Will The Real ISKCON Please Stand Up?
To Tell the TRUTH!
BY: JAYA MADHAVA DAS (ACBSP)
These days and henceforth I will avoid Facebook, like the a plague! It's giving me a headache, talking with so many devotees who all think "they know" what is Srila Prabhupada's intended original Real ISKCON. Sentimentalism is overshadowing logic and common sense (and honesty).
They fail to offer any reference in support of their conclusions and speculations from bona fide sources, i.e., HDG Srila Prabhupada's own words and instructions found in his books, lectures, letters to his disciples, morning walk conversations and Room Conversations, which are a conclusive, unsentimental storehouse of knowledge. No, they don't usually use answers in this storehouse that Srila Prabhupada left us, or if they do, they merely pick and choose whatever best suits their agendas or misconceptions. That's called cheating, Not telling the whole TRUTH.
Nowadays many have their new-compromised version of ISKCON. They promote this as Prabhupada's ISKCON, but it is not always the case, not at all. It's a free-for-all these days… now more than ever. Why won't the GBC stop this? If they can't stop it, then why not tackle it as a serious problem? Why pretend 'I'm OK, you're OK, it's all OK'? It's NOT OK!
Now that Srila Prabhupada's instructions and practices are fading, does anyone notice? Where is the strong leadership in ISKCON to unify ONE ISKCON? Nowhere, thats where! ISKCON is already a split, disunited movement all over the world. Its unity is hanging by a thread. Temples do as they please, as seen in Seattle, Utah, New York, etc. As long as the money is coming in….. ISKCON for years has been proclaiming itself "The Heart of Hinduism" -- complete with GBC Anuttama das (ACBSP) as its Hindu priest! Its so sad to see it go so compromised and off the rails.
Frankly ,even in the Zonal Acharya days, they were at least maintaining the Bhakta Programs and ashrams. But then came the Hinduization of ISKCON (its downfall). Book distribution was still king (for a while) before money making was made king. Slowly, the devotees are now fighting to bring book distribution levels back up. But how unfortunate that the GBC and BBT leaders allowed it to go so far down in the first place.
On Facebook when I preach to devotees and they attack me for simply telling the truth. Having been in the original ISKCON, I don't see it in many places. Why should I lie? Now in Kali Yuga when devotees preach strongly, they get insulted (by devotees). Is that crazy, or what?
ISKCONs Missions Drift and Compromise could fill a medium-sized book. There are so many issues: women's roles, book distribution, Hari Nam, Hinduization, poor devotee training (not standardized), devotee behaviors, practices ignored (for example, Matajis not covering their head on the altars), lack of offering obeisances when you greet the devotees… so much is fading away these days. Going to mangal arotik and many other ISKCON staple programs has just about vanished, along with so many of the original practices we took for granted as Srila Prabhupada's disciples in ISKCON.
One look at the web cams of the ISKCON Temples in America shows the very sparse attendance at weekly programs. There are no temple devotees anymore. Sunday programs are attended still in many places, but LOOK who's NOT coming to the Temples… locals. In most Temples in the West its 95 per cent Indians….. ISKCON, we got a problem. (The problem is, you don't talk seriously about this shift: Serious Mission Drift in ISKCON.)
On Facebook we find so many different versions and opinions of what is the real ISKCON:
there is the Hinduized (Holi/Dwali/Hindu festival) so called-official ISKCON
the Mundane Charity ISKCON promoting hospitals and food relief
the Kirtanaya/New Age (for profit) Hip ISKCON (love and peace)
the ISKCON West ISKCON promoting compromised relaxed preaching
the Gay and Lesbian ISKCON in the San Francisco area
the Interfaith ISKCON, whose preaching is going nowhere fast
the Krsna Lounge ISKCON, where we don't mention ISKCON, the Maha Mantra or Srila Prabhupada's Name… it's "Yoga"
the Kuli Mela Compromised ISKCON
the Utah Krishnas Festival of Colors, Llamas and Yoga/Rock Music ISKCON
the let's have Female Diksa Gurus ISKCON
the Seattle Uncle Hari Vilas Hindu version of ISKCON known as the Vedic Cultural Society and of course the apasiddhantic religious Ritvik ISKCON (building the highest Temple in Vrindaban)
All of which cause chaos and confuse devotees, who think all this actually is ISKCON.
Where will it end? Where is Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON? It's enough to make your head spin! Which and Where is the real ISKCON?
