Back To Prabhupada, Issue 43, Spring 2014, Editorial
Welcome to Issue 43 of Back To Prabhupada (BTP).
Along with this issue, all our subscribers will also be receiving a copy of our publication Srila Prabhupada: The Founder-Acarya of ISKCON. This book presents the conclusions of the GBC's Foundational Document, in which we demonstrate that the GBC has concluded that Srila Prabhupada's permanent and exclusive position as ISKCON's Founder-Acarya, also means that he is ISKCON's permanent diksa (initiating) guru. Thus, the GBC's Foundational Document is in agreement with the IRM's foundational document, The Final Order. Our feature article on the next page explains further.
Of course, as usual, the GBC has reached these conclusions unintentionally, and this development illustrates a recurring pattern highlighted by BTP, which is that we demonstrate that the leaders of ISKCON alternate either between speaking straightforward nonsense or being bounced into unwittingly having to agree with the IRM. Thus, they have no idea if they are coming or going, and instead confusion and contradiction reign.
The reason for such a phenomenon is that the GBC are trying to achieve the impossible. They are trying to somehow make Srila Prabhupada's clear instructions conclude the opposite of what they actually state. Thus, one of two scenarios usually results: they either claim that Srila Prabhupada states something which he does not, or they offer a conclusion which does not match what Srila Prabhupada does state. This is when we are forever having to point out the straightforward nonsense which the GBC speaks.
Or, they accurately present Srila Prabhupada's instructions and let them speak for themselves. In which case, the GBC end up being "forced" to agree with the IRM. Which is what has happened in the case of the GBC's Foundational Document. And it is what has also happened in so many other instances - it seems as if in every issue we are highlighting another major concession or climbdown by the GBC!
In the Bhagavad-gita, it is explained:
"Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone.
PURPORT
The different qualities of living entities, be they good or bad, are all created by Krsna, and they are described here. Intelligence refers to the power to analyze things in their proper perspective".
(Bg., 10.4-5)
And Srila Prabhupada explains:
"Something understood by the intelligence is fixed forever and cannot waver, and that is almost spiritual."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 8/7/72)
Thus, intelligence is defined as the ability to "analyze things in their proper perspective", which in turn will allow one's understanding to be fixed. Clearly, the fact that the GBC are unable to even consistently agree with themselves means they have failed on both counts. Srila Prabhupada explains above that developing intelligence is not even necessarily spiritual ("almost spiritual"). But because it allows one to "analyze things in their proper perspective", it allows one to reach the correct understanding. Thus, if ISKCON's leadership developed such intelligence, they would be able to analyse and understand Srila Prabhupada's instructions in their proper perspective. Instead, they analyse such instructions from their self-motivated perspective, which leads them to try to reach conclusions which benefit them personally, rather than understanding and following what Srila Prabhupada has actually ordered.
And, therefore, until they at least develop intelligence, such alternating between speaking nonsense, and also being bounced into agreeing with the IRM, will continue.
Thank you and Hare Krsna.
In Srila Prabhupada's service,
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