Back To Prabhupada, Issue 63, Vol. 3, 2019
elcome to Issue 63 of Back To Prabhupada (BTP).
Unable to refute the contents of BTP, since every conclusion is copiously documented, one tack taken by those who support ISKCON's leadership is to ask us to put things into perspective. Thus, it is claimed that yes, sometimes we are able to "catch" ISKCON's leaders making some errors in their statements. But BTP then unnecessarily makes a "big deal" out of such errors — because this is only an issue of the leaders sometimes speaking the wrong words — that's all! Against this, we are told to consider the right actions of these leaders:
a) They inspire many people to chant Hare Krsna.
b) Srila Prabhupada's books and prasadam are being distributed.
c) Krsna is being promoted as God.
And so on.
Compared to this, the fact that these struggling sadhakas sometimes make mistakes and are imperfect should be overlooked as they are trying their best to push on Lord Caitanya's mission. Hence, we need to stop focusing on "fault-finding" and see the bigger picture. This is what they advise us to do.
So, let us look at the "bigger picture".
1) Srila Prabhupada states:
"first of all try to understand Krsna. You will understand in such a way that you can refute all others' argument, all others' opposition. There are so many opposing elements. Then you are guru. Otherwise you cannot become a guru. Guru is not so teeny thing or trifle thing that everyone becomes Guru Maharaja. No. That is not guru."
(Lecture, 28/1/75, emphases added)
Hence, according to Srila Prabhupada, it should not even be possible for the IRM to fill up so many papers, magazines and books continually defeating the arguments that ISKCON's gurus put forward. Because they are the ones who are supposed to be gurus, and thus they should be refuting our arguments. But, as we have seen, they are only able to refute themselves, since they continually contradict themselves and each other! Thus, they are just pretending to be gurus, having turned "become guru" into a "teeny trifle" so that "everyone becomes Guru Maharaja", even though they have zero capacity to refute the IRM.
2) If they are just "struggling sadhakas trying their best", why do they demand to be treated and daily worshipped by their disciples as if they are perfect "assistants to the gopis" — to whom complete and absolute surrender and servitude must be given? They cannot suddenly claim to be "struggling sadhakas" only when they get exposed doing and speaking nonsense! They demand to be treated as if they are perfect, self-realised spiritual masters — and thus that's exactly the standard by which they should be measured and judged.
3) Most importantly, as we show, the wrong words only arise because of having the wrong philosophy, the wrong consciousness, or engaging in the wrong actions. Such as disobeying Srila Prabhupada's orders, deviating from his teachings, and denying his authority and guru position. All of which have serious consequences:
a) Chanting Hare Krsna and accepting Krsna without the correct philosophy is sahajiyaism.
b) Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement (Sri Gurvastakam, Verse 8). And usurping Srila Prabhupada's position is not how his grace is earned.
c) By disobeying Srila Prabhupada, one is "offensive" and cannot make progress in chanting or spiritually. Rather, one's spiritual life is "finished, immediately." (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 4/7/74).
All the above points, and more, have been thoroughly documented in past issues of BTP. Therefore, BTP showing the reality of a sahajiya movement of pretenders and offenders, making no spiritual progress — you cannot get "bigger picture" than that! And if the leaders disagree — let them go ahead and "refute all others' argument", if they are supposedly real gurus, as we quoted Srila Prabhupada stating at the outset. We are waiting.
Thank you and Hare Krsna.
In Srila Prabhupada's service,
Krishnakant
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