Guest guest Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Newsletter of the Iskcon Revival Movement (IRM) Issue 62 1. Singapore IRM Expands Into Historic Building 2. ‘Back To Prabhupada’ Magazine Launched 3. Narayana Maharaja Criticises Prahlada Maharaja 4. Indian Parliament Praises ISKCON Bangalore 5. GBC Violates Own Guidelines in Nominating Female Guru 6. New IRM Website - ISKCONIRM 7. Toronto Meeting Unravelled 8. The Bhakti Caru Swami Hypocrisy Road-Show Continues 9. Vyasa-Puja Book A Huge Success 1. Singapore IRM Expands Into Historic Building We are pleased to announce the expansion of the Singapore ISKCON Revival Movement (IRM) temple into one of the landmark buildings in Singapore's history. Situated at 9 Norris Road, and designed beautifully in the style of North Indian temple architecture, the large imposing building has been made famous by some of the 20th century’s most famous personalities. During the war years, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whom Srila Prabhupada credited with the liberation of India from British Rule, frequented the premises and subsequently opened a dormitory building to house the orphanage which was there at the time. In 1950, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, visited the Norris Road premises and attended the opening of the Boys’ Home building. Other important personalities to have visited the premises include Dr. Zakir Hussein (former President of India), and the Senior Minister and then Prime Minister of Singapore itself, Mr Lee Kwan Yew. These visits show that 9 Norris Road has been duly recognised in history as one of the focal points and nerve centres for the provision of welfare services on the Island. Now known as the Sri Krishna Mandir, the government has provided official public road signage indicating its location, in recognition of the building's prominence. The frontage of the building extends to 100 feet, and the total built up area is about 18,000 sq.ft., spread over 3 elevatored floors, 20 rooms, 4 large classrooms, one temple hall and one prasadam hall. Please below to see a picture of the outside of the temple (or visit the ‘photo library’ on the homepage of our website); download time may take up to 2 minutes: http://www.iskconirm.com/photo_library.htm The acquiring of these facilities has provided a great boost to the already burgeoning activities which have been undertaken by the temple in the 20 years it has been established in Singapore. One of its main activities is its very popular ‘Food-for-Life’ programme, which has been established with the ultimate aim of feeding Krishna prasadam (sanctified food offered to the Lord) to every member of the public. The temple restaurant daily operates from 11am to 10pm, serving sumptuous and nutritious pure vegetarian meals of rice, dhal, subjis and other food items. The meals are offered at a take-as-much-as-you-want scheme for a token donation and many members of the public have been benefiting from this food distribution programme since its inception at the beginning of 2003. Further to this, catering services are also provided for special functions. Members of the public have become impressed with this programme and many traders, both Indians and the local Chinese, have come forward to generously contribute financially and in kind in the form of free grains and vegetables. The Food-for-Life program has also been expanded to Old Folks Homes, Children’s Homes, Halfway Houses, etc. where devotees regularly visit with packets of healthy food. Many elderly predominantly Chinese residents falling within the 60-86 age group look forward to the free meals every day. What is amazing is the ability of our food distribution programme to reach and attract people of various races and different religious persuasions. Sri Krishna Mandir’s food distribution programme is gradually emerging as a dynamic and constantly expanding social welfare venture and the rewards are very satisfying, especially in terms of engaging people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds as contributors, supporters, participants and beneficiaries. 9 Norris Centre has become a major centre for the distribution of “soul” food. In addition to the food distribution programme, Sri Krishna Mandir remains at the forefront of combating social ills such as crime and drug addiction. Devotees from the temple have been offering social and religious counselling to inmates in the various prisons in Singapore since 1989. Knowledgable and experienced devotee counsellors from the temple have been meeting with inmates. They conduct regular counselling sessions on weekdays and Sundays without fail. Originally starting off at the Jalan Awan Centre and the Changi Prison, devotees have expanded their counselling services to the Khalsa Crescent Centre and the Kaki Bukit Prison School, upon the invitation of the authorities. Spiritual books from