Hazard’s Duty Pay is double normal retirement pay

Posted by Hansadutta das on June 7, 2010

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In on-going discussion about Srila Prabhupada’s 1970 Direction of Management (download copy of the DOM – 444 kb, pdf) over at Prabhupadanugas Istagosthi, a Google group, Pratyatosa Prabhu responded to The DOM alone will not fix broken Love and Trust with the proposal that ISKCON should have to set up a retirement fund for the GBC members: —

On Sun, 6/6/10, Pratyatosa wrote: —

From: Pratyatosa
Subject: [Prabhupadanuga] Re: DOM Election of GBCs by TPs
Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010, 10:32 AM

Concerning “The DOM alone will not fix broken Love and Trust” by Hansadutta Prabhu, full implementation of the DOM will no longer require very much “love and trust” if foolproof retirement funds are set up for all ex-GBC men: funds which do not depend upon whether or not the ex-GBC man has “fallen” or whether or not he is on good terms with the ISKCON powers-that-be. The retirement fund should consist of monthly payments for the rest of the ex-GBC men’s natural lives, with periodic cost-of-living increases, just like the American Social Security system.

Once the Turley child abuse lawsuit has been paid off, once Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system of initiations has been restored, and once ISKCON is much larger and much more prosperous, such a GBC retirement fund will certainly be possible. Then full implementation of the DOM, including election of the GBC men by the temple presidents, will be practical.

Your servant, Pratyatosa Dasa

Praghosa remarked: —

This suggestion is beyond bizarre.

How and/or from WHERE are you imagining this as what His Divine Grace EVER even hinted would or should be the program for what is essentially a very, very simple position of “devotional” service.

You are dreaming and promoting your dream. In my view – it is beyond absurd.

“Our men work – for heart and soul.” — Srila Prabhupada in his room in 1976. I was seated DIRECTLY in front of him whilst he was receiving massage from Hari Sauri Prahbu when he stated this.

Praghosa

I don’t know if these guys are serious; it’s pretty sad and absurd, so I’m throwing in some sweetener…. you know, to heighten the absurdity of this idea.

Is this “Retirement fund” going to pay EX-GBC, BBT officers, etc. retroactively for the years a member has been away from the ISKCON Movement?? You know, a lump sum? I COULD BUY A NICE DAIRY HERE IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA AND START A NICE PRABHUPADA COMMUNITY. That adds up to about thirty (30) years for me, and then add 10 years during Prabhupada’s stay. That 10 years should be double the normal retirement pay — like a soldier gets Hazard’s Duty Pay when he is on the fire line of combat duty.

Hansadutta das, your servant