10/03/1998 - 2306

More Meditations On Boats And Houses

Editorial (VNN) - by Jagadananda Das

It was a pleasure to see Advaita Prabhu's response to Drutakarma's rather hard-line position for dealing with the "Ritvik heresy", especially as expressed in his letter to Srila. The more nonpartisan people of Pran Krishna and Advaita Prabhu's calibre become involved in the theological and practical debates surrounding the Krishna Consciousness movement, the better chance it has of achieving long term success.

However, though I was as troubled as Advaita by Drutakarma's tone, I am inclined to believe that there is an element of truth in his argument. His elaborate naval metaphoral may have foundered on the reef of APD's dry wit, but there may yet be some treasures that can be salvaged from its wreckage.

Any institution is built on fundamental organizing principles. Rightly or wrongly, Iskcon has developed an innovative system with multiple initiating gurus which has become central to its organization. Iskcon must protect its integrity and it will do so by defending this system. And, as Drutakarma intimated, it will likely do so at all costs. Iskcon may be extending the limits of its tolerance, but evidently does not feel that it can tolerate challenges to what has become such a fundamental principle.

The Ritvik doctrine is essentially political, but it has gone beyond that to become revolutionary. Though its raison-d'�tre is loss of faith in Iskcon's leadership, it has taken on an important quasi-spiritual component. Because it insists on Prabhupad's leadership alone, it cannot separate itself from Iskcon. It identifies exclusively with Iskcon as Prabhupad's body and thus has to attempt a takeover of Iskcon. This is, naturally, disruptive for Iskcon and we can expect it to defend itself.

Though neither party wants a schism, their positions are irreconcilable. Drutakarma has recognized this and suggests with the flair of a Metternich that a schism be precipitated. It will no doubt be ugly, but that's politics and that's revolution.

Drutakarma is telling the Ritviks to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. If they have some special connection to Prabhupad which makes them the legitimate maintainers of Prabhupada's tradition, then let them show that they have been empowered. Let them prove it. But I personally doubt that Iskcon will allow other boats to "steer a parallel course". Iskcon will play hardball: It will attempt to discredit the Ritvik leaders (as it is already doing, note the recent article on Krishna Kant on Chakra). It will continue to protect its exclusive copyrights on Prabhupada's books, making it hard for the "Real Iskcon" of the Ritviks to establish legitimacy as Prabhupada's representatives. Unless they do so, however, Iskcon will find it hard to get them off its back. There will likely be fist-fights and tussles over property as Ritviks try to make off with some of the juicy properties in India and elsewhere. But that is the price that will have to be paid for the integrity of the institution which, after all, embodies Krishna consciousness. (This description makes the Caitanya Math battles in the 40's sound positively tame!)

The Ritviks will rise or fall through their leadership. Though many in Iskcon are disaffected with its leaders, it has an entrenched and experienced ruling class. The Ritviks, unfortunately, have Krishna Kant and a few others whose charisma is yet to be proven. Iskcon has intuited this and has started questioning his credibility. We are seeing more of "Who the hell is this guy, anyway?" postings. He can expect that the magnifying glass will be on him. If he founders, like Rupa Vilas and Karnamrita, the movement will temporarily lose some of its force -- perhaps until another Iskcon guru bloops, or if Iskcon continues with its business as usual attitude. But since the Ritvik movement is essentially democratic, grass roots and protestant in character, it may be able to muster strength even without a "great" leader. Indeed, it would likely be suspicious of any great leader -- wouldn't a great leader just want to become guru?

As far as the Gaudiya Math is concerned, they have an advantage: they have long since jumped ship. They continue to feed from the trough of disaffected Iskcon followers, but they need not actively seek them, though some zealots cannot help themselves. Disaffected devotees will continue to exist and the natural tendency of human beings is to seek association suitable to their temperament and needs. Many sections of the Gaudiya Math have already built up an independent strength which in some cases is more vibrant than that of Iskcon. Indeed, this is what Iskcon is afraid of.

Advaita Prabhu's alternative metaphor of a house is, of course, as familiar to us as that of the boats. I would first question whether this metaphor came from Prabhupad himself. I recall that it was an astrologer in Delhi who gave the verdict that Prabhupad had built a house in which the whole world could find shelter. This happened not long before Prabhupad's disappearance and received a lot of airplay in the days that followed it. Did Prabhupad really expect that everyone should come and live in his house? He certainly tried to protect Iskcon's integrity and his exclusive authority when challenged, but I don't think he expected the Gaudiya Math to capitulate to him because he had made a few western disciples. He respected their integrity and expected them to respect his.

To my mind, the house metaphor brings back Jesus's comment that "there are many rooms in my father's house". It also reminds me of Sridhar Maharaja's prophecy -- that when children grow up they want their own rooms. When we look at these visions of the house metaphor, it resembles that of the boat. Let everyone have their own room. Let the boundaries between the various groups be clearly defined. Then, once the integrity of each group is respected, a possibility for cooperation may arise.

For that to happen, however, much depends on the acrimony which is built up in the schismatic process. Iskcon has done a good job of offending Vaishnavas in the past, of alienating its disaffected rather than bringing them back into the fold. The Ritviks are, after all, just Iskcon people, so they practice the methods learned from their masters. I think the possibilities are good that it will take generations for any cooperative spirit to be built up between the factions.

But the hope is that if a sincere devotee, in whatever faction he takes up residence, advances in Krishna consciousness, the guru will surely be pleased and bless him.

The fundamental character of the guru doctrine is that it is centrifugal -- it militates against the creation of large, monolithic societies. This should not be seen as a bad thing. Too big can be distracting from the business of hearing and chanting, anyway, and that is where Krishna consciousness is found. Big societies constantly pressure the devotee with the temptations of labha, puja and pratistha. A wide variety of options, innovating according to time and circumstance, are necessary for the worldwide preaching mission.

If everyone's integrity is respected, rather than fighting each other, these innovating groups will be able develop different organizational structures appropriate to their mentality, culture, etc., and will grow accordingly. May Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu grant them all good fortune.

sat-sangan mukta-duhsango hatum notsahate budhah
kirtyamanam yaso yasya sakrd akarnya rocanam