the society have been placed in the prison libraries for the benefit of the inmates. Inmates are treated to melodious bhajans, kirtan (devotional music) and video shows on a drug-free lifestyle and spiritual topics. They are also taught Mantra meditation and the cultivation of good habits. On festive occasions such as Deepavali, etc., devotees have been invited to perform kirtana and distribute prasadam in the prisons for the welfare of the inmates. Prison Authorities from the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association and the prisons have also acknowledged Sri Krishna Mandir’s endeavours over the years with commendation certificates for the important counselling services rendered. Many inmates and ex-inmates are grateful for having been given a chance to contact the devotees in their quest to better themselves in life. The counselling programme continues today with vigour and enthusiasm. All this is topped by all the many regular activities which are expected from a major temple such as this. Weekly classes in Sanskrit and Bhagavad-Gita, as well as classes for children are conducted in English, Tamil and Bengali. The Presiding Deities, Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan are worshipped daily in authentic tradition together with the Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra and Sri Nrsimhadeva. More significantly, 9 Norris Road is today Singapore’s own replica of Vrndavana, Lord Krishna’s transcendental abode. It houses the only Radha Krishna temple in Singapore and also simultaneously serves as a replica of the Holy temple of Puri with its installed Jagannatha Deities. 5 worships and 7 offerings are made to the Deities each day according to the guidelines of the Narada Pancharatra. In fact, many guests and devotees alike marvel at the beauty of the Deities and are able to perceive the presence of the Lord. Many cultural activities such as devotional dramas, dances and music performances are also held regularly. The temple’s drama troupe, The Vaikuntha Players, have been putting on colourful and lively dramas for many years for the audiences. These dramas depict the pastimes of Lord Krishna and His various incarnations and devotees, as presented in the Vedic literatures such as the Srimad- Bhagavatam and Chaitanya-charitamrta. All the major Vaisnava festivals such as Ratha Yatra and Govardhana puja are held, in conjunction with a nearby 200-acre farm which belongs to one of the members of the temple. Plans are underway for the start of a kindergarten and child care centre. The kindergarten is set to take off by the beginning of 2004 followed subsequently by the commencement of a child care centre. In line with the counselling activities of Sri Krishna Mandir, scope has also been confirmed for the establishment of a counselling centre for inmates and those with marital and financial problems, etc. Furthering the cultural development of the premises, devotees are also looking into the possibility of starting classes in vegetarian cooking, classical music, dance and yoga etc. The promising Food-for-Life Programme is waiting to expand further. A massive food distribution programme involving many charitable organisations of various persuasions is being planned and Sri Krishna Mandir is set to feature significantly in this regard. Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! For more information please contact Tel: 62502280 or e-mail: skm_singapore 2. ‘Back To Prabhupada’ Magazine Launched We have yet more exciting news. The IRM is launching a worldwide color magazine to complement the current e-mail based newsletter. To be printed quarterly, appropriately titled "Back To Prabhupada - The magazine of the Real Hare Krishna Movement", the magazine will allow the IRM to break new ground and reach a whole new readership. Full of colour pictures and articles more suitable for a print magazine rather than a newsletter, "Back To Prabhupada" will be a welcome addition to the e-mail newsletter. As a special offer we are planning to send our loyal readers a free copy of the first issue. Simply e-mail us your POSTAL ADDRESS. And those who wish to help spread the truth and become bulk distributors may also indicate how many copies they would like to receive. The magazine will go to press soon, and the first print run will be 5000 copies. The first magazine is specially dedicated to giving an overview of what has gone wrong with the Hare Krishna movement, and what is being done to put it right. It has been written to be suitable for all ISKCON audiences, from Life Members to seasoned temple devotees, from academics to the media. Each magazine will come with a pre-paid postage international reply card that will allow every reader to send off for more information regardless of which country they live in!. So please send us your mailing address and we will send you 'Back To Prabhupada' For it is only