Bhakti Caru Swami's Double Speak 02 22 25

I know you are up there somewhere Lord.

I hope that counts for something.

PADA: The Namarasa folks said that "the ritvik thing" happened as a trauma response to the GBC guru's mismanagement. OK, when we meet gurus from heavenly Vaikuntha, we should expect trauma. What! And we should even expect anal reconstructive surgery epidemics, and children victims taking their lives from the resulting PTSD. How is any of that a symptom of meeting a resident of Vaikuntha?  

Sorry, if these gurus and "acharyas" are producing trauma, they are not gurus. To say that God's successors are producing trauma is an insult to God. A guru is a person who relieves trauma, whereas a person who creates trauma is an asura. There is no trauma response to meeting a resident of Vaikuntha, this is false. 

BHAKTI CARU VERSION OF THE GURU APPOINTMENT THAT NEVER WAS

“Soon thereafter he named ten leading devotees to give initiation on his behalf in different parts of the world while he was still present on this planet, and he said that they could initiate their own disciples after his departure.” (Bhakticharu, Ocean of Mercy, 2016, p. 200)

PRETENDER REFORMER

Around 2000, Bhakticharu Swami pretended to be a reform-minded leader: "Like in 1987, [but] it was not a reform. It was kind of watering down the same misconception and continuing. What we did was appoint some more gurus and open up the world for anybody to initiate wherever he wanted. Previous to that it was a kind of zonal acharya? So that I think is the main mistake where we started, that took place after SP's disappearance that has never been properly rectified."

PADA: We are acharyas, therefore we are -- watering down the philosophy, we are full of misconceptions, we are making mistakes -- that need to be rectified, and we have not fixed any of these mistakes properly since 1978. In sum, acharyas are defective beings full of mistakes, illusion, cheating etc. Hrdayananda said in 1986 -- when they voted in more gurus -- "The Mad Acharya Disease has become an epidemic." Yep, nothing was fixed, it just got worse. 

Bhakti Caru was one of those voted in new acharyas, but how did that fix anything? Moreover, to say acharyas are -- defective -- and thus need to be repaired, reformed, monitored, censured, suspended, removed, corrected, excommunicated etc. means acharyas are mundane conditioned souls. 

Mayesvara says the same thing, because of past mistakes the disgruntled are making conspiracy theories. OK so acharyas are making mistakes, they are defective, they are creating trauma. Srila Prabhupada says -- anyone who thinks acharyas are mundane men, conditioned souls, and highly defective beings -- who can engage in debauchee behavior in the modes of ignorance etc., is a resident of naraka (hell).  

Did I forget to mention BCS was one of the people in the room who confirmed that Srila Prabhupada is complaining of poison, and he sat on it, and said and did nothing. Worse, he said the probable poisoners are Krishna's guru successors. 

HIS ANGER AT LACK OF WORSHIP- WHO IS REALLY IN THE CENTER?

Adridharana das, Oct. 6, 2000: “The GBC gurus always project the illusion that they are always trying to put ‘Srila Prabhupada in the center,’ and that they are simply assistants in this most noble task. Bhakticharu Swami more than anyone specializes in this technique. 

"He will go out of his way to show how he is always concerned that Srila Prabhupada is in the center rather than himself. This charade is used to deflect attention from the real situation, which is that he and others have replaced Srila Prabhupada, stolen his disciples, and are busy enjoying the result of this disobedient activity.

“We see this in the following accounts of the BCS’s pastimes, including his recent Vyasa-Puja celebrations: 

‘The next morning, at 6:30, BCS went to Mayapur by car [...] the kirtan kept going and BCS circumambulated the main deities three times. Finally, he went upstairs to his quarters, accompanied by a huge trail of devotees. When he came in and sat down on his Vyasasana, a Guru Puja was started. As the many devotees sang and danced, he distributed 3 types of cookies to the children first and then to the rest of the devotees, as they came to him and offered a flower at his lotus feet. 

[…] On Vyasa Puja day, BCS was in the temple for Mangala aroti. [...] After that, BCS went to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana to be the one to offer the more than 60 preparations that had been offered for the occasion [...]

“Then, there was supposed to be readings of Vyasa Puja offerings to BCS in the conference room at 4:30. At 5:15 BCS went up there… but he noticed that there was only about 30 devotees there. He got a little upset with the organizer of the event. He grimaced, got up and left. As he walked away, he said, "I didn't even want to do this! There is practically no one here, so what is the use?" 

