Lord Krishna in the 21st Century
Chapter 13 - The GBC
Note: Still struggling to keep Krishna Disaster Relief relevant, fifteen years after its founding, in 2005, I wrote this "blueprint" and now, 20 years after that Krishna Disaster Relief is being established as an independent, non-profit organization. Krishna Disaster Relief is not a department of Food for Life or part of ISKCON. However, I still see so much merit in working with Food for Life that today (5/17/2025) I am reluctant to remove this chapter. So instead of removing my comments about Food for Life, the GBC & ISKCON, I am presenting them as I did, some 20 years ago.
(2005) ...Although it is somewhat embarrassing as to how long it has taken me to write this book, what to speak about how long it might be before this blueprint is used to actually establish Krishna Disaster Relief, have finished writing the first draft. Years ago Tamal Krsna Goswami had assured me that from his position, his complete backing would be there. Bhakti Tirtha Swami also gave Krishna Disaster Relief his full support and blessing. Sadly both of these devotees left us way too soon.
Still, the need for unity only makes common sense. It is absolutely necessary. I admit that I have never been up-to-speed regarding the exact structure that rules ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), but I do feel strongly that everyone sitting on ISKCON's board of directors must place their signatures on this blueprint before construction can begin. (Obviously I've changed my mind regarding this because at 79 I am running out of time).
All major projects develop with across-the-board support and this is a major project. Before the construction starts, the blueprints are reviewed by a host of officials, each placing their signature on it. As for the GBC, their approval is vital and their seal of approval is the starting point.
I also described Krishna Disaster Relief as a paper tiger. At one time I wrote the chairman of NVOAD. I told him that until Krishna Disaster Relief achieves the proper approval, that we would have to decline their invitation to become a full-fledged member. And finally on a personal level, in the future, those who eventually spearhead the task of building Krishna Disaster Relief need to know beyond any doubt that the entire management structure of ISKCON is aware of what they are doing and gives them their one-hundred percent support. (Now I solely relying on Shrila Prabhupada's and Lord Krishna's support.)
Regarding this unanimous endorsement I must say that I am still encouraged. I have recently visited the very nice Food For Life website that my friend Priyavrata dasa has put together. Priyavrata was one of the first devotees to join Krishna Disaster Relief. At the time he was still living in Australia and managing that country's Food For Life program.
Needless to say, when I browsed through his Food For Life website and discovered that he had installed a link to Krishna Disaster Relief, this made me very happy. I am also receiving e-mails from Madana-mohana in Russia who is also very enthusiastic about Krishna Disaster Relief. He mentions how devotees in Russia are attempting to gather ideas in their Overseas Development Committee on how to best organize their disaster-relief efforts. As you may know, they have already been quite active in disaster relief.
I opened this chapter by saying that I have a definite concern. I say this because of the impenetrable barriers I encountered while trying to organize Krishna Disaster Relief years ago. My inability to secure this across-the-board support from ISKCON's complete leadership was most discouraging. Without this unanimous backing I just felt that I couldn't proceed and stopped actively working on the entire project.
In chapter eleven I pointed to this pitfall: "the need to complete each phase of construction as perfectly as possible before going to the next step." You just can’t ignore a vital part and simply carry on as if nothing is wrong. Doing so will not produce the right results. Wrong actions produce wrong results, therefore great care has to take place.
I also admit that this problem was compounded by my own shortcomings. I sincerely lament over this. I apologize. But I have never given up. Instead I have written this book, paid for it out of my own pocket, and keep Krishna Disaster Relief alive on Facebook. Yes, I am still attempting for the final outcome that I know is possible: the fulfillment of Shrila Prabhupada's dream. Krishna Disaster Relief simply needs the complete support of the GBC.
My earliest attempt to organize Krishna Disaster Relief took the form of a newsletter. To my great surprise, soon more than one hundred devotees from around the world asked to be members. These requests included many temple presidents. Also, Tamal Krishna Goswami offered some financial help. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone.
I also took the opportunity to visit Bhakti-tirtha Swami in Washington, D.C. I have always enjoyed his association and how user-friendly he makes devotional service. He readily gave me his full backing and encouragement. He was willing to let Krishna Disaster Relief use his Washington, DC address. I thought that this would help establish Krishna Disaster Relief as I was envisioning it.
These things were all very positive and put a lot of wind in my sails. But I also want to say that I had my setbacks. For reasons beyond me, not everyone makes serving Shrila Prabhupada so easy. At one point I asked to have Krishna Disaster Relief featured in ISKCON's Back to Godhead magazine but I was told that Shrila Prabhupada would not approve of it. “Now, why was that,” I asked myself? Apparently I didn't present my ideas very well. Of course, my suggestion to build Kalachandji's restaurant was turned down twice. Not until Elaine Dodson insisted that I mention it a 3rd time did we finally get the green light (and 44 years later Kalachandji's was recently chosen in city-wide survey as the best restaurant in Dallas).
There were other problems, too, but I would rather not go into them. Again, the only purpose here is to say that Krishna Disaster Relief needs the full support of the GBC before it leaves the drawing board. Sadly, I wasn't able to get this done which left me no choice but to decline NVOAD's invitation. However, this dialog with NVOAD can be opened again. I also had to put a very nice devotee in Nigeria (Ananta-vyjay dasa) on indefinite hold who was just bursting with enthusiasm to develop Krishna Disaster Relief in Africa. That was a real shame knowing how much he was let down. The brick wall that was thrown in front of me was a great shame and a golden opportunity both ignored and lost.
I'm probably most comfortable cleaning the temple floors; not so much hanging out with ISKCON authorities. But I am not shy about presenting my ideas. Within this realm I have great confidence. Kalachandji's restaurant is just one example how there is some merit to my vision on how to serve Shrila Prabhupada. However, even within the realm of ideas I hesitate to lean too hard. But as I said, I still feel encouraged.
I have dedicated Lord Krishna in the 21st Century to Shrila Prabhupada's dream. It is also dedicated to all the devotees who have encouraged me over the years. What they need to see, as I've said, is ISKCON's official, across-the-board, seal of approval on this blueprint. Why is that such a hard thing?
GBC Members taking a vote