by going back to Prabhupada that we will have any hope of going back to Godhead. Thank you. 3. Narayana Maharaja Criticises Prahlada Maharaja We have pointed out previously in this newsletter how the teachings of Narayana Maharaja differ from Srila Prabhupada. Our stand has always been to NOT comment on Narayana Maharaja’s individual spiritual standing, but just to respectfully point out that those who wish to follow Srila Prabhupada are not served by the teachings of Narayana Maharaja, for he is on a different path. Another example of this is given below from one of his lectures where he states that Prahlada Maharaja was NOT a pure devotee: "Prahlada Maharaja was a very bona fide bhakta, and he never wanted anything worldly, but he could not serve Krsna. His bhakti was mixed with jnana, knowledge of the Lord's opulence. If you have some worldly desire, or any desire, then your bhakti may be sanga-siddha bhakti or aropa-siddha bhakti, but not pure transcendental bhakti" (Narayana Maharaja, Hawaii, 17/2/2001) On first reading this seems bizarre, taught as we have been by Srila Prabhupada to daily glorify Prahlada Maharaja after offering prayers to Lord Nrsinghadeva. Now we are told that he is just a 'bhakta', who could 'not serve Krishna', who did not possess 'pure transcendental bhakti', since it was 'mixed with jnana'. Hardly someone worthy of our daily glorification. However it is not a mis-print, and this offensive remark is still available on the NM website on: http://www.purebhakti.com/lectures/lecture20010217.shtml But Srila Prabhupada's verdict is completely different: "So Prahlada Maharaja, a pure devotee, he did not like to make any exchange. [...] Kindly engage me as servant of Your servant. If You want to give me something, please engage me as the servant of Your servant." (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 23, 1972) "Prahlada Maharaja is the topmost example of a Vaisnava, who is always compassionate toward sinful persons suffering a hellish life within this material world. Krsna is therefore known as para-duhkha-duhkhi krpambudhih, or one who is compassionate toward others' suffering and who is an ocean of mercy. Like Prahlada Maharaja, all pure devotees of the Lord come to this material world with full compassion to deliver the sinful." (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.21.47 Purport) "Bali Maharaja said: My grandfather Prahlada Maharaja is the only person who understood his own self-interest. Upon the death of Prahlada's father, Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva wanted to offer Prahlada his father's kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material bondage, but Prahlada accepted neither. Liberation and material opulence, he thought, are obstacles to devotional service, and therefore such gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not His actual mercy. Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jnana, Prahlada Maharaja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the service of His servant.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.24.25) The above are hardly descriptions of an impure 'bhakta' who ‘could not serve Krishna'. Rather Prahlada Maharaja is THE example par excellence of HOW we should serve Krishna and practice bhakti (devotional service to the Supreme Lord). So once again Narayana Maharaja has shown that he disagrees with the siksa (instructions) given by Srila Prabhupada even on such a basic point, namely whether or not Prahlada Maharaja is a pure devotee. Srila Prabhupada has clearly established that Prahlada Maharaja was a pure devotee, free from all desires for improvement of his material situation by means of karma, jnana, or yoga perfections, yet Narayana Maharaja seems to disagree. This despite the constant boast that he is supposed to be the 'dearmost siksa disciple' of Srila Prabhupada. Therefore, we again warn our readers not to deviate from the path as given by Srila Prabhupada by going to listen to all these rival Gurus, whether in ISKCON or outside. In this way, we will avoid incurring offences to both Srila Prabhupada and great, topmost Vaisnavas, such as Prahlada Maharaja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Prahlada Maharaja! 