................618 Frederick St. 94117
San Jose..........................California.....................70 Hawthorne Way
Santa Barbara.................California....................6654 del Playa, Goleta 93017
Seattle............................Washington..................5516 Roosevelt Way N.E. 98105
St. Louis.........................Missouri.......................4544 LaClede Ave. 63110
Sydney............................Australia.......................298 Birrell St. Bondi, N.S.W. 2026
Tokyo.............................Japan.............................6-16, 2 Chome Ohhashi, Meguro-Ku
Toronto.........................Canada..........................40 Beverly St., Ontario
Vancouver.....................Canada..........................260 Raymur St., No. 305, B.C.
Washington..................D.C................................2015 Q Street N.W. 20009
As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard.
Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them. There was a meeting in San Francisco during the Ratha Yatra festival 1970 and many presidents of the centers were present. In that meeting it was resolved that an ad hoc committee be set up to form the constitution which is taken into consideration. My duty was to first appoint twelve (12) persons to my free choice amongst my disciples and I do it now and their names are as follows:
1. Sriman Rupanuga Das Adhikary
2. Sriman Bhagavandas Adhikary
3. Sriman Syamsundar Das Adhikary
4. Sriman Satsvarupa Das Adhikary
5. Sriman Karandhar Das Adhikary
6. Sriman Hansadutta Das Adhikary
7. Sriman Tamala Krsna Das Adhikary
8. Sriman Sudama Das Adhikary
9. Sriman Bali Mardan Das Brahmacary
10. Sriman Jagadisa Das Adhikary
11. Sriman Hayagriva Das Adhikary
12. Sriman Krsnadas Adhikary
These personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors.
I have already awarded Sannyas or the renounced order of life to some of my students and they have also got very important duties to perform in this connection. The Sannyasis will travel to our different centers for preaching purpose as well as enlightening the members of the center for spiritual advancement. The Sannyasis will suggest for opening new centers in suitable places and the GBC will take action on it. As was stipulated by the ad hoc committee, the function of the GBC will be as follows with particulars:
PARTICULARS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION
"The purpose of the Governing Body Commission is to act as the instrument for the execution of the Will of His Divine Grace. And further,
1. The GBC oversees all operations and management of ISKCON, as it receives direction from Srila Prabhupada and His Divine Grace has the final approval in all matters.
2. His Divine Grace will select the initial 12 members of the GBC. In the succeeding years the GBC will be elected by a vote of all Temple presidents who will vote for 8 from a ballot of all Temple presidents, which may also include any secretary who is in charge of a Temple. Those 8 with the greatest number of votes will be members for the next term of GBC. Srila Prabhupada will choose to retain four commissioners. In the event of Srila Prabhupada's absence, the retiring members will decide which four will remain.
3. The commissioners will serve for a period of 3 years, and they may be re-elected at the end of this period.
4. The chairman is elected by the GBC for each meeting. He has no veto power, but in even of a vote tie, his vote will decide. The same will apply for votes cast by mail between regular meetings.
5. Throughout the year, each of the commissioners will stay with His Divine Grace for one month at a time and keep the other commissioners informed of His Divine Grace's instructions.
6. The primary objective of the GBC is to organize the opening of new Temples and to maintain the established Temples.
7. Advice will be given by the GBC in cases of real property purchases, which will be in the name of ISKCON, INC. (Trucks or other vehicles will be purchased in the name of the local president).
8. Removal of a Temple president by the GBC requires support by the local Temple members.
9. The GBC has no jurisdiction in the publication of manuscripts, which will be handled by a separate committee; profits to be returned to Srila Prabhupada."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So far my books are concerned, I am setting up a different body of management known as the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. The trustees of this body are also members of the GBC, but their function is not dependent on the GBC. ISKCON Press was created for the exclusive publication of my books and literatures and should be continued in that way. During my absence no one shall live in my apartment.
Witnessed by:
Date July 28th 1970
(Robert F. Corens)
Rupanuga das Adhikary
(William R. Ehrlichman)
Bhagavan das Adhikary
(Kelly Gifford Smith)
Karandhar das Adhikary ACB
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Date July 28th, 1970
At the World Head Quarters
3764, Watseka Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90034
TOPMOST URGENCY - July 22, 1974
True copy of Topmost Urgency (GIF) [2]
ISKCON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TOPMOST URGENCY
AMENDMENTS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO ALL
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS, CONSTITU-
TIONS, INCORPORATION PAPERS, ETC.
1.) It is declared that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad is the Founder-Acharya of (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is the supreme authority in all matters of the society. His position cannot be occupied by anyone else, and his name and title must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the Society.
In particular it shall be clearly understood that no real estate may be purchased or sold by any officer of the Society without the express permission of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.
2.) There shall be a Governing Board Committee of trustees appointed by the Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad according to the document Direction of Management dated July 28, 1970. The GBC is to act as the instrument for the execution of the will of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupad.
Dated at New York, July 22, 1974.
Approved: (signature)______________
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya
Signed:(signature)______________
Brahmananda Swami
GBC, Zonal Secretary
(signature)_______________
Balimardan das Goswami
GBC, Zonal Secretary
ISKCON HEADQUARTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Direction of Management, July 28, 1970
[2] Topmost Urgency, July 22, 1974
