This is not really a post about chocolate. It's about communciation.
Articles and commentaries are appearing everywhere on the net and in classes and conversations throughout ISKCON about the supposed recent blessing of chocolate for consumption, by the GBC.
The most recent web referenceable example of this is an article on dandavats.com. In this article the author states that "they heard from someone on the temple board that the consumption of chocolate had been authorized in ISKCON".
In the comments section someone asks: "I did not hear that the consumption of chocolates has been authorised in ISKCON. Is there a reference?"
Well that's a no-brainer isn't it? I mean, this is 2007. We just go to the GBC site and read through the official press releases, or the meeting minutes, and show the resolution, or its absence.
Hang on... where is the gbc website? gbc.iskcon.com - nope. Umm, let's have a look at www.iskcon.com. Can't see anything there. Let me see - what about www.iskcongbc.com? Ahh - there's something here. "Welcome to ISKCON GBC. Please login to view the contents of the website."
Oh.
I heard the chocolate rumour discussed and denied this month at the new Govardhana festival by H.G. Janananda prabhu, H.H. Prabhavisnu Swami (GBC), and H.G. Nrsimha Kavaca prabhu (Minister for Deity Worship). However, there was no reference given. It was more of an: "I never heard about that".
However, this is 2007, and for information and misinformation to keep flowing through the organization via sneaker-net like it was 1977 is a little anachronistic. Technologies exist today that can empower us to illuminate, eludicate, and clarify the situation. That's the function of brahmanas in a society - to illuminate and educate. To cast vision, to provide clarity.
Try these google searches:
- "iskcon gbc" - this gives you some idea of how up-to-date coverage is.
- "iskcon gbc chocolate" - nothing official or conclusive. Top hit is from "Gaudiya Repercussions" website.
No-one on the GBC even has a personal blog to communicate information. For me, as a rank and file guy somewhere out in Australia, I have absolutely no idea of what is going on, and I don't think I'm anything unusual.
edit: Manorama points out that H.H. Sivarama Swami, a prolific blogger, is a GBC member. Other GBC members with blogs include H.H. Kavicandra Swami, H.H. Prahladananda Swami, and H.H. Devamrita Swami.
Pretty confusing, huh?
Pretty confusing, huh? :-)
The Euro GBC (the European division of the GBC) has its own website: http://www.eurogbc.com/ which has a bit more information.
But why the GBC needs a separate website -- distinct from the official www.iskcon.com website -- is beyond my comprehension.
It's actually funny that this whole chocolate businnes is such a big thing for many devotees. Most devotees (temple and congregation) I know have almost no interest in whatever the GBC discusses and are almost completely unaware of what the GBC does or even who they are. But when it comes to chocolate, everyone is all ears :-) Seems like we have to set our priorities right.
We discussed this topic in
We discussed this topic in our National Council meeting. Maharaja said that though we might use/offer cocoa powder we don't eat anything cooked by non devotees. Chocolates neither.
I don't understand why this devotee refers to Maharaja's podcast as a "yes" to chocolate. As he clearly says no.
But as I wrote earlier I understand your point. Lack of communication. It needs improvement.
Hot chocolate, anyone?
Why he takes that as a yes.... heh heh heh, probably because that's what he was waiting for... ;-)
It is a mixed message, and one that takes the first step onto a slippery slope. We can tell people not to do things, but with the rampant speculation and Chinese whispers that goes on, combined with a lack of authoritative communication (where was the press release? - we have only Maharaja discussing some implications in response to a question and we have to imply the whole back story), where it will end up is anyone's guess.
Have a look at the dandavats article: one person says: "The consumption of chocolate in ISKCON has been authorized!"
Someone then replies to this: "I did not hear that the consumption of chocolates has been authorised in ISKCON." (Well you have now!)
From "chocolate" (could be a big block o' the stuff, or the powder) to "chocolates" (a box of them, no less) in one fell swoop. That took all of one iteration to morph to that.
What will it be in two years time, at the current rate of miscommunication?
Hmm.. ended a two week comments drought with that article. Obviously a hot topic. Hot chocolate, anyone?
No surprise
I don't think it's all that surprising that the GBC isn't more web-savvy. Most of the GBC members grew up in a time when the web didn't even exist. Podcasts and blogs are have only existed in their current form for about 3 years now. You don't see the Pope blogging, do you?
I agree, of course, that more openness is necessary. It is a great opportunity to directly communicate with millions of devotees. The web flattens the corporate (or, in this case, religious) hierarchy.
Thinking more about this: it was almost always the case that even a new bhakta could walk up to a big Guru and speak to him. Just not anytime, anywhere in the world. The leader had to be physically present. ISKCON has to right culture, but not the right technology. Technology is much easier to fix than culture. We have a great advantage here.
It's not just ISKCON that isn't taking advantage of the web. The great majority of organizations are run by technophobic managers in their 50s and 60s. It is only the few shinning stars like Sun and Google that stand out.
So, with a bit of "fresh young blood" that sees the potential of the web technology, I think ISKCON communication can be improved quite rapidly and easily.
Candidasa
http://www.deltaflow.com
Answer
I understand Sita Pati prabhu's point. There is no regular communication from the GBC. With Dandavats.com something started. Hopefully more to follow.
"No-one on the GBC even has a personal blog to communicate information."
Sivarama Maharaja has a website, where he publishes podcasts daily. (So not only the "fresh young blood" is communicating :) Plus, at present i am not aware of any other iskcon podcasters... At least not daily ones.)
And in one of his podcasts he speaks about chocolate. You can download it from: http://www.sivaramaswami.com/?p=56
Even more unclear
I am aware of this podcast, but didn't mention it initially in order to stay on the main point, which is that there is no canonical source of information about the GBC and its activities. I guess it's probably because the actual situation is so unclear that it can't be communicated.
There are a few sannyasis who have blogs, such as H.H. Prahladananda Swami, H.H. Kavicandra Swami, H.H. Devamrita Swami. However, they do not use them to give insight into the GBC.
In the podcast Maharaja implies that the GBC has authorized chocolate, but without giving any reference. The exact words he uses, after saying that the matter was discussed in Mayapura, are: "chocolate is no longer a banned substance". This is accompanied by admonitions to not eat it. It sounds like hedging to me.
This has actually been a significant source for many devotees internationally of the story making the rounds about chocolate now being authorized. At New Govardhana one devotee told me that he started eating chocolate after hearing this podcast precisely because Maharaja said that it was no longer a banned substance.
Meanwhile H.G. Janananda Prabhu asks at the New Govardhan festival: "Here we have a member of the esteemed GBC - H.H. Prabhavisnu Maharaja. Please tell us Maharaja, has chocolate been authorized?" H.H. Prabhavisnu Swami responds by saying: "I haven't heard anything about that." They then ask H.G. Nrsimha Kavaca prabhu, minister of Deity Worship. He says: "Definitely not".
I could actually go into the chocolate issue, and the whole "Prabhupada was given the wrong information so let's make a new decision" thing, which is a significant implication of this whole affair, but I'll stay on the main point here. There is no official communications channel. It's a significant weakness that doesn't have to be there.
Even if the GBC is divided on the issue, which may well be the case, where is the public discussion of the issue? Why allow the speculation and confusion to go on? People are reading the internet and getting their information from there, and the airwaves are woefully empty of brahminical discourse. Just do the google search.
Actually, in the absence of anything else, I might just put together a little article... :-)