Here's a thought…. In the 1960s there was an American TV game show, 'To Tell The Truth'. Three people posed as a certain person… two were fake, one was real. The panel of questioners asked all three questions to find out who was real. At the end of the program, the game show host said: "Will the real so and so -- Please Stand Up"!
So I'm saying, in this dangerous time of political, moral, economic crisis... in a time when World War III is no longer a fairy tale, but a very real Danger…. In a similar way, I ask: "WILL THE REAL ISKCON PLEASE STAND UP?" and preach strongly on behalf of HDG Srila Prabhupada?
This is a fight against the material energy, which is getting horrible and frightening. ISKCON News PR / Dandavats.com is useless against Maya's brutal, relentless attacks on ISKCON and the world. We need to stand and FIGHT. We need to fight Maya in order to save the world from the hellish mess it's gliding towards.
This is only one way to do this: fight Maya with original, 'don't compromise anything' preaching. It's now or never. The mushroom clouds may soon be heading towards us (at least in the form of Fukushima's radiation, all covered-up). But there is hope. There is a way to slow down vicious Kali Yuga's devastating effects, which are increasing to breakneck speed. And unfortunately, all the devotees will suffer too. We must get strong and revive book distribution, daily Hari Nams and no-nonsense preaching!
Let's Re-establish ISKCON as Srila Prabhupada intended it. America is the focus point, that's a fact. Then we must do it all over the globe. Get a backbone for Srila Prabhupada and preach on His behalf. Stop putting water in the milks of preaching. You have a grave, great responsibility to HDG Srila Prabhupada. Smiles and PR shows and useless meetings won't cut it with Maya and Kali!
May I humbly remind you, the GBC Body, to remember and heed Srila Prabhupada's warning to us, his disciples: The problem with YOU is that you're not afraid enough of Maya!
His Divine Grace was more concerned with quality than with popularity or quantity. There is no other way out… preaching strongly is NOT an option now, it's the solution to world problems and a delayed Economic Collapse in the West, with World War III imminent. Ignoring this won't help anyone.
In the 1960s and 70s there was ONLY ONE unified ISKCON… Srila Prabhupada's version. All Temples were the same: same programs, same mood. No Diwali, no Holi, no demigod worship, no Hinduization. That's no accident, not an oversight by Srila Prabhupada. He did not want these things. ISKCON was NOT promoted as Hindu, we wouldn't dare! Srila Prabhupada's anger at seeing all these things going on in ISKCON today would be tremendous !
Any honest Prabhupada disciple will tell you how it was then. Hari Nams daily. big book distribution, and festivals. No paid salaries, to no one, ever, only provision of absolute necessities. No Hindu weddings in the Temples. No mission drift to a Hinduized ISKCON for money.
Just compare and see both ISKCONs: pre-1978 and now. It's two entirely different ISKCONs. ISKCON was NEVER meant to be politically correct and compromised, changed. Yes, That's a fact, I know as I lived in it and through it. Read Prabhupada's book and letters to His disciples… it's all there.
The original pre-1978 ISKCON was Srila Prabhupada's intended ISKCON. Now, his standards are taken for granted and no longer practiced in much of ISKCON. The original practices done and established in the 1960s and 1970s in ISKCON are becoming extinct. For example (out of many I could give), Hari Nams and book distribution was the most important preaching -- in ALL Temples in ISKCON, all over the world. Everything was to support that preaching. It was indisputable and was the essence of the mood in all the Temples. Devotees followed Srila Prabhupada's exact words and instructions, by and large by the book. Not like today, where even in the Official ISKCON, the GBC and authorities pick and choose what's politically correct to suit them.
One recent example of deviations in philosophy is with women's roles in ISKCON. In the original ISKCON, for example, its was unimaginable to think of women as anything other than your Mother, and Matajis were always addressed as 'Mother' so and so. This was Prabhupada's ISKCON. Women knew their positions and graciously accepted Srila Prabhupada's Vedic version, and this is a FACT!
Not like now, so much confusion and deviation. As a matter of fact, in the 70s ISKCON Temples no one dared talk to any women, and if you needed to talk to a women who was married, you first must talk to her husband. Any Prabhupada disciple will verify this was common practice. That's mostly GONE now. Women want to be leaders and gurus despite not being in line with Srila Prabhupada's instructions to His disciple women to be Vedic. Srila Prabhupada came to the USA to re-establish Vedic Culture, not to destroy it.
