Back To Prabhupada, Issue 48, Summer 2015
elcome to Issue 48 of Back To Prabhupada (BTP).
GBC supporters have argued that regardless of the deviations the IRM thinks the GBC may be engaging in, we should still recognise the "good" that the GBC does. It is pointed out that the GBC at least gets some of the "basics" right, such as promoting Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and spreading the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. And that if people are encouraged to chant Hare Krishna and worship Lord Krishna, it is very auspicious. Therefore, why not "praise" the GBC for all these activities in addition to criticising it?
However, it should be noted that other movements such as the sahajiya movement also get these "basics" right. And that the GBC itself does not "praise" the sahajiya movement either, but rather agrees with the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books which criticise this movement. Therefore, calling for others to praise the GBC for just doing the same as the sahajiya movement does is a hypocritical double standard. But there is a more fundamental consideration that drives the approach of the IRM.
Consider another activity that, on the surface, the GBC seems to get "right": the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books. However, we must also consider:
a) Yes, Srila Prabhupada very much wanted his books distributed, but they had to be his books. They should not have been unnecessarily changed. And, therefore, a thorough audit providing the evidence for every change made to Srila Prabhupada's books whilst "editing" them needs to be provided in order to verify that no unnecessary changes were made – please see article on next page for more information.
b) The books are meant to be read. Yet, as we quote on page 10 of this issue, ISKCON guru HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami ("BVKS") admits that "numerous" devotees have not read all of Srila Prabhupada's books, nor have they even thought to do so. And that a main reason for this is due to them "wasting their life reading other books apart from Srila Prabhupada's". Such as, for example, the many written by BVKS!
c) The reason the books are meant to be read is so that one will follow and live them. But, as we show on pages 7 and 15, rather than following the books, ISKCON leaders are misusing the books to preach the opposite of what the books state.
d) Indeed, as we show on page 4 of this issue, Srila Prabhupada's books are being distributed simply to "warm up" new devotees to be funnelled into the arms of one of the many dozens of GBC-authorised diksa guru "successors" to Srila Prabhupada.
In connection with these points, Srila Prabhupada stated:
"I know that Hansadutta is very expert in selling books but books are not only for selling but also for reading. Now has the GBC become more than Guru Maharaja? As if simply GBC is meant for looking after pounds, shilling, pence. The GBC does not look after spiritual life. That is a defect."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 10/11/75)
Srila Prabhupada gives a very severe warning here. Even if the books are being successfully distributed, the GBC still runs the risk of "becoming more than guru" if they are not being read and the GBC is not looking after "spiritual life". And trying to become "more than guru" will lead to failure, thus undoing everything:
"Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru."
(Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation, 16/8/76)
Thus, the "right" which the GBC may do may get undone if it deviates. And the IRM wants to ensure that this does not happen. Hence, we actually want to do much more than just offer lip-service to the GBC in the form of "praise". We want to help the GBC by making sure that it only does all the right things, rather than undoing them, and in this way actually please Srila Prabhupada, rather than disobey him. Therefore, though they may not know it, the IRM is actually the GBC's best friend!
Thank you and Hare Krsna.
In Srila Prabhupada's service,
Krishnakant
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