Table of Contents

Aims of the Vaishnava Sadachar Course ............................................................................................................. 3

Distribution of time amongst Course Aims ........................................................................................................ 3
Aim 1: Importance of Vaishnava Sadachar for Leaders ....................................................................................... 4
Leadership means setting example: masses follow example of leader ............................................................. 5
Following the rules oneself is prerequisite for teaching to others................................................................... 6
Inappropriate behavior of missionaries jeopardizes the image of mission ...................................................... 6
A communitys expansion is unsustainable without Vaishnava Sadachar ....................................................... 7
Aim 2: Scope & Meaning of Vaishnava Sadachar ............................................................................................... 8
Dealings with devotees of different levels of advancement or calibers ............................................................ 9
Dealings with Seniors: Service & Submissive Inquiry ................................................................................. 9
Dealings with Equals: Friendship, Co-operation & Service ...................................................................... 10
Dealings with Juniors: Mercy & Enlightenment ....................................................................................... 10
Dealing with Wealth & Opposite Sex ........................................................................................................... 11
Direct them towards Krishnas service otherwise they can corrupt one towards sense gratification ......... 11
Dealing with influential people ..................................................................................................................... 11
Handle with Care ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Dealing with people of other faiths ............................................................................................................... 12
Dealings with Karmi Relatives & Friends ..................................................................................................... 12
Be respectful without compromising Krsna consciousness: neither Approve nor Negate......................... 12
Relationship with other temples/ yatras ........................................................................................................ 13
Act on basis of mutual agreement ............................................................................................................. 13
Aim 3: Role of time, place and circumstances in Vaishnava Sadachar .............................................................. 14
Sentiments of people should not be hurt ...................................................................................................... 15
Packaging the message differently while maintaining the spirit of Parampara ............................................. 15
Capable management means improvising without compromising ............................................................... 16
Purity and not the packaging is our core preaching strategy ........................................................................ 17
Aim 4: Managing things in a harmonious Vaishnava way ................................................................................ 18
Fanning spirit of spontaneous sacrifice for Krishna...................................................................................... 19
Art of being tactful and at the same time respectful ...................................................................................... 20
Being careful not to act beyond ones Jurisdiction ......................................................................................... 20
Aim 5: Diagnosing deficient Sadachar Standards .............................................................................................. 21

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 Checking how the roots are being watered & if the weeds are cropping up (following core spiritual
practices & regulations)? .............................................................................................................................. 22
Using System of Reporting for Vigilance ....................................................................................................... 23
Teaching by Personal example ...................................................................................................................... 23
Aim 6: Proper method of offering and receiving correction ............................................................................. 24
Right Attitude for Offering Correction ......................................................................................................... 25
Correction isnt synonymous with finding fault or becoming angry ......................................................... 25
Focusing more on the Service side of devotees while tolerating shortcomings: No one comes perfect .... 25
Right Authority for Correction ..................................................................................................................... 26
Ethical Authority: One should follow oneself first before asking others ................................................... 26
Spiritual Authority: Relationship of love & trust is a precondition .......................................................... 27
Managerial Authority: Considering the domain of ones influence ........................................................... 27
Right Action for Offering Correction ............................................................................................................ 28
Tactful & friendly demeanour: Mend it without breaking it .................................................................... 28
Forgive the wrongdoer, allow them to start afresh.................................................................................... 30
Prevention is better than cure: Place systems to check deviations ............................................................ 31
Receiving Correction in proper spirit ........................................................................................................... 31
Aim 7: Averting/ resurrecting situations of Vaishnava Aparadha ..................................................................... 33
Adjust misunderstandings on the basis of common connection to Krishna ................................................. 35
Being humble enough to beg forgiveness immediately and earnestly ........................................................... 35
Holding oneself accountable even for offense committed by ones subordinates and begging forgiveness ... 36
Clarify the situation by proper communication ............................................................................................ 36
Aim 8: Importance of Confidentiality for Leaders ............................................................................................ 37
Confidential plans can be disturbed or misused if revealed prematurely...................................................... 38
Personal & institutional information could be sensitive and therefore kept confidential............................. 38
Some instructions are meant for a particular time, place and audience and cant be circulated as a general
rule................................................................................................................................................................ 39

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Aims of the Vaishnava Sadachar Course
1. To create awareness amongst participants about the importance of following proper
Vaishnava sadachar, especially as leader of a community
2. To help participants understand the broad scope & meaning of Vaishnava Sadachar with
respect to dealings at different levels.
3. To help participants understand the role of time, place and circumstances in determining proper
application of Vaishnava Sadachar
4. To help participants understand ways to discharge ones role as a manager of getting things
done but in a harmonious Vaishnava way
5. To help participants understand ways to diagnose deficient Vaishnava Sadachar standards in a
community and take appropriate measures for improvement
6. To help the participants understand the proper method of offering and receiving correction in
a Vaishnava way
7. To help participants understand ways to avert/ resurrect situations of Vaishnava Aparadha
8. To help participants understand the importance of confidentiality as an element of proper
Vaishnava Sadachar of a leader

Distribution of time amongst Course Aims

Aim Lecture Discussion-

Time cum-
(in Assessment
mins) Time (in mins)

1. To create awareness amongst participants about the 30 30

importance of following proper Vaishnava sadachar, especially as
leader of a community
2. To help participants understand the broad scope & meaning of 30 30
Vaishnava Sadachar with respect to dealings at different levels.
3. To help participants understand the role of time, place and 30 40
circumstances in determining proper application of Vaishnava
Sadachar
4. To help participants understand ways to discharge ones role as 40 40
a manager of getting things done but in a harmonious Vaishnava
way
5. To help participants understand ways to diagnose deficient 20 20
Vaishnava Sadachar standards in a community and take
appropriate measures for improvement
6. To help the participants understand the proper method of 40 40

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offering and receiving correction in a Vaishnava way
7. To help participants understand ways to avert/ resurrect 30 30
situations of Vaishnava Aparadha
8. To help participants understand the importance of 20 30
confidentiality as an element of proper Vaishnava Sadachar of a
leader
TOTAL 240 260 mins
mins

Aim 1: Importance of Vaishnava Sadachar for Leaders

To create awareness amongst students about the importance of following proper Vaishnava sadachar,
especially as leader of a community

Vasihnava Sadachar is an essential ornament of a Vaishnava. Lord Chaitanya glorifies Sanatana

Goswami for his impeccable observance of Vaishnava Sadachar.

tathpi bhakta-svabhva-maryd-rakaa

maryd-plana haya sdhura bhaa

(Cc Antya 4.128-30)

"My dear Santana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the
demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe
and to protect the Vaiava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiava etiquette is the ornament of a
devotee."

Srila Prabhupada in his teachings several times emphasizes Vaishnava Sadachar in leadership
context:

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 Leadership means setting
example: Masses follow
example of leader

Following the rules oneself is

prerequisite for teaching to
others
Importance of Vaishnava
Sadachar for leadership
Inappropriate behavior of
missionaries jeopardizes the
image of mission

A communitys expansion is
unsustainable without
Vaishnava Sadachar

Leadership means setting example: masses follow example of leader

BG 3.21
yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah

sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate

TRANSLATION

Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by
exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

PURPORT

People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behavior. A leader
cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. Lord Caitanya said that a teacher
should behave properly before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called acarya, or
the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of sastra (scripture) to teach the
common man. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures.
The revealed scriptures, like Manu-samhita and similar others, are considered the standard books to
be followed by human society. Thus the leader's teaching should be based on the principles of such
standard sastras. One who desires to improve himself must follow the standard rules as they are
practiced by the great teachers. The Srimad-Bhagavatam also affirms that one should follow in the
footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization. The
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king or the executive head of a state, the father and the school teacher are all considered to be
natural leaders of the innocent people in general. All such natural leaders have a great
responsibility to their dependents; therefore they must be conversant with standard books of
moral and spiritual codes.

SP letter to Janak, January 18, 1969

Please do your duty combinedly without any disruption of peaceful attitudes amongst yourselves.
We are pushing our movement on the background of a peaceful atmosphere in the world, and if we
show a little disturbance in our own camp that will not be a very good example, therefore, everyone
should be forbearing, tolerant and cooperative.

Following the rules oneself is prerequisite for teaching to others

Cc Antya-ll 102-3 Santana Gosvm to Haridsa hkura:

pane care keha, n kare pracra

pracra karena keha, n karena cra

Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Ka consciousness, whereas others preach but
do not behave properly.

'cra', 'pracra',nmera karaha 'dui' krya

tumisarva-guru, tumi jagatera rya

You simultaneously perform both activities in relation to the Holy Name by your personal behavior
and by your preaching. Therefore you are the most advanced devotee in the world.

Letter to: Hayagriva -- Madras 13 February, 1972:

It was said about Lord Caitanya: APANI ACARI PRABHU JIVERE SIKHAYA, that is, He personally
used to practice Himself the injunctions and then He used to teach others. That is our principle:
Unless one is perfectly behaved person, he cannot teach others. My only request is that all the GBC
members should be strictly to the standard of life, and see that others are also following them. Then
our centers will be well-managed. Kindly do that and advise your co-workers to do that.

