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EDITORIAL  Nice Gesture But Where Is The Substance? BY SRILA DASA EDITORIAL, Apr 13 (VNN) — "The GBC Body realizes that regardless of how the zonal-acarya system evolved, it alone is responsible for its acceptance and implementation. Any imputation that Sripad B.R. Sridhar Maharaja is responsible is wrong." "In this regard the GBC Body would like to restate, as per resolution 76 of the 1987 Annual General Meeting, that ISKCON devotees should strictly avoid hearing or speaking personal criticism of Sripad B.R. Sridhar Maharaja." After over 20 years of systematic vilification of the Gaudiya Matha, the GBC has finally seen a ray of transcendental light. This is a good start. And I commend the comittee members of this GBC resolution for
What is the *correct* idea? What should we positively do? If we offend a great Vaisnava, the only remedy is to *hear* from him and *serve* him. Saying you are sorry is not enough. Unfortunately, Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja is no longer physically present to beg forgiveness from. Two decades of institutional policies have also engrained misunderstanding, mistrust and antipathy against Srila Sridhar Maharaja and his followers -- as well as towards the rest of the Gaudiya Matha -- deeply into ISKCON's corporate culture. It is not so simply wished away by a resolution that most devotees will never even see. Devotees must hear the recorded tapes and read from the books of Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja and experience firsthand his stature as an exalted Vaisnava. The GBC must actively reach out and repatronize the thousands of devotees who were disenfranchised from ISKCON simply because they went to hear from Srila Sridhara Maharaja. We must try to bridge our differences and rebuild the relationships that were ruined by years of bogus preaching and bureaucratic injustice. ISKCON leaders must first show the example of realization, regret and reconciliation on these issues, speak out and then actively encourage all ISKCON members to follow suit. This is how the misconceptions will be properly corrected and the offenses alleviated. It is nothing less than a monumental undertaking, but the rewards are most promising. We could finally get to the business of fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's consummate desire that the mission of Mahaprabhu be united and everyone work cooperatively together. GBC Resolution 403 is an encouraging gesture, but we need more than a peace sign to effect significant change. We need to see clear and direct action. Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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