Jagannatha's blogging Hut

Prabhu, Please excuse me. Sorry to bother you again.

I was referring to the Higher Truth perceived by truly awakened souls (and not those who witness and have knowledge of atrocities masquerading as religion, or look away from the suffering of others) along with the Vedic aphorism tarko-pratistanat, that is, by argument one cannot force others to reach any real conclusion because of the inevitable affront caused by reactive false ego(pratistha).

At this point of Kali-yuga hardly anyone claiming to debate or argue a point is able to do so without vehemence or acrimony, although pratistha prevents the participants from perceiving this as all degenerates into ever exacerbating quarrels. Thusly, so-called philosophical debates or arguments are unfortunately usually in reality nothing more than quarrelsome clashes of ego often resulting in less than affectionate feelings and dealings between participants.

The Wise do not contend. Therefore no can contend with Them.Personally, I have not been involved in any type of religious society for many decades, although I now live in a house that I dreamed of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur singing  Hare Krishna in before I ever saw it. In my previous residence I had one of my many dreams of Srila Prabhupada wherein he was very disturbed and he asked me for help. My thoughts, realization and consciousness are the only assistance I can give His Divine Grace in this regard, with Faith as my only asset.However, in this life, I have no institutional position, nor will I ever. Nonetheless, I have a great wish to restore that which was lost. In honor of Srila Prabhupada’s personal request to me.

This includes considering the rectifiable Krishna Consciousness of those who have acted badly because of poor understanding. Towards this end I have endeavored to address the ultimate causes of cruelty and corruption in a universally applicable religious context on the pages of Sampradaya Sun.  Hopefully with dignity and delicacy. And without pointing any fingers. Although possibly I must accept that I have failed at this difficult task. Rather than being opposed to misconceivers, my fight is against misconception or misunderstanding which is the core ideological problem(after at first stringently applying such tenets towards myself, which is the real battle).

My response,

Dear suchandsuch das,

I do not believe in retrieving myself in fear of not being a pure representative, that is taking humility to a level that does more harm than good to me and to others.

The facts that had happened are so base and lowly that is not to be categorized as “normal” residues of us conditioned souls playing the part of managers of a spiritual movement, but a complete havoc affecting most importantly our ability to bring these message to society.

I am sure your “Master” (I do not know who is, I suppose Srila Prabhupada) would try to actively implement a change. I also see what he had done, do the right thing apart from the mainstream maya affected Gaudiya Math.

I agree that the most powerful change driver is to situate oneself in proper action, and that IS not difficult nor impossible.

I am also not talking from idleness, I am actively distributing Srila prabhupada books and other services, so am certainly not speaking from my armchair.

The Movement Srila Prabhupada envisioned is one of independent units temples with self empowered congregations monks and temple presidents, not the Church that was created just after his departure and is increasingly moving away from our basic tenets all in the name of practicality and a so called absolute authority nowadays GBC crew.

If you really wish to please your Master, then engage in practical things to ameliorate the state of affairs in his vision, more books going out, mass prasadam distribution and Hare Krishna chanting being heard and followed by millions.

My whole point here is that to follow His order we need to be active, bold and daring, impersonal spiritualism and nice words of humility will not do, real humility is to please the spiritual master and if nice words are killing that end they are most violent.

I agree with you that Tamo guna is the real culprit, please do not think I am personally against of any of the rascals thriving in ISKCON nowadays. I am sure they think they are doing their best, and it is true , they are doing their best, buried in the lower modes of nature understanding and perspective.

So I am not promoting fight, quarrel or anything like that. But to tell the truth, to denounce the mistakes is essential, specially because we have a responsibility with the ones that are coming next, the new blood of ISKCON so that things do not repeat themselves and most importantly they stop occurring altogether. If the rascals get disturb by those actions and reasonings, we are very sorry.

I advocate education above fight, because that is the only means to achieve what everyone including the failing managers want: happiness and peace in KC. But education is an active work and many times implies argument and debate.

Strangely, (please do not take this personally) when I read your email, reminded me of the “humble” impersonalists arguments of “peace” and inaction. Their words are missing their own philosophy as if their goal was that, if they honoured their own philosophy, how in the world they even speak or write an email with an argument? If those persons are in fact so transcendental, let them pass through without writing a letter, speaking a word or making themselves available to discuss.

Wishing you a nice Krishna conscious day…

responding to my article:

http://jaganat.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/a-new-light-for-iskcon/

from undisclosed sender:

Please excuse me. Sorry to bother you. Are there not also those who are able to
perceive the Truth but do not wish to quarrel/argue/debate?

______________

My response:

Dear suchandsuch Dasa,

Always a pleasure to have vaishnava association.

What do you mean by “those who are able to perceive the Truth but do
not wish to quarrel/argue/debate”, the self realized souls uttma
adhikaris that see all in relation to Krishna and so make no
distinctions? (you put the word Truh in caps so I guess so) or those
who see the truth about our social problems and choose not to speak?

For your information those persons are the real responsible for all
the mistakes, abuse, cover-ups and mismanagement… because they see
but they look the other way, all in the name of “spiritual” vision.
They are the real ones that perpetuate the wrong, allowing the rascals
to thrive.

Nowhere in my post I use the word quarrel or synonyms.

I do not know why you equate debate and argument with quarrel, that
could be a symptom of a person in the mode of “whatever happens, no
see no hear no talk”.

Could be that you equal any attempt to fix things as a direct attack
on the status quo with negative consequences?

Whistle blowers are an asset to our movement and to any organization,
they keep the leadership sanitized and alert. Those leaders that are
sincere, they will welcome denounce, if they are rascals they will try
to stop the flow of information about their behaviour and character by
any means, including character assassination and appeal to “higher”
principles.