Later, BCS again came out of his room and sat on the Vyasasana, his anger completely gone. Then, for 3 hours, so many devotees stood up and read their offerings to BCS. He said a few words again in glorification of Srila Prabhupada and of the need in our society to put all emphasis on him.’

“Please Note: (1) He receives regular Guru-Puja as he sits on his Vyasasana, with flowers offered to his 'lotus feet', and he hands out cookies to children. (2) He has a lavish Vyasa-puja celebration with 60 preps and a cake so huge it took 8 devotees to carry. (3) He is overcome with 'anger', 'grimaces' and walks out in a huff because there were 'only' 30 disciples waiting to read Vyasa-Puja offerings to him. (4) As soon as there are enough disciples gathered to glorify him, so that the offerings last for 3 hours, he is happy to sit on his Vyasasana and listen. (5) Then after having spent 100% of his time ensuring that the emphasis was 100% on only him, he then pontificates that the society needs to 'put all the emphasis' on Srila Prabhupada!

“This has to be the height of hypocrisy. This charade epitomizes perfectly his technique of receiving massive adulation and glorification for hours on end, and then simply SAYING that actually we should all emphasize Srila Prabhupada. This technique serves two purposes: (1) It distracts everyone's attention from the massive 'Srila Prabhupada imitation' that has just gone on. (2) It makes BCS less guilty for having just engaged in an orgy of self-glorification. To see how he has substituted Srila Prabhupada from the center with himself, we can hear a few of the 'Vyasa-Puja' offerings which were made to him this year:

“‘Due to Your direct mercy we are progressing in our Krishna Conscious lives and we cannot understand how much we have lost out in our lives. We thank You for picking us up from the gutters and accepting us as Your children; we pray that we live up to Your expectations. [...] Please give us Your spiritual guidance, we need it to make our lives successful and have an opportunity to go back home, back to Godhead. You have so very mercifully lifted us up from the gutters of material nescience and given us the wonderful opportunity to establish our lost relationship with Krishna.’ But isn't it actually Srila Prabhupada who is doing this? Etc, etc, etc…

“Is BCS really keeping Srila Prabhupada in the center when he has trained his disciples to ascribe to himself the characteristics which are really actually only applicable to Srila Prabhupada? And is it really keeping Srila Prabhupada in the center when (as seen above) he tries to imitate the position of Srila Prabhupada? When you hear BCS or others pontificate on how they keep 'Srila Prabhupada in the center,' remember: actions speak louder than words. And we can see very clearly that the actions do not match their hypocritical words.” (END)

SLIPPERY AND EVASIVE

In a Jan. 1, 2022 email Dhira Govinda das described his experiences with Bhakticharu Swami: “I’m writing from memory, not directly referencing the CPO files from the late 90s / early 2000s. In the early 2000s I had a meeting with Bhakticharu in Alachua. 

"We spoke for 3-4 hours mainly about just one of his disciples- Guru Gauranga das, who was accused of engaging in sexual activity with a teenage minor girl on several occasions. Guru Gauranga conducted businesses- a prasadam health bar business- in Florida and North Carolina. BCS was involved in some monetary, business, perhaps real estate, connections with Guru Gauranga das. My general impression from BCS was and is that, he wanted to give the appearance of cooperation in our process of investigating the case, though actually he was quite slippery, evasive.

"During a recent phone conversation I commented that an inordinately high number of the alleged and confirmed child sex abusers connected with ISKCON were formally initiated disciples of Bhakticharu. 

"I seem to remember, for sure, internationally, a disproportionately high number of the cases, alleged and confirmed, were disciples of Bhakticharu, and a lot of those were in Mayapur, just based on my memory. Sometimes I would hear from others, around ISKCON, when they heard about this disproportionately high percentage, their view that perhaps it was because Bhakticharu had a nature that might be described as somewhat effeminate, that therefore males who had an attraction to other males or to teenage boys were drawn to Bhakticharu as their spiritual guide.”

BHAKTICHARU’S PHILOSOPHICAL INCONSISTENCIES

IRM (ISKCON Reform Movement) published a small book titled Bhakticharu: 100 Contradictions, detailing his innumerable philosophical inconsistencies from his lectures and talks. These are mostly related to the guru and initiation issues wherein he states one thing, and then the opposite later. Unfortunately, we cannot attribute this to anything else but his being a habitual liar and impromptu fabricator. To increase the donations from visitors to his private temple project in Ujjain, India, Bhakticharu installed a huge Lord Shiva deity and Shiva lingam, totally contravening Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. 