Inappropriate behavior of missionaries jeopardizes the image of mission

SP Letter to Sakaraa (December 31, 1972)

But we should never steal anything like money, food, water, gasoline, etc., just to enhance our
service to Ka. That is too much dangerous, and if we are caught then all our work is finished. Just
like in India recently, this Balyogi Guru Maharaji was detected by the customs authorities attempting
to smuggle some small items into India. By this one tiny incident his entire effort for preaching-even
he is rascal Number One and his preaching is nonsense, even so the example is there-his work is

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ruined now and he is practically finished, as the government will not grant him a passport to
leave India. So we shall always be careful to avoid any kind of jeopardizing our high standing in
the society by some foolish and small act of illegal stealing.

A communitys expansion is unsustainable without Vaishnava Sadachar

SP Letter to Rpnuga (May 9, 1972):

Now I want that we shall concentrate on making our devotees Krishna conscious and ourselves
becoming Krishna conscious, and not be so much concerned with expanding ourselves widely but
without any spiritual content. Just like boiling the milk, it becomes thicker and sweeter. Now do like
that, boil the milk.

CASE STUDY

In the following sections from Srimad Bhagavatam, a contrast is shown in terms of how the
observance or neglect of Vaishnava Sadachar by a leader affects the advancement of the community.

#1 A community where leader followed Vaishnav Sadachar: Rantideva ~ All of Rantidevas followers
also became pure devotee

SB 9.21.7

Thereafter, having divided the remaining food with his relatives, Rantideva was just about to eat his own
share when a dra guest arrived. Seeing the dra in relationship with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the food.

SB 9.21.18

tat-prasagnubhvena rantidevnuvartina

abhavan yogina sarve nryaa-parya

TRANSLATION

All those who followed the principles of King Rantideva were totally favored by his mercy and became
pure devotees, attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nryaa. Thus they all became the best
of yogis.

#2 A community where leader failed to follow Vaishnav Sadachar: Indra failing to respect Brhaspati

SB 6.7.7-9

Fanned by yak-tail whisks and served with all the paraphernalia of a great king, Indra was sitting with
his wife, acdev, who occupied half the throne, when the great sage Bhaspati appeared in that assembly.

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Bhaspati, the best of the sages, was the spiritual master of Indra and the demigods and was respected by
the demigods and demons alike. Nevertheless, although Indra saw his spiritual master before him, he
did not rise from his own seat or offer a seat to his spiritual master, nor did Indra offer him a
respectful welcome. Indra did nothing to show him respect.

Bhaspati knew everything that would happen in the future. Seeing Indra's transgression of etiquette, he
completely understood that Indra was puffed up by his material opulence. Although able to curse Indra, he
did not do so. Instead, he left the assembly and in silence returned to his home.

SB 6.7.23

Brahmaji said: Because of your misbehavior toward Bhaspati, you have been defeated by the demons.
My dear demigods, since the demons were weak, having been defeated by you several times, how else
could you, who were so advanced in opulence, be defeated by them?

These two pastimes show that a leaders observance of VS influences the advancement of the whole
society they are leading.

In context of ISKCON communities today, what factors do you think lead to this dynamics
between leaders behavior and advancement of followers? You could share an experience in your
own life as a leader or a follower where you witnessed this dynamics in action.

Also reflect on some of the factors which can make observance of seemingly simple and common
sense principles of Vaishnava Sadachar complex, especially when one is in a leadership position.

Aim 2: Scope & Meaning of Vaishnava Sadachar

To help participants understand the broad scope & meaning of Vaishnava Sadachar with respect to
dealings at different levels.

A devotee sees everyone and everything in connection with Krishna. Vaishnava Sadachar is the
befitting expression of ones respect and acknowledgement of Krishnas presence in everyone and
everything that one comes across through ones thoughts, words and actions. Consequently
expression of Vaishnava Sadachar takes different forms based on the degree of manifestation of
Krishna or His energy in the object or person. In the following sections we will learn from Srila
Prabhupadas words what is the ideal conduct of a devotee, especially a leader, in dealing with
different classes of people one comes across in course of ones service:

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 <> Dealings with devotees of different levels of advancement or calibers

<> Dealing with Wealth & Opposite Sex

<> Dealing with influential people

<> Dealing with people of other faiths

<> Dealings with Karmi Relatives & Friends

<> Relationship with other temples/ yatras

Dealings with devotees of different levels of advancement or calibers

SB 4.8.34 Nrada Muni to Dhruva Mahrja : Seniors, juniors, and equals

gudhikn muda lipsed

anukroa gudhamt

maitr samnd anvicchen

na tpair abhibhyate

Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be
very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate
toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In
this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.

Dealings with Seniors: Service & Submissive Inquiry

SB 3.4.26 Purport
To be well versed in the transcendental science necessitates awareness of the techniques of spiritual
science. Uddhava, being well aware of all these technicalities of transcendental science advised
Vidura to approach Maitreya i to receive transcendental knowledge. Vidura wanted to accept
Uddhava as his spiritual master, but Uddhava did not accept the post because Vidura was as old as
Uddhava's father and therefore Uddhava could not accept him as his disciple, especially when
Maitreya was present nearby. The rule is that in the presence of a higher personality one should not

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be very eager to impart instructions, even if one is competent and well versed. So Uddhava decided
to send an elderly person like Vidura to Maitreya, another elderly person.

Dealings with Equals: Friendship, Co-operation & Service

Lecure on Ishopanishad Mantra 1, April 30, 1970: Friendship

In the second platform, not only to love God, but to make friendship with devotees who is loving
God. That is society. Our Society is devotees. We should not only practice to love God, but we
should make friendship and love the devotees also.

SP letter to Gargamuni (September 8, 1969): Co-operation

But one thing is you must stop this fighting between brothers. Otherwise the whole program will be
spoiled. Yourself, Tamla Ka, Brahmnanda, Satsvarpa-you should do everything combinedly.
That is my request. Gradually, by Ka's Grace, we are expanding. So if amongst us there is friction,
it will be very dangerous.

Morning Walk, March 25, 1976: Service

treya i: And amongst devotees, Godbrothers, an advanced devotee is one who sees that
"Everybody is serving Ka so nicely..."

Prabhupda: Yes.

treya i: "...so let me assist them."

Prabhupda: Yes.

treya i: "Let me facilitate their service."

Prabhupda: Yes. Therefore we say prabhu. Prabhu means "You are my master. Please order me.
What can I do for you?" That should be the attitude. [break] ..."Guru dsa Prabhu, please come here
and brush my shoes." (laughter) What kind of prabhu? He should say, "Guru dsa Prabhu, can I
brush your shoes?" That is real Vaiava, not that "Guru dsa Prabhu, come here and brush my
shoes."

Dealings with Juniors: Mercy & Enlightenment

SP letter to Janrdana (January 21, 1968): Mercy

I understand that your Godbrothers are as your younger dependent brothers: kindly treat them as
your younger dependent brothers and try to advance them in Ka consciousness as good as you
can.

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Dealing with Wealth & Opposite Sex

Direct them towards Krishnas service otherwise they can corrupt one towards sense gratification

SP letter to Gargamuni (October 18, 1969)

Maya's most attractive feature is women and money. We Krishna Conscious men have to deal with
women and money in course of preaching work, and the only prophylactic measure to save us is not
to accept them for our sense gratification. Then we shall remain strong enough. Materialistic people
take everything for sense gratification and Krishna Conscious people take everything for Krishna's
satisfaction. There is no fault in the thing as it is; namely women and money, but it becomes
faulty by improper use. The improper use is to accept them for sense gratification.

Dealing with influential people

Handle with Care

SP letter to Brahmananda (11 November, 1967)

Please accept my blessings. I am very glad to see your letter dated Nov. 3, in which you have sent the
good news that MacMillan Co. has agreed to publish my Gita Upanisad and the contract has been
prepared.... Please carefully handle the dealings with MacMillan Co. which was begun by your
good self. If publications are there we can work from one center only like New York or San
Francisco for propagating our cult all over the world.

SP letter to ymasundara, 29th June, 1969

I am very glad to know that George is interested in recording some Ka consciousness album and
it is very happy news. I request you and, through you, your friends George and John, to make a very
nice Hare Ka record sung by the most popular Beatles and assisted by our devotees. That will be
very nice. I have all encouragement for you for this purpose. Try to make this Hare Ka movement
popular through any source that is possible. That is our business.

SP letter to Tamla Ka, 18th October, 1969

Regarding the booklet you and Gargamuni are sending, in the introductory portion signed by you
and Gargamuni you have said that I am personally instructing John Lennon and George Harrison
in the yoga of ecstasy. This is not very satisfactory. Of course, George Harrison sometimes comes
to see me and naturally I instruct him on the bhakti-yoga. But the statement in the letter gives hint
as if I have been invited by them for this. If this comes to their notice, they may take some
objection which will not go to our credit. These things should not be publically advertised, and I
do not know why this has been done. Anyway, if you have not distributed many of them, you just
try to take out that portion which is not a fact.

