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EDITORIAL  About the AuthorOther Stories by this Author Letter To An Iskcon Devotee BY BHAKTISIDDHARTHA DASANUDAS  EDITORIAL, Mar 29 (VNN) — This letter was written in response to a critical letter from an ISKCON temple devotee. In it, I try to put some of the issues between ISKCON and Srila Narayana Maharaja into perspective.Dear Prabhu, Hare Krsna. Thank you for your thoughts. The devotees of the Lord are full of all good qualities, such as kindness, mercy, tolerance, etc. I would like to write to you not as an antagonist, but as a godbrother, a fellow disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Please kindly hear me in that way. Here is the essence of the misunderstanding between ISKCON and Srila Narayana Maharaja: we Gaudiya devotees are all part of Gauranga Mahaprabhu's larger family, but some neophytes are maintaining a separatist, sectarian mood, criticizing and fighting among the family members. They may be adept in politics and Machiavellian manipulation, but they cannot make any advancement. They remain in the neophyte stage, and they drag the others down with them. Srila Prabhupada is a founding member of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, Srila Narayana Maharaja's organization. And Srila Prabhupada is also the sannyasa disciple of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja, the diksa-guru of Srila Narayana Maharaja. Thus there is a deep family connection between IGVS and ISKCON. In fact, they are both branches of Gaudiya Matha, founded by sincere disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati as a reaction against those who deviated from his teachings. Therefore so many sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada have taken shelter of IGVS. Srila Narayana Maharaja understands Srila Prabhupada far better than any of us. In fact, since hearing from Srila Narayana Maharaja, my understanding and appreciation of Srila Prabhupada have expanded into astonishingly unprecedented and unanticipated dimensions. If we do not follow the Gaudiya standard etiquette, and make offenses to senior devotees who are far more advanced than ourselves, we will fall down. This is stated in so many sastras, and it is a fact. Advancement in Krsna consciousness is completely dependent upon mercy coming from above. If we offend the higher devotees, we cut off our source of life. We may remain in the temple, wearing robes and piously chanting mantras, but the heart and soul will go out of our practice of Krsna consciousness and we will become dry. Yes, all of ISKCON temples are small nowadays. Why? Because so many devotees have been offended, and gone away. Srila Prabhupada said, "the management should be done very cautiously so that everyone is satisfied." [letter 69-10-18 Tamal Krsna] "always keep the devotees satisfied." [letter, 72-01-11 Sucandra] ISKCON management has not followed that instruction, along with so many others. Therefore it is shrinking every day. Not only Narayana Maharaja, but any senior Gaudiya sannyasi can easily take so many men from any ISKCON temple. Why? The senior devotees are sweet with bhakti, and ISKCON has become bitter, like a battlefield smelling of blood and gunpowder. Who will want to stay on a dangerous battlefield when they can go to a sweet garden full of flowers, where they are safe? The actual Gaudiya sanga is a completely different mood from what ISKCON has become. You can't realize that because you reject any association outside of ISKCON. ISKCON is no longer Srila Prabhupada's movement. ISKCON management has rejected his instructions and his mood. Because of this, the whole thing is almost finished. If the GBC does not compromise with the Gurukulis and settle the child-abuse case, everything will be finished very soon. The Gurukulis will own the temples. What then? What will become of ISKCON's heavy-handed preaching and neophyte so-called 'gurus?' They are already leaving, putting Srila Prabhupada's money in hidden bank accounts, getting their Ph.D.s and setting the rest of you up for yet another very unpleasant experience. All this because ISKCON leaders deviated from Srila Prabhupada's instructions. So many devotees' lives were devastated because of this nonsense. And the ISKCON leaders also offended Srila Sridhar Maharaja, Srila Puri Maharaja and Srila Narayana Maharaja, and so many of their godbrothers--not to mention the general public. What hubris! Now the reaction is coming, and you are disturbed and blaming others? So first we should clearly understand that when these things happen, it is due to reactions caused by our offenses. It is not anyone else's fault. We should not cast blame on others, or we reveal that we have understood nothing of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. If anything bad happens to me, it is the reaction of my past activities. If anything good happens, it is mercy of God and Guru. This is basic Vaisnava philosophy. Actually not philosophy--it is an attitude, a mood. This is so basic, it should not even have to be mentioned. Srila Narayana Maharaja has not offended anyone. Try to understand. I have personally seen how gently and magnanimously he deals with antagonism and criticism. There is not an offensive or critical bone in his transcendental body. If you have taken offense, that is on your side. You have lost the loving mood. You have become attached to men, money and prestige; you have become angry. This is called pratistha, and it is the doorway to falldown from Krsna consciousness. Srila Narayana Maharaja is full of transcendental potency. He can take all your men whenever he wants--and he will, if you do not wake up and understand. Because you are in bad association, association of offensive people, you cannot understand what is happening before your very eyes. You have to leave Kuruksetra and go to Vrndavana, then maybe you can understand. If you were to hear patiently from Srila Narayana Maharaja, understand his points, catch his mood, make your center an open-hearted Gaudiya Vaisnava center instead of a closed, sectarian ISKCON center, maybe it could be saved. Otherwise, I am afraid that the whole mission is going the way of the dinosaurs, and for many of the same reasons. It has almost outlived its usefulness. What I am stating is very obvious to me, and has been for many years. However, because of what you have written, I can understand that it is news to you. ISKCON is not 'our' movement, and the devotees are not 'our' men. They are Krsna's, like everything else in existence. This is not just a theory, it is a fact, and we are meant to realize it, and not be attached to them. If we have not understood such a basic point after all this time, then something is seriously wrong in our Krsna consciousness. Is this so difficult to understand? I don't think so. But it takes a little perspective, and this perspective has always been sadly lacking in ISKCON. To fight over money, men, politics and power is superficial; actually, it is irrelevant. By putting up walls, you may be able to forestall the inevitable for a little while, but not for long. The bees will go where the honey is. You can blame all you want, but that will just accellerate the process. These devotees are getting a higher taste from Srila Narayana Maharaja than they get at the ISKCON temples. Even total neophytes can tell the difference. If the bhaktas are having trouble, if it is hard to attract devotees, look to the defects in your own program. You cannot keep them unless you open your heart and embrace a higher taste. I was alone for many years, because I could see that the ISKCON management had not understood Srila Prabhupada's teaching very nicely. But now I have so many Godbrothers more advanced than myself. This is all Srila Prabhupada's and Srila Narayana Maharaja's mercy, and I and many others are so very thankful. If you remain attached to your position and miss hearing from and serving a great Vaisnava guru like Srila Narayana Maharaja, or if you find fault with him out of envy, then you will simply have to experience the reaction. I'm sorry. I also offended great Vaisnavas, like Srila Sridhara Maharaja and Srila Puri Maharaja, by neglecting them and not hearing from them. Therefore I lost so much time, and now I am far below where I could have been, had I not been so lazy and bone-headed. So I am speaking from experience here. Don't make the same mistake; I guarantee you will live to regret it, as I have. I hope this letter has not caused you any undue agitation. I'm really just trying to help. Your servant, Bhaktisiddhartha Dasanudas Gaudiya Vedanta Society http://www.gaudiyavedanta.net/ About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorRelated VNN StoriesContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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