09/14/1998 - 2219

Do Not Suppress Sadhu Sanga

Editorial (VNN) - by Srila dasa

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Pious Souls Everywhere,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who has blessed the world with Krsna consciousness and who also requested all of his godbrothers to come to the West after him to preach. Together they are all fulfilling the mission of Bhaktivinode and Saraswati Thakura in initiating and then deepening our understanding of the purpose of Mahaprabhu's descent.

Sincere, honest truth-seeking devotees must must communicate with one another and expand the loving network of pure devotional feelings, which are naturally devoid of any duplicity, hypocrisy and envy. *nirmatsaranam satam.* (SB 1.1.2) Gentle and wise devotees, genuine Bhagatavas, shall always be our life and soul. There can never be any consideration of sectarian boundaries in this regard.

SB 4.28.31 purport
"Among Vaisnavas there may be some differences of opinion due to everyone's personal identity, but despite all personal differences the cult of Krsna consciousness must go on. We can see that under the instruction of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja began preaching the Krsna consciousness movement in an organized way within the past hundred years. The disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja ARE ALL GODBROTHERS, and although there are some differences of opinion, and although we are not acing conjointly, EVERYONE OF US is spreading this Krsna consciousness movement according to his own capacity and PRODUCING MANY DISCIPLES TO SPREAD IT ALL OVER THE WORLD. The cult of Krsna consciousness... will never be stopped. It will go on, WITHOUT DISTINCTION of caste, CREED, color or country. No one can check it." @Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1976.

The above passage from Srimad Bhagavatam (dictated circa 1975) embodies the broadminded, nonsectarian vision of a Saragrahi Vaisnava and reveals the heart of our guru maharaja, Srila Prabhupada. This is the eternal understanding we require to inculcate, not to freeze for posterity some short-term instruction for a particular time and place. We need to distinguish between *primary* meaning (mukhya-vrtti) and *secondary* or *relative* meaning (gauna-vrtti). *Gauna-vrtti* is only applicable for time and place.

Dialectical Reasoning
or the Process Learning to Reconcile Contradictions
(Thesis >> Antithesis >> Synthesis)

There are many conflicting statements Srila Prabhupada made over the years about his godbrothers and the Gaudiya Math. In the early days of ISKCON, Prabhupada was very liberal about our associating with his godbrothers, and in 1969 (Letter) went so far as to declare that he was "prepared to be amalgamated with the Gaudiya Math." But later, due to unfortunate experiences, he restrained his disciples from associating with his godbrothers for some time to protect them from confusion and their tendency for being misled. But was that due to the godbrothers themselves (perhaps a few) or due to the immaturity of his disciples?

Prabhupada's last statements and actions on the subject, however, reversed the previous trend, and as such, should be taken as final: "The war is over." (spoken to Srila Puri Maharaja, 1977) "We want cooperation." (conversation to Jayapataka Swami about the BVS Charity Trust, 1977) His invitation to Srila Sridhara Maharaja to become president of ISKCON and reside at his projected new home in Mayapur, (1977) Prabhupada also recommended us to approach Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja for advice. (conversation 1977) Finally, his conveying to Srila Narayan Maharaja the request of forgiveness for any offenses he might have made to his godbrothers. (conversation, Nov, 1977).

These final statements formed a consistent pattern and marked change of policy, which ISKCON leaders were obviously unable to adjust to after Prabhupada's physical demise. History shows how much we were unprepared for Srila Prabhupada's untimely departure, what to speak of any further change in relationships with his godbrothers. Overall, however, we failed to properly honor these instructions from our guru maharaja:

"Prabhupada gave us an instruction that if we have any difficulty then we should come to you [Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja], but they [the GBC] are deliberately neglecting that instruction of Srila Prabhupada." Bhakti Charu Swami (8/19/1980) [Bhakti Charu Swami was one the few devotees present in the room when Srila Prabhupada gave instruction to go to Srila Sridhara Maharaja for advice.]

HH Aksayananda Maharaja (now Bhakti Sagar Maharaja) related to me a revealing episode: early in the 1970's, he was accompanying Srila Prabhupada to the Caitanya Sarasvata Math in Navadvip and at one point (eg, after arotik or darshan), Srila Prabhupada recited the prema-dhvani, "jaya om visnupada paramhamsa... Srila Bhaktiraksaka Sridharadeva Goswami Maharaja, ki jaya!" When Aksayananda asked how this could be so, Prabhupada replied, "There can be more than one acarya."