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Dealing with people of other faiths

Being Assertive about the Truth but at the same time Accommodative to recognize similarities

rla Prabhupda Lilamrta- Remembrances - Nanda Kumar, Chapter 22

Nanda Kumar: Once when Prabhupada was in London, I was on the street outside the temple when
an elderly nun walked by. She was of the Carmelite order, which is vegetarian. I said, "Hare
Krishna," and she said, "Hare Krishna" and stopped to talk to me for a minute. I said, "Our spiritual
master is here; would you like to meet him?" She said, "I would be honored to." I brought her in the
temple and went in Prabhupada's room and said, "Prabhupada, I was speaking to a Christian nun,
and she's anxious to meet you." He said, "Oh, bring her in." As I came back in with her, I offered my
obeisances, and she offered her obeisances, putting her head on the floor. Prabhupada was beaming.
For ten minutes they talked in total accord about Christianity and Krishna consciousness.
Prabhupada would say something about our philosophy, and she would say, "Yes, Prabhupada, and
Jesus said . . ." Prabhupada would say, "Yes, and Krishna said . . ." Then she said, "Prabhupada, I am
so grateful to have met you. I appreciate this connection, and I don't want to take any more of your
time. I know you have a lot to do, so may I take my leave?" Prabhupada said, "Yes, thank you very
much." Then he looked at me and said, "Give her this garland." He had his garland on the desk. The
nun offered her obeisances again, and as she was coming up, I gave her the garland. It was beautiful
to see the interchange. Many times I saw Prabhupada have interfaith dialogues in that way. He could
see a person's heart and would find a way to see the similarities of the faiths. However, if he saw a
person who wasn't following his or her own faith, sometimes he would be strong with that
person. But for someone sincere, Prabhupada would find a way to see similarities rather than
differences.

Dealings with Karmi Relatives & Friends

Be respectful without compromising Krsna consciousness: neither Approve nor Negate

Letter to Nandarani, Dayananda San Francisco 29 March 1968: With relatives

Regarding your manner of behavior with your parents who are not in Krishna Consciousness; I may
inform you that you should treat four different classes of men in four different ways. A devotee
should love God and God's devotees. A devotee should make friendship with devotees. A devotee
should try to enlighten innocent persons, and a devotee should reject opposite elements. As father
and Mother they should be offered proper respect according to social custom, but you cannot accept
their non-Godly instructions. Best thing is, to avoid misunderstanding, to remain silent without
any affirmation or negation of their instructions. We should try to keep our friendship with
everyone in the world, but we cannot sacrifice the principles of Krishna Consciousness on being
employed by some relative of this world. Don't let them know that you do not approve your

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parents instructions, but at the same time you should be very careful in dealing with them. If you
object to their instruction and let them know it, then they will feel sorry, sad.

Relationship with other temples/ yatras

Act on basis of mutual agreement

Letter to Kirtanananda, 11 Oct 1969: Inter-Temple

Regarding your question about who shall get the money that is collected by you and your assistant,
Jimmy, I think that because practically a sannyasi belongs to every center whatever is collected
should go to the same center where you are staying. That is best. But this question may be settled in
the meetings held between all the temple presidents. If you collect something where there is no
center, that money you can take to your own center, New Vrindaban. But I think that all these
matters should be settled amongst yourselves with the presidents of different centers. Now as we are
growing in magnitude we should managed things in such a nice way that there may not be any
misunderstanding between one center and another. That is my request. Everything should be
done on the basis of mutual agreement. So far my opinion is concerned, any amount collected from
a particular center should go to the center.

Letter to: Jagadisha -- 18 November, 1972

The thing is, our main business is to distribute the books, either here or there it doesnt matter. So if
there is transcendental competition for increasing sale of books, that is good. If he buys one book
his life may be turned, that is best preaching work. But everything must be done in the spirit of
cooperation, without any irritation. If one party wants to travel into another zone, that is all right,
but there must be prior agreement between the GBC men and mutual consent. If by going there
the book sales will be increased, what is the harm? But supposing if there is any harm, that is to be
judged by the local president, and if he has good reason to think that another will be unfavorable to
his temples operations, then he may order them to leave, thats all. So local temple officers should
be the final judge to allow or disallow from anyone outside to sell their books there. And if some
outside party comes, they must sell books only, no collecting without selling books. They must
live in the local temple and not separately, and they must follow faithfully the instructions and
directions of the local president. They can purchase books from the temple at regular wholesale
price and sell, and whatever profit there is above wholesale price they must give at least 50% to the
local temple out of good will. That will be nice. So we shall not think that this is my zone, that is his
zone, just like the Indian and Pakistan nation are thinking, and then there is war, no. Lord Caitanya
has given us the task to preach His message all over the world, and any process which may be useful
for facilitating this business, that we shall gladly adopt, never mind his zone or my zone, that is
material designation. But we shall always do everything in cooperative spirit and avoid any fighting
amongst us, that is Vaisnava attitude, to others, especially to devotees of the Lord.

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CASE STUDY

In a setup like ISKCON which has a flux of social and spiritual hierarchies, sometimes it becomes
difficult to maintain the sanctity of all levels of hierarchy. Please consider the following situation and
reflect on what would be a good course of action:

You are Temple President of ISKCON Mombasa. One of the devotees in the temple is Dhananjaya
Prabhu, who is a godbrother of your spiritual master. Dhananjaya Prabhu is a big-time fund
collector. You personally have great respect for Dhananjaya Prabhus dedication in performing this
service. However, his recent aggressive fund raising stint at an elite club of the city has led to anti-
preaching amongst members of the club. The club has consequently approached the city council
with a complaint against ISKCON for harassing people and has written a furious letter to you as
well. This has added to the already growing dissatisfaction amongst other fund collectors who
consider Dhananjaya Prabhus strategies to be intrusive and thus unsustainable. How would you
communicate and harmonize these three parties who are involved in this issue? Especially how will
you influence the behavior of Dhananjaya Prabhu who is worshipable for you, being godbrother of
your spiritual master?

Aim 3: Role of time, place and circumstances in Vaishnava Sadachar

To help participants understand the role of time, place and circumstances in determining proper
application of Vaishnava Sadachar

Considerations of time, place and circumstances are very important in the particular application of
the timeless Paramapara traditions and principles in the modern context. Srila Prabhupada
extensively dealt with such unique situations where he had to administer the timeless Vedic
principles to a completely unfamiliar audience. Srila Prabhupada gives instructions at various levels
on this issue:

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 Sentiments of people should not be hurt

Packaging the message differently while maintaining the spirit of Parampara

Capable management means improvising without compromising

Purity and not the packaging is our core preaching strategy

Sentiments of people should not be hurt

Letter to: Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 13 October, 1969
I have seen the agenda of your president's meeting. This is nice. One thing should be followed,
however, as your countrymen are more or less independent spirited and lovers of democracy. So
everything should be done very carefully so that their sentiments may not be hurt. According to
Sanskrit moral principles, everything has to be acted, taking consideration of the place, audience
and time. As far as possible the centers should act freely, but conjointly. They must look forward to
the common development. That should be the principle.

Packaging the message differently while maintaining the spirit of Parampara

Letter to Sivananda, 23rd January, 1969
It is important that we preach the message of Krsna consciousness exactly as we have heard it from
our spiritual masterbut there are changes due to time, circumstances, and the trainees. The
spirit of the disciplic succession may not be changed, but there may be adjustments to suit the
special circumstances.

Letter to Rupanuga, August 8th, 1969

The students are taught by the spiritual master, or the teacher, and the students themselves go from
door to door for begging alms, and because everyones son is in the asrama, nobody declines to give

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alms. So there is no financial difficulty at all; but I do not know what to do in your country. There
are so many laws. We have to adjust things to the circumstances.

Letter to Upendra, June 24th, 1970

We must stick to our Krsna consciousness business in all circumstances. This determination will
make us successful. Although according to the Vedic system there is restriction that boys and girls
should not freely mix, the brahmacaris are strictly prohibited to talk with young women, but in
the Western countries this rule is not valid. As such, we have to accept both boys and girls in the
same standard. But if each of us follow the regulative principles and chanting of the mantras hardly
there will be any chance for sex indulgence. So we have to be little careful about it and Krsna will
help us.

Letter to Rupanuga, November 4th, 1970

Regarding marriage, generally the man should be older than the woman. We have not had good
experiences with marriages when the woman is older. But everything must be done with reference
to time, place and circumstance and in your country such a marriage is not uncommon. So if you
think the match is good then you may marry them

Letter to Karandhara, November 13th, 1970

The new procedures you are instituting on sankirtana party are very encouraging to me. The
opportunities for expanding the sankirtana movement are unlimited. We should tax our brains as to
what is the best way to present Krsna consciousness to particular people at a particular time and
place. I have always thought that in L.A. there should be at least ten sankirtana parties going out
simultaneously and as you have indicated, such places as Long Beach and other areas can each have
their own Krsna consciousness center.

Letter to Karandhara, 10th February, 1973

I have received your letter of 1/24/73 concerning polygamy and feel that this policy must be strictly
prohibited within our society. If it is not it shall only cause chaos, as what was possible under the
system of pure Vedic culture is impossible at the present time.

