Bhakti Vikas Swami Defends ISKCON's Criminals (Update)

RE: Bhakti Vikas Swami's "On Forgiveness" video -- corrupts shastra to defend criminal behavior. Why do people like Torben, Hanuman Croatia, Ajit Krishna, disciples of Kailash Chandra -- and similar others -- defend BVKS and have been claiming he is a -- guru? Why would a "guru" reverse the conclusions of shastra, to defend criminality? OK don't wait for their answer. ys pd

CM: I just re-read the Srimad Bhagavatam chapters about Ambarisa and Durvasa Muni. Nowhere does Lord Vishnu instruct Ambarisa to forgive Durvasa, as Bhakti Vikasa Swami erroneously asserts. Rather, it's the reverse. Lord Vishnu explains to Durvasa -- amnesty is not His to give. That has to come from Ambarisa. Instead, Lord Vishnu instructs Durvasa to fall at the feet of Ambarisa and beg his forgiveness (which he does).

Too often, in ISKCON (and other related Gaudiya Vaishnava groups), Bhagavad Gita verse 9.30 is misquoted, or at least quoted out of context, and misapplied.

In Sanskrit, this is the “api cet su-duracaro” verse.

Here’s the English translation:

"Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated."

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada offers an important caution: "this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections." There are clear instructions on the difference between what one can do in the event of an accidental fall down and what one must do in the case of Vaishnava-aparadha.

For instance, consider the stories of Hiranyakasipu and Prahlad Maharaj; Saubhari Muni and Garuda; Sacimata and Advaita Acarya; Jagai, Madhai, and Lord Nityananda; as well as Durvasa Muni and Ambarisa Maharaja.

In all of these situations, the Supreme Lord says amnesty is not His to give. That has to come from the offended devotee. It’s important to keep in mind, while the offenders may still be considered Vaishnavas, they will not have properly atoned, or be able to fully revitalize their Krishna consciousness, until they have pleased – and are forgiven by – the offended Vaishnava.

Who says so? Our Scriptures say so.

For example, in the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.24, Srila Prabhupada writes:

“The conclusion is that if Krsna consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, but if one pollutes his Krsna consciousness by offending a brahmana or Vaishnava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaishnava or brahmana.”

The final sentence of this purport is crystal clear:

“A Vaishnava-aparadha cannot be atoned by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaishnava.”

AMD: CM, thank you so much for providing a scriptural reply to this! I also grew up reading scripture very diligently and no one in the world will convince me to just let something horrible continue to go on. I know for a fact that Krsna wants us to protect the children out there. Arrests of these known PEDOPHILES will help the devotees, children all over the world, as well as the child abuser themselves. I believe Krsna would like to see his children fight valiantly to protect others, as well as the sanctity of Krsna consciousness.

PADA: Yes Arjuna was not told to forgive and forget. He was told that evil doers must be contained, chastised, and when that does not work ... punished. Srila Prabhupada said the children are the future of his mission. We can see practically what happens when these children are not well taken care of, or worse they are exploited, the children suffer and then the entire mission suffers consequently. 

And this also happened because of being too lenient with the exploiters and their enablers. Bhakti Vikas swami gives the reverse idea -- is no surprise, as well as BVKS has attacked Saunaka Rsi and others who address these crimes against children. Ys pd

TGD: I adore you for using scripture to back up your case!! Let them be separated from society and be kept in isolation so that they can concentrate on the holy name- brilliant!!! For all those years they shamed us for being female and told us ugly things like “women are 9x lustier than men” making us always feel guilty for existing yet somehow I never molested anyone, who’s the lusty one here?

AMD: TGD I'm so glad you appreciate that! It is truly important for devotees to see this all clearly! People can try to "cherry pick" scripture, but if you want to go there I will gladly refer to scripture as well to clear things up. I am a gurukuli after all, scripture has been my life!

CMD: I chuckle every time an ISKCON leader quotes the story of Draupadi forgiving Ashvatama for killing her sons as the justification for forgiving ISKCON's child abusers. This one act after an epic battle that wiped out two major armies, and after that Draupadi was bent on vengance against Kauravas, isn't proof positive we should always forgive people, no matter what.

AMD: CMD, it's quite delusional to even suggest that forgiveness has anything to do with it! These people are child abusers and they need to be dealt with for the safety of society, forgiveness is a personal feat that people handle within themselves!

BKSD: In my opinion, anyone functioning in Iskcon in any official capacity, who is not publicly speaking against the ongoing travesty of the murder, abuse, neglect and disobedience to Srila Prabhupada's direct orders, is either a coward, an ignorant sentimentalist or an antagonist, pretending to be serving ISKCON's supposed ideals. GBC and Gurus -- and all of you guys -- I'm saying it in your face! You are either cowards, stupid or evil. All of you! No exceptions!

AMD: BK, I personally refuse to let Iskcon be held hostage by rapists and murderers, I know if we unite in a serious way we can handle this once and for all!

LVV: I know we have all been affected by abuse and molestation especially in our iskcon communities. Now is the time to speak up. We gotta stand together on this one. Please like this page and join the movement for our children. Together we are stronger! I am so proud of you for speaking up beautiful AMD: 

#kulijustice #endthesilence 

https://www.facebook.com/Kuli-Ksetra-102782938556714/

[PADA: The GBC are teaching little children that God's gurus / acharyas / successors are often sexual predators, pedophiles and criminals. That is (A) Fraud, because Krishna never says deviants are His successors and (B) Corrupting the morals of minors, because teaching children that God's successors are perverts and sexual predators corrupts their moral compass. Both of these things are criminal. And both of these things are being done extensively in the Bhakti Vikas Swami regime. Lets forgive all this, so it can continue, and victimize more poor souls? ys pd]

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PADA: Yes prabhu, I like to sum up the problem as -- "the enforced cult ritualistic worship of sexual predators, pedophiles, deviants, porno swamis, perverts and criminals -- as God's messiahs." Emphasis on "enforced." And BVKS is one of the enforcers. Any questions? ys pd