© 1998 VNN
| EDITORIAL December 11, 1998 VNN2660 Now Is The Time Not For Speaking, But For Doing! BY VAIKUNTHANATH DASA (FROM COM) EDITORIAL, Dec 11 (VNN) — Dear devotees! Please, accept my humble obeisances. I humbly ask your attention and would be glad if at the result of my speech there will beginning of a new, beneficial period in somebody's life because I am going to say for you extremely important things. But before going into details, I would like to discuss main thing. In the beginning we should free our consciousness from different directives, useless opinions and false information. One of the main problems in our lives is firm, sacred faith that our way of perception of this world makes us able to see things as they really are or should be. But while trying to describe phenomenons of environment, we factually describe themselves, namely our conception about them. And if somebody disagree with us, we consider such a man detrimental. But experience shows us, normal people with absolutely sanity and clear consciousness, above being Vaisnavas, can see things in different ways - everybody through prism of his own experience. Therefore than more we understand basic principles of our existence and theirs role in composition of our world's picture, than more responsible we are in our testing how real these principles are, than more attentively we hear others and do all this every day, not once in ten years, than more our range of vision and objective our angle are. Dear devotees, while have clear understanding of present situation in ISKCON and Russia, I am glad to offer you possibility to change your life completely and achieve many things which are so desirable for everyone of you. I understand that your doubts and certain grade of distrust for what you are hearing now. That is all right. But please, try to be open minded people cause not only bad things, but rather good things come to us through people. If you will be open-hearted, then you can accept this possibility which would allow you to get things which are many of you are searching for. You should just open your mind. To begin association or to have important deal having opened mind is like jump bail out with closed parachute. As it well known, the moment of real truth and understanding begins when one changes paradigm (directive), or at the moment of breaking down stereotype where one starts to see things under different angle. Usually it happens when we are faced with danger, or we are put into unusual, difficult situation. Therefore this crisis leads to changing our paradigm. And any real progress in any field of activity, especially in spiritual life, is impossible without such changing of paradigm. Therefore any critical situation is good since at that time one can over valuate his values. And though it's not a very pleasant thing, it's beneficial because this is purificatory process which brings personal development. Therefore we should not be afraid when faced with crisis since crisis - it's Krsna. The reason of this speech is serious crisis in ISKCON. This is my personal opinion and I hope that many Vaisnavas would agree with me. Yes, crisis - it's Krsna. But that doesn't mean we should sit and wait for the moment when everything will organized by its' own, while Krsna Himself in form of crisis will put things together in perfect way. This would mean Krsna is our servant, not we are His servants. If it's true, why wouldn't He come to earth for the second time and accomplish sankirtana mission by Himself? But if you don't see crisis at all, that means situation is not hard enough. In that case let's wait till situation will become absolutely clear for all. But at that time it will be too late. This will be crisis. This will be Krsna. He will make decisions. It will be very soon. But then our merit will be insignificant. There is truth and there is lie. Intelligent people base their activity on truth and facts though ignorant people base their actions on doubts, wild guesses and fear. One should not blindly accept or reject something. In both cases it would be fanaticism. If there is some fact, one should study it carefully and then make right decision. Then there is no place for fear and doubts which arise from ignorance. The more knowledge we have, the less our fear is. Therefore I think that we should not hide facts or dissemble details. By doing so we will not solve our problems. It will make situation even worse. It's well known that than longer one conceals facts, than more serious and painful will be results after recovering situation. After all, if ISKCON is society and we, as persons, make this society, then every member of ISKCON has right and should know everything that is going on in this society. ISKCON is spiritual movement and in it, as nowhere else, a man should have right to have free will since even Krsna gives such freedom to every living entity. That doesn't mean I am for absolute democracy or anarchy. No. But at least every member of society should have right freely, without fear ask any question to leaders of this society and get comprehensive answer. It's 8 years since I have being trying to get answers for my questions and never succeed it. And there are many devotees like me. This is absolutely nude fact. To this day because in ISKCON there is no appropriate managerial, educational system and system which divides devotees, the best devotees who really want and could do many positive and valuable things leave ISKCON, because of inability to tolerate intolerable conditions which are in ISKCON nowadays. They can't change this situation because of not wanting to fight with present regime. This is obvious fact. Then a question arises: "Who are interested in all of this? Why things are going on in such a way?" To my great sureness, these devotees could stay in ISKCON. I front of my eyes many nice devotees and even more people who could become devotees have left this movement. But it's only one drop in the ocean. We can only imagine how many people left ISKCON for last 10 years. I personally have gone