Capable management means improvising without compromising

Letter to Yogesvara, June 12th, 1971
So we have to adjust things. Everything is important. Not that we have to do something at the
expense of something else. I cannot say from here what is to be given preference. That depends on
your management capacity.

Letter to: Badarinarayana -- Delhi 18 November, 1971

Regarding your proposal to accommodate more indoor engagements for Sankirtana, and thus to
avoid the severe cold of wintertime, is a nice proposal, and I am encouraged to hear that you are
always thinking of how to improve the program of your St. Louis temple. We should always be

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thinking of how to spread this Sankirtana Movement by applying our basic principles according
to time and place, and I especially want that my students enter into the schools and colleges and
present our Krishna philosophy and sell our books.

Purity and not the packaging is our core preaching strategy

Letter to Yogesvara, December 28th, 1971
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of 17 December, 1971, along with
copies of your advertising work, slides, and Dutch BTG. I am very pleased to see that the foreign
literature is being produced nicely under your enthusiastic supervision. Just try to increase more and
more our output of such books and magazines in many languagesI don't think there is need to
divert your attention by producing advertising. I have seen your advertisements as shown to me by
Syamasundara, and I think you have made the thing less important. This kind of ad is not good, it
is not grave. Our process is to show Krishna Consciousness as it is, not as others want to see it.
By showing KC in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that we should
change to accommodate the public, but that we should change the public to accommodate us.
Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things. That way your enthusiasm and
talents will have big effect by being concentrated. Therefore, kindly concentrate for producing books
and magazines in European languages, as many as possible, and make this your life work. These
books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising. If we simply present Krishna
Consciousness in a serious and attractive way, without need to resort to fashionable slogans or
tricks, that is sufficient. Our unique asset is our purity. No one any where can match it. That will
be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard
of purity in performing our routine work, not that we require to display or announce ourselves in
very clever ways to get attention. No, our pure standard is enough. Let us stand on that basis.

CASE STUDY

Please carefully read the following passage from Srimad Bhagavatam:

SB 8.23.2

Bali Mahrja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to
You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those
of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by
the demigods or the leaders of the various planets.

PURPORT

When Vmanadeva appeared before Bali Mahrja, Bali Mahrja immediately wanted to offer Him
respectful obeisances, but he was unable to do so because of the presence of ukrcrya and other

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demoniac associates. The Lord is so merciful, however, that although Bali Mahrja did not actually offer
obeisances but only endeavored to do so within his mind, the Supreme Personality of Godhead blessed him
with more mercy than even the demigods could ever expect Thus the Lord is known as bhva-grh
janrdana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality.

This pastime shows that a preacher of KC is sensitive to his surroundings in his observance of Vaishnava
Sadachar. Because Bali Maharaj didnt offer full obeisances associates were demoniac and wouldnt have
appreciated such a behavior on his part. However when it came to surrendering to the Lord, he rejected
the advice of Sukracarya and other demons.

Now as a leader of the Krishna consciousness movement in the 21st century, where people have lost touch
with basic etiquette of human life what to speak of Vedic or Vaishnava life, how will you adapt the rules
and regulations in such a way that the principles are intact and only the details are adjusted. You could
discuss also in terms of:

~ Use of Western or Vedic attire as standard devotee attire

~ Use of corporate tools for administration of ISKCON

~ Allowing mixing of males and females for innovative preaching

~ Philanthropic activities as preaching tools

Aim 4: Managing things in a harmonious Vaishnava way

To help participants understand ways to discharge ones role as a manager of getting things done but
in a harmonious Vaishnava way

Management in a Vaishnava community sound like an oxymoron. Yet being part of a worldwide
institution, it is imperative that we organize things nicely so as to ensure that:

<> The standards of individual spiritual life set by Srila Prabhupada are maintained,

<> Temple programs and deity worship program is carried out properly

<> Preaching movement is being expanded,

<> Books are being printed and distribute in more and more numbers

<> Devotees are maintained nicely at all levels: spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically,

<> ISKCON properties are properly maintained and managed,

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<> And many more

The challenge is how to do management without being implosive/ insensitive/ oppressive/ offensive
etc. Srila Prabhupada gives powerful techniques and mood in which this could be done a
harmonious Vaishnava way:

Fanning spirit of
spontaneous sacrifice for
Krishna

Art of being tactful and at

the same time respectful

Being careful not to act

beyond ones Jurisdiction

Fanning spirit of spontaneous sacrifice for Krishna

Letter to: Karandhara -- Bombay 22 December, 1972

So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain
vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four
morning, attending mangal aratiour leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic
service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate
some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise
and meet it. That is the art of management: to draw out spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing
some energy for Krishna. But where are so many expert managers? All of us should become expert
managers and preachers.

Letter to: Bali-mardana -- Bombay 4 November, 1970

It is for your daring and active nature that I have chosen you to represent me as GBC man for the
southeast Asia zone, and I can see from your latest words that my choice has not been wrong.

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Art of being tactful and at the same time respectful

Letter to: Hamsaduta: -- Vrindaban 7 September, 1974

Regarding your trip to U.S.A. you say that you will be tactful and respectful in your dealings. That
should be the motto of all GBC. Be tolerant, and if there is any deficiency, rectify it. All our men
have volunteered good service, so the background is good will. So everything should be done on the
basis of good will.

SP Letter to Upendra (26 November, 1968 ):

Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of Nov. 22 and have noted the contents.

I think that the troubles you describe in your letter are due simply to misunderstanding. Do not
worry because next week Garry shall return to you and Krishna will certainly help you in your
endeavors. Jivananda shall remain with the Sankirtana Party and similarly Harsarani shall stay with
him in Los Angeles.

We must always remember that the leader in charge of a temple must learn to successfully deal
with the other persons there. No one is working as a paid servant so if the dealings are not
friendly everyone will decide to leave. The leader of the temple must try always to be sober and
tolerant and at the same time manage everything nicely. Please continue to try and cultivate this
talent and I know you will be given all intelligence to do this.

SP letter to Janak (January 18, 1969)

Please do your duty combinedly without any disruption of peaceful attitudes amongst yourselves.
We are pushing our movement on the background of a peaceful atmosphere in the world, and if we
show a little disturbance in our own camp that will not be a very good example, therefore, everyone
should be forbearing, tolerant and cooperative.

Being careful not to act beyond ones Jurisdiction

Letter to: Giriraja -- London 12 August, 1971

GBC does not mean to control a center. GBC means to see that the activities of a center go on nicely.
I do not know why Tamala is exercising his absolute authority. That is not the business of GBC. The
president, treasurer and secretary are responsible for managing the center. GBC is to see that things
are going nicely but not to exert absolute authority. That is not in the power of GBC. Tamala should
not do like that. The GBC men cannot impose anything on the men of a center without consulting
all of the GBC members first. A GBC member cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of his power.

CASE STUDY

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Please carefully read the following passage regarding the conflict between Jai Vijay and the 4
Kumaras:

SB 3.15.31-33

When the Kumras, although by far the fittest persons, were thus forbidden entrance by the two chief
doorkeepers of r Hari while other divinities looked on, their eyes suddenly turned red because of anger
due to their great eagerness to see their most beloved master, r Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

The sages said: Who are these two persons who have developed such a discordant mentality even though
they are posted in the service of the Lord in the highest position and are expected to have developed the
same qualities as the Lord? How are these two persons living in Vaikuha? Where is the possibility of an
enemy's coming into this kingdom of God? The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no enemy. Who could
be envious of Him? Probably these two persons are imposters; therefore they suspect others to be like
themselves.

In the Vaikuha world there is complete harmony between the residents and the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, just as there is complete harmony within space between the big and the small skies. Why then is
there a seed of fear in this field of harmony? These two persons are dressed like inhabitants of Vaikuha,
but wherefrom can their disharmony come into existence?

It is evident from the above passage that both the parties- Kumaras and Jai-Vijay, had good
intentions of performing devotional service to Lord Vishnu. However there was a conflict and
cursing despite all good intentions. Reflect on why there was a conflict between Kumaras and Jai-
Vijay. What alternate sequence of events could have avoided such an impasse?

It is not hard to think of similar delicate situations (ranging from managing queue of Prasadam to
appointing devotees to positions of responsibility) which a leader in the Krishna consciousness
movement has to face where observance of ones duties leads to discontentment of some of the
devotees/ leaders. Think of some situations where you have personally been involved as i) authority,
ii) subject & iii) neutral witness. What difference do you see in the pattern of your thought process
and response behavior in these three situations? What lessons can be drawn from this?

Aim 5: Diagnosing deficient Sadachar Standards

To help participants understand ways to diagnose deficient Vaishnava Sadachar standards in a
community and take appropriate measures for improvement

Srila Prabhupada was always personally travelling and scrutinizing whether the devotees are
following the spiritual program and standards of conduct given by him. As ISKCON expanded, he

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delegated this task of vigilance to the GBC but still he would collect reports from the GBC of the
functioning of the temples in their zones. Following are some methods promoted by Srila
Prabhupada:

Checking compliance of
core spiritual practices &
regulations?

Using System of Reporting

for Vigilance

Teach by Personal example

Checking how the roots are being watered & if the weeds are cropping up
(following core spiritual practices & regulations)?

