Friday, January 24, 2014

Help Needed: Ravindra's Retirement!

When GBC "Gurus" Beg You to Pay Their Bills 

BY: KUTAMUDGARA DAS

The following letters which have just appeared on Facebook represent a new low for ISKCON's "leadership." Ravindra Svarup das is going away, and he wants you to support him with a pledge of $50 a month. A member of the selfsame GBC that ran Shrila Prabhupada's initiated devotees out the door since 1977— penniless and surrendered servants of the pure devotee — now asks for your regular financial contributions.

And if that was not enough, he compares himself to Shrila Prabhupada. He says that he is now the same age that Shrila Prabhupada was when he sailed on the Jaladuta. But he does not see that Shrila Prabhupada sailed fully dependent upon Lord Krishna's mercy alone. Ravindra Svarup is exactly the opposite. He does not mention anything about Lord Krishna's protection in his letter, and neither does he intend to travel and preach.

He wants to go live in some comfortable situation with you footing the bill. What greater example is required to see that the individual members of the GBC do not follow Shrila Prabhupada because they do not have faith that Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will lovingly protect them? If the GBC has an iota of conscience left, it should issue a disclaimer to this sort of shameless beggary and distance themselves from Ravindra Svarup.

He should be dismissed from the GBC post haste. This is shameful and an outrage. He talks about those who have been benefited by his talks over the years. Well, what good is talking without an example? Simply cheap talk never helped anyone. That is the difference between other so-called "gurus" and Shrila Prabhupada. Our Guru Maharaja poured his heart into everything he did, and whatever he did was for the world, not for himself. This is another case of bait and switch three card monty that the GBC has become famous for.

It is the Vaticanization of ISKCON wherein the upper tier lives happily and comfortably at the expense of the suffering members who are treated with disdain once they have had their lifeblood squeezed from them. The GBC members share the blame and shame for this indignation to the great cause of Krishna consciousness, that advancement and position means to beg for financial support on a public social forum like Facebook.

Who would today want to join such an organization? Would you want this man as your Guru?

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*** How You Can Help!

Over the years, so many of us have benefited from Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's writings, classes, leadership, and guidance. The opportunity has now arisen to demonstrate our appreciation for all that he has done for us. With Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's transition to full-time writing and teaching, his ministry will require a significant increase in financial support. There will be moving costs, rent to pay, and basic living expenses to cover.

Fortunately, if many people contribute a little bit, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's ministry can receive the support it needs for Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu to focus full-time on writing and teaching - something that we have all been requesting for a long time. As mentioned in his letter, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu already has plans for 3-5 books. He also intends to restart his blog, offer online classes, and host gatherings to help deepen our Krishna consciousness and to introduce Krishna consciousness to others. In order for this transition to be a success, there are three ways that you can help:

1) In the next two weeks, offer a one-time donation to assist with the initial costs of relocating.

2) Sign-up to become a monthly pledge member.

3) Share this opportunity with other supporters of Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu and encourage them to become monthly pledge members. (Our goal is to enroll 80 monthly pledge members.) We are looking for an average monthly pledge amount of $50 USD.

For those of you who need to give less, anything that you can contribute will be helpful and appreciated. No amount is too small! For those of you who can give more, please do! All donations are welcomed and appreciated. As a Monthly Pledge Member, you will promptly receive receipts for your donations, as well as regular updates on Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's writing, classes, and gatherings. 

A 501(c)(3) religious non-profit corporation named "ISKCON Cure of Souls, Inc." has been formed specifically to support Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's ministry and related educational courses aimed to develop our own Krishna consciousness and to give Krishna consciousness to others. Any donations made to this non-profit corporation will be tax-exempt and will go directly toward supporting and developing this ministry. Donations can be given online through PayPal and by check.

Checks can be made out to "ISKCON Cure of Souls, Inc." Please see below for further details. I sincerely thank all of you for your support of Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu and ISKCON Cure of Souls, Inc. If we all work together, this endeavor will be a success. Please feel free to contact me any time for further information at rsd.sanga@gmail.com. In service to Srila Prabhupada, Your servant, Sraddhadevi dasi

6 comments:

  1. Only fools and idiots pay money to this guy, who helped to destroy Srila Prabhupada's movement. He should be kicked in his face.... again and again

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  2. Iskcon's cure of souls? LOL! How's about ISKCON'S GURU'S MILKING HIS DISCIPLES UP TO THE POINT OF DEATH! Cure of souls, what nonsense!

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  3. Very good point made here. Prabhupada came to give us something, he made devotees by his purity. Ravindra is now retiring after messing things up and wishes us to support him! Prabhupada gave to his last breath, fighting like Arjuna. Why do the modern "gurus" of ISKCON pretend they are like Prabhupada when they RETIRE early and wish to be cared for in luxury for the rest of their lives? This is not the example set by the great founder acharya of ISKCON, just the opposite in my opinion. And to try to trick your disciples into giving you money because you are acting like Prabhupada? SINFUL! I hope he rots in hell when the Yamadutas get him I really do, I am so sick of all the exploiting going on from all these guys.

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  4. Yet another maneuver by the intelligent class of ISKCONites to simulate injustice that cries out to high heaven.

    There has been lately an impulse of ex-ISKCONites to rejoin ISKCON. In order to stop this trend ISKCON leaders like Ravindra svarupa stage such preciousness to ward off the "mob". Keep us hiding were we are.

    Right at the next Maypur GBC meeting he again will be reconfirmed as GBC for Mississippi, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. So no need to panic, it's all kind of theater orchestration to cement GBC's position and to keep off you - me and others who ask wrong question. Btw, his disciples already transfer money since 30 years, nothing new.

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  5. Don’t give him a penny until he admits that Śrīla Prabhupāda only approved ritviks for future imitations within ISKCON. Prabhupāda made it very clear that he is against having more than one guru within ISKCON because it creates factions.

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  6. RATS IN THE TEMPLE -- Ravindra swarupa ---he is one sly old chap --- never place your trust in him. In 1989 I was at Philly temple, which was Rat infested --- Yes you read Right ---not Mice ---RATS. Ravindra said they needed money to collect for repair --- So I was approached by him and he pleaded, "please go to the hindus, we need funds." Then I heard from another devotee, "be careful, the money goes for his family" ---his daughter is punk rocker --- if anyone knows --- the dress they wear, the long boots, safety pins and all that --so I said, "can I see books accounts where the money is being spent" -- Ravindra said ok, but then he turned around and yelled at me using big F -word, "You f***ing idiot." Wow, I though he was going to attack me, raising his fist at me. I left never to come back again ---- To this very Day. Philly temple is a disaster area --- Go ahead I dare you check to see if it has become to it's First Class standard.--- go ahead.

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