Those rascals and their henchmen would love that all critics will fall
in those categories: biased, maddened, bitter, but….

There is a “fifth class” of devotees, and they are the ones that can
heal our movement, as opposed to the “good standing and politically
correct cheer leaders” that help very efficiently perpetuate the
bluff.

Wishing you all the best, spiritual and material,

your servant,

Jagannatha Mishra das

BY: KURMA DASA

Mar 13, AUSTRALIA (SUN) —

It is time for ISKCON’s GBC and leaders to at least acknowledge that devotees who were initiated by any of the first eleven who were empowered to do this on Srila Prabhupada’s behalf are, in fact, disciples of Srila Prabhupada.Devotees who joined ISKCON after this letter was sent out were surely well intentioned. Just because these Representatives of Srila Prabhupada ignored this instruction, this does not interfere with the disciple’s connection to Srila Prabhupada.If the devotees who were initiated can understand that they were, in fact, disciples of Srila Prabhupada and even now follow their rightful Spiritual Master, then how could their connection be void?

The problem wasn’t Srila Prabhupada’s, nor was it the devotees who joined ISKCON with good intentions. The problem and any adjustments and apologies to be made must be made by the representatives and those GBC who ignored Srila Prabhupada’s instructions in this matter. This includes all the senior members of ISKCON at the time who are now big boys within the movement. They to are not exempt because they assisted with this lie and cheated us. They know exactly who they are, and they also know what they have done. Should we have to name and shame them? Where is THEIR humility? You people helped perpetuate the lies and cheating so you are just as guilty as those who led the way!

The more the GBC try to ignore this, the more deviant they will be deemed by the growing worldwide voice that is ever gaining momentum.This is the first step that must be taken toward any reconciliation. Then and then only will we be able to deal with the current cheating system that says a bona fide Spiritual Master can be given his position by votes. This concoction is also unfair to the genuine people who have recently joined the movement and who may be guided to the movement in the future by Srila Prabhupada’s books.Hansadutta has admitted to the above mistake and apologized to the devotee community, and for this he must be forgiven and given credit.Will the others follow this example?Kurma das (not the chef)

The Sampradaya Sun – Independent Vaisnava News – Editorials – March 2008

First Eleven are Srila Prabhupada DisciplesBY: KURMA DASAMar 13, AUSTRALIA (SUN) — It is time for ISKCON’s GBC and leaders to at least acknowledge that devotees who were initiated by any of the first eleven who were empowered to do this on Srila Prabhupada’s behalf are, in fact, disciples of Srila Prabhupada.Devotees who joined ISKCON after this letter was sent out were surely well intentioned. Just because these Representatives of Srila Prabhupada ignored this instruction, this does not interfere with the disciple’s connection to Srila Prabhupada.If the devotees who were initiated can understand that they were, in fact, disciples of Srila Prabhupada and even now follow their rightful Spiritual Master, then how could their connection be void?The problem wasn’t Srila Prabhupada’s, nor was it the devotees who joined ISKCON with good intentions. The problem and any adjustments and apologies to be made must be made by the representatives and those GBC who ignored Srila Prabhupada’s instructions in this matter. This includes all the senior members of ISKCON at the time who are now big boys within the movement. They to are not exempt because they assisted with this lie and cheated us. They know exactly who they are, and they also know what they have done. Should we have to name and shame them? Where is THEIR humility? You people helped perpetuate the lies and cheating so you are just as guilty as those who led the way!The more the GBC try to ignore this, the more deviant they will be deemed by the growing worldwide voice that is ever gaining momentum.This is the first step that must be taken toward any reconciliation. Then and then only will we be able to deal with the current cheating system that says a bona fide Spiritual Master can be given his position by votes. This concoction is also unfair to the genuine people who have recently joined the movement and who may be guided to the movement in the future by Srila Prabhupada’s books.Hansadutta has admitted to the above mistake and apologized to the devotee community, and for this he must be forgiven and given credit.Will the others follow this example?Kurma das (not the chef)

The Sampradaya Sun – Independent Vaisnava News – Editorials – March 2008

some interesting conversation in pariprashnena.com:

http://www.pariprashnena.com/discussion/556/1/are-the-present-gurus-uttama-adhikari/

BY: KRSNA DASA

Mar 1, CANADA (SUN) — The recent GBC report about a 28% increase in BBT book sales seems to be an attempt to cover the real situation of worldwide book sales going down. First we should note that 76% of all book sales took place in India, which probably means all of the book increases occurred in the big Indian temples. The BBTs in India really have no connection with BBT International, who is responsible for book publication in the western world. In fact the BBTs in India are run mostly by local temples. For example, the Kanada BBT is run by the Bangalore Ritvik temple, the Tamil BBT is officially ran by the Chennai temple (but is actually leased out to a private printer for his personal profit). the Malayalam BBT is run by the Coimbatore temple, the Oriya BBT is run by the Bhubaneswar temple, etc. All of these successful BBTs are completely independent from the BBT International, the people making this report of “increased worldwide book sales”.

What the BBT International is trying to do is hide behind the success of these independent and hard working Indian temples, who print and distribute their own books. 76% of the worldwide book distribution has absolutely nothing to do with BBT International. It is the hard work of independent teams of devotees in India. BBT International wants to take credit for their work to cover their own failing record in the west.

If we removed this 76% of book sales from the BBT International’s report, we would be left with news of worldwide drops in book distribution in key countries like the United States. Thus the BBT International’s real record for 2007 is that book sales continue to decline, while they waste their time in lawsuits chasing “easy money”.