Bhakti Vikas Swami banned in America

[PADA: HH Bhakti Vikas swami has been writing and saying things like: the current ISKCON GBC are materially motivated businessmen who cannot liberate anyone. He is also saying they have surrendered to making ISKCON a Hindu business; He also says they are wrong to change the books. He also says their system of guru voting is bogus because gurus are not voted in, and so forth. In other words, HH Bhakti Vikas swami is saying what a lot of us were saying all along. So now he is being treated the same as us, by being banned. This is actually good news, it means the GBC is fighting within themselves over these issues, and whether people like to admit or not, we need to be given credit for bringing these issues up 30 years ago, because we were right to complain about all this and thus although HH Bhakti Vikas swami is a "Johnny come lately," it better late than never. At least he is complaining about some of the core issues, so we have to give him credit for at least addressing some of these important problems with the current GBC guru process. ys pd]

H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami - Banned In The USA!

BY: RAYA NITAI DASA VANACARI

"While describing the system of protection for the creeper of devotional service, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has especially stressed protection from offenses unto the lotus feet of Vaisnavas. Such offenses are called vaisnava-aparadha. Aparadha means "offense." If one commits vaisnava-aparadhas, all of his progress in devotional service will be checked. Even though one is very much advanced in devotional service, if he commits offenses at the feet of a Vaisnava, his advancement is all spoiled…. Therefore one should be very careful about committing offenses at the feet of a Vaisnava. The most grievous type of vaisnava-aparadha is called guru-aparadha, which refers to offenses at the lotus feet of the spiritual master. In the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this guru-aparadha is considered the most grievous offense." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.37)

I am saddened to announce that H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami has now been officially banned from at least five North American ISKCON centers. Those centers are:

1. ISKCON Alachua
2. ISKCON Miami (Florida)
3. ISKCON Gainesville
4. ISKCON Gita-nagari (Pennsylvania)
5. ISKCON Seattle

About three months ago, H.G. Kalakantha dasa officially banned H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami from lecturing at, or even visiting, the ISKCON Krishna House in Gainesville Florida. We have also received reports from disciples of H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami that he is not welcome at ISKCON Seattle. The GBC for Gainesville is H.G. Malati devi dasi and the GBC for Seattle is H.G. Hari Vilasa dasa.

More recently, H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami has been officially banned from ISKCON Alachua, where he had previously delivered a popular seminar entitled: "Some Concerns About ISKCON." The temple president in Alachua is H.G. Mukhya devi dasi and the GBC for Alachua is H.G. Tomohara dasa. On September 8th, 2012, H.G. Tomohara Dasa sent a notification to H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami stating that he should also cancel his upcoming scheduled visit to the Gita-nagari rural community in Pennsylvania. H.G. Tomohara dasa and H.G. Malati devi dasi also support ISKCON Miami (Florida) in their decision to ban H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami from visiting the Miami temple on his current North American tour.




"Vaisnava aparadha is the greatest dangerous offense. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His teaching to Sri Rupa Goswami, He has especially, vaisnava-aparadha hati mata, you are doing everything. He has compared Vaisnava aparadha as mad elephant. He has very nicely metaphorically explained this. Just like you have a nice garden, very good garden, you are watering, you are giving protection, giving manure, everything. But if in that garden a mad elephant enters, then it will destroy everything, all your labor will go to hell immediately. It will destroy everything. Similarly, you may do anything very nicely; but if you commit offense at the feet of a pure Vaisnava, thenall your assets will be immediately vanquished. Vaisnava aparadha. Because Krsna is very angry. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram yonisu [Bg. 16.19]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, Krsna said, dvisatah kruran. Dvisatah, those who are envious upon Vaisnava and Visnu, the more dangerous position is to be envious of a Vaisnava. Visnu aparadha can be excused, God is very kind. But He never excuses Vaisnava aparadha. That is His vow."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.8 – Calcutta, March 5, 1972)

I would like to take a moment and suggest that any devotees involved in banning H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami from any ISKCON center hear the words of His Divine Grace Srila Cakravarti Thakura regarding atonement for offending a Vaisnava:

"Now we shall discuss the ten offences against the holy name: The first offence is to criticize and blaspheme the devotees. Blaspheming in this context means to be envious of, and antagonistic towards, the saintly devotee. If one even accidentally commits this offence against a Vaisnava he must bitterly repent of his low behavior. Just as poison is counteracted by poison, similarly, the offender, having set aflame his spiritual life with blasphemy, must be purified in the fire of contrition. The offender must go and fall at the feet of the devotee he reviled and beg forgiveness until he is again able to please that Vaisnava. He must approach the devotee with trepidation in his heart and think that by pleading, praising, offering repeated obeisances, or by any means he must satisfy the offended devotee. Yet, if for some reason he is unable to appease the devotee then the offender must continue to serve him for many days in a way that will impress and satisfy him, In case the offence is of such a serious nature that the Vaisnava's ire remains unpacified, then the offender must strongly condemn his own abominable action and think, "Oh, how shameful! I have blasphemed a Vaisnava, I shall have to suffer millions of years in the fire of hell." With a heavy heart, the aparadhi must then take complete shelter of the holy name and chant incessantly, knowing this to be his only hope."
(Madhurya-Kadambini - Sarvabhavana)