LOVING CARE OF DEVOTEES
Letter to * Govinda das and Bhn Katherine

*Please note names have been changed for privacy reasons.

Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Camp: ISKCON Ujjain , India.Mob:00919650640885
Url: www.mahavishnuswami.com
All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Dear Govinda das and Bhn Katherine,

Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

II have been attending a 5 day Seminar at ISKCON Ujjain called "Being a Guru in ISKCON: A spiritual Leadership Seminar". I have been learning many things in association of senior ISKCON devotees. Now as a friend to friends I feel the need to apologise to you both for dealing inconsiderately and pushing your tolerance so much that you lost faith in me as your spiritual master and ISKCON. I was not concerned enough about your welfare to act
appropriately.

Some points jumped out at me when I read the seminar handbook and I remembered your complaints. The following were compiled by Arcana Sidhi dd who is a professional and devotee counseller in the USA:-

"The following are some basic ways to communicate care and concern for a
devotee approaching you for help:

1) Be fully present-avoid taking calls and being interrupted.
2) Ask questions so you gain a comprehensive picture of the situation
3*) Place the welfare of the devotee above the institutional concerns-in the
long run this is what will energize and support the institution;
4) Put aside personal agendas and biases and try to empathize with devotees.
5) Be culturally and gender sensitive.
6) Use empathic listening skills.
7*) Maintain confidentiality as much as possible.
 

So in Crewe St Temple I really let you down in Nos 3 and 7 especially. I humbly beg your forgiveness for this.

Another way I failed to show my proper concern for Bhn Katherine was in my handling of (let us call it) "The Scotch Affair". It seems obvious now after this seminar that as a sannyasi I should have known my limitations and not have got so involved as I did. I could easily have enrolled the help of a senior grhastha or someone qualified. Then I am sure everything would have been resolved appropriately. But because I was trying to be the controller I became like a bull in the china shop of our relationships. We are still trying to pick up the pieces.

I sincerely regret my clumsy dealings above and am sincerely begging your forgiveness. I just wish I could replay those clips again with this hindsight.

Thank you for considering this.

Hoping that this finds you and Katherine well in Krishna consciousness,

Your Wellwishing,

Mahavishnu Swami