Letter to: Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 25 August, 1970

One should have unflinching faith in Krsna and similarly in the Spiritual Master. That is the way of
understanding the secret of Krsna Consciousness. Unfortunately, attempt has been made lately in
our Society to shake this formula. This mischievous attempt has done a great harm, but if you the
members of the Governing Body Commission can rectify this mischievous attempt, then still there is
hope of making our progress uninterruptedly. . . . in this institution if there is a bad disciple he can
burn the whole institution into ashes. The Governing Body Commission's duty is therefore to see
that every member is following the rules and regulations and chanting sixteen round regularly on
the beads. I hope the GBC in cooperation with the Sannyasis in their touring program will be able
to keep vigilance systematically in order to keep the Society as pure as possible.

Letter to: Hamsaduta -- Sydney 11 April, 1972

In the meantime, you do your duty as president of Hamburg Temple, and try to improve spiritually.
Our spiritual way should strictly observe the following points especially: (1). Neatness and
cleanliness of all personal bodies. (I still see those who are initiated as Brahmins, they do not wash
their hand after eating even; of course, there may be so many defects due to your births in non-

22 | P a g e
Brahmin families, but how long it shall go on? It is very easy thing.); (2). Chanting 16 rounds daily.
(I don't think everyone is following these principles.); (3) Temple worship, which should be
performed rigidly between four and ten a.m.)

I find that the devotees are still sleeping up to six, seven o'clock. So in the GBC Agenda I do not find
any such programs for reforming our past bad habits. So kindly as President of Hamburg center you
try to observe yourself all the regulative principles and see all the members are following.

Using System of Reporting for Vigilance

Letter to: Abhirama, Hong Kong, 1 February, 1974

Please accept my blessings. In his latest GBC report, Rupanuga Maharaja wrote that you are
delinquent in sending him regular reports. The system of temple presidents sending twice monthly
reports to the GBC was devised by me to facilitate my receiving news of all the centers through
the GBC. You are free to write me directly when the occasion arises, but do not neglect to send
regular reports to Rupanuga Maharaja.

Conversation with the GBC -- March 27, 1975, Mypur

Prabhupda: The general report should be submitted at least monthly

Jayatrtha: We have kind of a system outlined in here, how reports can be done. Its a technical thing,
but...

Prabhupda: But they have that everyone is chanting sixteen rounds, everyone is following the
principles, so much money received, so much money deposited in the bank.And general
reporting: Yes, everyone is chanting, or He is not chanting in spite of warning, like that.

Teaching by Personal example

Letter to: Rupanuga -- Tirupati 28 April, 1974

The GBC must be vigilant by following the regulative principles and teach by ideal character the
presidents of the centers, and the presidents by their ideal character must teach the others then
automatically all members of the whole institution will be ideal to the human society... So our
business is to keep fit as brahmanas and to train others to be ideal ksatriyas and vaisyas for
advancing the whole society.

CASE STUDY

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You are visiting a temple for 3 days on your official annual visit as the Zonal Supervisor of the
temple. The temple president has arranged a series of meetings for you with the life members, senior
temple managers and congregation leaders.

What are the questions that you would need to ask in order to assure yourself that the standards
of Vaishnava Sadachar are in place?

What other areas would you need to inspect to ensure the same?

Aim 6: Proper method of offering and receiving correction

To help the participants understand the proper method of offering and receiving correction in a
Vaishnava way

There is a difference between criticism and correction. A devotee realizes that criticizing a Vaiava
pollutes the heart and impedes spiritual advancement.

In the following sections we will see the right attitude, authority and action for offering correction in
Srila Prabhupadas words.

Right Right Right

Attitude Authority Action

Correction isnt Ethical Authority: One Tactful & friendly

synonymous with finding should follow oneself demeanour: Mend it
fault or becoming angry first before asking others without breaking it

Focusing more on the

Service side of devotees Spiritual Authority: Forgive the wrongdoer,
while tolerating Relationship of love & allow them to start
shortcomings: No one trust is a precondition afresh
comes perfect

Managerial Authority: Prevention is better than

Considering the domain cure: Place systems to
of ones influence check deviations

24 | P a g e
Right Attitude for Offering Correction

Correction isnt synonymous with finding fault or becoming angry

SP letter to Hasadta (December 10, 1972): Devotee means he is able to tolerate

Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and
because he is too much absorbed in serving Ka he takes no time to become angry or take
offense with others or find out some fault. No. Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone,
always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life.

SP letter to Patita Uddhraa (December 12, 1974) : A humble devotee does not find fault
A devotee-one who is humble-doesn't fault-find. So in your letter you are not finding fault with
anyone. So you are good Vaiava. You do not find fault with anyone. This is the qualification. We
should always think ourselves humble and meek. This you must know. So we all have to cooperate
amongst ourselves, otherwise what will people think if we ourselves fight with one another? A
devotee is always ideal in behavior."

Letter to: Karandhara -- Auckland 21 February, 1973

Regarding Sriman Hayagriva Dasa; it is our duty to rectify him. To create a devotee takes much labor
and to reject him in a minute is not to our credit so please try to do the needful in this regard.
Consult the other GBC men there, then make a proposal to Hayagriva and if still he is incorrigible
then you take the necessary steps.

SP letter to Gaurasundara (August 26, 1972) : The Defect Lies Within You
If there is some incident and I claim that no one is cooperating with me or no one will work with
me, that is MY defect, NOT THEIRS. The Vaiava devotee must think like this. We should not find
fault with others and criticise and go away. That is not the Vaiava way. Better we should always be
willing to offer all respect to others and consider them as our superiors always.

Focusing more on the Service side of devotees while tolerating shortcomings: No one comes
perfect

SP letter to Brahmnanda (November 15, 1969): Vaikuntha attitude

This is called Vaikuntha attitude. In the Vaikuntha factually there is no fault in anyone, but there is
another type of competition. The competition is that one devotee thinks of other devotees how
nicely they are serving the Lord. In the material world the attitude is that everyone likes to think that
I am doing better than others. This is material conception. In the Spiritual Sky it is just the opposite:
Everyone thinks that my contemporary devotees are doing better than me. We are trained to address
Godbrothers as Prabhu, which means Master. This means we shall try to find out always the
serving side of our Godbrothers. Sometimes there are misgivings, but we should try to overlook.

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SP letter to Tamla Ka (August 23, 1973)
I have received one complaint from an Indian devotee at Mayapur, Prabharupa Das Brahmacary, that
he is maltreated by our American devotees. Kindly inquire into this matter and do the needful.
Either Indian of foreign whoever joins us they are not under any obligation, our only tie is Love of
Godhead. It should be our definite policy that nobody is ill treated that he may go away. We recruit a
person to join us after spending gallons of blood. Everyone comes for reformation, you cannot
expect everyone to be perfect, rather it is our duty to make everyone perfect as far as possible. So
we shall be very much cautious and careful in this connection.

SP letter to Upendra (March 11, 1969

Yes, a new man may commit blunders in the beginning, but that does not mean we may be too
impatient with him. After all, training means the man does not know, so you should train him
nicely. A Vaishnava is expected to be humbler than the blade of grass, so when you train some new
man you should not get agitated with him. After all, we are preachers, and we do not expect our
audience or candidates completely respondent to our call. If everyone is trained [already] then
what is the use of our preaching?

Right Authority for Correction

Ethical Authority: One should follow oneself first before asking others

SP letter to Madhu-magala (November 18, 1972)

Regarding general state of affairs at Amsterdam temple, I can understand there is some disturbance
among you, but that is not to be taken very seriously. Real business is preaching work. And if there
is full attention on this matter only, all other businesses will be automatically successful. Fighting
amongst ourselves is not at all good, but if our preaching work is neglected, or if we fall down in
following the regulative principles-such as rising before four, chanting 16 rounds, like that-if these
things are not strictly observed, then Maya will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you
is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow. We
should not criticize each other as Vaiavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be
ourselves subject to criticism. Best thing is to be above suspicion ourselves, then if we see
discrepancies and make suggestions, the others will automatically respect and take action to
rectify the matters. That is cooperation. And we must exist on such cooperation, otherwise the
whole thing is doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to organize things
and preach together in this spirit and that will please me very very much.

26 | P a g e
Letter to Name withheld-- 17 December, 1972
Our business is to raise ourselves to the highest status of life as preachers of Krsna's message, and
one should behave himself rigidly, then he should instruct others. Two things: Be himself
exemplary, then teach others to be exemplary. If one has not come to that high standard, he
cannot judge or criticize others. There is one saying from Bible: 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' So
how we can preach unless we are able to make judgements? That will not be possible. Only those
who are above suspicion can judge others. One must himself act in such a way that he is always
above suspicion. Then he can judge, then he can preach. But now you have no power to instruct.
One who is not following himself, how he can instruct others?

