“The 6 Words”: Further analysis on the May 28th 1977 Conversation

Yes, there is quite a condondrum produced by contemplating those 6 words in the off-chance that the May 28th tape of 1977 would indeed, be heard by anyone at all. Although we have not made a careful study of the various editions of that tape, we have been informed by those who have, that there are quite a number of differences between the various versions of the tape.

This is of no concern to us. What is of more concern is that for many years, there was a part of the May 28th tape which was transcribed as "indecipherable" by the transcriber, and for years, that "indecipherable"/"indistinct" portion of the tape raised quite a number of eyebrows, due to the fact that nobody knew what was said there. Certainly, it is possible, to put that "pesky tape" into perspective by some scholarly effort, which has (to the best of our knowledge) not yet been performed.

Having listened carefully to the tape in question (not the transcript) a number of times, it is clear that Srila Prabhupada says in a fairly strong voice that, "another should be elected". When Satsvarupa then "clarifies" Srila Prabhupada's Statement, he does so by supposedly completing Srila Prabhupada's Instruction, "By the votes of the present GBC". After Satsvarupa makes that statement, all further speech by Srila Prabhupada becomes softer and softer up to the point where He utters those 6 words, which is practically inaudible.

Considering that Srila Prabhupada had made huge efforts between 1970 and 1974 to somehow persuade or even force the GBC to accept the Direction of Management in its entirety (the "TOPMOST URGENCY" letter does not even hint at modifying the Direction of Management before it is added to the incorporation papers of every temple in ISKCON).

Later in 1974, Prabhupada refers to the DOM emphatically in 3 letters. There is no mention in any of those letters that He wished the DOM to be modified.

In 1975, Srila Prabhupada arranged for the DOM to be added, in its entirety, with no modifications, to the charter of ISKCON California (basically ISKCON LA, San Diego, Laguna

Beach, etc.) In 1976, when ISKCON Bay Area is incorporated, Srila Prabhupada also arranged that the DOM in its entirety would also be added to those incorporation papers.

As we are all well aware, when Srila Prabhupada ordered as a "TOPMOST URGENCY" issue, this order was completely and utterly disobeyed by all GBC members. Given the sluggish mentality of ISKCON at that time (the quote "Hare Krishna Movement" was turning into the "Hare Krishna Stagnant".) No one picked up on the fact that that Letter had been disobeyed, even though (as we have explained before), that the first paragraph of that letter, creating an extremely formal template stating Srila Prabhupada's Status and Position as Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, was, without exception, universally obeyed to the finest detail.

The fact that the first paragraph was obeyed and the second paragraph disobeyed, is clear proof that the "TOPMOST URGENCY" "absolute order" by Srila Prabhupada was not only read, but scrutinized to the finest detail. It might appear that Srila Prabhupada knew quite well that the first paragraph would be obeyed, which would become 'proof positive' that by the disobedience of the 2nd paragraph was a deliberate and conspiratorial act by a GBC who had already begun to see themselves as the "highest authority", rather than Srila Prabhupada.

Of course, the rank and file "bright-faced devotees" had no idea what was going on, and they increasingly accepted their "authorities" (i.e., Temple Presidents, etc.). These innocent devotees assumed that whatever they were fed by their 'authorities' was approved by Srila Prabhupada, so no investigation or inquiry was ever made.

Starting in 1972, the "authorities" and "leaders" began to realize that whatever Kirtan devotees heard them generate would be the attractive point for regimenting new devotees who would never even consider that Srila Prabhupada was the Source of Kirtan. By 1974, no one thought of Prabhupada as being the Source of Kirtan, but as only the Person who had introduced it as some time in the distant past, leaving His disciples free reign to do as they pleased, with melodies and even adding and subtracting words, such as 'Nitai Gour Hari Bol', 'Jaya Prabhupada' etc.

By 1974-1975, Tamal in Chicago refused to stop the devotees from running back and forth and howling their 'kirtan', telling Srila Prabhupada to His Face that these shenanigans made them 'blissful'. During that kirtan, Srila Prabhupada demanded that Tamal stop the kirtan, and turn it into a true ISKCON Kirtan Four Times. After the 4th raw disobedience by Tamal, Srila Prabhupada did not ask again.

