Select Page

Confidential Message from Bir Krishna Goswami to GBC Conference

 

1997

From: Bir Krishna Goswami

RE: Copy of message to GBC conference

Dear GBC members,

It is my duty to inform you of the actions of a special GBC subcommittee that dealt with a confidential investigation of Lokanatha Maharaja. The members of the subcommittee are: myself, Badrinarayana Prabhu, Mukunda Maharaja, Sridara Swami, Virabahu Prabhu, and Ravindra Swarupa Prabhhu.

It is important that you be aware of the decisions and findings of the committee so that you can properly deal with rumors that are circulating.

Please understand that those matters are strictly confidential.

I am requesting each GBC member to not show this message to anyone else. Also please erase this message after reading it.

Madhusevita Prabhu asked me to add the following: “If a GBC member is detected as having printed or disseminated this report in an unadvised manner he may be subject to censure by the Ex Comm.”

Here are the details:

“In 1990 while staying at the house of a family for a few days Lokanath Swami (Swami x) touched a young pre-adolesent girl in an inappropriate way by putting his hand on her lap. He was sitting next to her on a couch in a families living room, both were holding the Krishna Book in their hands, the hand holding the book (the back of the hand) rested on her lap as he read the Krishna Book. The hand did not move.

In 1993 when the GBC chairman became aware of the incident and appointed a committee to deal with the issue, Swami x was also told to stop all initiations.

The committee conducted a thorough investigation, which included bringing a team of professional experts in New York and involving Mother Yasoda. The cost of the experts exceeded $2,500 for a four day intensive assessment. The experts made an in depth examination Swami x after which they concluded that this unfortunate incident had occurred because of the Swami x’s complete lack of prior experience on the matter of dealing with women. Having learned his lesson (the need to follow the proper social conduct for a sannyasi) they were confident that this incident would not reoccur. They also stated that he had the proper nature of a spiritual leader and should be allowed to continue in this role within our society.

An apology was made by letter and in person to the girl and the family. They were satisfied.

The GBC committee concluded that this deviation from the acceptable conduct had been accidental. So in 1996 after Gour Purnima, he was allowed to begin accepting disciples again.”

It was concluded this year in Mayapura that all prospective disciples of Swami x would be given the history of the above.

Bir Krishna Goswami

Loading

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

May 19, 2023Euro RGB Statement Regarding Lokanath Swami Status in EuropeHaving received feedback and requests from some members of our European devotee community, the Euro RGB body set forth to review and discuss the previous resolution made regarding Lokanath Swami...

Lokanath’s Lawsuit Against Child Protection Advocates

Lokanath’s Lawsuit Against Child Protection Advocates

Since April 2021, Damodara dasa (Australia) and Saraswati dasi (North America) have asked the ISKCON GBC to follow their child protection laws and remove confessed child molester Lokanath "Swami" from leadership within ISKCON.   On November 24, 2022, Lokanath's lawyer...

Lokanath Loophole

Lokanath Loophole

 The ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPO) offers a service that when a devotee comes to a temple, that temple can contact the CPO and say “Hey, x is planning to come to our temple. Do they have any CPO restrictions?” And the CPO can respond “X is clear” or “X has a...

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

North American Council NA GBC and Regional LeadersInternational Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada24 October 2022Statement:As per the recent GBC resolution stating "Lokanath Swami shall not initiate...

ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath

ISKCON Europe Bans Lokanath

Dear European Leaders,Please accept our humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada!With this message, we like to inform you about the decision on H.H. Lokanatha Swami that was taken by the Euro RGB during the recent meeting in Radhadesha.Resolution...

Lokanath Loophole

Lokanath’s Admissions of Molesting a Child

These are a dozen confirmed instances between 1993 and 2017 when Lokanath admitted to his sexual abuse of a child.  This is a partial list as there have been other in-person conversations, phone calls, and correspondence where Lokanath talked about his sexual abuse of...

ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath

2022 GBC Resolution: Refraining from Interfering in Investigations

REFRAINING THE GBC FROM INTERVENING IN THE WORK OF VARIOUS ISKCON AGENCIES, OFFICES AND COMMITTEES Approved 20th JULY 2022WHEREAS the GBC Body (“GBC”) has created various ISKCON agencies, offices and committees to which it has delegated authority to deal with abuse of...

We ask the leadership of the Hare Krishna movement to set a clear and strong precedent for, and priority of, zero tolerance for child abuse – by handing Lokanath Swami’s child molestation case over to the ISKCON Child Protection Office.