Who Is a Member of ISKCON?
There have been several papers written over the years examining the philosophical understanding and behavioral standards expected of anyone wanting to join the present incarnation of ISKCON as a member. A quick perusal of such papers reveals much has been left out, so in order to assist the Vaishnavas, here are some more important standards required to ensure the calibre of newcomers is in-line with present-day ISKCON leadership expectations.
In order to be a member of ISKCON you must:
1. Accept there are approximately 80-100 pure devotee uttama adhikari gurus (acharyas) in ISKCON worthy of being worshipped on the level of Srila Prabhupada, as evidenced by their annual Vyasa Puja celebrations, a ceremony reserved only for eternally liberated personalities according to shastra.
[PADA: Yes, and another 80 "eternally liberated acharyas" fell down, blooped, and / or left in scandals. And many of those "in good standing" covered up for the numerous scandals if not crimes being generated by their co-gurus.]
2. Accept the voting-in, 2/3 show of hands, rubber stamping of pure devotee gurus is correct, even though Srila Prabhupada spoke against this on numerous occasions.
3. Accept the thousands and thousands of editorial changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books are justified, even though Srila Prabhupada said not to do this. See ‘rascal editors’ conversations.
4. Accept the removal of many of the original paintings from Srila Prabhupada’s books, even though Srila Prabhupada expressly forbids this.
5. Accept the changed cover of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, even though Srila Prabhupada expressly forbids this.
6. Accept a rough-draft manuscript as justification for changing the final published version of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Mundane analogous examples: Imagine Shakespeare plays performed according to the rough draft, or wiping the paint off the Mona Lisa so everyone can instead appreciate the original sketch.
7. Accept that only the newer, radically edited versions of Srila Prabhupada’s books can be used for study, teaching, or lecturing purposes.
8. Accept that any devotee studying, teaching, or lecturing from Srila Prabhupada’s original books should be removed from their position, stopped from lecturing, or banned from the temple.
9. Accept that Srila Prabhupada’s many statements regarding the possibility of himself being poisoned were actually statements about something else, and not worthy of investigation.
10. Accept that the photograph and film evidence of Srila Prabhupada exhibiting many symptoms of heavy metal poisoning are not worthy of further investigation.
11. Accept the personal testimonies regarding poisoning of Srila Prabhupada are insignificant and not worthy of further investigation.
12. Accept that the findings and statements regarding poisoning of Srila Prabhupada provided by world-leading forensic scientists working in world-leading forensic facilities are all incorrect.
13. Accept that anyone who accepts Srila Prabhupada as their guide, inspiration, and eternal spiritual master can be punished, excommunicated or banned from ISKCON temples.
14. Accept that anyone who accepts Srila Prabhupada their spiritual master instead of a GBC appointed spiritual master is a black snake, faultfinder, deviant, demon, or any other curse you can think of.
15. Accept that those responsible for child abuse within ISKCON deserve nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and that no crime worth reporting to the police was ever committed.
16. Accept that the devotee suicide epidemic of the 80’s, 90’s and beyond has nothing to do with ISKCON leaders, and no crime worth reporting to the police was ever committed.
17. Accept that renunciate sanyassi gurus can have multi-million dollar bank accounts in their own name, although Srila Prabhupada forbids this.
18. Accept that renunciate sanyassi gurus can have personal real estate holdings and business enterprises not in ISKCON’s name, and that financial transparency is not important.
19. Accept that only ISKCON leaders and wealthy devotees are deserving of appropriate medical attention and housing in times of need, while many rank and file are neglected if not left to fend for themselves.
20. Accept that the 99% of Srila Prabhupada disciples who have rejected the GBC due to deviations are wrong, and that the 1% of Srila Prabhupada disciples who support the GBC are correct.
21. Accept that only by taking initiation from an ISKCON approved guru can a person understand Srila Prabhupada’s books and teachings.
22. Accept that only by taking initiation from an ISKCON approved guru can a person have any hope of liberation (going back to Godhead) in this lifetime.
23. Accept that the many millions of dollars spent on trying to shut down India’s most successful food relief in schools program is money well spent.
24. Accept that the present GBC body are accurately representing Srila Prabhupada despite all of the above, and that the GBC is now fully reformed and all the bad stuff is all in the past.
25. Accept that if any of the above deviations are broached for comment or further discussion, even in a polite manner, it is appropriate for the GBC to react with 100% deafening silence.
26. Accept that anyone bringing up concerns about deviations, even in a polite manner, can be punished by being banned, beaten, or even murdered. (death threats from GBC sycophants are ongoing).
27. Accept that any excuse, justification or handy rationalisation given by the GBC regarding any of the above deviations should be accepted 100% without question, no matter how far-fetched or contrary to Srila Prabhupada’s explicit directives they are.
28. Accept that paedophiles and pornography addicts are qualified to be placed in samadhi in the holy dham.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot: If you follow the regulative principles and chant your rounds, as well as accepting all of the above, you too can be considered a member of the present incarnation of ISKCON in good standing. Any takers?
Sorry for not putting my name to this one for obvious reasons mentioned above.
Your servant,
R das
P.S. I always have and always will consider myself a member of ‘Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON’, although I reject corrupt leadership and deviations by people posing as leaders in the present corrupt ISKCON society. Srila Prabhupada is forever accessible, available, and merciful to everyone.
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