Now, many years later we have seen the rise of revolt against Srila Prabhupada's very words and instructions on women's issues and duties. Some devotees falsely promote a 'compromise' with Srila Prabhupada's strict Vedic version of what He wanted in ISKCON. Selfishly motivated Matajis and wishy washy delusional leaders disobey and ignore Srila Prabhupada's instructions on what he wanted in ISKCON (although, the GBC did wisely table the FDG issue at this year's Mayapur meeting), and misrepresent HDG Srila Prabhupada on this and many other issue. Thus we see a changed, compromised, Hinduized, New age ISKCON now in the West. While many devotees today think this is normal, honest senior devotees know it is not.
On the surface it is seemly going on well, but it's NOT Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON. Don't be fooled by externals. Much work is needed to revive ISKCON in America, and the West suffers for these blatant distortions of Srila Prabhupada's instructions for ISKCON. Prabhupada's original, pure, unchanged ISKCON had a driving Spiritual FORCE! We were blessed by Lord Sri Krsna for following Prabhupada's exact instructions.
What prompted me to write this article is the obvious fact that the preaching in ISKCON in the West is mostly to the Indians for financial support. Over the years we have all seen the many articles and pictures which depict this is a fact. I'm getting bashed for preaching, and it's totally off the mark. ISKCON is in Mission Drift… but if I question this, I get branded as "disloyal" to Srila Prabhupada. A traitor!
The Mission Drift of ISKCON is not only very serious, it's a grave matter. Once again, this is seemingly not being talked about at all seriously at any GBC meetings or ISKCON 'power meetings'. It seems to be all whitewashed or ignored. We hear nothing from our so-called leaders on these matters. Thus, there can be no recovery or revival of Prabhupada's ISKCON. Until ISKCON leaders become honest and fix the mess and deviations they have allowed into ISKCON, we will never have Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON. If ISKCON does not reverse its mistakes, karma for the world will get worse. Can't we see that happening already? Read the news… it's wake-up time!
Once in America, devotees were seen daily in the streets on Hari nam, and at the airports and public places. HARE KRSNA was once a household word. It no longer is in the West. Vanished from the airports are book distributers, and no one in the GBC Body seems upset about this. GBC Meetings are pats on the back for what? Gone and vanished are the Bhakta Programs for locals in the West. Vanished or shrunk are the brahmachari and women's ashrams. Down is the number of books distributed. (And I can't believe the BBT Newsletter… there is no way book distribution is up… it's gone way, way down.)
Gone and seemingly unremembered are the thousands of Prabhupada's disciples and followers, forgotten by the GBC. Where is real devotee care (for the neglected)? Reactions for the ISKCON movement are there, for this neglect.
Also infrequent in the West are Hari Nams. Of course, this is no surprise, as there are no longer temple devotees to do it. As I said, with no men and women joining temples, the society's mission has shifted. It's nowhere close to being as potent as it used to be, let alone as it should be. Hinduized ISKCON is a DISASTER.
Among the recent troubling events to unfold in Hinduized ISKCON is the situation at ISKCON Vancouver. Shockingly, the managers are discussing smashing down the murti of Lord Caitanya. Whether erecting it in the first place was a good idea or not, the statue was established in the late 80s-early 90s, and is non-different than the Lord. Destroying it would be a huge offense and the act of fools. It's there and its KRSNA, now deal with it with respect, and take responsibility for it! Don't take the easy way out and destroy it, making a huge aparadha for the sake of saving a few (Hindu) dollars. This is nothing but crass impersonalism!
Speaking of which… also gone in ISKCON is strong preaching against Mayavadis. Strong preaching has been replaced with storytelling, jokes and entertainment. Soft-peddling Krsna consciousness has become the norm, but this is ineffective and attracts the wrong audience, which will do nothing but help to bring a new breed of compromised wishy washy devotees into ISKCON. Compromised preaching is NOT the ISKCON Prabhupada created. This is dangerous to Srila Prabhupada's intentions for His ISKCON and it's another very serious problem not being taken seriously by the GBC Body (who themselves have set the standard for this practice). Why have they allowed ISKCON to splinter off into so many groups and factions, while they sit comfortably on the asana, telling stories?
Then there's the BBT, panicking now amidst rumors of its financial troubles. No Temple devotees means way fewer book distributors. The vast majority of Indians who come to Diwali and Holi won't go out on Sankirtan… just try to preach to them on this, and see them run away… Those few Indians who do book distribution in the West are in the minority, and are glorious!
