Wednesday, May 21, 2014

GBC's Mission Drift Update (with Pancali dd)

GBC Publicly Dishonors Srila Prabhupada (by Pancali dd)

The deviation by ISKCON's so-called Gurus is becoming more and more bizarre as they become increasingly adventurous in their campaign to be fully-fledged successors to Srila Prahupada. The following are excerpts from this year’s 'official' GBC Vyasa-puja book, which is supposed to be the annual festival of *glorification* of Srila Prabhupada:

a) *** ISKCON guru casts doubt on Srila Prabhupada’s legacy ***

In a strange "offering" in this year’s GBC Vyasa Puja book, ISKCON "Guru" and GBC Devamrta Swami offers some shocking suggestions for a "post-Prabhupada's books" ISKCON. Considering that Prabhupada's books are destined to be the law books for ISKCON and humanity for the rest of the next 9500 years, we are amazed that this concept has arisen in ISKCON many thousands of years before it should even warrant consideration!

What is particularly shocking is the doubt the Swami casts on the legacy that Srila Prabhupada has left. We quote from his "offering": "During your physical presence your books were our be-all and end-all. Now, have we entered, consciously or unconsciously, a new era of ISKCON known as “PPB”— that is, "post–Prabhupada’s books?"

"More than a few seasoned devotees and supportive academics opine that indeed it’s time to move on."

[PADA: Pancali dd is correct. Hrdayananda has recently said that the Western (mundane scholar's and) academic's have defeated Srila Prabhupada's ideas, and as such Srila Prabhupada has essentially been defeated. Of course, Tamal and Hrdayananda both went to Western academic's colleges after they became gurus -- where they started trying to incorporate more and more Western thinking into ISKCON -- to impress the mundane academic community. 

This has lead to the official formation of KRISHNA WEST, which is now operating under the LEGAL name of ISKCON and is promoting some of the ideas of these mundane scholars. "So now its time to move on," to accepting more and more of the opinions of Western academics.

This is almost like what has happened to India. The British gradually indoctrinated the "Hindu" people with Western academic ideas. Thus, now there are powerful "anglophile" blocks within the Indian education, business, financial and government sectors. Its been partially dismantled with this year's elections, but the overall effect will be hard to change. And so we see all over India -- Western clothes (especially -- not so modest dress for women); Western Industrialization;  Western style TV drama shows, as well as the whole onslaught of Western music, movies, alcohol, cigarettes; Western technology, and the overall "Western rat race" civilization, including traffic jam gridlocks, smog, pollution, abortions and cow slaughter etc. 

The Western academics are the scholars who present and represent this Western technological culture. So, if the leaders of the Krishna religion start to fall under the spell of this process, then what? Never mind that many of India's so-called brahmanas, acharyas, pandits, gurus and many big scholars of their religion, never mind many education, business and government leaders, have compromised with this Westernizing influence as well, causing India to go further off the track of Vedic culture. 

The merging of these two cultures has made a sort of paralysis of a dysfunctional process in India, as Srila Prabhupada told us, they have one foot here (Western ideals) and one foot there (India's traditional ideals) and so they cannot move forward properly. For example, one of these results is, since they are not converting their lower classes to Hinduism, these lower classes are converting in large numbers to the Muslim faith. All of this waters down the original culture more and more over time, and this ecclesiastical elitism is causing ISKCON to stumble as well.]    

Pancali dd (citing Devamrita): Maybe, while maintaining our eternal gratitude to you, our founder-acarya, it’s now necessary to evaluate what you have left us and distill whatever part of that legacy should accompany us into the future of a different world and a different ISKCON. Therefore, amidst the perennial onslaught of time and change in the material world, I clutch at your feet and seek your clarification, since you are the most expert strategist in Lord Caitanya’s contemporary army. And because you cling most tightly to the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, you are the most divinely pragmatic."