4. Indian Parliament Praises ISKCON Bangalore In our previous newsletter we reported on the highly successful 'Akshaya Patra' Food-for-Life program run by the IRM's headquarters, ISKCON Bangalore. Such is the impact of this program that recently it was lauded in the Indian Parliament in a speech made by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, the government's Minister for Science, Technology and Human Resources. Excerpts follow herewith: “I request the assembled respected Members & Mr. Rehaman, who is an Honourable member of Karnataka that if you go to Bangalore you can visit ISKCON temple and see how they have started Askaya Patra Scheme. […] First year when they came to me they said that they will feed 10,000 children and today when I went to Bangalore then they said that we will feed one lakh (100,000) children. […] Today this is the situation we want to create in mid-day meals programme and we want to include all people from society into this programme. We should make a vow that no child of India remain hungry.” (Excerpts of speech made to Indian Parliament by Human Resource Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi) Then to cap it all, the Prime Minister himself has become so inspired by this programme that he mentioned in his Independence Day speech to the country that he has decided to launch a national version of the feeding program to cover every child in the country, which would be named after the IRM’s program in Bangalore: “The Mid-Day Meal Scheme for children up to class five is going on in some States. Now, we have decided to run it throughout the country. Later, this will be extended to students up to class ten. This National Program will be known as "Akshaypatra".” (Independence Day Speech of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee) All glories to the ISKCON Bangalore Akshaya Patra program! 5. GBC Violates Own Guidelines In Nominating Female Guru The GBC authorities for North Carolina have recently nominated Urmila Devi Dasi to become ISKCON's first ever female Guru. The IRM has been asked which 'side of the fence' we fall on this issue? Are we with the 'traditionalists' who will no doubt be aghast at such a development, or the 'liberals' (or the 'politically correct' group as the 'traditionalists' would have them known). Of course, the IRM stands with neither group, since we oppose ALL bogus Gurus, male, female or androgynous. Thus we are neither 'tradionalists' or 'liberals' but 'Prabhupadaists', interested only in restoring Srila Prabhupada as the Guru for ISKCON. We have no desire to make our main mission in life either the selective implementation of some of Srila Prabhupada's 'Vedic' rules and regulations as proposed by the 'traditionalists' or the various '-isms' and 'rights campaigns' based on bodily identification as proposed by the 'liberals'. While these two groups fight it out, the bogus Guru program continues to destroy ISKCON, with book distribution and preaching continuing to decline. What is forgotten is that both sides are merely vying to take control of a society which they have already JOINTLY stolen from Srila Prabhupada. What about the 'tradition' of following Srila Prabhupada's orders, like the July 9th 1977 institutional directive? And how about a campaign for Srila Prabhupada's rights? This notwithstanding, we would like to point out that the proposed Guru candidacy for Urmila Devi Dasi violates the GBC's own rules for the nomination of a Guru. Urmila Devi Dasi by her own admission has been separated from her husband for the last 7 years. She has justified this separation in the guise of living as a 'vanaprastha' (retired life): "I'm living separated from husband as vanaprastha since 1996; we have a legal separation agreement." (Urmila Devi Dasi, 2-Sep-03, PAMHO text:7197401) However, this is in DIRECT VIOLATION of Srila Prabhupada's teaching on this subject: “There is NO question of separation between husband and wife until the time when the husband takes sannyasa. At that time the wife cannot remain with the husband. *Even in vanaprastha stage*, or retired life, the wife remains with the husband, but without any sex relations." (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Himavati, 24/1/69) "The chaste wife’s duty is to keep her husband pleased in householder life in all respects, and when the husband retires from family life, she is to go to the forest and adopt the life of vanaprastha, or vana-vasi. At that time the wife is to follow her husband and take care of him, just as she took care of him in householder life." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.23.20) "Just as in the vanaprastha stage the wife follows the husband, ..." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.34) "The vanaprastha stage is exactly like this. Although the wife remains with the husband, she undergoes severe austerities and penances so that although both husband and wife live together, there is no question of sex. In this way both husband and wife can live together perpetually." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.44) Srila Prabhupada clearly states that there is *no question* of separation between husband and wife until the husband takes sannyasa (complete renunciation), and in vanaprastha life the wife must remain with and follow her husband. So it is quite clear that vanaprastha does NOT mean separation as claimed by Urmila Devi Dasi. The GBC rules for the 'qualification of Guru' clearly state that the candidate: "5. Must be free from the following undesirable qualities:© nisiddhacara, behavior contrary to Vaisnava principles;(d) kuti-nati, diplomatic or duplicitous behavior; 7. Must exhibit proficiency in knowledge and understanding of sastra." (GBC Law Book, ‘Qualifications For A Guru’) By being separate from her husband even though the husband has not taken sannyasa, Urmila Devi Dasi is guilty of nisiddhacara, or behaviour contrary to Vaisnava principles. By disguising this separation as being 'vanaprastha', Urmila Devi Dasi is guilty of kuti-nati, duplictous behaviour. By not being aware that in the vanaprastha stage the wife is still supposed to remain and follow her husband, she is guilty of not exhibiting proficiency in knowledge and understanding of sastra (scripture). Thus the GBC should nominate a Vaisnavi who at least satisfies their own qualifications for a bogus Guru to increase their unauthorised Guru program. Of course, the GBC have not previously shown much interest in following their own rules, what to speak of Srila Prabhuapda's instructions, so we will not be surprised if they will as usual continue with their self-contradictory behaviour. Urmila Devi Dasi also states in her 'application resume' to become Guru that she is: "under the authority of our sons and son-in-law." (Urmila Devi Dasi, 2-Sep-03, PAMHO:7197401) Even for the GBC, whose weird and wacky unauthorised Guru program knows no bounds, this is a new one. A Guru, who is supposedly directly under the authority of Krishna, and under whose authority everyone else will be, will now be under the authority of her kids!! 6. New IRM Website - ISKCONIRM We would like to inform our readers that due to the popularity of our website we have been forced to move to a much bigger site offering over 100 MB of space. This has also allowed us to change our web-address to a more appropriate and easy-to-remember name. The new address of the IRM website is therefore: www.iskconirm.com ISKCONIRM - this should be very easy to remember, and it is not case-sensitive either! The new address should also help substantially increase traffic to the website. Readers using the old address will still be re-directed to the new address. And to reflect the IRM’s worldwide expansion, we are also in the process of creating a slick new design with the help of a professional web design agency. We will let our readers know once the new look IRM website comes online. Hare Krishna. 7. Toronto Meeting Unravelled There has been a report doing the rounds on the Internet of a meeting held in Toronto under the aegis of Bhakti Caru Swami (BCS), between himself, Bhakti Marga Swami and some 'Prabhupada disciples' such as Locanananda Das, Pragosh Das etc. A 'report' of the meeting claims that all those attending expressed support for an 'officiating acarya' system. A tape recording of the proceedings are offered on a website for readers to listen to. Many devotees have expressed enthusiasm at this development, thinking that the GBC have suddenly shifted their position, and embraced the 'officiating acarya' or 'ritvik' position (the position whereby ‘ritviks’, or priests, initiate disciples on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, as per his instructions). We have listened to the whole 1 hour plus recording and transcribed it - it runs to 20 pages. What ACTUALLY happened at the meeting is as follows. An 'officiating acarya' proposal WAS put forward by devotees such as Locanananda and others to BCS asking for the implementation of the officiating acarya system. However, their description of the officiating acarya system as put to BCS has NOTHING to do with ritvik or what Srila Prabhupada described when he spoke of the officiating acarya system. Rather it was put to BCS as follows: "Those who are initiating, they must have a qualification as guru, they have to have a qualification, otherwise they should not be giving diksa, they should not be officiating." "Well, that’s performed by an officiating acarya. It’s a formality. But you do become the grand disciple of Srila Prabhupada and officially you’re the disciple of the person giving diksa…" (Proposal put forward to Bhakti Caru Swami at the Toronto Meeting) In other words, we are talking about individuals who must be qualified as Gurus, and the people they give diksa to become their disciples and Srila Prabhupada's grand-disciples. Now what does this system remind you of?! No wonder BCS was not threatened by a system whereby the key pillars of being like a 'Guru' and having 'disciples' does not change. Once these pillars are established, each of the current Gurus has enough room to manoeuvre and things pretty much can carry on as now. Though even this watered-down version BCS still did not want to commit to publicly. Near the end of the meeting, BCS says: "My point is that at least we can start off by saying these are the devotees who were present and they expressed their concern and these are the points that came up