In the earliest days of the Movement, Srila Prabhupada led all of the Kirtans, and devotees gathered to hear Him as a matter of course, accepting without doubt that Srila Prabhupada was "channeling" the actual Sound Vibrations from KrishnaLoka into their receptive and eager ears. 6 years later, kirtan no longer belonged to Srila Prabhupada, but to the howlers and prancers that created an embarrassing spectacle on the Indian Pandal stages, prompting Srila Prabhupada to refer to them as "dancing white elephants". (For some bizarre reason, the devotees concerned thought that when Srila Prabhupada referred to them as 'dancing white elephants', that He meant it in a "good way".) Just as Kirtan was systematically destroyed by the leaders, so that the leaders, not Srila Prabhupada, would be accepted as the "source" of kirtan for all devotees who joined.

Throughout that same time span, the leaders also hoodwinked the "bright-faced devotees" so that neither they had access to Srila Prabhupada directly, nor were they encouraged to read Srila Prabhupada's Books, where Srila Prabhupada's Actual Views were clearly expressed, and meant for them to use as "checks and balances" to evaluate their leaders.

It is clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted the DOM in its entirety in 1974, in 1975, and as late as 1976. It would be truly astonishing if Srila Prabhupada would reverse 6 years of the DOM for less than 1 year later, declaring that elections were no longer required, as stated in those "6 words".

This is the conundrum facing scholars, philosophers, and serious devotees, who inevitably reach the sobering point, of having to "philosophically adjudicate" Srila Prabhupada's Actual Intent in the face of what can only be described as an essential contradiction of everything He had expressed until May 28th, 1977.

All in all, when viewing the Teachings of a Great Soul, one naturally picks up not only the individual words, but the overriding theme that is being built and developed from these words.

So, here is the riddle: For 6 years Srila Prabhupada states that He wants the DOM in its entirety, and in the 7th year, on one non-forensic tape, He states the opposite.

Srila Prabhupada had made it clear that during His Lifetime, He would appoint the GBC personally (although He welcomed suggestions from others). He might well have held elections in 1973 and 1976, were it not for the fact that the GBC had become dangerously unreliable, and it was all that He could do to keep them functioning at all.

So, for whatever reason, He chose to appoint, not elect, the GBC in His Lifetime. The next step is horrifyingly clear when looked at under a bright light. When Satsvarupa says, "By the votes of the other GBC", he is basically stating that the GBC had every intention to DECLARE themselves to be the same identity with powers of appointment, as part of their "successorship", to Srila Prabhupada's having appointed, not elected, GBC. Obviously, they had had many many conversations out of Srila Prabhupada's Earshot on this topic, and concluded that when Srila Prabhupada was "gone", that they would, as an unelected body, become what they later openly stated, an "ecclesiastical" authority, which by literal meaning, grants them the power to even change Srila Prabhupada's Instructions, Words, and Intent, based on their will as Replacement – (not successor) – to Srila Prabhupada.

Hearing this statement by Satsvarupa, how could Srila Prabhupada have understood it to be anything other than a rank declaration that they had conspired against Him in the matter of the DOM?

Considering that Srila Prabhupada had installed the DOM in its entirety in ISKCON Bay Area, any person following the trend of that conversation would certainly have expected Satsvarupa to say, "Oh, elections under the terms of the DOM." What other elections could possibly have even been imagined? Srila Prabhupada never "elected" GBC – He appointed them. So where did the word "elected" enter the lexicon of the GBC's stated duties in the DOM, aside from being elected by Temple Presidents, as stated in the DOM?

This was not at all a nice situation.

In United States law, there is an evidentiary consideration referred to as "The Best Evidence".

This means that when there are no conclusive facts to be found, that one must go with the most

likely consideration, which is then referred to as "The Best Evidence". In the case of the DOM, the "Best Evidence" standard would clearly and without question establish that Srila Prabhupada wanted the DOM in its entirety, even though He made a statement to the contrary, namely those "6 words".

