We have just obtained the following via the archives. This is Srila Prabhupada's original direction for the management of ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada gave when he first proposed setting up the GBC in 1970:

 DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT

I, the undersigned, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple of Om Visnupad Paramhansa 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, came in the United States in 1965 on September 18th for the purpose of starting Krishna Consciousness Movement. For one year I had no shelter. I was travelling in many parts of this country. Then in 1966, July, I incorporated the Society under the name and style the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, briefly ISKCON. The lawyer was Mr. J. Goldsmith. Gradually the Society increased, and one after another branches were opened. Now we have got thirty-four (34) branches enlisted herewith:

As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard. Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them. There was a meeting in San Francisco during the Ratha Yatra festival 1970 and many presidents of the centers were present. In that meeting it was resolved that an ad hoc committee be set up to form the constitution which is taken into consideration. My duty was to first appoint twelve (12) persons to my free choice amongst my disciples and I do it now and their names are as follows:

These personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors.

I have already awarded Sannyas or the renounced order of life to some of my students and they have also got very important duties to perform in this connection. The Sannyasis will travel to our different centers for preaching purpose as well as enlightening the members of the center for spiritual advancement. The Sannyasis will suggest for opening new centers in suitable places and the GBC will take action on it.

As was stipulated by the ad hoc committee, the function of the GBC will be as follows with particulars:

"The purpose of the Governing Body Commission is to act as the instrument for the execution of the Will of His Divine Grace. And further,

So far my books are concerned, I am setting up a different body of management known as the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. The trustees of this body are also members of the GBC, but their function is not dependent on the GBC.

ISKCON Press was created for the exclusive publication of my books and literatures and should be continued in that way.

During my absence no one shall live in my apartment.

ACB

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Witnessed by:

Date July 28th 1970

(Robert F. Corens)

Rupanuga das Adhikary

(William R. Ehrlichman)

Bhagavan das Adhikary

(Kelly Gifford Smith)

Karandhar das Adhikary

Date July 28th, 1970

At the World Head Quarters

3764, Watseka Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90034

This direction of management is interesting for a number of reasons:

1) TP's can ONLY be removed with consent of temple devotees:

Since this 'Direction of Management' is signed by Srila Prabhupada, this gives us both legal and moral protection in the event of the GBC unilaterally taking any action.

(In 1975, a GBC resolution was passed that TP's could be removed by 3 GBC's but this states that this can ONLY be done in the following cases:

Otherwise it states that "there should be NO CHANGE of presidents", and only that "difficulties should be worked out". (GBC RESOLUTION 4, March 26th, 1975) )

2) GBC's to be elected by temple presidents:

3) The main function of the GBC is purely MANAGEMENT, not spiritual - what to speak of authorising gurus:

"6. The *primary* objective of the GBC is to organize the opening of new Temples and to maintain the established Temples."

4) No books apart from Srila Prabhupada's to be printed in ISKCON:

So far my books are concerned, I am setting up a different body of management known as the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. The trustees of this body are also members of the GBC, but their function is not dependent on the GBC ISKCON Press was created for the exclusive publication of my books and literatures and *should be continued* in that way.

5) The MOST important point - Srila Prabhupada clearly refers to his leaving - yet makes no mention of how INITIATIONS will continue:

"I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at *any time I may be out of the scene*, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard. Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them."

Yet Srila Prabhupada even makes provision for who should live in his apartment!

He sees the most important thing once he leaves 'the scene' is that his disciples should continue to 'manage' the centers. Thus Srila Prabhupada is linking his absence with the need to continue to 'manage' and expand better.

The issue of how his devotees would SUCCEED him is not even HINTED at. Thus in the matter of Guruship, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this document is that things would remain as they are. Since he has specifically addressed HOW and WHAT his disciples should do when he DEPARTS, but the issue of them succeeding him as Diksa Gurus is not even mentioned.

Of course though Srila Prabhupada in later years added to and amended some of the points in this direction of management, it is still an instructive document.

We are left with the conclusion that all written documents to do with managing ISKCON in the context of Srila Prabhupada's departure - this direction of management, the will, the July 9th letter, make no mention of the *Diksa* Guru changing. There is also no mention in any of his books about him being replaced by any of his disciples as the Diksa Guru for ISKCON.

Supposed evidence for the contrary is confined to:

1) Private letters addressing premature guru-ship desire; 2) A 30 second taped conversation;

and even 1) and 2) at *BEST* can be said to be inconclusive - they do not *clearly* authorise Guruship changing but only the POSSIBILITY of WHEN and HOW it CAN change. Even H.H. Jayadwaita Maharaja states that the change of guru-ship is not 'clear' from the tape.

Srila Prabhupada's emphasis in the above 'direction of management' on managing temples, and not mentioning a change in guruship, further confirms his letter in 1967 where he states that:

(The Ramakrishna mission achieves 'this principle' that Srila Prabhupada wants to be followed in ISKCON through a ritvik system.)

We are not presenting the above as any sort of conclusive evidence, but simply presenting it as an original document authored by Srila Prabhupada, that the devotees would probably be interested in seeing.