Now the BBT is crying that If we have Prabhupada's original books and sell them, we are 'stabbing Srila Prabhupada in the heart'. This is such offensive and cowardly talk! The BBT fail to realize that changing his books and changing/compromising ISKCON to Hinduized New Ageism is the actual stabbing of Srila Prabhupada, in the back. So in fact, the BBT is in trouble not only materially, but spiritually.
How can Book Distribution support Temples if the temples no longer have a serious Bhakta Program, brahmachari or brahmacarini ashrams, or a serious interest in preaching to the locals? Making Temple devotees is a thing of the past, hence no Shakti is there.
Among the most enthusiastic of book distributors today are the Ritviks, who may overshadow ISKCON soon. They continue to be a constant problem for ISKCON. Until the GBC Body addresses the guru issue fairly and institutes guru reform, there is little chance that the Ritviks will be defeated. They will continue to promote their asiddhantic philosophy, and compared to the problems the GBC have created, they will look like a good alternative. Of course, this is also stabbing Srila Prabhupada in the back.
[PADA: The worship of Srila Prabhupada is "apa-siddhanta"? Really? The problem is that Rocana and Jaya Madhava's idea that gurus need "reform" is what is apasiddhanta. Anyway, yes, the Prabhupadanugas are taking over, hee hee. The problem is: what else was ordered? How come Rocana, Jaya Madhava and co never show us what else was ordered?
Unless these people make a detailed proposal of what else was ordered, then, by default we are going to have to assume they do not have any other proposal. For the record, their idea of not worshiping the pure devotee is how Rocana and Jaya Madhava types created the current mess we have in ISKCON today. They said that we cannot worship the pure devotee, that is apa-siddhanta, and the odious results of their idea speaks for themselves.]
None of these problems can be solved until ISKCON is taken back to Srila Prabhupada's vision. Take out the compromises and weeds that have grown in ISKCON's garden. Time is passing us by, and Kali Yuga just gets worse and worse, day by day. I appeal to the GBC Body to revive Srila Prabhupada's Original ISKCON. Remove Hinduism programs from ISKCON, for the benefit of all. Restore ISKCON. Even if we lose Hindus, ISKCON was never intend to serve them so exclusively.
All these problems are a slap in the face to our Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. They have destroyed the pure potency of His ISKCON, reducing it to a sectarian, sentimental, mundane, New Age religion… a Hindu Church.
I wish all the GBC members well, but I'm disappointed by their allowing compromise in ISKCON and the BBT. I won't be a liar. I care about ISKCON, and despite remarks mocking me and the Sampradaya Sun writers who point out ISKCONs Mission Drift, I wont be fazed by such blind followers and yes men. ISKCON is in trouble. And the world is in deep trouble now. Just read the news… it's unreal, and scary. Our countries are going down to tyranny at the hand of corrupt banks, corporations, politicians and demons. And the response we get: just dopey smiles, PR, New Age love and peace, and compromised preaching. It's a waste of time. It's dysfunctional, and nothing but a denial of the serious problems in ISKCON.
Please, revive Prabhupada's ISKCON for the benefit of devotees worldwide, and push Kali Yuga back for everyone in the world… before it's too late. The time is now.
Will the real ISKCON leaders please STAND UP and preach in the mood of Srila Prabhupada?
Please re-establish His intentions, preaching mood and instructions on how to preach and how to manage His original ISKCON. ISKCON will save the world. It's the Movement for the next 10,000 years. But first it has to clean up its house and save itself.
Take the high road, not the low road. Renew ISKCON, preach strongly and forcefully against material life, mayavada, bogus gurus, cheating scientists and rascal leaders… and the Cat and Dog Civilization dragging everyone to hell. Be brahminical for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
Tell the TRUTH.
To Tell the TRUTH!
BY: JAYA MADHAVA DAS (ACBSP)
These days and henceforth I will avoid Facebook, like the a plague! It's giving me a headache, talking with so many devotees who all think "they know" what is Srila Prabhupada's intended original Real ISKCON. Sentimentalism is overshadowing logic and common sense (and honesty).
They fail to offer any reference in support of their conclusions and speculations from bona fide sources, i.e., HDG Srila Prabhupada's own words and instructions found in his books, lectures, letters to his disciples, morning walk conversations and Room Conversations, which are a conclusive, unsentimental storehouse of knowledge. No, they don't usually use answers in this storehouse that Srila Prabhupada left us, or if they do, they merely pick and choose whatever best suits their agendas or misconceptions. That's called cheating, Not telling the whole TRUTH.
