Back To Prabhupada, Issue 11, Spring 2006, Editorial
Welcome to our 11th issue of Back To Prabhupada (BTP) magazine. In this issue you will find the addition of a new regular feature of “Reader’s questions’”, where in addition to all the many letters we get from our readers, we also answer the common questions we are sometimes asked. We also analyse the resolutions of this year’s annual GBC (ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission) meetings. These resolutions continue to provide evidence of the direction in which today’s ISKCON is headed, which is continued disobedience to the orders of Srila Prabhupada.
Many devotees understandably feel both a sense of hopelessness and sadness watching ISKCON’s continued demise. They see that vested interests have taken control of ISKCON, and do not foresee that they will ever voluntarily relinquish control of ISKCON’s assets. However trying to wrest back control of buildings is not our primary aim (though it would of course be wonderful to return the temples and deities established personally by Srila Prabhupada, back to Srila Prabhupada). Most important is to prevent devotees continuing to get cheated and having their lives ruined in the name of “service” to Srila Prabhupada. In connection with what is happening in ISKCON currently, Srila Prabhupada states:
“Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called swamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. […] The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him. The acarya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.48, purport)
We can see that his description of what happens following the disappearance of the acarya also fits what has happened within ISKCON. For we have seen that “so-called swamis” have introduced unauthorised principles within ISKCON, the chief one being the idea that Srila Prabhupada is “dead and gone”, and that instead they should now be worshipped as his “good-as-God” successors. Fortunately, Srila Prabhupada also states what happens in such a situation:
“The perfect disciples of the acarya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.48, purport)
So the disorder we see before us is expected and predicted. We should not become disheartened by this. Rather we should simply do what Srila Prabhupada advises when faced with such a situation – which is to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. And Srila Prabhupada advises:
“So we have to expose them. They are not leader; they are jackals. So jackals cannot anymore rule over. That should be our propaganda. Not only scientific, all political things, social things, everything. They should be all kicked out. They should be replaced by Krsna consciousness. Then people will be happy. This should be our program. Our, this propaganda means to make people happy. It is not a business, to make business and take some money.”
(Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, 3/5/73)
Clearly, applying Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to make a “program” to expose in every sphere of life those persons who are not genuine leaders, includes the false gurus in ISKCON, and only by such a program can any “relief” be brought to the current state of disorder in ISKCON.
Hence the IRM’s emphasis on preaching the truth about Srila Prabhupada, and educating all peoples to understand the same, is dictated by Srila Prabhupada’s order that we must bring relief to the disorder we now find. Such relief cannot be given by continuing this disorder by performing “business as usual”, as ISKCON is doing – running temples to keep the income stream coming in. Neither can such relief be given by ignoring this disorder, accepting Srila Prabhupada as the Guru for oneself, but neglecting those who continue to be cheated. In these situations one is not acting as a “perfect disciple trying to relieve the situation”. Those who already accept that Srila Prabhupada is the diksa Guru of ISKCON often advise us to simply forget devotees who are being cheated by ISKCON, since they are supposedly “too far gone”. However, they conveniently forget that had the IRM taken this attitude earlier, then they themselves would still continue to be cheated by the bogus gurus in the name of Srila Prabhupada. Having tasted freedom from ignorance, it is only fair and compassionate to spread that freedom to others who are still being cheated. And as the numerous letters we get demonstrate, there is a continuous stream of devotees who are constantly being helped in coming back to Prabhupada, and the mission of BTP is therefore bearing fruit.
Please feel free to write to me at the following address if you have any questions, criticisms or comments: irm@iskconirm.com.
We welcome all correspondence.
Thank you and Hare Krishna.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
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