Small wonder that after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, when Bhavananda started enacting his monstrosities and power-plays in Vrndavan, Aksayananda Swami made a quick beeline to Srila Sridhara Maharaja for spiritual shelter. Who can fault the Maharaja for a true act of faith after hearing directly from the mouth of Srila Prabhupada there existed another certified maha-bhagavata? I certainly cannot blame him one bit.

If there is anyone to blame for his and so many hundreds if not thousands of so-called defections from ISKCON ("unchastity"), let us level the blame to where it should lie. This phenomenon is more accurately understood as resulting from the treacherous acts and fearsome policies of so many arrogant and misguided leaders. History proves the tragic facts on this matter, as many of those prominent leaders continue to fall, one after another. In ISKCON, we have been indoctrinated into a censored and highly emotionalized version of the full picture about the Gaudiya Math. I have also personally suffered for over 20 years as another unwary victim of that false propaganda. But the truth, once revealed, speaks for itself.

"Gentlemen, the offering of such a homage as has been arranged this evening to the Acaryadeva is not a sectarian concern, for when we speak of the fundamental principle of Gurudeva or Acaryadeva, we speak of something that is universal application. There does not arise any question of discriminating my guru from yours or anyone else's. There is only one guru who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me and all others."
(ASBSP, Vyasa Puja Offering Feb. 1936).

I respectfully submit that this idea of "unchastity" is a blatant misnomer. It is a misreading of Prabhupada's words to compare taking shelter of Vaisnavas saints with the Mayavadi analogy of dumping one's guru. This is a scarecrow tactic invoked by those who are afraid of their own shadows and who are suspicious of everyone, including their godbrothers. No one (any SP disciple) is giving up Srila Prabhupada. The are not "abandoning" his mission (which is pure and spiritual) as much as they are forsaking its *misrepresentation.* If they are leaving for another camp, more often than not, they have been forced into that difficult situation by institutional policies and bigoted conceptions that preclude any other alternative.

By in large, these godbrothers and other devotees are sincere and have been neglected by unnurturing leaders or unavailable gurus as well as misled by systemic misconceptions inherent within ISKCON's operating philosophy. If there is anything "tricky" going on, as has been suggested by different ISKCON leaders, it is engendered by ISKCON's inablity to promote an atmosphere that is "open, frank and free from reservations." (SB 4th canto) Dealing with someone who is not straightforward (ISKCON leaders), may sometimes oblige us to adopt seemingly underhanded means. This is the hard reality ISKCON members live in. The GBC are the causal agents in this unfortunate chain of events however. Ultimate *loyalty* means remaining faithful to the *truth,* not to any manufactured institutional policies that contradict guru, sastra and sadhu.

"Jiva Goswami advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ECCLESIASTICAL conventions. One should *simply* try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding." (CC Adi.1.35 purpt)

The GBC pronouncements and articles posted on Chakra pursuant to GBC policy therefore constitute a serious misinterpretation of Vaisnava guru-tattva and a bona fide act of faith by devotees who seek shelter of advanced sadhus who reside in the Gaudiya Math. Rather than be condemned or tacitly discouraged ("by having nothing to do with the Gaudiya Math,") as ISKCON is currently doing, such *sadhu-sanga* needs to be encouraged. Or at least, genuinely accepted.

Srila Prabhupada states that the process of devotional service, of which sadhu-sanga is one of the five primary limbs (pancanga), "will go on, without distinction of caste, CREED, color or country. No one can check it." (SB 4.28.31) Therefore ISKCON leaders should stop trying to artificially stigmatize and check these devotees with a small-minded, sectarian vision. Serious offenses and misunderstandings arise when we try to suppress the bona fide need of the soul to find advanced sadhu-sanga.

We can see by the result. phalena pariciyate.

Faithfully,
Vaisnavanudasa,

Srila dasa

PS: Please feel free to share and discuss with others anything I have written. Truth is for everyone, and everyone has a right to know the truth. The Acaryas have revealed it, and we need only open our eyes to see it. May the truth prevail!

FIAT LUX ET VERITAS. "Let there be light and truth!"

Hare Krsna.