Spiritual Authority: Relationship of love & trust is a precondition

Discussions with Shyamasundara dasa

Prabhupda: Yes. Without love, nothing can sustain. If I do not love Ka I cannot surrender. It is
not possible. Just like a small child, he is naturally surrendered to the parents because there is love.
The child loves also the parents. So without the basic principle of love, the more you love, the more
the surrender is also perfect. Just like a small child, you slap the child, he's crying, yet crying also
with the words, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy," because there is love Just like you are;
you are, a whole society is carrying my order, not because I am superior person. There is love.
Without love you cannot do so. You have got some bit of love for me, therefore you carry my order.
Otherwise it is not possible. And I cannot also. You are foreigners, you are. Americans, I came from
another country, I have no account. I cannot also order you: "You must do it, otherwise I will
chastise you." Because there is love. It is a connection of love. I can also become bold enough to
chastise you, but you also, what, in whatever condition, you carry my order due to the basic
principle is love. And our whole philosophy is love. We are just trying to learn how to love Ka,
that's all. So without the basic principle of love, these things cannot be conceived.

Managerial Authority: Considering the domain of ones influence

SP letter to Nara-Nryaa (February 7, 1969)

I beg to thank you very much for your letter pointing out some of the discrepancies of many of the
devotees in New York. You are correct regarding the items which you have stated, such as sleeping
in front of the deities, taking of unoffered foodstuffs, drinking water from the bathroom, and non-
chanting of rounds. But the thing is discipline can not be observed unless there is obedience. As you
are obedient to me, you should be similarly obedient to my representative. Your statement about
Brahmananda that he is a wonderful devotee is 100 percent agreed by me. He is in charge of the
New York center, and therefore, if proper obedience is not given to him, it will be impossible for
him to manage affairs of the temple. Under the circumstances, the discrepancies you have

27 | P a g e
observed in the temple may be referred to him, and he is quite reasonable, and will handle the
matter with the respective devotees.

SPL to Sukadeva, 28th December, 1974

In regards to your question about how the relationship between a sannyasi and the temple president
should be, my hope is that you will all be able to cooperate together. The temple president is in
charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something
wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president. And
then work it out in a Krsna conscious way. Not that he will try to over-ride the temple presidents
authority. I want that you all work together cooperatively. Please continue your programs there
with great enthusiasm and try to strictly follow all of my regulations without any deviation. Keep
yourself always fixed in Krsnas service.

Right Action for Offering Correction

Tactful & friendly demeanour: Mend it without breaking it

Letter to Madudvisa, Amogha- Los Angeles, 24 Aug 1972

So far the presidents are concerned, they should not be abruptly changed in future. If there is any
complaint they should be first of all informed to me. One thing we should always remember is that
all of our devotees picked up here are accustomed to all of these bad habits in their past life, so if
sometimes they reveal their old characteristics, instead of rejecting them, it is up to us to rectify
them as far as possible. So try to reform Mohananandan there. What he will do by coming here?
Amogha has indicated he has already shaved his sikha and has left everything. do you think U.S.A. is
a magic place, simply by coming here he will become reformed? If possible you can send to the
U.S.A., but it is better to correct him to the standard point by friendly gestures. We can reject
anyone, that is very easy, but to reform him that requires great skill and tact and if you can
reform him there by kind words and dealings, that is best. When I was there in Sydney, I observed
that Mohananandan is very, very good boy and he has great intelligence and talent, simply it has
become little bit misguided due to circumstances. Now you both big leaders in Australia, along
with the others, you make a very concerted attempt to help Mohananandan over his difficulties
and persuade him that everything is all right; that I am not angry or displeased in any way. These
things will sometimes happen even with the best devotees, and in this way try and persuade him to
become engaged with his previous enthusiasm for becoming once again a great devotee. He is young
boy, so we should not take his actions too seriously, better to forget the past and try to reform him.
His service can be once again very much valuable there in Australia, I know he is very good boy. Do

28 | P a g e
not drive him away, that will be the discredit to all of you leaders. But if there is great difficulty, he
may come and live with me here in Los Angeles for the time being, I have no objection. But he has
done very nicely in Sydney up to the present time, so if you can utilize his experience and talents
there, that is the best plan.

SP letter to Bali-mardana-- 5 September, 1974

Regarding the matter of Sudama Maharaja there will be no more discussion. Immediately this should
be stopped, this matter. Sudama Maharaja should be encouraged. He is doing nicely. Practically the
old branch was abolished. Since he has gone there, things have improved very much. So he should
be encouraged very much in his activities. Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and
friendly dealings. This is not an ordinary thing that if somebody has got some fault he should be
cut. He should be reformed by amicable dealings. We are training our men since a long time. It is
very difficult to get trained up assistants.

SP letter to Hasadta-- September 29, 1974

Regarding Bali Mardan we have decided to review the complaints and do the needful at the next
GBC meeting. Bali Mardan came to me when I was in Vrndaban and he showed a tendency for
retirement, because he knows there are so many complaints against him. Three or four times he said
he would like to live in Vrindaban. So anyway he has given service to the Society, but when there are
all GBC present they may consider the complaints and do the needful. But, so far I have studied, if
all the GBC so desire, he can retire. Personally I wish all the existing GBC may be trained up so
perfectly that in the future in my absence they can manage the whole Society very nicely and
strongly. That is my desire. At least in this stage of my life it is not at all desirable that there be any
factions amongst yourselves. Try to settle up amicably and correct yourself. One man is trained up
with great difficulty especially in spiritual life. Everyone has got some weakness and deficiency. It
is better to correct or mend it than to break it.

Lecture S.B. 5.6.3 Nov 25, 1976, Vrindavan

If you pat your subordinates it will increase their faulty habits and if you chastise them, they will
improve. Therefore it is advised that either your son or disciple, you should always chastise them,
never give them leniency. So a little leniency, immediately so many faults will grow. Now for our
practical life we are known all over the world as shaven headed, is it not? Now we are becoming
hair-headed, we are forgetting shaving. Because there is a little leniency, immediately faulty
things are creeping in. So we should be known as shaven-headed, not hair-headed. This is
discrepancy. At least once in a month you must be clearly shaven-headed. On the bright fortnight,
on the day of purnima, four days after ekadasi. Once in a month, in the bright fortnight we must be
shaven-headed. It is not desirable that in grown up age also, you be chastised. that is not desirable-
that is also difficult because when the disciple or son is grown up, if he is chastised, then he breaks.
So before being chastised we should be conscious that this is our rules and regulations, we must
observe. Therefore it is advised by Canakya Pandit [Sanskrit] After the 16th year of the disciple or

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son, he should be treated as friend because if you chastise when he is grown up then he will break
up- that is also another risk. So our request is that instead of chastising, with folded hands I
request you, don't you become hippies again by growing hair. Keep your head cleansed at least
once in a month. That is my request. Neither I can chastise you, I am an old man and you are young
men. (Srila Prabhupada instructed this transcript to be sent to all Temples for implementation of regular
shaving)

Forgive the wrongdoer, allow them to start afresh

Letter to Name withheld -- 17 December, 1972

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 30th, 1972,
wherein I am so shocked to hear from you that you have left your good wife for some time to have
sex-life with another girl, who is also a devotee, and that she is now pregnant with your child. That
is most disturbing to me. But I know that all big leaders are falling victim to sex-life. So let her live in
New York and you live in Paris with your wife, what can be done? But you should not ever see or
correspond in any way with her again. That will be the worst example. If you are leader, how you
can do these things? If someone will have her, she may get herself married and be happy in Krsna
consciousnessI do not want that she shall go away from shame. But you must have nothing more
to do with her. Just like [another devotee] has done. He was like the sifter, full of holes, and he was
finding fault only in others: Oh, just see that needle, he has got a hole. Now he has made one girl
pregnant and they were found out, so he has left me as my personal servant. That is the common
practice: full of holes, yet they are accusing others, "Oh! He has got one hole!

Our business is to raise ourselves to the highest status of life as preachers of Krsna's message, and
one should behave himself rigidly, then he should instruct others. Two things: Be himself
exemplary, then teach others to be exemplary. If one has not come to that high standard, he cannot
judge or criticize others. There is one saying from Bible: 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' So how we
can preach unless we are able to make judgements? That will not be possible. Only those who are
above suspicion can judge others. One must himself act in such a way that he is always above
suspicion. Then he can judge, then he can preach. But now you have no power to instruct. One who
is not following himself, how he can instruct others?

If you are repentant, that's all right. You have got your wife, so if you are sexually inclined
therefore you should always be with your wife. You are repenting, so Krsna will excuse you. But
never do this again. Rather you should stop sex-life altogether, make this your austerity. Do not
eat nicely, chant always sixteen rounds, and pray to Krsna to excuse you for your great offense.
You are one of the senior devotees, therefore if you behave like that then the whole Society will be at
risk. By their nature, gestures, dress, women are lustythat is their habit. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam
it is stated that when a woman comes to serve you, you must be very careful, especially for sannyasis
and brahmacaries."

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ACBS

Letter to Brahmananda San Fancisco, 29 Dec 1967

Regarding Hayagriva and Krtannanda, if they come again we should accommodate them and
should not continue the misunderstanding that has been engineered. I think Hayagriva is anxious in
having his name printed in the publication of Gitopanisad. I do not have any objections that his
name may be mentioned as one of the editors helping in the editing of Gitopanisad, just to
encourage him and keep him in our camp, in case that he may come back and accept our
philosophy and resume his editing talent. He has committed a blunder, but just so that he may be
encouraged to come back you may mention his name also along with Rayarama's. He is not so
convinced of his impersonalist philosophy. It is only due to Krtannanda's influence that he has left
us.

