Abusing Children & Srila Prabhupada There has been a huge outcry over Child Abuse whenever it gets reported in ISKCON. This is as it should be. No level of Child Abuse should ever be tolerated but unfortunately it is an ongoing problem not just in ISKCON, but in every institution,Continue Reading
I recently had the opportunity to read the heart-wrenching testimony of Vedasara das. He was five years old when he came to the Mayapura Gurukula and he stayed there for 21 years until he was 26. He tells the story of how he was terribly molested, abused, and tortured, particularlyContinue Reading
I don’t know why you chose to publicly malign Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja when by your own admission there are other, more culpable ISKCON leaders who you could have come out publicly against yet chose not to name. But at least we know that whatever your reason, it has absolutely nothing to do with any child’s welfare. Continue Reading
Nobody is saying that touching was alright but changing the instances from 3 (in the first report) to 50-60-80 times and later to the nightly affair, as mentioned in the final CPO report, is not only a severe claim but a changing claim on such a sensitive issue! The CPO should not have overlooked it! It’s a significant point to note since the case revolves around this, but interestingly the CPO tactically didn’t highlight it.Continue Reading
There were faults in AV’s behavior that were admitted by AV in his reply and acknowledged by the CPO. This was sufficient for any consideration of punishment for him. The other allegations made based on contested or specious evidence should be given up or rejected. Otherwise, the CPO’s credibility becomes doubtful, and because it’s doubtful it’s also doubtful on the offenses we agree on. Hence, it taints the entire case against AV and future cases against others.Continue Reading
It’s not only fBVPS reputation that has suffered here but also of Mayapur gurukulas as well. The 2006 preliminary CPO report includes many letters from former students and their parents, all but one glorifying the school and describing wonderful, character forming experiences they had there. Somehow this image has been replaced with pictures of Mayapur gurukulas as hotbeds of sexual, physical, and spiritual abuse.Continue Reading
Respected members of the SABHA, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! My name is Mangalavati Citra devi dasi and we are writing this letter of complaint together with my husband HG Tattvavada dasa. We are shiksa disciples of former Bhaktividya Purna Swami (fBVPS). We also represent thousands of well wishers, initiated disciples, shiksa disciples, followers, academics and government officials who know him around the world.Continue Reading
Are the methods of modern psychology and sociology compatible with Krishna consciousness? If you believe in one, can you believe in the other? And in the context of child protection, a field which relies on these two scientific fields, why do these questions matter? This article, first posted at the ISKCON India Scholars Board, addresses these questions.Continue Reading
I would like to start by offering my sincere apologies to all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord… as I failed to live up to the standard of someone trying to present Srila Prabhupada’s teachings regarding the Vedic version… I’m not trying to justify myself … I have already agreed to all the punishments imposed on me …However … now I must clarify a few points … because in any case, two sides must be heard …Continue Reading
A month ago I composed a letter to the GBC and ICPO with the purpose of pointing out ISKCON’s responsibility towards its members. That private letter was meant to raise questions for the GBC and ICPO to discuss, but unfortunately it was shared publicly and has been wrongfully interpreted as my official statement to the entire devotee community. I would like to clarify my words in their proper context, present my personal opinion on this issue, and apologise to the devotee community for any misconceptions that letter created.Continue Reading