Nowadays many have their new-compromised version of ISKCON. They promote this as Prabhupada's ISKCON, but it is not always the case, not at all. It's a free-for-all these days… now more than ever. Why won't the GBC stop this? If they can't stop it, then why not tackle it as a serious problem? Why pretend 'I'm OK, you're OK, it's all OK'? It's NOT OK!
Now that Srila Prabhupada's instructions and practices are fading, does anyone notice? Where is the strong leadership in ISKCON to unify ONE ISKCON? Nowhere, thats where! ISKCON is already a split, disunited movement all over the world. Its unity is hanging by a thread. Temples do as they please, as seen in Seattle, Utah, New York, etc. As long as the money is coming in….. ISKCON for years has been proclaiming itself "The Heart of Hinduism" -- complete with GBC Anuttama das (ACBSP) as its Hindu priest! Its so sad to see it go so compromised and off the rails.
Frankly ,even in the Zonal Acharya days, they were at least maintaining the Bhakta Programs and ashrams. But then came the Hinduization of ISKCON (its downfall). Book distribution was still king (for a while) before money making was made king. Slowly, the devotees are now fighting to bring book distribution levels back up. But how unfortunate that the GBC and BBT leaders allowed it to go so far down in the first place.
On Facebook when I preach to devotees and they attack me for simply telling the truth. Having been in the original ISKCON, I don't see it in many places. Why should I lie? Now in Kali Yuga when devotees preach strongly, they get insulted (by devotees). Is that crazy, or what?
ISKCONs Missions Drift and Compromise could fill a medium-sized book. There are so many issues: women's roles, book distribution, Hari Nam, Hinduization, poor devotee training (not standardized), devotee behaviors, practices ignored (for example, Matajis not covering their head on the altars), lack of offering obeisances when you greet the devotees… so much is fading away these days. Going to mangal arotik and many other ISKCON staple programs has just about vanished, along with so many of the original practices we took for granted as Srila Prabhupada's disciples in ISKCON.
One look at the web cams of the ISKCON Temples in America shows the very sparse attendance at weekly programs. There are no temple devotees anymore. Sunday programs are attended still in many places, but LOOK who's NOT coming to the Temples… locals. In most Temples in the West its 95 per cent Indians….. ISKCON, we got a problem. (The problem is, you don't talk seriously about this shift: Serious Mission Drift in ISKCON.)
On Facebook we find so many different versions and opinions of what is the real ISKCON:
there is the Hinduized (Holi/Dwali/Hindu festival) so called-official ISKCON
the Mundane Charity ISKCON promoting hospitals and food relief
the Kirtanaya/New Age (for profit) Hip ISKCON (love and peace)
the ISKCON West ISKCON promoting compromised relaxed preaching
the Gay and Lesbian ISKCON in the San Francisco area
the Interfaith ISKCON, whose preaching is going nowhere fast
the Krsna Lounge ISKCON, where we don't mention ISKCON, the Maha Mantra or Srila Prabhupada's Name… it's "Yoga"
the Kuli Mela Compromised ISKCON
the Utah Krishnas Festival of Colors, Llamas and Yoga/Rock Music ISKCON
the let's have Female Diksa Gurus ISKCON
the Seattle Uncle Hari Vilas Hindu version of ISKCON known as the Vedic Cultural Society and of course the apasiddhantic religious Ritvik ISKCON (building the highest Temple in Vrindaban)
All of which cause chaos and confuse devotees, who think all this actually is ISKCON.
Where will it end? Where is Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON? It's enough to make your head spin! Which and Where is the real ISKCON?
Here's a thought…. In the 1960s there was an American TV game show, 'To Tell The Truth'. Three people posed as a certain person… two were fake, one was real. The panel of questioners asked all three questions to find out who was real. At the end of the program, the game show host said: "Will the real so and so -- Please Stand Up"!
So I'm saying, in this dangerous time of political, moral, economic crisis... in a time when World War III is no longer a fairy tale, but a very real Danger…. In a similar way, I ask: "WILL THE REAL ISKCON PLEASE STAND UP?" and preach strongly on behalf of HDG Srila Prabhupada?
This is a fight against the material energy, which is getting horrible and frightening. ISKCON News PR / Dandavats.com is useless against Maya's brutal, relentless attacks on ISKCON and the world. We need to stand and FIGHT. We need to fight Maya in order to save the world from the hellish mess it's gliding towards.
This is only one way to do this: fight Maya with original, 'don't compromise anything' preaching. It's now or never. The mushroom clouds may soon be heading towards us (at least in the form of Fukushima's radiation, all covered-up). But there is hope. There is a way to slow down vicious Kali Yuga's devastating effects, which are increasing to breakneck speed. And unfortunately, all the devotees will suffer too. We must get strong and revive book distribution, daily Hari Nams and no-nonsense preaching!
