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EDITORIAL December 11, 1998 VNN2656 Crimes Against Persons BY PAPAHARINI DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Dec 11 (VNN) — Dear devotees: Having read some exchanges between Mayeshvara prabhu and Raghunatha prabhu about forgiving the perpetrators of child abuse and forgiving the devotees in general- I would like to comment that: It is neither necessary nor appropriate to "forgive" the perpetrators of crimes against persons- such as pedophile behavior or any illegal corporate conduct right up to homicide of the spiritual master- unless it is a personal choice made by the victims in order to benefit themselves (i.e. peace of heart). The saying "forgive and forget" and this type of thinking- is more a Catholic/Christian popular concept relating to blame, shame or fear of damnation. The forgiveness of Vaisnava aparadha and mistakes of vaishnavas, entails a careful examination on just "what is a Vaishnava?"and "who is the Vaishnava acarya to be offered all respects and surrender?" by scripture and evidence of behavior, before one just offers blanket forgiveness or immunity to anyone posing as such. This is called "discretion" and is one of many qualities seen in the character of a Brahmin. While one may attempt to transcend a material experience by forgiving, it has become an integral part of their subtle body and they may not forget as the experience tends to resurface within other areas of their lives! Notice I say "material". To ask devotee gurukula veterans or any other victims who have suffered at the hands and minds of "vaishnava" authorities to just forgive their monstrous behavior and get on with it- is (in my estimation) neither necessary nor appropriate if the institution of ISKCON leaves those perpetrators in good standing and in positions of authority. This is very directly called "incongruence" in behavioral psychology (NLP)- where a parent may create severe responses of hyperactivity in a child's developing character/neurology by sending the mixed message of "saying one thing and doing another", and constitutes inauthentic motive. THIS MONSTROUS BEHAVIOR on the part of ISKCON authorities wreaks more of a perpetrator "guilty by association" accomplice stance and demands that the victims let THEM off the hook in order to remain within the association of vaisnavas. So, there is no reformation, rather, the victims are wooed back into dangerous, foul, cheated victim position- easily compared to the battered spouse being invited back into the arms of the perpetrator husband with bouquet of flowers and a card that says "forgive and forget"! - Until the next insult and injury. Unless or until the ISKCON administration as a body, admits their perpetrator- accomplice- guilty by association stance- in relation to losing the association of the major body of vaishnavas, to territories outside of ISKCON- the congregation is still being demanded and threatened (I use this word accurately!) to accept responsibility for the perpetrator's foul behavior as in the battered spouse "forgiving" the batterer. This constitutes an insult to the sincerity, integrity and intelligence of the congregational members of HDG's mission- now estranged and disenfranchised by such corporate behavior in the name of "Prabhupada's Will". Ys, Papaharinidevi dasi paya@proaxis.com About the Author | Other VNN Stories by this Author Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9812/ET11-2656.html
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