Back To Prabhupada, Issue 58, Vol. 2 2018
n BTP 57's "Quotes, Notes and News" ("QNN"), we exposed the stunning hypocrisy of ISKCON's GBC complaining about the persecution of religious minorities, while themselves continuing to persecute the IRM minority within ISKCON! And there is no stopping the GBC's hypocrisy juggernaut, which continues to roll on without shame.
1) ISKCON News published a feature on ISKCON guru and GBC HH Sivarama Swami ("SRS") titled "Sivarama Swami promotes religious and racial tolerance amongst children" (ISKCON News, 26/1/18), in which he "spoke about tolerance, unity and diversity." Similarly, the ISKCON Hungary-produced video "Sivarama Swami's life", in which SRS is extensively interviewed, claims that SRS "led numerous national and international campaigns on the protection of minority rights. He willingly engages in discussions with social leaders and practitioners of other religions." Yet, this is the same Sivarama Swami whose promotion of–religious tolerance, unity and diversity, minority rights, and interfaith dialogue–does not extend to devotees who support Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON's diksa guru (a position offensively described as the "posthumous rtvik theory"):
"It is the desire of the local ISKCON, UK Charity Board of Directors, chaired by His Holiness Sivarama Swami, that I strictly uphold the above mandate, and hence this letter. They have obliged me to ban all persons who advocate, assist, organise or help finance posthumous ritvik theories from coming to Bhaktivedanta Manor."
(Banning letter issued by ISKCON UK HQ, emphases added)
SRS also attempted to stop any devotees in Hungary daring to even read the IRM's publications by reminding them of the threat of "serious sanctions" they will face:
"Therefore ritviks and their literature should be ignored [...] The tone of the above law makes it quite clear that persons who are in breach of it can expect to be the object of serious sanctions."
(SRS Letter to Hungarian devotees, 17/7/08)
2) In an ironic twist, the GBC has obtained an order from The New York Kings County Supreme Court to stop the banning of worshippers at the ISKCON Brooklyn temple (aka "ISKCON Bharati Center"). This order was against the long-time Temple President Ramabhadra Dasa who has defied the GBC's decision to not sell the temple.
The New York Kings County Supreme Court Judge stated in a hearing on 19/1/18:
"no one is going to be prevented from worshiping at Bharati Center [...] People have rights, and cannot simply be thrown out of a church, synagogue or temple unless they are disruptive."
(Hon. Dawn Jiminez-Salta, New York Kings County Supreme Court Judge)
The GBC's attorney noted that:
"The judge continued to say that she could enter any Catholic church in the world and nobody would prevent her from entering."
(ISKCON News, 8/2/18)
So here the GBC is fighting for and trumpeting the right of anyone to visit a religious place of worship. But it has also passed a resolution (303, 1999) that states that a punishment for those who believe Srila Prabhupada is ISKCON's diksa guru, is to be banned from visiting ISKCON temples! It seems there is no limit to their shameless hypocrisy.
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