Let's Re-establish ISKCON as Srila Prabhupada intended it. America is the focus point, that's a fact. Then we must do it all over the globe. Get a backbone for Srila Prabhupada and preach on His behalf. Stop putting water in the milks of preaching. You have a grave, great responsibility to HDG Srila Prabhupada. Smiles and PR shows and useless meetings won't cut it with Maya and Kali!
May I humbly remind you, the GBC Body, to remember and heed Srila Prabhupada's warning to us, his disciples: The problem with YOU is that you're not afraid enough of Maya!
His Divine Grace was more concerned with quality than with popularity or quantity. There is no other way out… preaching strongly is NOT an option now, it's the solution to world problems and a delayed Economic Collapse in the West, with World War III imminent. Ignoring this won't help anyone.
In the 1960s and 70s there was ONLY ONE unified ISKCON… Srila Prabhupada's version. All Temples were the same: same programs, same mood. No Diwali, no Holi, no demigod worship, no Hinduization. That's no accident, not an oversight by Srila Prabhupada. He did not want these things. ISKCON was NOT promoted as Hindu, we wouldn't dare! Srila Prabhupada's anger at seeing all these things going on in ISKCON today would be tremendous !
Any honest Prabhupada disciple will tell you how it was then. Hari Nams daily. big book distribution, and festivals. No paid salaries, to no one, ever, only provision of absolute necessities. No Hindu weddings in the Temples. No mission drift to a Hinduized ISKCON for money.
Just compare and see both ISKCONs: pre-1978 and now. It's two entirely different ISKCONs. ISKCON was NEVER meant to be politically correct and compromised, changed. Yes, That's a fact, I know as I lived in it and through it. Read Prabhupada's book and letters to His disciples… it's all there.
The original pre-1978 ISKCON was Srila Prabhupada's intended ISKCON. Now, his standards are taken for granted and no longer practiced in much of ISKCON. The original practices done and established in the 1960s and 1970s in ISKCON are becoming extinct. For example (out of many I could give), Hari Nams and book distribution was the most important preaching -- in ALL Temples in ISKCON, all over the world. Everything was to support that preaching. It was indisputable and was the essence of the mood in all the Temples. Devotees followed Srila Prabhupada's exact words and instructions, by and large by the book. Not like today, where even in the Official ISKCON, the GBC and authorities pick and choose what's politically correct to suit them.
One recent example of deviations in philosophy is with women's roles in ISKCON. In the original ISKCON, for example, its was unimaginable to think of women as anything other than your Mother, and Matajis were always addressed as 'Mother' so and so. This was Prabhupada's ISKCON. Women knew their positions and graciously accepted Srila Prabhupada's Vedic version, and this is a FACT!
Not like now, so much confusion and deviation. As a matter of fact, in the 70s ISKCON Temples no one dared talk to any women, and if you needed to talk to a women who was married, you first must talk to her husband. Any Prabhupada disciple will verify this was common practice. That's mostly GONE now. Women want to be leaders and gurus despite not being in line with Srila Prabhupada's instructions to His disciple women to be Vedic. Srila Prabhupada came to the USA to re-establish Vedic Culture, not to destroy it.
Now, many years later we have seen the rise of revolt against Srila Prabhupada's very words and instructions on women's issues and duties. Some devotees falsely promote a 'compromise' with Srila Prabhupada's strict Vedic version of what He wanted in ISKCON. Selfishly motivated Matajis and wishy washy delusional leaders disobey and ignore Srila Prabhupada's instructions on what he wanted in ISKCON (although, the GBC did wisely table the FDG issue at this year's Mayapur meeting), and misrepresent HDG Srila Prabhupada on this and many other issue. Thus we see a changed, compromised, Hinduized, New age ISKCON now in the West. While many devotees today think this is normal, honest senior devotees know it is not.
On the surface it is seemly going on well, but it's NOT Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON. Don't be fooled by externals. Much work is needed to revive ISKCON in America, and the West suffers for these blatant distortions of Srila Prabhupada's instructions for ISKCON. Prabhupada's original, pure, unchanged ISKCON had a driving Spiritual FORCE! We were blessed by Lord Sri Krsna for following Prabhupada's exact instructions.