Prevention is better than cure: Place systems to check deviations

Letter to: Gurukrpa: -- Vrindaban 26 August, 1975

Regarding Manasvi you immediately inform the police that he has misappropriated so much money.
He must give the account or we shall prosecute. Yes, Srutakirti he is a good boy, so he can be made
the President as you suggest. You are GBC so you must stop all this from going on. The best
procedure is that the Treasurer takes all money collected and immediately writes it in the book
and then daily deposits everything in the bank. None of the collection should be used for
spending. All expenditures should be done by check as far as possible. Check means two
signatures, so in this way this nonsense will be stopped. Please see that all temples are following
this system.

Receiving Correction in proper spirit

Room Conversation, May 30, 1976

Prabhupda: So a disciple is always in deficiency before his spiritual master. Just like Caitanya
Mahprabhu says, guru more murkha dekhi karila ana [Cc. di 7.71]: "My spiritual master saw
Me a fool number one. Therefore he has chastised Me." So disciple should be always ready to be
chastised. He should not think that he has become perfect. That is perfection. So long he thinks
that he is not perfecthe's to be chastisedthen he's perfect. And as soon as he thinks that he has
become perfect, he's nonsense immediately, nonsense number one. [break] ...always to be chastised
by the spiritual master for perfection. And if he thinks that now he has become perfect, then he's a
foolish. Caitanya Mahprabhu said, guru more murkha dekhi: "My spiritual master saw Me a fool
number one." Was He fool number one? He's God Himself. But that is the position. He should
remain always a fool number one, ready to be chastised. Then he's perfect. In the moral instruction,
Cakya Paita gives this instruction, that llane bahavo doas tadane bahavo gua: "If you

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chastise your, the son or disciple, he'll improve, and if you say, 'Oh, you are all right,' then he'll
degrade." Tasmt putra ca iya ca tayet na tu lalayet: "Therefore you always chastise your son
and disciple. Never flat..." What is called?

Jaydvaita: Flatter.

SP letter to Vndvanevar, July 8, 1969

You have mentioned about some criticism made by Jayagovinda which upset you. I do not know
exactly what is the point, but if there is some honest criticism, there should be no cause of
becoming upset.

CASE STUDY 1

Please read the following passage from the 10th Canto 89th Chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam where
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva respond differently to the offense committed by Bhrgu Muni towards them:

SB 10.89.3-12

3 - To test how well Lord Brahm was situated in the mode of goodness, Bhgu failed to bow down to him
or glorify him with prayers. The lord became angry at him, inflamed into fury by his own passion.

4 - Though anger toward his son was now rising within his heart, Lord Brahm was able to subdue it by
applying his intelligence, in the same way that fire is extinguished by its own product, water.

5 - Bhgu then went to Mount Kailsa. There Lord iva stood up and happily came forward to embrace his
brother.

6-7 - But Bhgu refused his embrace, telling him, "You are a deviant heretic." At this Lord iva became
angry, and his eyes burned ferociously. He raised his trident and was about to kill Bhgu when Goddess
Dev fell at his feet and spoke some words to pacify him. Bhgu then left that place and went to Vaikuha,
where Lord Janrdana resides.

8-9 - There he went up to the Supreme Lord, who was lying with His head on the lap of His consort, r,
and kicked Him on the chest. The Lord then rose, along with Goddess Lakm, as a sign of respect. Coming
down from His bedstead, that supreme goal of all pure devotees bowed His head to the floor before the sage
and told him, 'Welcome, brhmaa. Please sit in this chair and rest awhile. Kindly forgive us, dear
master, for not noticing your arrival.

10-11 - "Please purify Me, My realm and the realms of the universal rulers devoted to Me by giving us the
water that has washed your feet. This holy water is indeed what makes all places of pilgrimage sacred.

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Today, my lord, I have become the exclusive shelter of the goddess of fortune, Lakm; she will consent to
reside on My chest because your foot has rid it of sins."

12 - ukadeva Gosvm said: Bhgu felt satisfied and delighted to hear the solemn words spoken by Lord
Vaikuha. Overwhelmed with devotional ecstasy, he remained silent, his eyes brimming with tears.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the stimulus created amongst the three lords of the universe by
the improper behavior of Bhrgu Muni. Please also reflect on the response of Bhrgu Muni to the 3
stimuli. From this what lessons can be drawn about the proper method of offering correction

Also please think of a situation where you were agitated by an improper behavior of some devotee
and could not control the urge to immediately correct without proper contemplation. Similarly think
of a situation where your feedback for correction was backed by proper mood, contemplation and
planning. What difference can you see in terms of:

~ The way the other devotee received your feedback- did he resurrect himself?

~ Effect on your relationship with the devotee- did it cause some repulsion later on?

CASE STUDY 2

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu corrected Keshava Kashmiri and Vallabha Bhatt in two contrasting
ways. Please refer to CC Adi 16 and CC Antya 7. Mahaprabhu ensured that Keshava Kashmiri was
corrected without being humiliated in front of the general public whereas Vallabha Bhatt was
publicly disregarded by Mahaprabhu and thus neglected by all devotees in general. What do you
think caused a difference in approach in these two cases? What lessons could you apply in your role
as a leader from this?

Aim 7: Averting/ resurrecting situations of Vaishnava Aparadha

To help participants understand ways to avert/ resurrect situations of Vaishnava Aparadha

Caitanya Mahprabhu has warned very severely: tra madhye vaiava apardha ht matta. Vaiava-
apardha is the greatest offense compared to mad elephant. Lecture on NOD -- November 6, 1972,
Vndvana

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Srila Prabhupada time and again requested his followers to be cautious of this mad elephant offense
that can destroy the thriving garden of devotional service.

Youll find in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, it is stated somewhere, that if, if a devotee is coming, then
another devotee who is engaged in worship of the Deity may stop Deity worship for the time being
and should go immediately to receive the devotee. So Krsna also says, mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika.
Krsna is satisfied more when a devotee worships his devotee. Krsna says, If one is worshiping Me
and one is worshiping My devotee, then the person who is worshiping the devotee, hes more
important than the person who is worshiping Krsna.

So when one is advanced, he can see the importance of devotees. Advanced devotee never
disobeys or disrespect another devotee. Disrespect to another devotee is a great offense. Vaisnava
aparadha. Vaisnava aparadha is very serious offense. Therefore we teach to address amongst the
devotees, PRABHU, PRABHU, Such and such PRABHU. This should not be simply spoken by the
lips. It should be realized. Everyone should think other devotee as his prabhu, master. Not that he
should try to become master. Trinad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena. NOD
Lecture, Vrndavana 10/23/72

Following are some of the ways given by Srila Prabhupada to avert and resurrecting situations of
Vaishnava aparadha:

Adjust misunderstandings on the basis of common connection to Krishna

Being humble enough to beg forgiveness immediately and earnestly

Holding oneself accountable even for offense committed by ones

subordinates and begging forgiveness

Clarify the situation by proper communication

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Adjust misunderstandings on the basis of common connection to Krishna

Letter to Gargamuni Los Angeles, 11 Jan 1968

I am glad to learn that your co-operation for this society is appreciated by the authorities, We should
learn to forget and forgive minor incidents because whenever there are two men in a place, there is
always some misunderstanding. Such misunderstanding happens even between husband and wife
what to speak of others. But we have to adjust things on the basis of Krishna Consciousness. We
should always remember that K.C. is a challenge to the modern misguided human society, and we
have to meet many unfavorable incidents.

Letter to Nandarani Calcutta, 28 Nov 1967

A bona fide spiritual master always think of himself as the servant of the Lord. One should never
forget to be humble in dealings. If everyone of us would conduct our business in that spirit of
prabhu and servant then there is very little chance of being misunderstood. Sometimes
misunderstanding may take place but it should be adjusted in a spirit of service attitude to the
prabhu.

Being humble enough to beg forgiveness immediately and earnestly

Lecture on rmad-Bhgavatam 1.15.22-23 December 2, 1973, Los Angeles

Prabhupda: If by chance one commits Vaiava apardha then he must beg forgiveness from the
Vaiava very earnestly holding his feet. A Vaiava is very merciful so he will immediately
embrace him and forgive him for all his offenses. Those who are spiritually advanced, such persons
should not be offended. Then you are finished in according to our philosophy, vaiava-apardha...
Just we were talking in our walking that a great yogi... What is the name?

Devotee: Durvs.

Prabhupda: Durvs. Durvs Muni offended Vaiava, and immediately sudarana-cakra came to
kill Durvs. Vaiava-apardha is never tolerated by Ka. Just like the Pavas, they were
Vaiavas, and the Duryodhana and company, they were so-called Vaiava. Actually they were not
Vaiava. So they insulted. They put to trouble so many ways. They banished them in the jungle.
They insulted their wife and so many ways by clique. So Ka could not tolerate that. So therefore
the Battle of Kuruketra.

