We distribute prasadam to everyone, not particularly to the needy. We make no discrimination, rich or poor
There have been confusing reports about the ownership of the temple in Fiji. Upendra has written expressing his concern and he enclosed a draft copy of a trust document and constitution. Money is being collected in ISKCON's name, but it is unclear whether the deed of the land is actually in ISKCON's name or privately held by Mr. Deoji Punja, Vasudeva dasa. Dealings between the GBC and Vasudeva prabhu are said to be strained, and there is talk of a separate board of trustees being set up.
Prabhupada does not like what he calls "phish, phish, phish," wispered rumors and idle talk, with nothing clearly stated. He therefore wrote directly to Vasudeva stating how things are managed in his ISKCON society and requesting him to clarify what his intentions are.
"My dear Vasudeva das,
"Please accept my blessings. In connection with our ISKCON project in Fiji, I beg to inform you that we are managing our Krishna consciousness movement by the Governing Body Commission, GBC. We have got about 20 GBCs looking after the whole world affair, and above the GBC I am there. Below the GBC there are the temple president, secretary, treasurer in every centre. So the temple president is responsible to the GBC and the GBC is responsible to me. In this way we are managing. But why you are proposing a separate trustee for Fiji? We have up to now no separate trustee. If this is for security purposes, that we can discuss.
"If you have got some new idea please explain to me how you want to manage. But I think Fiji temple cannot be managed in a separate way. But still I will entertain some idea. If you have difference you can write me explaining."
He told Vasudeva that the deed to the property should be in favor of himself, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and could not be dedicated to any office bearer. Suggesting that Vasudeva could be president and Upendra secretary, he firmly stated there was no need for trustees.
"In any circumstance," he said, "there cannot be a private property in the name of ISKCON. If you want to keep it a private property then the ISKCON name should not be utilised.
"I am very much anxious to get your clear reply to this thing. So many things are unclear, so let it be cleared up." He requested that a copy of the deed be sent to him in New York.
To Upendra Prabhupada wrote, "Unless the temple is fully under our control, we are not interested. Then we shall call it back. I will decide on receipt of the reply to this letter to Vasudeva dasa (Mr. Punja). So far the Fiji constitution is concerned, where it says: 'supplying needs to the sick, poor, and orphans, etc.' That is not our program. We distribute prasadam to everyone, not particularly to the needy. We make no discrimination, rich or poor."
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 3 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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