So, we have the absolute statement of the Pure Devotee in those 6 words, and we have more than 6 years of Srila Prabhupada not once suggesting that elections should not be the held, or that anyone other than He had the power or prerogative to "appoint", what to speak of "elect" a new member to the GBC. In fact, when the GBC held an illicit meeting and "elected" Atreya Rsi to be a GBC member, Srila Prabhupada declared that meeting to be a conspiracy, He dissolved the GBC for a period of time, and also stated that the GBC cannot "elect" new GBC members.

If we are to hold those 6 words as Srila Prabhupada's Final Words on the topic, then we should also accept His Absolute Statement that the GBC cannot elect GBC.

There are those who say that at the end, "Srila Prabhupada changed His Mind." Obviously, these persons considered that His Mind was independent and subject to change, where in truth, the Pure Devotee is the External Representative of Paramatma, so that His Words are equal and actually being presented by Lord Krishna Himself.

Experience (what to speak of common sense) has shown us full well that an unelected GBC is incapable of fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's Desire for a worldwide Sankirtan Movement, what to speak of managing ISKCON itself.

So if we are to accept that Srila Prabhupada (all of a sudden) no longer wanted the Temples to be independent, and for the GBC to monitor, not rule, these Temples, then we would have to further conclude that Srila Prabhupada wanted His ISKCON Movement to fail. Srila Prabhupada (speaking for Lord Krishna) gave a TOPMOST URGENCY instruction to those bound to obey His Direct Orders both as initiated disciples and selected GBC, and we can understand that this TOPMOST URGENCY instruction was not the whim of an "elderly Indian swami" who made a practice of whimsically "changing His Mind".

In truth, the DOM and the "TOPMOST URGENCY" letter were created, or at least dictated by Lord Krishna in the form of Supersoul, through Srila Prabhupada, Supersoul's external representative. Unfortunately, at that time, or in most cases even now, there is no one even capable of understanding this simple and incontrovertible fact.

You have mentioned that ISKCON, the present devotees and the worship of the Deities is now covered. In fact, the entirety of ISKCON is covered. But where we may possibly differ in perspective is that the Deities, the process of serving them, the Temple Standards, and certainly the Temples Themselves, and certainly ISKCON as a Creation of Krishna, is not subject to the shenanigans of inferior mentalities onboard.

If the Deities are "covered", that by definition implies that the Deities are inside the covering that covers them.

We have many examples of Deities that have been brought out of the earth, who had been "covered" for extensive periods of time. This being "covered" in no way has the power to diminish the Potency of the Deity, whose Potency is almost always created by the Touch of a Pure Devotee of the Lord. So, there is nothing wrong with ISKCON, Deities, seva, etc., except for the fact that the "covering" has turned them from an elegant Rolls Royce to a badly painted

"wreck" of a Rolls Royce, chugging along on 2 cylinders.

In other words, ISKCON is not, never has been, and never will be, defined by fallible human beings managing or mismanaging it. In fact, even the best and most obedient disciple of Srila Prabhupada also cannot help but mismanage, unless he has reached the Uttama Adhikari platform himself. None of us ever managed at all well, and while Srila Prabhupada sought mature men to build Temples as great as cathedrals, our less-than-sudra mentalities ended up parking the Deities in rented apartments, houses and converted neighborhood churches. This is nothing to boast about.

ISKCON is not only sound and well – ISKCON will be sound and well throughout the entire duration of the Golden Age of Kali, where at least 10% of the human population will have, by that time, constructed the "Cathedral Temples" that Srila Prabhupada envisioned in 1968 and 1969.

No one can destroy that which is in itself a manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but those with sufficiently spiritual vision will do as Lord Chaitanya Himself did, by flooding the Gundica Temple with water, and rendering it pure once again.

We do not expect that everyone who has "run the gauntlet" as an "inmate" of an ISKCON Temple to understand or to believe this.

Please be confident that our friendship to you is not only existent, but eternally existent. Among philosophers, that which appears to be disagreement is actually a call for resolution – in fact, Siddhanta.