north american - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-29T02:10:59Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/north+americanStatement by the NA RGB Re: Additional Shocking Testimony Filed Against Anirdesya Vapu (former Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami)https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/statement-by-the-na-rgb-re-additional-shocking-testimony-filed-ag2023-03-16T11:12:53.000Z2023-03-16T11:12:53.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10998384876,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10998384876?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>The North American Regional Governing Body (NA RGB) of ISKCON acknowledges the recent shocking and horrifying testimony of child abuse shared by Vedasara dasa—including testimony against Anirdesya Vapu, the former Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami (legal name Alan Ross Wexler).</p>
<p>Vedasara dasa currently serves as the Temple President of ISKCON Atlanta. As his colleagues, we accept his statements as factual and are greatly pained to learn of the suffering he underwent—and the burdens he carries today. We pray that Lord Krishna will ease his pain. We are grateful to Vedasara for his courage in bringing forward his testimony.</p>
<p>Vedasara dasa has given a vivid report of the physical, sexual, and psychological abuse he suffered, caused by Anirdesya Vapu, when Veda was a child in the ISKCON Gurukula (boarding school) in Mayapur, India, from 1983-1990. According to this new testimony, Anirdesya Vapu’s responsibility included directly abusing children and, through his failure to supervise others, fomenting widespread abuse and neglect. As the head of school, Anirdesya also created an environment of fear that prevented children from speaking out about their abuse.</p>
<p>From this testimony, it is clear that the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula Village, which was later renamed the Sri Rupanuga Paramartik Vidhyapith school, was managed by Anirdesya Vapu in a way that allowed vulnerable children to be preyed upon.</p>
<p>We understand that the international GBC and International Child Protection Office (ICPO) are reviewing this new testimony in the case against Anirdesya Vapu. Shockingly, this would be the third CPO decision involving Anirdesya Vapu. The first CPO case was in 2000, when Anirdesya Vapu was found responsible for children’s physical and emotional abuse and was removed from teaching, managerial, or administrative roles in ISKCON.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/statement-by-the-na-rgb-re-additional-shocking-testimony-filed-against-anirdesya-vapu-former-bhakti-vidya-purna-swami/">https://iskconnews.org/statement-by-the-na-rgb-re-additional-shocking-testimony-filed-against-anirdesya-vapu-former-bhakti-vidya-purna-swami/</a></p></div>North American Leadership Conference January 14th-16thhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/north-american-leadership-conference-january-14th-16th2022-01-14T11:50:59.000Z2022-01-14T11:50:59.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10011745664,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" alt="10011745664?profile=RESIZE_710x" />By Kumari Kunti Sherreitt </strong></p>
<p>The North American Leadership Conference will be held on the <strong>14th, 15th 16th of January.</strong></p>
<p>During this online event, we will gather again as GBC, Temple Presidents, Senior Devotees, and Next Generation Leaders – all members of Srila Prabhupada’s Family, to collaborate and co-create the future of ISKCON in North America.</p>
<p><strong>REGISTRATION LINK: </strong><a href="https://forms.gle/ZdQ57vvAmidsqbpz8">https://forms.gle/ZdQ57vvAmidsqbpz8</a></p>
<p><strong>January 14-16th, 2022</strong></p>
<p><strong>Friday 7-8PM ET Networking Event: “Looking towards the Future”</strong></p>
<p><strong>Saturday 10:00 AM ET- 3:15 PM ET </strong></p>
<p><strong>Sunday 10:00 AM ET-3:15 PM ET</strong></p>
<p>Pay registration fee ($21) Paypal link: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=AMH5F8UVNKXLS">https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=AMH5F8UVNKXLS</a></p>
<p><strong>Registration closes on January 13th, Thursday</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/north-american-leadership-conference-january-14th-16th/">https://iskconnews.org/north-american-leadership-conference-january-14th-16th/</a></p>
<p> </p></div>North American Temples Close During COVID-19 Pandemic, Reach Out Onlinehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/north-american-temples-close-during-covid-19-pandemic-reach-out-o2020-04-03T12:46:52.000Z2020-04-03T12:46:52.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/03-Mar/brooklyn_temple_residents_give_a_virtual_goodbye_hug_to_a_visiting_devotee_who_had_to_fly_home_during_covid-19_3_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="brooklyn_temple_residents_give_a_virtual_goodbye_hug_to_a_visiting_devotee_who_had_to_fly_home_during_covid-19_3_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>By Madhava Smullen<br /><br /></strong></div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>As the USA now has the highest number of Coronavirus cases in the world above Italy and China, 22 states – half the country – have issued “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” orders to try to “flatten the curve” of the virus. The orders require most people, apart from essential personnel, to work from home and only go out for groceries, medicine, or to take a walk for exercise, during which they are recommended to maintain a distance of at least six feet from each other. Schools are online, all non-essential businesses are closed, and grocery stores only allow a limited number of people in to shop at a time, causing long lines outside.</p>
<p>This unprecedented environment has also created an unprecedented state of affairs for ISKCON, with all events cancelled, and temples across North America closed to the public, as well as to devotees except temple residents and some rare essential personnel.</p>
<p>Faced with a reduced number of devotees to carry out services, no funds from the hundi (public donation box), and a lack of in-person association, it is undoubtedly a very challenging time. Yet temple leaders are tackling the challenges head on, creating innovative ways to continue services and reach out to the community, helping affected members, finding the silver lining, and taking solace from a deep philosophical tradition.</p>
<p>We spoke to four temple managers across North America to see how they were handling the changes caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/north-american-temples-close-during-covid-19-pandemic-reach-out-online,7308/">https://iskconnews.org/north-american-temples-close-during-covid-19-pandemic-reach-out-online,7308/</a></p>
</div></div>