So Vaiava is kind. Arjuna, he said, "My dear Ka, whatever they have done, that doesn't matter. I
cannot kill my family men. Please excuse." So just see. Arjuna is kind because he is Vaiava. But
Ka cannot tolerate. Ka said, "You must kill them. That is My order. You must kill them."

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Holding oneself accountable even for offense committed by ones subordinates and
begging forgiveness

Letter to Sripad Narayana Maharaja -- 15 December, 1966

I came to know that my disciple Candrasekhara from Delhi wrote you a letter. Candrasekhara sent
me a copy of your reply to him. In that letter I came to know that foolish Candrasekhara had
blasphemed you. Fools do not know how to honor Vaisnavas. By your greatness, please excuse him.
I haven't instructed him to do such a thing. I only told him to visit you. Anyway, excuse his
aparadha. Candrasekhara is a good man, but out of foolishness he used bad words to you. You
please forgive him and me by your good qualities.

Clarify the situation by proper communication

Letter to Mr. Ram Patel Bombay 10 Jan 1975

I am very sorry for any inconvenience that has come upon you due to this misunderstanding. I did
not receive any letter from you until now about the situation so I was not aware fully of the
circumstances as you have given them. Your son should stay with you and abide by your
instructions. I will be coming there in April and will be more than glad to meet with you and your
son at that time if you so wish. Again, I am sorry for any misunderstanding that may have occurred.

Letter to Hayagriva San Francisco, 17 March 1968

I shall let you know when I shall go to N.Y. and if possible, please try to see me there in some
weekend, and we shall be glad to talk face to face what is actually the misunderstanding, between
ourselves. I do not think there is any misunderstanding on the principles so we can join again as
before and combinedly we can work for pushing on the movement of Krishna Consciousness in your
country.

CASE STUDY

You were recently appointed as temple president of a major ISKCON temple. You were seen by the
GBC as more competent that another devotee who had been serving as the president for past several
years. The previous president had developed a congregation of pious Gujarati and Telugu families
around 10 years back but currently was not proving to be very effective in keeping up with the needs
of preaching to the new generation. Your appointment has brought in a gush of fresh energy and
enthusiasm in the whole project. By Krishnas grace and your able management the temple has
started rapidly growing so much so that within 3 months you have acquired a big land in a prime
location of the city for building a grand new temple.

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However you dont find the previous president as enthusiastic as before. You have tried to involve
him in all major decisions and even offered him to head the construction of the new temple but he is
not participating and is withdrawing himself from active temple services. It seems that he has a
feeling of injustice in the way in which his cherished service was taken away from him. You have
heard reports about the ex-president complaining that you were always ambitious to take big posts
in the temple. He has also been complaining that the innovative strategies employed by you are
diluting the message and Srila Prabhupada would never approve of such tactics. On your attempts to
establish dialogue with him he responds in a cynical and cold manner, showing distrust in both you
and the GBC. Being relatively junior, you fear alienating a senior leader of the congregation which
might reflect in the allegiance of the old congregation developed by this leader.

What steps would you take in order to resurrect this situation?

Aim 8: Importance of Confidentiality for Leaders

To help participants understand the importance of confidentiality as an element of proper Vaishnava
Sadachar of a leader

Confidentiality is an essential etiquette for a Leader as he/ she has access to a lot of individual and
institutional sensitive information. A leader needs to make extra efforts that not only should he leak
out the information but also any devisive elements arent able to sneak the confidential information
out. Srila Prabhupada gives several reasons why every piece of information that comes under the
nose of a leader need not be dispersed to public:

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 Confidential plans can be disturbed or misused if revealed
prematurely

Personal & institutional information could be sensitive

and therefore kept confidential

Some instructions are meant for a particular time, place

and audience and cant be circulated as a general rule

Confidential plans can be disturbed or misused if revealed prematurely

rla Prabhupda-llmta - Satsvarpa dsa Goswm - confidential information should not be

disclosed
One time in Bhubhaneswar, a few GBC men were discussing with rla Prabhupda whether it was
wise to publish certain confidential information that might then be utilized by the movements
enemies. rla Prabhupda said that confidential information should not be disclosed. He quoted
Cakya Paita, who said that one should not disclose his plans lest they be disrupted.
Prabhupda said that when one is dealing with cunning people, he should also be cunning, or else
they will take advantage.

Personal & institutional information could be sensitive and therefore kept

confidential

Letter to Brahmananda -- Tittenhurst 28 September, 1969:

Now, gradually I am trying to hand over the management to the reliable hands of my disciples, and
you should all work by joint consultation, without any friction. Now, by the Grace of Krishna, we
are expanding and we must work in such a way that our society may stand a solid institution. In this
connection I shall request you not to circulate all my letters that I address to you. Letters are
sometimes personal and confidential, and if all letters are circulated, it may react reversely. I have
already got some hints like that with letters I sent to you regarding Kirtanananda and Hayagriva. So
in the future please do not circulate my letters to you. All my letters to you should be considered as
confidential, and if you want at all to circulate, you just ask me before doing so.

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Some instructions are meant for a particular time, place and audience and cant be
circulated as a general rule

Letter to: Jayadvaita : August 15, 1974 - confidential instruction should not be generalized
In answer to your question about the meaning of Viswa Vaishnava Raja Sabha, it is: International
Society of Vaishnavas.

The part about BS. giving permission to distribute meat is to be omitted because this was a very
confidential instruction. It should not be misinterpreted so that preachers can do anything to spread
K. C., even sense gratification: This is how Shaymasundar is presently doing.

Letter to: Brahmananda : 24 July, 1969 - confidential advice

The questions as put on Bhagavad-gita, Third Chapter, are very intelligent and I like it very much. I
am very much anxious to hear about Rayarama. It is my confidential advice to you that if he feels
any difficulties for money, you may discriminatingly help him, and he should continue as the
managing editor. Full cooperation should be there between you and him. We simply wanted to save
the money for some better utilization. Otherwise we have nothing to grudge against anyone.

Comment of Satsvarupa M. on SP letter to him - June 13, 1968 confidential instructions are not
always meant to be applied generally
I always had the urge to observe Prabhupdas activities and share them in writing with devotees. I
also used to photocopy his letters and send them to other centers. This was curtailed, however, when
Prabhupda indicated that some of his letters were confidential; their instructions were not always
meant to be applied generally.

CASE STUDY 1

Please carefully read the following excerpt from the 10th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam,

SB 10.5.23

My dear brother Nanda Mahrja, at an advanced age you had no son at all and were hopeless of having
one. Therefore, that you now have a son is a sign of great fortune.

PURPORT

At an advanced age one generally cannot beget a male child. If by chance one does beget a child at this
age, the child is generally female. Thus Vasudeva indirectly asked Nanda Mahrja whether he had
actually begotten a male child or a female child. Vasudeva knew that Yaod had given birth to a female
child, whom he had stolen and replaced with a male child. This was a great mystery, and Vasudeva

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wanted to determine whether this mystery was already known to Nanda Mahrja. On inquiring,
however, he was confident that the mystery of Ka's birth and His being placed in the care of Yaod
was still hidden. There was no danger, since Kasa at least could not learn what had already happened.

SB 10.5.29

Nanda Mahrja said: Alas, King Kasa killed so many of your children, born of Devak. And your one
daughter, the youngest child of all, entered the heavenly planets.

PURPORT

When Vasudeva understood from Nanda Mahrja that the mystery of Ka's birth and His having
been exchanged with Yaod's daughter was yet undisclosed, he was happy that things were going on
nicely. By saying that Vasudeva's daughter, his youngest child, had gone to the heavenly planets, Nanda
Mahrja indicated that he did not know that this daughter was born of Yaod and that Vasudeva had
exchanged her with Ka. Thus the doubts of Vasudeva were dispelled.

In the above passage we see that in order to protect Krishnas interests, Vasudeva is keeping the
glorious appearance of Krishna in the prison and subsequent exchange of Krishna with girl-child of
Nanda secret from the whole world including his dear friend Nanda Maharaj.

Please enumerate situations in administration of ISKCON management where you might need to
keep certain information guarded even from devotees, for safeguarding interests of Krishnas
mission. Amongst the situations you have enlisted, can you think of some people whom you would
give full information of the situation? How would you ensure proliferation of the information from
those whom you have taken in confidence?

In attempts to keep things secret even from devotees there is risk of being accused as unfriendly or
arrogant by some of the devotees. What do you think is the best way of dealing with such
accusations?

CASE STUDY 2

Please carefully read the following verse from the 4th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam,

SB 4.16.10

The reciters glorified Prthu Maharaj: No one will be able to understand the policies the King will follow.
His activities will also be very confidential, and it will not be possible for anyone to know how he will
make every activity successful. His treasury will always remain unknown to everyone. He will be the
reservoir of unlimited glories and good qualities, and his position will be maintained and covered just as
Varua, the deity of the seas, is covered all around by water.

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 In the above passage we see that a King keeps the critical information secret from even his
subjects. The Kings policies, activities and treasury are all concealed from general public. However a
leader also needs to be transparent in order to earn the faith of the people, especially in this age of
hypocrisy and corruption. How would you reconcile these two needs of confidentiality and
transparency?

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