CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The GBC

I have a very definite concern about what I have to say in this chapter—only because of its tremendous importance. This will make Krishna Disaster Relief either succeed or fail.

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 actually brought before the GBC, nevertheless, I am hopeful. His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami has assured me that at the GBC level, complete backing will be there.

The need for unity only makes common sense. I admit that I have never been part of, or even up to full speed regarding the exact structure that rules ISKCON. But I do know this—ISKCON’s board of directors must place their signatures on this blueprint before construction begins.

Any major project develops like this. Before the construction starts, the blueprint is reviewed by a host of officials, each placing their signature on it.

As for the GBC, their approval is most significant. I’ve mentioned several things that will be affected. I said that the starting point is very important. ISKCON’s official seal of approval is a major factor in this starting point. I also described Krishna Disaster Relief as a "paper tiger." I wrote the chairman of NVOAD. I told him that until Krishna Disaster Relief develops past this stage, that we would have to decline their invitation to become a full-fledged member. And finally, on a personal level, the devotees who eventually accept the service of building Krishna Disaster Relief—they 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.

Regarding this endorsement, I must say that I have never been so encouraged as I am today. I have recently visited the very nice Food For Life Web page that His Grace Priyavrata dasa has put together. Priyavrata prabhu 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 Web page and discovered that he had installed a link to Krishna Disaster Relief, this made me quite happy. I am also receiving E-mail from His Grace 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 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 several stumbling blocks I encountered while trying to organize Krishna Disaster Relief, seven 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. So I stopped working on the entire project. In Chapter Eleven I pointed to this pitfall. Unless each phase of construction is performed as perfectly as possible before going to the next step—that to ignore this error, and continue, will not produce the right results.

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 chosen to write this book—still attempting for the final outcome that I know is possible.

But from my point of view, I feel that there may still be things that need ironing out. I would like to briefly mention this, and again, it has to do with the across-the-board support I’ve just mentioned.

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 part of Krishna Disaster Relief. These requests included many temple presidents. Also, His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami acknowledged my efforts and offered some financial help. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone.

I also took the opportunity to visit His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami in Washington, D.C. I have always enjoyed his association and I came away so impressed as to how user-friendly he tries to make devotional service. He readily gave me his full backing and encouragement.

These are all very positive things and put 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 just wouldn’t approve of Krishna Disaster Relief. Now, why was that?—I asked myself. Apparently I didn’t present my ideas very well.

There are other examples but I would rather not go into them. The only purpose here is to say that Krishna Disaster Relief needs the full support of the GBC before it leaves the drawing board. Because of my faults, I wasn’t able to get this. As I said, this left me no choice but to decline NVOAD’s invitation. But this dialog with NVOAD can be opened again. I also had to put a very nice devotee in Nigeria—His Grace Ananta-vyjay dasa—on indefinite hold who was just bursting with enthusiasm to develop Krishna Disaster Relief in Africa. That was a real shame.

I may be OK doing a few things, but I’m not a warrior—not in the sense that I am willing to do any more than present my ideas. Even in this realm I hesitate to lean too hard. But as I said, I am actually encouraged. Seven years have gone by since I sent out my last newsletter and today I see that devotees are still actively trying to organize a Hare Krishna disaster relief agency.

I have dedicated this book 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 seal of approval on this blueprint.