n last issue's article, "The IRM Continues to Do the GBC's Job", as well as BTP 80's "GBC's Support of Sahajiyaism Exposed", we showed how GBC voted-in guru HH Sivarama Swami ("SRS") openly flouted the GBC's authority regarding propagating certain literature which was forbidden by a GBC resolution, and considered by the GBC to be "sahajiya". Now, we have yet another prominent example of disobedience of the GBC by SRS. (Emphases added.)
In a recent lecture, SRS openly preached that not all living entities are from the spiritual world:
"In fact, contrary to some philosophy, I never was in the spiritual world."
(SRS, Lecture, 15/9/24)
The "philosophy" SRS refers to, which he says he is speaking "contrary to", is in fact the philosophy promoted by the GBC on this topic of the "origin of the jiva". The GBC states that all living entities were originally in the spiritual world, and specifically produced a resolution to make its position on this matter clear. In GBC resolution 79, 1995, the GBC states:
"The origin of the conditioned life of the souls now in this material world is undoubtedly beyond the range of our direct perception. We can therefore best answer questions about that origin by repeating the answers Srila Prabhupada gave when such questions were asked of him:
"The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world. [...] However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.54, purport)"
SRS openly contradicts the GBC on this issue because he believes the GBC is "deviating philosophically", thus making ISKCON a "laughing stock":
"There's a resolution on the GBC's books about the origin of the jiva – now I'm, like, really walking into quicksand [...] Origin of jiva makes us a laughing stock. [...] Prabhupada told us that the real danger will come to this movement when we have philosophical deviation"
(SRS, Lecture, 16/7/23)
However, the said GBC resolution, which SRS specifically addresses above, also strictly forbids anyone from promoting a contrary view to the above position of the GBC:
"No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as conclusive in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.)."
Thus, since SRS delivered his "contrary view" not only in a live class but also via video when his class was published online, SRS is blatantly and openly disobeying the GBC.
In the last issue, we reported how SRS did not even attempt to show that his "sahajiya" literature does not defy the GBC's paper on the matter. He stated only that the GBC paper "may" be outdated – thus accepting it is possible it is still current and relevant – and that, if there was any doubt, we should not even read his literature. And, above, he directly references the GBC's position, and states that he is speaking "contrary" to it.
However, SRS had previously sworn that he would always blindly follow the GBC:
"I am an ISKCON man and a follower of the GBC, and in the last 50 years, I've always encouraged devotees to follow the GBC, and I'll continue to do that as long as I live."
(SRS, "On Vaisnavi Diksa-gurus" Video, published 14/10/20)
Hence, by his continued acts of defiance against the GBC, SRS is contradicting not only the GBC but also himself!
As in the previous case of SRS's defiance of the GBC, the GBC has done nothing in response to his latest act of defiance. Thus, we can see again that though the GBC is still highly active when it comes to taking action against those who support the IRM's position, the GBC appears to no longer be concerned if its gurus defy it on other philosophical issues. This lack of principles displayed by the GBC means that it has effectively lost the moral authority to govern. Because now, any time one disagrees with the GBC, and the GBC insists its authority must be obeyed, one can simply point to the examples we have highlighted above, and legitimately ask why one should follow the GBC when the GBC permits others to not follow it?
Subscribe for FREE to Back To Prabhupada Magazine - Click Here
Return to Sivarama Swami Index
Return to GBC Index
Return to IRM Homepage