through so many difficulties and sufferings. I had 1000 reasons to leave this movement. But all of this could not happen. This is horrible antinomy: before one became a devotee, everybody would deal with him in a very nice way, wheedle him and smiling to him. But as soon as he becomes devotee, he would be treated as if he is slave or nobody would even pay attention to him. Nobody is interested in him and his problems anymore. The situation becomes more complicated because everybody try to make show the atmosphere of love and order, authority and strict following of Vaisnava's etiquette especially when temple is visited by some guru. And so, those who can tolerate this dissimulation and other problems, which are not mentioned here, are proclaimed to be real devotees and stay in temple. Others are politely or roughly had been thrusted out and declared fallen or separatists. There is nothing new about it, it's as old as this world. Could you, please, tell me what's the meaning of loitering away so many endeavors and time to attract a man, and then thrust him away or consider him as empty place? Aren't we responsible for all these people? I am sure that there are enough of elevated Vaisnavas in ISKCON who understand the reason of this and others problems and can found means how to solve them. Then why nobody is doing it? Why in any organization where materialists or even demons manage everything there is order? Why in ISKCON, the greatest organization in the world, and where leaders are propelled by higher spiritual goals and ideals, there is no such order? Who can answer to my question? I would be very grateful to the person who will satisfy me with his answer. Nowadays there is no preaching in Russia in broad meaning of this, rather there is only show of preaching. Mainly people struggle for existence or, in rare cases, take care of their own spiritual progress. I know that many would disagree with me by saying, what about book distribution, kirtanas and prasadam? Therefore I would like to add that it's wonderful in itself and I understand the meaning of kirtanas and prasadam. But we should clarify our goal: are we simply streets holy name singers and dancers (that's not bad in itself), or we are a society, which wants to introduce on international level Vaisnava's culture and bhagavata-dharma? And no matter how many books we have distributed, we will not achieve serious results if we are not able to make all factors which are consisting our life and activities on proper level. In other words, what's the use of planting seeds if we can't collect the harvest? On the basis of mine deep convictions and facts which I've got from my personal experience and association with different categories of people, I came to final conclusion that how wonderful it would be in our eyes, but in present state of Vaisnava's culture (if it exists at all) in Russian ISKCON, this culture will not be accepted in society widely and seriously. I don't know to what degree it is so on the West, but as far as for Russia, this is obvious fact. I am sure that there will be Vaisnavas, even amongst GBC members, who will support this angle of mine. Maybe I can't see and understand some things, nevertheless I had sufficient facts and time to understand that ISKCON in Russian not only jibs, but goes back and has very negative reputation in society. Things that we have achieved to this moment are good. But this is not our limit. This is not yet our success. Actually it's only the beginning. I don't think that somebody wants proclaim that we have achieved perfections in our activities and have accomplished Srila Prabhupada's mission. I am approaching you not to fulfill my ambitions and express my hurt. I say it because of duty and desire to help those, who need it. I have worked out a very detail and revolutionary plan by fulfilling which will definitely help to solve all above mentioned problems. And if some senior Vaisnavas or GBC members would be interesting in my plan, I am ready to start fulfilling it with them. Isn't it important to make effective system of massive attraction of people? Isn't it important to make effective system for real, gradual and steady spiritual development for everyone despite his level of material and intellectual development? Isn't it necessary to develop system for gradual accepting Krsna conscious process for people who aren't able to take immediately our more perfect process of intense spiritual development? Can it be true that nobody is interested in giving possibility for comprehensive personal development of every ISKCON member in order to escalate reputation of ISKCON at least to the level of really useful and respected public organization in society? Our formula, "We want to feed the whole world" looks funny when devotees who proclaim that with great difficulties earn money to support themselves. What to speak of speedy bhagavat-dharma institution in society and preparing basic for varnasrama-dharma? Now we should be concerned about possibility to continue Vaisnava's activities in case if ISKCON will be forbidden in Russia. And it's our near future if we will continue to act like we are doing it now. I think that many ISKCON devotees understand the importance of solving these and many others problems which I haven't mentioned before. But we cannot get the solution if acting with old methods. It's impossible. Dear devotees, I hope I didn't offense anybody with my approaching you. I would like to find Vaisnavas who have similar, positive ideas and unite with them for acting together for constructive actions on the basis of radical changes. We can't change our principles according to time, place and circumstances (though Krsna Himself can do even that), but we can change methods. Sometimes it's even necessary. It's very important to adjust our actions in order to be proper tool in Lord's hands and achieve success. In my opinion, the one of the main reasons of crisis in ISKCON nowadays is fear. We have fear to face with changes, fear to make mistakes, fear of going to hell, etc. But this