and you can send it out to the different GBC members who you feel will be sympathetic. I mean, maybe everybody won’t be sympathetic, and I would also advise that don’t send it to everybody because then there can be some kind of move from individuals to kind of…???" (Bhakti Caru Swami, Toronto Meeting) Here BCS will only agree to say that the devotees expressed 'concern', but then even this should NOT be sent all GBC members! Then a proposal is made to write up a document of what happened at the meeting, and a whole bunch of people immediately announce: "I'll sign, why not." "I'll sign" "I'll sign" "I'll sign" Conspicuous by his absence in announcing his attention to sign was…BCS! Subsequently no written document which BCS agreed to was ever produced. 8. The Bhakti Caru Swami Hypocrisy Road-Show Continues However, in the Toronto meeting referred to above, BCS did get an opportunity to reveal how he is the master of hypocrisy par excellence. We have exposed in previous IRM newsletters how BCS will say one thing which people want to hear, but PRACTICE something completely different. Like re-naming his Vyasa-Puja festival the 'Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival', but still managing to squeeze in lavish worship for himself in the middle of this so-called 'Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival'! The following are some more gems that fell out of his mouth at the meeting: a) "Like some individuals are very open, like Bhakti Marg Maharaja, he is kind of, even, he was telling me yesterday when he gives initiation he tells his disciples that you are actually Prabhupada’s disciple and I am taking care of you, trying to help you to become engaged in Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Now that’s actually the crux of the whole thing, that if everybody understands and make that point clear to their disciples then I think that a lot of our problems will be solved." (Bhakti Caru Swami) Here BCS states that he agrees with Bhakti Marg Swami that AT INITIATION the disciple must be told that they are actually SRILA PRABHUPADA's disciple. To tell the disciple AT INITIATION that they are Srila Prabhupada's disciples is of course ‘hard-core ritvik’ and goes much further than even the watered-down 'officiating acarya' proposal which was put to him at the Toronto Meeting! Yet BCS does NOT do this himself, but rather continues to agree with the rest of the GBC that the idea that at initiation the initiate becomes Srila Prabhupada's disciple is a most dangerous, deviant and heretical idea. He also of course continues to relate with 'his disciples' as if they are HIS disciples and NOT Srila Prabhupada's – Guru daksina (monetary offerings meant for the genuine Guru), regular Guru-puja, Vyasa-puja offerings and celebrations etc. b) "After Harikesa fell down in 1998, in 1999 I proposed that it’s obvious that we are going in the wrong direction. Now, when you go wrong , when you know you’re going in the wrong direction, what do you do? You stop to find the right way. So for the time-being, let’s stop giving initiation and find out what is actually the problem and what is the solution to this problem, whether we can find a solution and until then, let us stop. And then in simple words even my friend were, sort of, er, kind of, er, became rather negative." (Bhakti Caru Swami) He claims after Harikesa fell down in 1999 he agreed ISKCON’s Gurus were going in the wrong direction and they should STOP initiating, and figure out the right thing to do. Of course, BCS himself did NOT stop giving initiation, but rather, by his own words, 'continued going in the wrong direction', something which he continues to do to this very day. c) "Yes, I agree, to begin with, I think at the beginning I said our main problem was introducing a defective initiation system. And that defective system may have been watered down to some extent but its still prevailing." (Bhakti Caru Swami) But this 'defective initiation system' which is 'still prevailing, is the very same one which BCS continues to practice with vigour. Just last week, BCS performed a whole bunch of initiations at Bhaktivedanta Manor in England. d) "Like in 1987, although we had a reform, after so many gurus fell down, there was a fifty man committee was formed and there was reform it was not actually, at least my perception is that it was not actually a reform. It was kind of watering down the same misconception and continuing. Like what we did was we appointed some more gurus and opened up the world for anybody to initiate wherever he wanted. Whereas previous to that it was a kind of zonal acarya? So that I think is the main mistake where we started, that took place after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance that has never been properly rectified." (Bhakti Caru Swami) Here BCS openly admits that the zonal acarya Guru hoax of 1978-1987 was NOT reformed. He