Back To Prabhupada, Issue 23, Spring 2009
Having published a mountain of evidence establishing that a guru hoax exists, why are so many devotees still unable to accept the facts? In this article we examine some of the reasons why.
In 1972 Srila Prabhupada prophetically wrote:
"I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 22/6/1972, emphasis added)
This, of course, is exactly what came to pass, with the movement becoming "lost" just 5 years later with the Guru Hoax. In the same letter above Srila Prabhupada also states what was needed to ensure that this did not happen:
"So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. […] So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always [...]."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 22/6/1972)
However, knowledge and understanding regarding the most basic points of Krishna consciousness is so weak that those who are supposedly the most learned leaders of our Society speak complete gibberish every time they open their mouths, as highlighted by our "An error in every sentence" series (see BTP 22 and this issue for examples).
Srila Prabhupada mentions that study should be from "every point of view", but devotees are crippled by the fear that one must not study or discuss anything which is controversial for fear it will lead to faultfinding resulting in causing Vaisnava aparadha, or offences. Yet Srila Prabhupada states the opposite:
"A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one's mind becomes attached to Sri Krsna."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 2.117)
"Apaisunam means that one should not find fault with others or correct them unnecessarily. Of course to call a thief a thief is not faultfinding, but to call an honest person a thief is very much offensive for one who is making advancement in spiritual life."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 16.1-3, purport, 1972 edition)
Discussing and stating the truth, no matter how controversial, is never the cause of offenses. Rather, it is not stating the truth which causes offenses. And BTP is boldly studying the conclusions of Srila Prabhupada's teachings from every point of view without fear of the controversy it may generate. We document Srila Prabhupada's conclusions from all conceivable angles, even using the words of those who oppose these conclusions!
Memorising and reading is one thing. But to understand requires some very basic tools of literacy. IRM papers always traditionally open with "contradictions" and "straw-man" arguments. This is because it has not yet been grasped by many devotees that when stating a point, one should not contradict what one has just said, nor should one fabricate the issue one is claiming to address (a straw-man argument). Obvious, but read the 150-plus papers on our website, and in virtually every case we document that these simple rules of literacy have not been followed by those who oppose the IRM. Additionally, one must accept the meanings of words as given by the English language since this was the language in which Srila Prabhupada spoke. One cannot just give any meaning one likes to words. For example:
a) "Yes" means "No" - as in when Srila Prabhupada says "Yes, they are disciples" in the May 28th, 1977 conversation - the GBC's paper Disciple of My Disciple claims that: "Srila Prabhupada could say yes, but he does not"!
b) "When" means "I am doing now" - as in when Srila Prabhupada says "When I order you become guru", in the May 28th conversation - the GBC claim it means he IS ordering gurus there and then. And so on.
Knowledge without knowing how to apply it to reach conclusions will also lead one astray. Many devotees do not even understand that conclusions require to be established via relevant evidence. Hence two very common sources used to establish conclusions in ISKCON are either "testimony" - meaning what someone claims Srila Prabhupada "said" - or from outside Srila Prabhupada's teachings. If we limited ourselves only to the documented words of Srila Prabhupada, this would have avoided many of the problems we have experienced. For example, some persons claim that Srila Prabhupada "secretly ordered" or "whispered" for them to be initiating gurus. And so many people just blindly swallow it without requiring any evidence for the same!
Another example of not understanding the concept of evidence is reflected in the common criticism levelled at the IRM that we are too "lawyerly" or "legalistic". These terms mean "according to law", and obviously in this case since we are only discussing Srila Prabhupada's words, this "law" has to be Srila Prabhupada's teachings or his "law-books", and not the government's laws. Hence this criticism is actually the greatest compliment, since we are accused of being too attached to following Srila Prabhupada's words, or his law!
The key to everything however is stated by Srila Prabhupada as follows:
"As soon as personal motivation comes in it is not possible for one to understand our Krishna Consciousness philosophy."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 21/9/1970)
Because even if all of the above are in place, if one is self-motivated it will not be possible to understand anything. If one is attached to getting or keeping some position or service, or advancing some personal philosophy etc., then this self-interest will ensure that one will remain blind to the facts, only seeing what will advance their own self-interest. And this, of course, has been the history of the movement for the last 30 years as everyone involved with the movement has either directly or indirectly supported the Guru Hoax.
Ignorance and self-motivation are the twin pillars holding devotees back from stepping into the light. Joining the IRM, where one has absolutely nothing to gain apart from the truth (not properties or income streams), and everything to lose in terms of position, reputation, friends etc., demolishes these two pillars in one stroke!
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