What prompted me to write this article is the obvious fact that the preaching in ISKCON in the West is mostly to the Indians for financial support. Over the years we have all seen the many articles and pictures which depict this is a fact. I'm getting bashed for preaching, and it's totally off the mark. ISKCON is in Mission Drift… but if I question this, I get branded as "disloyal" to Srila Prabhupada. A traitor!
The Mission Drift of ISKCON is not only very serious, it's a grave matter. Once again, this is seemingly not being talked about at all seriously at any GBC meetings or ISKCON 'power meetings'. It seems to be all whitewashed or ignored. We hear nothing from our so-called leaders on these matters. Thus, there can be no recovery or revival of Prabhupada's ISKCON. Until ISKCON leaders become honest and fix the mess and deviations they have allowed into ISKCON, we will never have Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON. If ISKCON does not reverse its mistakes, karma for the world will get worse. Can't we see that happening already? Read the news… it's wake-up time!
Once in America, devotees were seen daily in the streets on Hari nam, and at the airports and public places. HARE KRSNA was once a household word. It no longer is in the West. Vanished from the airports are book distributers, and no one in the GBC Body seems upset about this. GBC Meetings are pats on the back for what? Gone and vanished are the Bhakta Programs for locals in the West. Vanished or shrunk are the brahmachari and women's ashrams. Down is the number of books distributed. (And I can't believe the BBT Newsletter… there is no way book distribution is up… it's gone way, way down.)
Gone and seemingly unremembered are the thousands of Prabhupada's disciples and followers, forgotten by the GBC. Where is real devotee care (for the neglected)? Reactions for the ISKCON movement are there, for this neglect.
Also infrequent in the West are Hari Nams. Of course, this is no surprise, as there are no longer temple devotees to do it. As I said, with no men and women joining temples, the society's mission has shifted. It's nowhere close to being as potent as it used to be, let alone as it should be. Hinduized ISKCON is a DISASTER.
Among the recent troubling events to unfold in Hinduized ISKCON is the situation at ISKCON Vancouver. Shockingly, the managers are discussing smashing down the murti of Lord Caitanya. Whether erecting it in the first place was a good idea or not, the statue was established in the late 80s-early 90s, and is non-different than the Lord. Destroying it would be a huge offense and the act of fools. It's there and its KRSNA, now deal with it with respect, and take responsibility for it! Don't take the easy way out and destroy it, making a huge aparadha for the sake of saving a few (Hindu) dollars. This is nothing but crass impersonalism!
Speaking of which… also gone in ISKCON is strong preaching against Mayavadis. Strong preaching has been replaced with storytelling, jokes and entertainment. Soft-peddling Krsna consciousness has become the norm, but this is ineffective and attracts the wrong audience, which will do nothing but help to bring a new breed of compromised wishy washy devotees into ISKCON. Compromised preaching is NOT the ISKCON Prabhupada created. This is dangerous to Srila Prabhupada's intentions for His ISKCON and it's another very serious problem not being taken seriously by the GBC Body (who themselves have set the standard for this practice). Why have they allowed ISKCON to splinter off into so many groups and factions, while they sit comfortably on the asana, telling stories?
Then there's the BBT, panicking now amidst rumors of its financial troubles. No Temple devotees means way fewer book distributors. The vast majority of Indians who come to Diwali and Holi won't go out on Sankirtan… just try to preach to them on this, and see them run away… Those few Indians who do book distribution in the West are in the minority, and are glorious!
Now the BBT is crying that If we have Prabhupada's original books and sell them, we are 'stabbing Srila Prabhupada in the heart'. This is such offensive and cowardly talk! The BBT fail to realize that changing his books and changing/compromising ISKCON to Hinduized New Ageism is the actual stabbing of Srila Prabhupada, in the back. So in fact, the BBT is in trouble not only materially, but spiritually.
How can Book Distribution support Temples if the temples no longer have a serious Bhakta Program, brahmachari or brahmacarini ashrams, or a serious interest in preaching to the locals? Making Temple devotees is a thing of the past, hence no Shakti is there.
Among the most enthusiastic of book distributors today are the Ritviks, who may overshadow ISKCON soon. They continue to be a constant problem for ISKCON. Until the GBC Body addresses the guru issue fairly and institutes guru reform, there is little chance that the Ritviks will be defeated. They will continue to promote their asiddhantic philosophy, and compared to the problems the GBC have created, they will look like a good alternative. Of course, this is also stabbing Srila Prabhupada in the back.