He also did regular car and home worship ceremonies (pujas) for generous donations, which is also a philosophical deviation. Many photos online show this, as though he made no effort to hide these materialistic deviant activities.

BHAKTICHARU IS THE EXPERT AT GURU BHAKTI HYPOCRISY

By Adridharan das, IRM, 2000: “Bhakticharu Swami (BCS) is the master of hypocrisy par excellence. Previously we showed that BCS will say one thing which people want to hear, but practice something completely different. Like re-naming his Vyasa-Puja festival the 'Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival', but still squeezing in his lavish worship for himself. The following from BCS at a Toronto meeting:

“(1) BCS: ‘Like Bhakti Marga Maharaja, he told me when he gives initiation he says you are actually Prabhupada's disciple and I am taking care of you, trying to help you to become engaged in Srila Prabhupada's mission. Now that's actually the crux of the whole thing, that if everybody understands and makes that point clear to their disciples then I think a lot of our problems will be solved.’

“Comment: BCS agrees that at initiation the disciple must be told they are actually Srila Prabhupada's disciple. This is of course 'hard-core ritvik' and goes much further than even the watered-down 'officiating acharya' proposal discussed at that meeting. Yet BCS does NOT practice this himself, but continues to follow the GBC idea that becoming Srila Prabhupada's disciple is a most dangerous, deviant and heretical idea. He also still relates with 'his disciples' as HIS disciples and NOT Srila Prabhupada's- as seen in his Guru dakshina, regular Guru-puja, Vyasa-puja offerings and celebrations etc.

“(2) BCS: ‘After Harikesh’s fall down, I proposed in 1999 we are going in the wrong direction. Now, when you know you're going in the wrong direction, you stop to find the right way. So for the time-being, let's stop giving initiation and find out what is actually the problem and whether we can find a solution and until then, let us stop.’

“Comment: BCS claims in 1999 he agreed ISKCON's gurus were going in the wrong direction and they should STOP initiating, and figure out the right thing to do. Of course, BCS himself did NOT stop giving initiation, but rather, 'continued going in the wrong direction', which he continues to do to this very day.

“(3) BCS: ‘I agree, to begin with, I think at the beginning I said our main problem was introducing a defective initiation system. And that defective system may have been watered down to some extent but it’s still prevailing."
“Comment: But this 'defective initiation system' which is 'still prevailing, is the very same one which BCS continues to practice with vigor. Just last week he did many initiations at the London Manor.’

“(4) BCS: ‘Like in 1987, although we had a reform, after so many gurus fell down, there was a 50 man committee formed with reforms, but actually, at least my perception, is that it was not a reform. It was kind of watering down the same misconception and continuing. We appointed more gurus and opened up for anybody to initiate wherever he wanted. Previous to that it was a kind of zonal acharya? 

"So that I think is the main mistake where we started, that took place after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance that has never been properly rectified.’

“Comment: Here BCS openly admits that the zonal acharya guru hoax of 1978-87 was NOT reformed. He admits that the main mistake has never been properly rectified and is still continuing today. Yet for the last 17 years he has made ZERO attempt to rectify this deviation, and instead he has continued doing the same as before.

“(5) BCS: ‘I felt it was becoming fragmented because Prabhupada's position hasn't been properly established. Theoretically we may have established but we haven't practically applied it. One of the main things is to understand is that in ISKCON everything belongs to Srila Prabhupada, not only the assets and properties belong to Srila Prabhupada, but even the individuals also belong to him.’

“Comment: If everything belongs to Srila Prabhupada, then obviously so do the disciples. Yet BCS is still initiating, scooping up as many disciples for himself. If he truly believed everything belonged to Srila Prabhupada then he would hand all his disciples back to him!

“(6) BCS: ‘After Prabhupada left, we actually started a philosophy that now [he] is gone, and the diksha gurus are the sole responsibility of their disciples. Now, had it been a situation where the institution wasn't there, then probably that could have been the case but generally that was the old traditional understanding in India that the guru leaves the planet and the disciple initiates and then it is that guru's responsibility to guide his disciples. 

