Having devotees serving as a conscience for our society means some of us may have to curtail our present modus operandi. This should be viewed as the sacrifice one makes for the sake of the many. The service will go largely unsung, for those who opt to be loyal opposition will not be popular, however, the service is certainly much needed (long overdue). Nobody likes to be unpopular; but the crucial need for some devotees, a little removed from the day-to-day push and pull of administration, to serve in an advisory role for our society is clear and vital.

Naturally such persons cannot consider it their immediate duty to fall in line with whatever the prevailing view is. Such persons cannot be bought and sold. The decision to fall in line with anything should only come after careful scrutiny. Most devotees want to cooperate. Most devotees know we will accomplish more by team effort than otherwise. Moreover, most devotees want to work in an atmosphere of persuasion rather than force.

One reason it is so easy to discourage critical thinking is that we are social animals. It is the sheep side of humanity’s dual nature to cling to the popular view, the consensual view, for human nature is inclined to groupthink. We do not want to be isolated from the herd. Hence blind following is not difficult to establish and maintain. It is, after all, the line of least resistance; it is also the line of least growth.

Many organizations hire consultant firms to come in and observe and give objective input on the organization’s performance, because it is well-known that it is difficult for objective input to come from within, particularly from those who are caught in the ebb and flow of the day to day affairs of the organization. Since we would not hire consultants for ISKCON, the alternative is to engage people within ISKCON that are not attached to the issues.

This proposal is so valid that none will refuse to see the need for this service, especially in light of our history since Srila Prabhupada’s maha-samadhi. Only the corrupt will be threatened or affronted. Those who are selfless, or sincere about becoming selfless, will have no problem with it. None at all. They will welcome it, and will never object to being held accountable for their words and deeds. They will appreciate that the society needs this conscience, and it is not intended to work against them, but to preserve the integrity of ISKCON. The practice works for everyone.

However, I can hear loud protestations that,

“Prabhupada already has the GBC as ‘the ultimate managing authority’ for ISKCON. There is no precedent for what you are proposing.”

Prabhupada personally filled that role when he was present. By his many exhortations to “consult,” and by his statement (when there was a case of corruption in the New York temple), that the senior men should have said something.