RC: As an ex- aspiring devotee of BVKS, I can guaranty you that he is on the side of child abusers. He openly supports Jay Advaita Swami, Lokanath Swami, Radhanath Swami, etc. I've clearly understood his intentions in 2019 and hence I left his ashram as well as iskcon.
In the beginning, he uses the verse in BG 9.30 api cet su-durācāro to glorify the crimes done by child abusers! Here's a video that shows his true colours:
DD: Bhakti Vikasa Swami,
You are right, child abuse is in a category of it's own. So why are you equating consensual sexual relations between two adults to be on the same level as an adult preying on an innocent child and sexually abusing them? These are two totally different things. Also, one is legal and one is a crime.
Per your own ISKCON Governing Body Commission, child abuse is considered "serious Vaishnava aparadha":
“[LAW] 501. THAT the GBC Body hereby declares that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness does not condone abuse of any kind, especially that which is directed towards dependents such as women, children, aged and cows. Battery, verbal and emotional abuse are destructive to the devotional creeper and thus considered serious Vaisnava aparadhas. Any attempt to justify this type of abusive mentality on the basis of sastra is misconstrued and is firmly rejected by all practicing Vaisnavas.” https://gbc.iskcon.org/1997
What is being asked by people who care about children, is that child abusers be restricted from holding leadership positions in ISKCON. They can do service; they just can't be worshipped or regarded with awe and reverence, giving classes, leading kirtan, etc. This is a basic approach to child abusers in spiritual societies everywhere.
Saying that because a perpetrator abused children "many years ago" it doesn't matter anymore is preposterous. The average age for a victim of child sexual abuse to come forward is age 52. Childhood is the most formative years of one's lifetime, and traumas incurred during childhood can last forever. Placing restrictions on child abusers is one small way that ISKCON can help their Vaishnava children heal, as well as helping the victims' friends and family heal.
p.s. Not all child abuse is child sexual abuse. You seem to be forgetting about neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.
1997 – International Society for Krishna Consciousness – Website of the Governing Body Commission
BB: Blurs the line between consenting adults and child abuse. What they always do. "Sex is sex" as Kirtanananda told them.
RC: BVKS at first was actually quoting verses from scriptures such as "api cet su-durācāro" (BG 9.30) by saying that even if somebody commits an abominable act, he is still considered as a devotee and can be a leader. He then talks about stories that happened during Prabhupada's time with Hansadutta and others and he was shamelessly trying to put his statements by saying Prabhupada authorized these molesters (which is absolute nonsense and here he is making Guru aparadha by saying Prabhupada approved this nonsense).
Then he goes on to talk stories on how these molesters were kept silenced by GBC and how they are still eligible to be leaders.
Later he tries to give concocted statements in saying that the leaders they commit mistakes too and they are still preachers of the movement. At the end, he says that Iskcon doesn't have proper judicial proceedings. Then he says that he doesn't want to discuss with people who are not okay with even 1 case of child abuse. Which means he wants to only discuss in someone commits multiple child abuse doers. Here he proves the point that he is okay with child abusers. Such a shame!
DD#2: Clicking on the white square at the bottom of the video will display the subtitles. Then, by clicking on the gear icon, you can access the subtitle options and select automatic language translation.
SF: Thank you everyone. The thing is -- is it so hard? I could not pass the listening of " ex-abusers". It is as if someone completely else is talking.
SR: 'Transcript 0:09 starting now I'm now going to speak on 0:13 a very unpleasant 0:17 subject what I'm going to say will 0:20 definitely not 0:21 be 0:23 0：23 accepted or acceptable to 0:27 some might lose some friends and 0:30 disciples who strongly disagree with 0:35 me have been asked to clarify why'
DD: I was also dismayed to watch this just now. Was this Maharaja’s response to being asked to explain his ongoing support for Anirdesya Vapu even as Anirdesya Vapu’s crimes were becoming known?
If so, he doesn’t explain. In fact, he spends more time criticising those campaigning for child protection than he spends on condemning abuse.
And it’s largely a straw man. “They want to drive them away….. abandon due process…. They don’t believe in Krishna’s words.”
No one is advocating that abusers have no place anywhere. Let it simply be a humble place. Let them chant and perform menial service. Our objection is to their living in opulent palaces or being worshipped atop golden thrones.
SD has already dealt with the highly problematic moral equivalence issues in what Maharaja says where a child even experiencing their parents’ divorce is somehow compared to their being anally raped.
The main thing that really stood out for me in this unfortunate clip is that he demonstrated zero consideration for victims - zero understanding of the impacts of abuse in their lives. The “Vaisnavas” that he implores us to be compassionate towards are those who have transgressed against minors.
He implies that the growing movement of child protection is simply some kind of misguided moral panic - and that the risk that we should all be worried about has less to do with children’s lives being destroyed but that we might impede those who have abused but still have so much to offer Prabhupada’s movement.