"But ISKCON was something very different. Like those situations are when someone opens an ashram, has a few disciples, personally training them and is responsible for their spiritual life. But with ISKCON, you can see that it's an institution, it's an international organization with so many centers and devotees, and this structure has been created by Srila Prabhupada.’

“Comment: Again here BCS is doing the very opposite of what he says. The very reason the GBC gives for propping up their unauthorized guru system is that ‘the guru leaves the planet, the disciple initiates, and then guides his disciples.’ This is the same system that BCS practices. This is one of the most brazen displays of hypocrisy ever. 

BCS admits that what is going on in ISKCON today, and hence also what he is doing, is WRONG – but he continues to do it anyway. He says they should have stopped initiating in 1999 - but HE didn't. He admits that the correct thing is to say to the disciples they are Srila Prabhupada's disciples, since everything in ISKCON belongs to Srila Prabhupada - but HE doesn't do this either. 

Rather he carries on initiating, taking more and more worship, dakshina and disciples. In today's ISKCON you can say anything and get away with it. You can admit what I am doing is wrong, but I am still going to do it anyway, and like all good cults, no one cares. Meanwhile, Srila Prabhupada's movement continues to disintegrate due to the 'defective' 'main mistake' initiation system that BCS agrees is wrong but still practices anyway, while assisting suppression of the 'everyone is Srila Prabhupada's disciple' system which he agrees with. Hypocrisy, cheating. 

BHAKTICHARU’S FALSE PRETENSES

If the materially-conditioned, self-appointed gurus in ISKCON were to operate on the actual asset strength of their own persona, charisma, knowledge, advancement, and spiritual power, they would not be very successful with their guru business. To enhance their profile they use Srila Prabhupada as their calling card. Srila Prabhupada, as the bona fide spiritual master and shining beacon of purity and transcendence, attracts all sincere spiritualists. 

With the appearance of serving Srila Prabhupada, working on his behalf, trying to please him, claiming to follow his instructions, glorifying Srila Prabhupada at least in name– their own success increases as they bask in the light of Srila Prabhupada’s greatness. All ISKCON gurus know their guru career is greatly enhanced with the mask of guru bhakti. Exhibiting a show of love and devotion to Srila Prabhupada is standard practice for the ruling elite GBC-guru cartel of ISKCON. But it is mostly lip service. 

And this description fits Bhakticharu perfectly.

ISKCON gurus often do have genuine love and devotion for Srila Prabhupada; but it is also mixed and covered with pretense. Each case is unique, but the disease is the same, and the degree varies. Like cancer, there is stage 2, 3, and 4, etc. These bogus gurus all have material ambitions to enjoy gross or subtle sense and mind/ego gratification as a guru. This desire is the last snare of maya. As well as detecting deviations in their spiritual practices, one may carefully analyze their statements to ascertain their genuineness.

Typically they give lip service to Srila Prabhupada and his mission, but then they eagerly pursue their own “mission,” increasing their disciples, properties, businesses, bank balances, worship, and prestige, which is fiercely guarded as their private estate or franchise. The ISKCON gurus circulate in ISKCON to collect new disciples, worship, and money. ISKCON gurus make no financial disclosures and carry on with blanket protection from the corrupt GBC-guru club.

From ISKCON guru Bhakti Vikas Maharaja: “…This movement […] always will be Prabhupada's movement. Everything belongs to Prabhupada; nothing is ours. We are absolutely and always his servants. We do not have dozens of movements with dozens of leaders, but only one movement with one leader.”

Philosophically correct, but it is far from what is actually going on. “Nothing is ours”? These are empty words only. These pretentious gurus insist that all disciples are theirs even though they are conditioned souls incapable of delivering even themselves. They siphon off huge amounts of funds that would otherwise go to the temples and instead use it for their own programs. 

They accumulate huge amounts in their accounts. This applied 100% to Bhakticharu Swami as well.

And there are not dozens of movements? Actually, ISKCON is a loose federation of guru fiefdoms where the gurus find it profitable and convenient to limitedly cooperate together, with their masks of Srila Prabhupada devotion, to maintain a mutual “preaching field” for continued exploitation. It is mutual back-scratching, and just like in any franchise, they pay some dues to use the corporate “good will” of Srila Prabhupada’s name and ISKCON. The failure to direct one’s admirers or followers towards the real pure devotee and making feeble protestations about being worshipped, as in the case of ISKCON gurus like Bhakticharu, is revealing of pratishta, desire for prominence.