The chairman is elected by the GBC for each meeting. He has no veto power, but in event of a vote tie, his vote will decide. The same will apply for votes cast by mail between regular meetings.
To the best of our knowledge, this instruction is being followed.
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.
This instruction was followed for some time. However, during the last couple of years, of Prabhupada’s life, it was monopolized by one disciple and sometimes two.
6. The primary objective of the GBC is to organize the opening of new Temples and to maintain the established Temples.
This protocol is nonexistent today, while they still have this as an objective, it is no longer the PRIMARY objective; it has been demoted to the a “secondar” or lower ranked objective.
The new PRIMARY objective of the GBC is,
“How to retain the reins of power in ISKCON, which is similar to the totalitarian politburo of the now defunct communist regime of the USSR.”
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).
After Prabhupada’s departure, this protocol went out the window. Gurus and Temple presidents who are in charge of bank accounts, use these funds to purchase many things other than vehicles for the Temple. They use these funds to purchase, and register, in their name, real-estate property, to create, personal businesses, and to facilitate mundane sense gratification. Moreover, embezzlement of funds has been a very common transgression by Temple presidents, and treasurers. In addition, the Gurus, they do as they wish; even at the objections of many GBC’s.
I know personally of a GBC, sannaysi, guru god brother who inherited over 100 million dollars cash and other properties when his father died. He now lives in his father’s mansion. When this god brother first joined ISKCON he was just a crazed LSD hippy who had a rich father. However, his rich father was not supporting him financially. Nevertheless, after this god brother joined ISKCON, shortly thereafter, his father offered him 1 million in cash to leave ISKCON. This god brother rejected his father’s offer. No loss, his father will die eventually. Thus, this god brother would inherit it all his father’s wealth. When his father finally died, he had by that time become a sannaysi, a GBC, and a Guru-Moreover, this god brother does not use one penny of his inheritance to further the bhakti movement. He has plenty of disciples and they contribute much money and real-estate, to him: under the Vedic injunctions of surrendering, one’s wealth to the guru if you are a brahmacari, and one third if you are a house holder. Prabhupada never enforced this injunction, but if a disciple gave him some Daksina, he put it in to his personal accounts, that were used to fund the building of the temples in India, and he administration of the intent and purpose of the MVT.
Never did Prabhupada use one penny for his own personal use. One only has to investigate and you would find that GBCs, Gurus, Sannyasis, Temple presidents and secretaries are more affluent than the rank-and-file members of a temple community. Especially the gurus, who live in luxury, on the level of multi-millionaires.
The writer of this Treatise has a true story about this GBC, Sannaysi, and Guru. In the 1990’s, there was a fund-raising campaign, in order to raise funds to refurbish the portion of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi that had previously been completed, but had been neglected for many years. In addition, funds were also being raised, in order to complete the planed Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Complex which was locate directly in front of the Krishna and Balarama Mandir in Vrindhavan India. The person who was in charge of the fund-raising campaign, approached this GBC, just mentioned, and requested a donation. I was there as well, and witness the following conversation, first-hand.
Two ISKCON GBC’s and Guru’s were approached in front of the un-finished Srila Prabhupada Samadhi.
Tamal Krishna Goswami, who had disciples that were multi-millionaires’, was accompanied by Giriraja Swami, who had recently inherited, 30 million dollars from his departed father), and also had some very wealthy disciples. When asked to give a donation. They both turned their head and looked at each other. Kind of like waiting to see what the other would say.
After a long pause, again, Tamal turned his head and faced Giriraj, while Giriraj turned then turned his head and looked at Tamal.
Then Tamal said,
“I will give the same amount as he donates”.
Giriraj immediately replied,
“OK, I will donate the same amount the he donates”.
The person in charge of the fund raising then said,
“Ok, please let me know, as soon as possible, what you both agree to donate.”
Months went by, with no word from these two GBC, Sannaysi, Gurus.
Actually a few years passed by, and still no word from these two wealthy ISKCON leaders. In fact, they were never heard from PERIOD.
Note, that these two wealthy disciples of Prabhupada could together given the required fund within a few days or a few weeks at the most; but they did not keep their word.
They lied.
It was understood, that neither of them wanted to donate funds for the refurbishing and continuing construction of their Spritual Master’s Samadhi. It was the same as if ne said,
“I am donating ZERO dollars”.
The other one said,
“Ok, I therefore will also give ZERO dollars”.
Nevertheless, over a period of a few years of soliciting donation from rank-and-file ISKCON devotees who attended, the yearly Kartika Festival in at the ISICON Vrindavana Temple; sufficient funds were raised and the Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Complex was completed by his Centennial.