760724 - Letter to Tamal Krishna from Harikesa

July 24, 1976

From: Harikesa

Dear Tamal Krishna Goswami,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada has been very very sick since he has come. On the way back from the airport he vomited every five minutes, we had to stop the car. He did not eat for three days and is very weak. We were to return immediately to India but Srila Prabhupada is somehow or other hanging on to his schedule although it is difficult. He revealed the source of his sickness to us. He said that it was due to his having to engage in so much managing in America. So, especially now there is a great feud brewing in India and rash actions are occurring. This is all converging upon Srila Prabhupada. So hearing that Srila Prabhupada had requested the GBC to write to Gopal, and feeling that the GBC should as a body be able to govern itself, Jayatirtha prabhu and myself were thinking of some way that this could be done. After due consideration we came to some plan and presented it to Srila Prabhupada. He though that it was good but that it was a little complicated therefore we present the simplified form here. He first commented that why there should be conflicts? and then he preached about how this is what the karmis are doing and we are doing the same thing. Then he said that if there are conflicts they should be resolved amongst the GBC. He explained that these conflicts arise if there is not following of the regulative principles of chanting etc. If these are not practiced then there will be disturbances. One who does not chant properly or follow the principles should neither accept the post or remain in the post. He should resign for the basic qualification is not material but spiritual, that the GBC member must be spiritually qualified and strong.

The proposal is as follows. The first thing that should be done if there is mutual complaint between two GBC members there must be personal contact between the men. Most problems are due to lack of communication. The members must be mature enough to be able to at least discuss all the difficulties openly. Then if they can resolve it amongst themselves, the business is finished, otherwise they must present their dispute to the chairman of the GBC who after understanding both sides of the situation preaches to the members or delegates others to preach, or in the need, sends a representative or representative committee to the scene in order to sort out the problem and report the matter and their conclusions to the chairman and the GBC as a whole. These members can suggest a solution and if that is acceptable to all concerned and the other GBC, then it may be implemented at that time and the matter is finished. Or it may be resolved that this matter must wait for Mayapura. If all these measures fail to pacify the complainants then by also the recommendation of the chairman, the matter can be brought to the attention of Srila Prabhupada who will then have to get a headache about the situation. Whoever is the personal secretary has the ability to police this by intercepting such situations, at least if they are occuring by mail, and if expert and the members approve of this idea, when it occurs personally when Prabhupada is there. He will simply xerox or copy the parts of the complainants letter and mail it to the chairman for immediate action. Srila Prabhupada was pleased with this idea for it, if done properly, can save him from all these problems which have caused his translating work to stop. If your Holiness sees the need and the practicality of this suggestion I will immediately bring these upcoming difficulties to your attention so that we can finally help relieve the burden of managerial responsibilities from Srila Prabhupada.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your servant

Jayatirtha das Adhikary

GBC

Your servant

Harikesa Swami

personal secretary