[PADA: The worship of Srila Prabhupada is "apa-siddhanta"? Really? The problem is that Rocana and Jaya Madhava's idea that gurus need "reform" is what is apasiddhanta. Anyway, yes, the Prabhupadanugas are taking over, hee hee. The problem is: what else was ordered? How come Rocana, Jaya Madhava and co never show us what else was ordered?
Unless these people make a detailed proposal of what else was ordered, then, by default we are going to have to assume they do not have any other proposal. For the record, their idea of not worshiping the pure devotee is how Rocana and Jaya Madhava types created the current mess we have in ISKCON today. They said that we cannot worship the pure devotee, that is apa-siddhanta, and the odious results of their idea speaks for themselves.]
None of these problems can be solved until ISKCON is taken back to Srila Prabhupada's vision. Take out the compromises and weeds that have grown in ISKCON's garden. Time is passing us by, and Kali Yuga just gets worse and worse, day by day. I appeal to the GBC Body to revive Srila Prabhupada's Original ISKCON. Remove Hinduism programs from ISKCON, for the benefit of all. Restore ISKCON. Even if we lose Hindus, ISKCON was never intend to serve them so exclusively.
All these problems are a slap in the face to our Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. They have destroyed the pure potency of His ISKCON, reducing it to a sectarian, sentimental, mundane, New Age religion… a Hindu Church.
I wish all the GBC members well, but I'm disappointed by their allowing compromise in ISKCON and the BBT. I won't be a liar. I care about ISKCON, and despite remarks mocking me and the Sampradaya Sun writers who point out ISKCONs Mission Drift, I wont be fazed by such blind followers and yes men. ISKCON is in trouble. And the world is in deep trouble now. Just read the news… it's unreal, and scary. Our countries are going down to tyranny at the hand of corrupt banks, corporations, politicians and demons. And the response we get: just dopey smiles, PR, New Age love and peace, and compromised preaching. It's a waste of time. It's dysfunctional, and nothing but a denial of the serious problems in ISKCON.
Please, revive Prabhupada's ISKCON for the benefit of devotees worldwide, and push Kali Yuga back for everyone in the world… before it's too late. The time is now.
Will the real ISKCON leaders please STAND UP and preach in the mood of Srila Prabhupada?
Please re-establish His intentions, preaching mood and instructions on how to preach and how to manage His original ISKCON. ISKCON will save the world. It's the Movement for the next 10,000 years. But first it has to clean up its house and save itself.
Take the high road, not the low road. Renew ISKCON, preach strongly and forcefully against material life, mayavada, bogus gurus, cheating scientists and rascal leaders… and the Cat and Dog Civilization dragging everyone to hell. Be brahminical for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
Tell the TRUTH.
Fantastic article. How do we find out the latest GBC meeting minutes? The ones they allow us to see? The ones not kept secret?
ReplyDeleteI heard that Los Angeles wanted to win the monthly book scores for a change a few months ago so instead of selling the books they had, they decided to just hang packages of them on people's door knobs since they had a surplus. This brilliant idea is against Prabhupada's desire as he said if people do not pay for the books they will not appreciate them and will simply throw them away.
This idea of free mass book distribution was already done by Ramesvara when he was desperate to be No. 1 many years ago. Not only did the mass of people in general throw their books away, but some who tried to sell them to the book stores found they had gotten so many already that no one wanted to even touch Srila Prabhupada's books. They thought there was something wrong with them! This is the result of following in the footsteps of Ramesvara and company instead of Srila Prabhupada. Who is the fool who is doing this today? WHAT A NONSENSE! This foolishness should never have happened and must be stopped immediately!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
http://www.defimedia.info/news-sunday/nos-news/item/49689-iskcon-responds-to-allegations.html
ReplyDelete@ Malati: old stuff, occurred in 1998 in Phoenix, Mauritius
Agreed, thing might fall under the statute of limitations even might be time-barred. Point is, as soon ISKCONites sense they have more pull, superiority of force, they immediately do all the talking, come out of the woodwork. There is no sense of cooperativeness and willingness to make good a damage. They'll rather want to turn tables on such issue and have a lawsuit of defamation.
ISKCON South Africa just donated $5 million dollars for TOVP. However, when some little girl was abused they never, ever have an amicable arrangement. Lots must have happened already until this girl went to the news and it was published in the newspaper. These newspaper folks are not stupid figure this girl is right. ISKCON GBC insists, we have our army of lawyers and are ready to chase this girl through the whole judicial system. Thats present ISKCON mentality. No sense to go for outstanding established reputation.
Dear ISKCONites, please don't embarrass Prabhupada's movement with small minded fuddy-duddy behavior.