admits that the main mistake has never been properly rectified i.e. it is still continuing today. Yet for the last 17 years he has made ZERO attempt to rectify this deviation, and instead he has continued 'going in the wrong direction', vigorously practising and promoting this same 'watered down' misconception. Rather, he HAS been very active in trying to suppress those who have been trying to 'properly rectify this 'main mistake' - the IRM. e) "Like I noticed that the first ones to leave the movement were the leading devotees who did not become initiating spiritual masters. Like, er, to name a few, like Acutyananda, Gurukrpa, Gargamuni. Like they were all leading devotees but they didn’t become gurus. Many of them were GBCs and then we noticed that those who did not support the gurus, they were systematically driven out of the movement." (Bhakti Caru Swami) And guess who was one of those who supported the Gurus while they 'systematically' drove these devotees out of the movement? The person who DID support the Gurus and hence did NOT get thrown out? Yes, Bhakti Caru Swami. f) "And personally I felt that it was becoming fragmented because Prabhupada’s position hasn’t been properly established. Theoretically we may have established but we haven’t practically applied it. Like one of the main things is that we have to understand is that in ISKCON everything belongs to Srila Prabhupada, not only the assets and properties belong to Srila Prabhupada, but even the individuals also belong to Srila Prabhupada. [...] And everything moving and non-moving, as they say, belongs to Srila Prabhupada." (Bhakti Caru Swami) If everything belongs to Srila Prabhupada, then obviously so do the disciples. Yet BCS is still initiating like crazy trying to scoop up as many disciples as possible for himself. If he truly believed everything belonged to Srila Prabhupada then he would hand all his disciples back to Srila Prabhupada - not be rushing around making more for himself! g) "But after Prabhupada left, we actually started a philosophy or started an understanding, that now Srila Prabhupada is gone, and now the gurus, mainly the diksa gurus, are the sole responsibility of their disciples. Now, had it been a situation where the institution wasn’t there, then probably that could have been the case but generally that was the old traditional understanding in India that the guru leaves the planet and the disciple initiates and then it is that guru’s responsibility to guide his disciples. But ISKCON was something very different from that. Like those situations are when an individual opens an ashram, and has a few disciples personally training them and they were in this way responsible for their spiritual life. But when you look at ISKCON, there you can see that it’s an institution, it’s a worldwide international organization with so many centres, so many devotees, and this structure has been created by Srila Prabhupada." (Bhakti Caru Swami) Again here BCS is saying the very opposite of what he is doing. The very reason the GBC give for propping up their unauthorised Guru system is that "the guru leaves the planet and the disciple initiates and then it is that guru’s responsibility to guide his disciples." The same system BCS practises. BCS is however correct in saying that in ISKCON there was another "structure created by Srila Prabhupada". It was known as the ritvik system and was clearly documented in writing in many places, and is the very system that BCS does NOT follow! In summary, this has to be one of the most brazen displays of hypocrisy ever witnessed. BCS admits that what is going on in ISKCON today, and hence what he is doing, is WRONG - but he continues to do it anyway. He admits they should have stopped initiating in 1999 - but HE didn't. He admits that the correct thing is to say to the disciples they are Srila Prabhupada's disciples, since everything in ISKCON belongs to Srila Prabhupada anyway - but HE doesn't do this. Rather he carries on initiating, taking more and more worship, daksina and disciples. It seems in today's ISKCON you can say any damn thing and get away with it. You can admit that everything I am doing is wrong, but I am still going to do it anyway, and like all good cults, no one takes a blind bit of notice. In the meantime, Srila Prabhupada's movement continues to disintegrate due to the 'defective' 'main mistake' initiation system that BCS agrees is wrong but still practises anyway, while assisting the suppression of the 'everyone is Srila Prabhupada's disciple' system which he agrees is correct. The master of hypocrisy continues to surpass himself! 