"1. What are your expressed desires for your books in relation to the future of ISKCON?
2. How do you see your books in relation to both training future ISKCON devotees and enlightening
the present nondevotee population?
3. Amidst the burgeoning potpourri of Gaudiya Vaisnavism outside of India, do you still assert that your
books are sufficient for bringing us to the zenith of bhakti?
4. What should we do and feel about purports that seem to clash with current scientific, gender, sociological, and political notions and niceties?
5. How are we to commingle the previous acaryas’ literatures with your books, especially since you certainly mention other sastras in your purports?
6. Can your books withstand time? That is, are the purports and language dated — if not now, then in the future?
7. Is emphasis on distributing your books, by whatever method, outmoded? Isn’t ISKCON without emphasis on mass distribution a  breath of fresh air for us?
8. Without a doubt you urged your disciples to write books. What is the relation between our books and
yours, within your ISKCON society and beyond?
9. Should our senior devotees take the lead in demonstrating lifelong dependence on your books for their spiritual sustenance and delight? Is there a danger that by doing so they could inhibit their spiritual maturity?"
“I can’t stand on the shore of the ocean of milk, yet for the sake of ISKCON’s future and my own well-
being I beg you for clarification: Is it pie-in-the-sky and reactionary to pine for a time when we will all be on the same page (into the same books) again, ‘like the good old days’?"
“Would we gain anything significant and lasting if ISKCON’s leaders, in both word and example, rallied to
exalt your books as the main basis of our cultural unity? And if you deem such voluntary austerity a
laudable goal, then how can we avoid setting off a wave of insensitivity and brashness to attain it (like the good old days)?"
“Maybe there is no one answer to these questions. Perhaps, for your practical pleasure, we should accept
the reality of a highly pluralistic ISKCON society, and learn to live with it. If that is your desire, I am ready to accept it."

In summary then, we have an ISKCON guru - who by definition must be 100% surrendered in mind, body and words to the desires and instructions of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada - asking whether:
a) Srila Prabhupada’s books can bring us to the highest point of bhakti.
b) Srila Prabhupada’s books are outdated.
c) Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books is an outmoded concept.
d) Dependence on Srila Prabhupada’s books will inhibit one’s spiritual maturity
e) Srila Prabhupada’s books are the basis for cultural unity within ISKCON.

b) *** ISKCON 's Gurus Tired Of Seeing Srila Prabhupada As Absolute ***

"Prabhupada was full of human characteristics. He could be humorous, gentle, even whimsical at times in the way he expressed himself; [...] I must confess that I sometimes grow tired of rigid hagiography that doesn't accommodate Prabhupada’s humanness but emphasizes only that he was absolute or legendary."

Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami (GBC's Vyasa Puja Book 2002, Pg 36)

Here we have another GBC 'Guru' 'glorifying' Srila Prabhupada by opining that he prefers Srila Prabhupada be depicted more as a relative non-absolute, non- legendary human being, who would even be 'whimsical'. However Srila Prabhupada attributes behaving 'whimsically' as a characteristic of the 'Demoniac Nature':

"The word kama-karatah is very significant. A person who knowingly violates the rules acts in lust. He knows that this is forbidden, but still he acts. This is called acting whimsically. He knows that this should be done, but still he does not do it; therefore he is called whimsical. Such persons are destined to be condemned by the Supreme Lord."

(Bhagavad Gita,16:23, purport, description of the Demoniac nature in the Chapter entitled "The Divine and Demoniac Natures") So the word 'whimsical' is hardly the best way to describe how Srila Prabhupada expresses himself. Please remember that Satsvarupa is also the person who has written the so-called 'biography' on Srila Prabhupada, which he describes as a 'very real human story'.

What is most shocking about all this nonsense is that both Satsvarupa and Devamrita consider their thoughts as examples of offering 'glorification' on the most blessed event of their Guru Maharaja's Appearance Day. In other words, not only is it bad enough that these supposedly 'loyal Prabhupada men' are expressing these things, but they feel that the most appropriate time to do so is as an act of 'glorification' of Srila Prabhupada. With bewildered so-called ‘gurus’ spouting this sort of nonsense, is there any wonder the ISKCON Revival Movement (IRM) is growing from strength to strength all over the world?!

And now it should be clear to everyone why the IRM had to publish its own Vyasa-Puja book, which was open to everyone to offer *genuine* glorification of Srila Prabhupada.

On a different note, we also find the following interesting offering from this year’s GBC Vyasa-Puja book.

c) *** HH Sivarama Swami confirms IRM analysis ***

One year ago, in our news item “Bhaktivedanta Manor Promotes Sai Baba in British Media” (Newsletter 50), we warned of the consequences of disobeying Srila Prabhupada’s instructions as regards associating with atheists, false gurus, mayavadis, and supporters of Sai Baba just for cheap popularity. Specifically, we quoted Srila Prabhupada as follows:

"They are clearly rejecting all these bogus rascals like Sai Baba... Actually these rascals are simply creating magic and jugglery. Even during the time of Krishna, Paundraka was there and Krishna immediately cut off his head. That is the only punishment for them, to immediately cut off the head of such rascals who pose themselves as God. They are simply cheating the people" (SP Letter to Riddha, 76-06-15)