is material energy which sticks us with it. We should rid of it. And the only way to do it is acting. How one can see in fog to the distance of 100 meters if he can see only 50 meters? The way to do it is go ahead for these 50 meters and then see the next 50 meters. Nobody can understand and see that which he's never got experience of. Therefore one should start to do something and then get knowledge and understanding. This is the law in material as well as in the spiritual life. How one can understand Krsna and the process of pure devotional service without practicing it? We come to understanding Krsna through the active process. For example, Srila Prabhupada. Could you imagine what it would be like if Srila Prabhupada wouldn't take risk and come to America? There was nobody before him who did it. But he did! With great determination and strong faith in his guru's instructions, he came to America. He left spiritual abode and went to capital of demoniac life and thus made great deed. Our business is to successfully achieve his mission and it's not an easy thing. In order to fly, one should take risk and airborne. This is the law of life: than more success do you want, than more risk you should take upon yourself. Therefore, my dear devotees, I would advice you - if you want to become great on some field, especially if you want to achieve the greatest mission for the benefit of all society, you should learn how to live in atmosphere of uncertainty and risk. You should have faith that Krsna will give you knowledge and ability to act in any circumstances. Steadiness is when there is no risk. Steadiness means a lot of comfort. Steadiness means shortage of changes. Only dead people are steady. The most important and difficult thing in our life is acceptance of right decision. We are faced with necessity to make choice at every moment in our lives. Our progress depends of our endeavors and proper choice. Therefore some devotees make theirs spiritual lives successful though others just watching how they do it. Therefore if we have any problems, it's our fault, we are the cause of ours problems, not the government, nor the demons or relatives, neighbors, devotees or non-devotees. It's we! We are the cause of and only we can become a solution of our problems. Nobody will do it for us. If now your position doesn't satisfy you, the reason of it that you did something wrong before. If you want to change your life, you want it to become completely different, there is only one way to do it: you should change something, do something completely opposite. One proper decision and for all your life success is guaranteed. Therefore don't cry and complain, but take future in your hands. Make your choice. You have possibility to change your life just now. You always have this possibility because there is no dead-end situations. I offer you solution and my help on this path till victorious end. I promise it to you. One can say whatever he likes, be complacent and retire on one's laurels, "We've done this, we've accomplished that. This is nice and that is great,"and so on, so far. But first of all we should ask ourselves would Srila Prabhupada wanted it, or whether Srila Prabhupada really wanted exactly this thing, or would he wanted only this thing? One can say many things to apology our failure. I know all arguments which you could say to me: now is Kali- yuga, and we are not pure devotees; our guru-maharaja didn't tell us to do it; I have other service; I have a little experience; I have many children; I am unhealthy; we live in Russia; I have a little money; I have so many problems. But all of this is nonsense! It's just blab. It's just allegation. Don't try to apology yours faults since any failure has no apology. There is one value, and that's success, the result. Any endeavor should be directed on achievements of result. If there is no result, it means there is something wrong and you should change it. Therefore, my dear devotees, if you really love Krsna and Srila Prabhupada, you should do what you should do. Otherwise don't say about love. One loves and wants to such degree as he does something. Don't fool yourself and others. Do you love Krsna? Do you love Prabhupada? Then ask yourself: "What have I done for Them?" But not, "What did I do," rather, "What have I done?" If you will reply me, "No," by doing it actually you say, "No" for yourself, not for me since my future doesn't depend on your decision. I've already made my decision in due course of time. Just thing where and with whom you are going to be. And if one day the question, "Why haven't we succeed?" will arise in your life, don't search for apology and say you had no chance to become pure devotee of Lord Caitanya. Be honest and agree that it's because once you couldn't believe to a person, who offered you chance to change your life and achieve big success in developing of Srila Prabhupada's mission. And remember: if you wouldn't do it, others will do it. Dear devotees, in the conclusion I would like to mention that I consciously didn't support my ideas with references from sastras because my approach to you is not Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam class. I think you will find all necessary things themselves. I would like to add that I tried to make my letter topical both for new devotees and ISKCON oldtimers, and that I tried to be gentle as much as possible for not shock someone at once, from the first day of our possible association. But my ideas and propositions are much more radical in fact, and I think that many mature Vaisnavas will not contravene them. I wish you to take right decision. Thanks for your attention. Now, those of us, who agree with this ideas and who ready to help me, please, write to me in a personal letter (I'm not a member of Varnasrama development conference yet) for additional detail explanaitions, questions and to discuss my program. Your servant Vaikunthanath dasa This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9812/ET11-2660.html
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