This kind of attitude perfectly encapsulates why the movement is struggling to eradicate abuse. Because this kind of misplaced compassion and the wonky rhetoric that goes with it comes from those seated on Vyasasanas
RC: The very fact that he quoted api cet su-durācāro to support these abusers shows his willingness and support for them.
DD: He misrepresents how those concerned about child protection relate to this verse. He suggests that we just don’t accept or believe Krishna’s words.
But from what I have seen no one is denying that a person can redeem themselves via Krishna consciousness. But this verse is invoked typically by those defending abusers against any criticism or organisational censure. “You people should forgive and not criticise.” We object to the verse being weaponised to deter investigations, adjudication or even criticism of abuse and abusers.
RB: Bhakti vikasha Is going crazy completely!!!
TP: Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada was very clear in the case of Dallas gurukula abuse! He said to kick all the abusers out of the movement... and then he corrected his statement and said, but hang them first! It's one thing for someone in the high position to go to a prostitute... that is one kind of fall down one can still recover from with devotional service BUT to molest and rape a child, you are doomed unless you fall before the victim's feet and beg forgiveness !!! Raping and abusing Vaikuntha children, as Srila Prabhupada called them, is a SERIOUS Vaisnava aparadha!
RM Dasi: I didn’t see you already posted this and just shared it. I am completely sick to my stomach after listening to this.
SR: It is unconscionable that Bhaktivikash swami equates Madhudvisa's fall down with a consenting adult woman, with the sexual assault of a Vaishnava child...
Kishori mataji tells the story when Prabhupada said that child abusers should be beaten first and then hanged!
This has to be the most shameless public defenses of child abusers I've ever seen by an ISKCON leader. The sad thing is that he's simply vocalizing what has been ISKCON'S unspoken policy on child abuse.
MG: I am sorry but just see how terrible he looks. He looks like a horror movie character. Nothing more you need to hear from him.
BB: Simon Bar Sinister. The legal advisor to the criminals.
PW: After listening to Maharaja and your comments, the question arises: Why, after such a long time, has the GBC not enacted specific court procedures and why did they not heed Srila Prabhupada's instructions that those who repeatedly committed child abuse should be thoroughly punished and publicly hanged???
......Secondly, why were not punished the people who supported the perpetrators and remained silent on this matter for many years until the majority of ISKCON members learned about this terrifying phenomenon of pedophilia??? There is great propaganda of Varnasrama Dharma, and when is there a reason?
There are no real ksatriyas and simple-minded Brahmins for specific action, who should immediately create a committee for the protection of the injured and a court within the organization, a fair trial and appropriate punishment of the perpetrators??? The effect now is the constant struggle of the CPO with the leaders and colleagues of the perpetrators who are trying to cover up the matter in order to whitewashing or rationalizing their heinous actions.
It seems that the matter is clear: the named perpetrators must make amends to the victims and publicly confess their humiliation and be appropriately punished. If there are no specific harsh actions, it will not be possible to effectively eradicate the phenomenon of pedophilia......
Bows at the feet of all those who follow. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and His sincere followers!
NRD: No wonder victims are hesitant to come forward if people have these kind of attitude. In fact it was quite painful listening to him.
DD: When "leaders" speak extemporaneously like this, it gives true insight as to the paucity of thought. Not that those who prepare their words necessarily come across any better - as we have seen from those who prepare "press releases" about their stance on child protection.
I suspect that when one becomes a guru and becomes accustomed to having acolytes hanging on every word, there's a certain confidence in one's own perspectives that naturally arises.
They all need communications people to look over their proposed statements - which in itself is quite an indictment for those essentially offering themselves as representatives of Vyasa, as spokespeople for the Supreme Lord and the guru varga. But the issue is not even about engaging expert communicators to clean up problematic ideas..... it's the problematic ideas themselves.... "I don't want to throw away all those good souls who have a little slip up but are otherwise good devotees...." (Apparently the children wounded by these people exploiting trusted positions to indulge their depravity are disposable though.)
In fact, they practically don't even get a mention. The tragedy in the minds of these apologists is that people are criticising their friends and associates - not the lifelong traumas that they have wreaked on innocent children)
VB: Wow. I couldn't even finish watching this. "Ex-child abuser". What on earth is that. Have you ever heard of an "ex-murderer", "ex-rapist"? What was done was done and it cannot and shouldn't be forgotten. Maybe forgiven but not forgotten.
Downplaying child abuse, comparing poor Madhudvisa Prabhu to child abuser, please.
All we are asking is that child abusers are not glorified and having prominent positions in the society. Nobody wants to crucify them (ok maybe some do and that's still understandable). Why is it so difficult for these old men to understand that raping or beating someone's child upset decent human beings?
SD: Thank you for saying what I was thinking. I really really really wish Bhakti Vikasa Swami and ALL ISKCON leaders (GBC, gurus, etc.) would take annual child protection training and education courses. One can hope.
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