11/05/1998 - 2459

Reform Within

Editorial (VNN) - By Narasimha das

Srila Prabhupada said the Krsna consciousness movement could be hampered only by "envy from within". Such envy began to disrupt ISKCON even in Srila Prabhupada's presence. When the self-effulgent acarya manifests the mission of the Lord in human society, it is the duty of everyone to hear from him, accept his words, accept his authority, and accept him personally as the empowered representative of Godhead. All sadhus and Vaisnavas everywhere should rally to support his mission. At least those who join his mission and lead his institutions must always recognize and accept the Acarya and remain as servants of His mission, which is directly the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To warn leaders who might dream of displacing Srila Prabhupada's position with their own ambitious rule, Srila Prabhupada told the story of the "Sadhu and the Mouse."

Neophyte devotees rely heavily on the physical association of other devotees. Sometimes in the absence of a great Vaisnava, even learned sages may mistakenly post a conditioned soul as chief and respect him as leader or guru. This was seen in the case of the election of Romaharsan (see "Krsna Book", Ch.77). Because Romaharsan was directly the disciple of Srila Vyasadeva, a group of rishis honored him by electing him for the post of guru. Later Sri Baladeva killed Romaharsan due to his failure as a "guru" to recognize or properly honor the original guru.

Many disciples of Srila Prabhupada are eager to remove the corrupt members of the GBC and replace them with sincere devotees who agree to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada without motive. We are aghast to hear of ISKCON leaders' minimization or blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada, their disruption of book distribution, their abuse of sincere devotees, and their neglect of Prabhupada's orders. In these emergency times, the call for revolution may become uproarious. Revolution without real purification, however, can never provide a full solution. As we've seen in material politics, the new party in power may create a new form of tyranny. As seen recently in VNN's "Quote of the Week Column", Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, "The church that has the best chance of survival in this damned world is that of atheism in the guise of theism." Similarly Srila Haridas Thakura has said in his "Sri Harinama Cintamani" that in this age of Kali, the association of saintly persons for spiritual discussion, devotional work, and even Deity worship are secondary processes of Krsna consciousness that have become impure and ineffective. He notes that often so-called devotees accept these processes only for material benefits. Srila Haridas Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore recommend that these devotional activities be accepted only as subsidiary to the prime process of chanting the Holy Names. This instruction is also Srila Prabhupada's advice and the essence of his mission.

Understanding the way of pure Krsna consciousness, sincere devotees should try to increase their enthusiasm for Sri Harinama Sankirtana and Sri Harinama Japa. This is the specific message or Srila Haridas Thakura and the advice of all Vaisnava acaryas. It is impossible to reform a mundane institution full of karmis and jnanis, or those who want to enjoy the material facilities left in the wake the Acarya's mission. We cannot blame Lord Caitanya or the Acarya if institutions of neophyte preachers collapse or fail to provide real shelter for sincere devotees. The only hope for ISKCON's reform is a revival pure harinama and the resolve of leading devotees to focus on the primary process of Krsna consciousness -- chanting of the Holy Names.

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!