2012 Secret GBC Resolution

In 2012 the GBC continued to cover up Lokanath’s sexual abuse of a child by secretly voting on a resolution restricting him from initiating disciples outside of India. Until now, only a few select people in the world have seen this unpublished GBC Resolution.

This secret GBC Resolution was a direct result of the GBC responding to public comments made by Lokanath’s victim in 2010. She was angry because the GBC had promised in 1994 that Lokanath would never hold a prominent position in ISKCON. After breaking this promise, the GBC continued to promote Lokanath as a guru, and he went on to initiate over 5,000 disciples.

The GBC admitted in this secret Resolution that Lokanath’s disciples were not being told their guru was a child molester, even though it was their own GBC protocol to do so.

What is the significance of the 2012 Resolution in Lokanath’s child molestation case?

This secret Resolution shows that the GBC repeatedly mishandled the case and should not have kept blocking the ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPO) from handling it over 24 years.

From the moment the CPO was formed in April 1998, it made formal reports on all child abuse cases in ISKCON up to that point, even cases that had already been handled. All except the Lokanath case.

ISKCON GBC RESOLUTION From 2012, unpublished:

502. Lokanath Swami Continuing to Initiate

The title clearly states the GBC’s focus and priority. It was not about the victim. It was about the perpetrator’s ability to continue with his high-profile position.

Whereas Lokanath Swami, in 1990 in America had an incident of serious indiscretion and violation of Krishna conscious principles;

This sounds much different than Lokanath saying it was a “minor mishap.”

this incident was dealt with by the GBC at the time, and certain sanctions were imposed. All sanctions appear to have been followed, other than the requirement of presenting a letter of explanation to potential disciples. This was followed for a number of years, and then discontinued.

Just a small thing of telling potential disciples Lokanath sexually molested an 11 year old girl. Abhay Charan’s letter shows it was not even followed for “a number of years.”

A resurfacing of public concern surrounding this incident has led to GBC discussions over the last two years, and a consideration whether he should be allowed to continue offering initiation, and if so, under what conditions.

“A resurfacing of public concern” was a direct and public statement by the victim herself. Keeping Lokanath as a guru has been the focus of the GBC’s involvement, going back to the start in 1992. Following ISKCON’s child protection policies and the well-being of the victim has never been a priority in this case.

Whereas Lokanath Swami has otherwise maintained an exemplary record over the last 40 years, and has contributed substantially to ISKCON’s preaching effort and this incident has been the sole blemish over his career;
That and his 30 year efforts to cover up this “incident,” which has compounded the abuse.

Whereas, it was resolved by the ISKCON Bureau in India, that Lokanath Swami’s ability to initiate greatly facilitated the preaching and leadership in his zone and throughout India:

How much preaching does one need to do to make it okay to sexually abuse a child?

RESOLVED:

That Lokanath Swami may resume initiations under the conditions stated below:

1. There will be a two-year moratorium on initiations, which will be completed in October 2012.
2. Lokanath Swami will only initiate disciples in the sub-continent of India (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).
   So, the GBC resolved it’s okay for an admitted child molester to continue to initiate in India, but not in the rest of the world. Why the double standard?
3. Initiations held will be “low key” for some time period (a minimum of 3 years), so as to not overly attract public attention.
   The GBC was more concerned about bad publicity, than they were about restricting a person who had “an incident of serious indiscretion and violation of Krishna conscious principles.”
4. A letter written by Lokanath Swami will be presented to all future disciples – see letter below–prior to their officially accepting him as their prospective guru. (The exact wording of the letter will be approved by the GBC Communication Director and the EC).
   This still isn’t happening, 30 years later.
5. Lokanath Swami will present a letter within one year to all current disciples who were not informed previously. (The exact wording of the letter will be approved by the GBC Communication Director and the EC).
   There is no proof this happened either.
6. Lokanath Swami will actively encourage all his disciples, especially new disciples before initiation, to take the Disciple’s Course.
7. Lokanath Swami will actively encourage other ISKCON gurus to visit his zone and give extended association to devotees in those areas.
8. Maharaja may only travel and preach outside of the Indian Subcontinent upon invitation of the RGB, or National Council in that area. Once an invitation is extended, it is valid unless it is revoked by that same RGB or National Council.
9. If during Maharaja’s travels outside of India, any devotees approach him and inquire from him about initiation, he will inform them that he is not accepting disciples outside of Indian sub-continent and encourage them to seek shelter of other ISKCON gurus.
10. Lokanath Swami will not travel to North America for a minimum of 5 years. After 5 years, either at the request of LNS or on their own initiative, the NA GBC members may lift the restriction on Maharaja’s travelling in the North America (except those areas where the victim or her family members live). If they choose not to lift or adjust the restrictions, the issue may be re-examined after an additional 5 years.
11. If there are devotees outside the Indian Subcontinent who have been officially committed to take initiation from LNS and have been waiting for initiation from him; or devotees outside the Indian Subcontinent who have first initiation, they may be initiated, or take second initiation, by Maharaja if either, a) they travel to India for an initiation ceremony, or b) sit in on an initiation by another ISKCON guru in that location.
12. Any disciple, or prospective disciple, who seeks additional information, shall be directed to a senior disciple or authority who has more knowledge of the situation to answer their questions, and the 2010 GBC/EC approved letter shall be presented for their reading.
    There is no proof the 2010 Admission Letter was used for this purpose.
13. Any questions that arise regarding details in the implementation of this agreement shall be decided by the GBC EC in consultation with Sesa Das and Lokanath Swami.
    Really? They should ask the person being restricted how he thinks it should be implemented?

Draft of letters by Lokanath Swami

Dear Prospective Disciples.

Please accept my blessings.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

In my position generally as an initiating guru in ISKCON, and particularly as your prospective spiritual master, I have strived to maintain an exemplary standard. I have also tried my best to be an effective medium by which you could be connected to Srila Prabhupada and our parampara. I wish to thank you all for all the support and love you have reposed in me, and I look forward to a deepening and sweetening of our relationship.

As you may already be aware, during my preaching tour of the US in 1990, there was an incident wherein I committed a serious indiscretion. I deeply regret this incident, and I have tried to atone for it by undergoing the sanctions directed by the GBC.

If you are interested in getting more information regarding this incident, you may contact: (for instance)

Tukaram Das – for North America and other places not mentioned below

Krsna Keshav Das – for South Africa

(to be decided) – for Europe

Audarya Dham Das – for Russia

Shyam Sakha Das – for India

Your well-wisher,

Lokanath Swami.

(Note: Should the need arise later, we will add to the list of persons to be contacted.)

Dear Disciples,

Please accept my blessings.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

In my position generally as an initiating guru in ISKCON, and particularly as your spiritual master, I have strived to maintain an exemplary standard. I have also tried my best to be an effective medium by which you could be connected to Srila Prabhupada and our parampara. I wish to thank you all for all the support and love you have reposed in me over the years, and I look forward to a deepening and sweetening of our relationship.

As you may already be aware, during my preaching tour of the US in 1990, there was an incident wherein I committed a serious indiscretion. I deeply regret this incident and have atoned for it by undergoing the sanctions directed by the GBC.

The GBC required that a letter like this be given to all my disciples and future disciples. I followed this practice carefully for nearly 8 years, and then discontinued for several reasons, although in hindsight, I should not have done so. I apologise if I have caused you any distress by stopping the practice of distributing the letter.

If you are interested in getting more information regarding this incident, you may contact: (for instance)

Tukaram Das – for North America and other places not mentioned below

Krsna Keshav Das – for South Africa

(to be decided) – for Europe

Audarya Dham Das – for Russia

Shyam Sakha Das – for India

Your well wisher,

Lokanath Swami.

(Note: Should the need arise later, we will add to the list of persons to be contacted.)