9. Vyasa-Puja Book a Huge Success 25 countries, 55 cities, and 400 offerings. This was how many constituencies were represented in this year's IRM Vyasa-Puja book which goes from strength to strength. Truly the whole world was represented this year. This also shows the reach of our newsletter, now going to dozens of countries with over 13,000 rs and at least double that in terms of readership. With the Vyasa-Puja book almost doubling in size from the previous year's book, we would like to offer our readers our humble obeisances and a big THANK YOU for making the book such a grand success. Clearly Srila Prabhupada remains supreme in the hearts of many of our readers. The book is now available, and contains many pictures of Srila Prabhupada. It can ordered by writing to us at irm (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com. It also available for viewing at our website at: http://www.iskconirm.com/VP_Book_2003.htm Or it can also be accessed via our home page at: www.iskconirm.com (The file may take up to 2 minutes to download). All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Krishnakant, Newsletter Editor. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please keep your letters, and e-mail addresses of other devotees who should be added to our list, flowing in. A hard copy of our main position paper 'The Final Order' is available on request. All other IRM papers can be accessed through the EDITORIAL SECTION of the IRM website at www.iskconirm.comIf you would like to receive any of the back issues of the Newsletter please let us know. No 1. Invitation to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja No 2. GBC Lose First Round of Court Case No 3. The Story VNN Refused to Publish No 4. Poison Theorists Accuse Adri of Complicity No 5. Iskcon Continues to Promote Child Abusers No 6. Invitation to Malaysia No 7. United World Body Formed No 8. Does Srila Prabhupada Support Poisoning Theory? No 9. PADA Attacks IRM Position No 10. PADA Continues to Present False Evidence No 11. GBC Funded Video says Ritvik Spiritual No 12. Child Rapist Selected by Gurus to Defend their Legitimacy No 13. GBC Facing Perjury Charge in Calcutta High Court No 14. Sahajiyism Makes a Comeback in Iskcon. No 15. Govt. Minister Inaugurates Bangalore Rathayatra No 16. Iskcon Calcutta Triumphs Following Arson Attack No 17. Fighting Lies with Truth Not More Lies No 18. GBC Resolutions Continue to Provide Laughter No 19. Indian Leaders Endorse IRM Position that GBC Confused No 20. Convicted Child Abuser Officially 'Returns' to Parampara No 21. GBC Special Issue - GBC Chairman Admits ISKCON 'Disintegrating' No 22. Krsna Confirms Iskcon Rebirth - New York Special Issue No 23. Hare Krsna Explosion Begins in New York as IRM Temple Opens No 24 IRM Launches Media Campaign to Defend Srila Prabhupada No 25 GBC Teaches That 'Living Gurus' NOT Required No 26 BBT Admits Books Changed to Fit GBC Philosophy No 27 Big Breakthrough for Krishna in Singapore No 28 Bangalore Tops World Book Distribution No 29 City of New York to Honour Srila Prabhupada No 30 Gurukula Lawsuit Special - The Facts No 31 BBC Glorifies Srila Prabhupada to the World No 32 Harinam Revived in World famous Times Square No 33 ISKCON Guru on Run From Police - Suicide Case Special No 34 GBC Declare All Out War No 35 GBC Fail Again in Second Expulsion Attempt No 36 Indian Press Glorifies New York IRM No 37 Iskcon Temple in Bangladesh Joins IRM No 38 All Ports Alert for Jayapataka To Be Issued No 39 The GBC's Best Trick Yet No 40 Biggest Prasadam Distribution Program Ever Begins No 41 Double Edition - IRM Granted Prime Kumbha Mela Site No 42 Danavir Invents A New Philosophy No 43 IRM Makes World Headlines - Kumbha Mela Special No 44 GBC Meetings End in Fiasco No 45 GBC Paralysis Documented in Resolutions No 46 Mayapur Attempt to Storm Calcutta Temple Ends in Fiasco No 47 Mayapur Attack Cover-up Exposed No 48 Massive GBC Fraud Uncovered No 49 BBC Broadcasts World IRM Special No 50 Mayapur Bomb Blast Reveals GBC Terrorist Campaign No 51 Mayor of New York Dedicates Srila Prabhupada Memorial No 52 Chief Minister Honours ISKCON Bangalore Temple President No 53 High Court Grants Iskcon Bangalore Injunction Against Jayapataka Swami No 54 More Laughter From GBC Resolutions No 55 High Court Declares ISKCON Bangalore Legally Independent No 56 First Temple President's Meeting held in MalaysiaNo 57 Supreme Court Throws Out GBC Appeal No 58 GBC Publicly Dishonours Srila Prabhupada No 59 IRM Begins Massive Expansion Into Vrndavan No 60 IRM Expands Into Russia No 61 Indian President Launches 25 Million Plates of Prasadam Your comments, questions and feedback are appreciated. Please write to us at: irm (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com *Legalese -- You are receiving this e-mail because you either submitted this email address to the IRM or someone else did it for you. We do not buy lists or gather them via software, nor will we ever give/sell your address to anybody. If you received duplicates or wish to be removed from this list, please type remove in the subject line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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