ISKCON Leader Tackles Pastoral Abuse Issue
Sita (not her real name) had only been a resident of her local ISKCON temple for a few months when she was called in to see her Temple President. A respected and senior devotee several years Sita’s elder, the President invited Sita in, shut the door, and immediately began to complain of a persistent neck ache. “I’ve just been so busy organizing this festival and painting the prasadam room,” he explained, taking Sita’s hand. “Maybe you could just give me a little shoulder rub?” Sita felt reluctant to say no to a request for service and risk offending a senior devotee, and so she agreed. In the next few weeks, the two grew closer and soon embarked on a romantic relationship. The President assured her that he would leave his wife for her once their children were a bit older, and promised Sita that if she remained discreet about their relationship, he would speak to her spiritual master – a close friend and god-brother of his – and recommend that she be awarded second initiation.
Krishna devotees might describe such a scenario – sadly, not uncommon in ISKCON – in a variety of ways: “disgusting,” “illicit,” “bogus,” “cheating,” “fall-down.” Few, however, would know to use the technical term for what happened to Sita: pastoral abuse.
Praharana Dasi, an ISKCON leader based in Toronto, Canada, would like to see that change. In January, she made a formal presentation before ISKCON’s North American leadership in Dallas, Texas, emphasizing the Society’s need to address pastoral abuse.
“It’s not just ‘an affair,’” she urged her attentive audience, “it’s abuse. Period.”
Praharana explained that the inherent power differentials between ecclesiastic leaders – those with “pastoral authority” to borrow Christian terminology – and their subordinates, means that such leaders must maintain appropriate boundaries. And when those boundaries are breached, especially through sexual contact, leaders have abused their positions. Not surprisingly, the victim is almost always a woman and the abuser, a man.
Drawing on a wealth of statistics, and analogizing from experiences in Christian communities, Praharana’s presentation walked ISKCON leaders through characteristics of pastoral abuse, warning signs to be aware of, and possible social and legal ramifications. She also presented a detailed set of guidelines designed to help leaders address pastoral abuse. The fifteen-page document, formally entitled Policy and Operational Guidelines regarding Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults from Sexual Abuse and Harassment by ISKCON Clergy and Personnel and endorsed by the North American GBC, lays out reporting standards, governance principles, and procedures for discipline and review.
In what was perhaps the most poignant section of her talk, Praharana also discussed several case studies from within recent ISKCON history. She did not pull any punches, calling out the Hare Krishna movement’s track record in this regard as “abysmal” and “embarrassing,” and making a strong connection between pastoral abuse and the crisis of widespread child abuse that rocked ISKCON in the 1970s and 1980s.
Several factors in ISKCON – from its strongly hierarchal structure to its tendency to isolate members from secular resources to lingering misogynist views and the persistent lack of women in leadership positions – make it especially prone to pastoral abuse. These factors also foster an environment where such abuse is swept under the rug, and the few victims who do come forward are often penalized for speaking out.
Tragically, this was the case with Sita. Encouraged by a few friends whom she reluctantly confided in, she eventually came forward and reported what had transpired with her Temple President. Accused of causing his “fall-down,” she was ostracized from the community and eventually left the practice of Krishna consciousness altogether.
Devotees like Praharana know that merely giving a name to Sita’s ordeal will not change what happened to her. But they hope that it will be the first step in giving other devotees who find themselves in Sita’s position a chance for a better outcome.
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Reader Comments:
Hare Krishna, Any kind of
Hare Krishna,
Any kind of abuse must be reported .
I am happy to see that these days is free to speak about these issues ,and not only turning our heads the other side and pretend to justify the abuser in the name of respect or fear of vaisnava aparadha.
And vy the way,just one note:
Why is so important to mention that the mentioned man has tried
"illicit" relationship, and that its not by 4 reg. principles .!?!
Isnt every abuse ILLICIT ,no matter philosophy ?
Aren't we suppose to stand against abuse in the name of humanity and human rights , no matter 4.reg.prin. ?!?!?
hope i made my point.
helena
Hare Krishna ! To add
Hare Krishna !
To add further, when I read between the lines, it becomes clear that in ISKCON, there is a practice openly disposing the wrong practices so that eliminating such malpractices can be easier rather than trying to cover up the things. I really admire ISKCON for such an honest and open attitude.
It is the law of nature, sometimes, some part of the body gets a disease. Perhaps the same rule applies in any organisation or institution.
Your humble servant,
Durga Basnet
Hare Krishna to those
Hare Krishna to those whoever read this,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and SriSri GauraNitai!!
There is no need to mention how bad was the behaviour of the temple president, who was the main character in pastoral abuse, as mentioned in the news. (Thank you for introducing a new term.)
This is a practical example of lying, as he called the new female resident in a room, shut the door, and requested for "shoulder rub", whereas his intention was to create a ground for starting illicit relationship with her. Such acts are against of 4 regulative principles, no doubts. Such people have betrayed their Guru, putting the latter in a more difficult situation.
On the other hand, when the nomination for initiation is based on the outcome of pastoral abuse rather than devotional practices , such initiation may be even more counter-productive because it is clearly acquired by deception.
When there are senior devotees involved in pastoral abuse related to sexual misconduct, it does not become very difficult to assume that there can also be such misconducts in managing the temple funds, etc. A person's lusty desire may be in any way- sexual or non-sexual.
It is not uncommon to find some stone particles in a bag of rice, in every organisation, there can be some people who go an extra mile not only to ruin their own devotional or spiritual life but also to ruin the same of other individuals (victims) apart from ruining the image of the society or the organisation. How many of such people who go through disciplinary action sincerely accept their misconduct and try to purify themselves by being more loyal to Guru ,Gauranga and the Society itself? And how many of such people, once they face the conduct code, leave ISKCON and start their business of spreading bad publicity about ISKCON ? If a person who genuinely accepts his or her misconduct with lamentation and tries his or her best to improve or purify, that is more honourable act. Such persons should not be discriminated based on what they did in the past. But, a careful monitoring may be required just to make sure that further episodes of pastoral abuses do not take place.
Therefore, the governing body may have to play even stronger role to make sure pastoral abuse can not take place or can be minimised to much lower level. Unfortunately, it seems that the concerned authority needs to work much harder than before.
What Praharan mataji has done is very much appreciable as this certainly will help to strengthen ISKCON to make it healthy and "disease-free".
Your humble servant,
Durga Basnet
Hare Krishna ISKCON's record
Hare Krishna
ISKCON's record is dismal but in many ways comparable to other faith statistics on abuse both sexual and emotional; but some great strides have been made
However what is disturbing is the treatment of those who alert the authorities to some abuse, a case in hand is when a mataji feels here private space has been invaded so much so that medical staff advised her to contact the police; for this she got a ban from ISKCON centers here in the UK.
Myself working in health care with both adults and children found that even the offer to one temple president by the South Wales child protection unit on protection and care of people in pastorial care was turned down stating he was the only authority and didn't need to hear from any one else.
Yes, also the need for mataji's is needed but also can I suggest health care professionals, who deal in these matters day in day out and also know the legal aspects within there respective country's
This is one of several cases in recent years that I personally know of were the mataji is victimized whilst the person abusing there power continues regardless; or as stated there service is of vital importance.
So may be a balance between, temple president, health care professionals and if non are available then a health care professional from outside and a balance of both male and female to review each case; or is that too much to ask?
Your Humble servant Caitanyadev dasa
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