"In this regard, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura warns all devotees engaged in broadcasting the Krishna consciousness movement NOT to speak to the impersonalist mayavadis who are always determined to oppose such theistic movements... It is BEST TO AVOID association with them COMPLETELY and never ask them about anything confidential because they cannot give good advice. NOR SHOULD WE EXTEND INVITATIONS TO MAYAVADIS AND ATHEISTS NOR ACCEPT THEIR INVITATIONS ... It is the negative injunction of this verse that we should refrain from giving anything to or accepting anything from the Mayavadis and atheists." (Nectar of Instruction, Text 4, purport)

Choosing to disobey these instructions, Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK, which is the largest ISKCON temple in Europe, whose GBC is Sivarama Swami, decided to invite “all these bogus rascals” who are “always determined to oppose such theistic movements” with the express purpose of:

“gaining goodwill amongst a large section of the Hindu community” (quoted from an email sent by ISKCON’s Romapada das to the Pandava Sena youth group).

“In response he diligently continued to churn the mish-mash, but true to form he returned to his Mayavada siddhanta to exclaim, “The names of God are immaterial, for above name and form is the formless eternal . . [...]This is what Caitanya Mahaprabhu meant when He said mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. [...] Through his speech he made one more classical jab, describing the Ultimate as pure knowledge and the worship of Deities as a temporary means to Brahman. [...] Even some ISKCON leaders said, I felt that you, Srila Prabhupada, our Society, and of course Krsna had been grievously offended."

(Of course they had. That is why Srila Prabhupada told us how to avoid such a situation by not inviting these people in the first place. And Sivarama Swami omits to mention that as the GBC for the temple which hosted this event, he is indirectly the architect for this offence.)

"The Sankaracarya replied, “What I have said is all right . . . ”

“No!” I interjected smiling, “In Krsna’s temple you have said that Krsna is a subordinate manifestation of Brahman. You said the Absolute Truth is, in reality, nirguna. That is both impolite and against the Vedic conclusion.”"

(It was Sivarama's team which invited such a Mayavadi to come to Krsna's temple to speak against Krsna. This invitation was both impolite and against the Vedic (Srila Prabhupada's) conclusion that such persons should not be invited.)

"But there was one last thing to say. I smiled at him, “But Swamiji, you know what Adi Sankara said"? [...] “bhaja govindam bhaja govindam bhaja govindam,” and stopped. [...] “Gazing into his eyes, speaking very audibly, I continued, “mudha-mate.” The Sankaracarya jerked - shocked. In a public assembly I had implied he was a mudha! [...] Perhaps I was guilty of inhospitality to a guest - an unfortunate transgression of etiquette. However, I did not want to tolerate grievous offenses to the Lord - a major spiritual transgression."
(Yet it was Sivarama's leadership which had paved the way for this grievous offence to be committed and broadcast in Krishna's temple. So Sivarama was actually guilty of having transgressed the etiquette of not obeying the orders of his Guru, Srila Prabhupada.)

”Sure enough, in a moment the Sankaracarya leant over to me and said, “Excuse me, I must go to the toilet.” He rose with his escort of followers and reassured me, “I will be back. I will be back.” But I knew he wouldn’t be back. The organizers were unsure why the Sankaracarya left untimely in his Mercedes, retinue and all. They were puzzled, I was happy.

(Sivarama claims he was happy that he had effectively driven away his Mayavadi guest. Then why disobey Srila Prabhupada and allow him to be invited in the first place? So Sivarama's Vyasa-Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada is to boast how he attempted to rectify a problem which had been self-created due to directly disobeying Srila Prabhupada's instructions!)

The moral of the story is that, as always, it is simply best to obey Srila Prabhupada, and all these problems and offences would never arise. A virtue which, as we have documented, is in short supply, especially from the unauthorised 80 GBC appointed substitute 'Gurus', of which, of course, Sivarama is a leading member.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
All glories to His Divine Grace
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada! — with Pancali Devi Dasi Acbsp.

1 comment:

  1. The mighty sledgehammer of truth is falling on these false gurus. Its best to avoid even their physical association because you will only end up as collateral damage. Hrdyananda is a perfect sample of all this ignorance and deviation. With the 35 million dollars he inherited from his parents, Krishna west is the best thing he can pull out of his ass? Its so dull, dry and boring and attracts no one accept a few other dry devotees like him. These jackasses can never compete with the real nectar of Krishna consciousness. They are so illusioned they don't even have a taste for prabupadas words anymore. This proves these people are great offenders who have been caste out of Krishnas association. What a tragedy it is for anyone foolish enough to take their poisonous association.

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