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EDITORIAL March 9, 2000 VNN5647 Comment on this story Vaisnava Publication Used For "Smear" Campaigns? BY MAHALAKSMI DASI EDITORIAL, Mar 9 (VNN) — Hare Krishna, and all glories and my humble obeisances to all the lotus like devotees of the Lord, who are just like desire trees, which can fulfill all desires of the living entity, and who are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls. All glories to my most beloved Srila Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my eternal friend and guide, and spiritual master. It is with great pain that I write this essay, inquiring as to why what was once an inspirational newsletter for devotees, namely "Priti-Laksanam", full of discussions and respectful exchanges (generally speaking) has now become a source of filthy, almost smut like accusations, which are being levied against a revered and respectable Vaisnava, Srila Narayana Maharaj. The publication was out of print for a year, and the team of publishers, headed by Sarva Satya and Kunti Dasa of the Hare Krishna World Newspaper, have just managed to get an issue together. Better it had not been printed, if it is to become a vehicle of blasphemy and "Star" magazine type filth. It was in total shock and shame that I read an article by Ravindra-svarupa Dasa, entitled "Taking Srila Prabhupada Straight, A Letter to Agrahya Dasa". I am sure, within my heart, that Srila Prabhupada is burning with fury that a disciple of his, namely Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, would dare, IN THE NAME OF SRILA PRABHUPADA, BY SAYING, "Taking Srila Prabhupada Straight", to indulge in such loose prajalpa, blasphemy, and public conveyance of gossip, hearsay, and out and out filth, some areas bordering on perverse. I ask you, Sarva Satya dasa, how in the world you could have been insensitive and blind enough to print such an article, and THEN, to mail it the my home, where 4 of my children are initiated disciples of Srila Narayana Maharaj? Such conduct is totally unacceptable from a senior Vaisnava, it transgresses all codes of etiquette. Apart from explaining my total shock and abhorrence of such a perversely, twisted account so arrogantly presented of (Srila Narayana Maharaj), as given by Ravindra Svarupa, I shall refrain from making any public accusations of Ravindra Svarupa's character, out of respect for his disciples who may read this. Let them make their own judgments. Back to my question to you, Sarva Satya. Where does a senior editor, one who has sat for as many years as you analyzing what should and shouldn't be put into print, allow such gross faultfinding, unfounded sexual insinuations, and out and out criticism of an elder Vaisnava to be printed and distributed to other aspiring Vaisnavas? Are you in such a "yes man" position that you have lost all discrimination between what will destroy people's devotional creepers, and what will encourage them to grow? Better you live as a beggar in the street than allow yourself to go on being maintained by an establishment which tells you to print such Absolute Garbage. At least then, you could chant the Hare Krishna mantra with love and respect, knowing that you were not a party to blasphemy, and assisting with trying to smear ANYONE'S name. I am not even suggesting in any way, shape or form that such trash is unacceptable because of who it was directed at....it is totally unacceptable toward ANYONE. Would such an article be allowed to be published about anyone who is currently residing as a guru with the legal structure of ISKCON? NO!!! CERTAINLY NOT!!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!! Look at all the concern there was not to say the wrong thing about Harikesh, a few summers back. Then there were apologies, that some of his disciples should not have been allowed to hear the actual state of affairs. AND WHY? I SAY WHY. after, all that concern about what is and isn't appropriate for a disciple to hear, do you allow this gossipy filth, based on some mans opinions and vomit which obviously was thrown up to try to make Srila Narayana Maharaj smell bad, to be published?? Sarva Satya, you should be totally ashamed of yourself, to say the least. And I am speaking strictly from an analytical viewpoint. I do not need to extol Srila Narayana Maharaj's qualifications. They speak for themselves. Literally, in the face of writings such as what was just rendered by Ravindra Svarupa, they SHOUT for themselves. A true Vaisnava does not go around belittling others, making perverse and twisted criticisms of another Vaisnava. If you at all care for your devotional creeper, get another job. And for all who would dare to sit and publish essays full of lies, perverse sexual aspersions, and mundane analytical judgments, may I suggest you go back to bhakta school. Sit down and write out the ten offenses to the holy name a few thousand times. The first one, To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to propagating the Holy Names of the Lord. And remember to include in your sentences, "One must carefully guard against these offenses in order to achieve the desired goal, Krsna Prema". One last comment, dear readers. The previous article prior to the one I mention above is entitled "Message from the GBC to the Devotees of ISKCON" In this article, it is stated, "Thus, the GBC, both individually and collectively, wishes to express its deepest apologies to, and beg the forgiveness of Srila Prabhupada, as well as the followers of Srila Prabhupada who were offended or hurt by our past decisions resulting in the excuses and abuses of the zonal acharya system and its ongoing ramifications." So, here we have admittance that for the sake of power, money, control, etc. the GBC's went for YEARS blindly adhering to a system they created for their own glory and control. These are persons who are now saying, "Don't take shelter of Narayana Maharaj. He is anti ISKCON." So, overnight, they have given up all desire for profit, admiration and distinction? Because they have offered an apology they can be trusted? Well, be smart....not like Charlie Brown who believes Lucy over and over again when she says, "Kick the ball....I'll hold it for you". And he lands flat on his back again, and again, and again. Unless one enjoys being humiliated over and over and over. About the Author  Other Stories by this AuthorComment on this story Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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