Notice

[Guest guest]

As the conference moderator, I could have chosen not to forward Pandu's

message. But I have, because I feel with him. I also suffered pain caused by

incompetent and/or materially motivated leaders in our society. (Just see,

for example, what is being done to the brahmacari ashram) But I didn't let

my self sink down into the tamo guna and go astray from the active

devotional service in Srila Prabhupada's society.

 

If you allow me, I opine that pass this point the conversation should be

continued in private.

 

 

>

> Pandu Prabhu, I'd like to reply comprehensively (if I can find the time),

> but I'm concerned that we may be getting far away from the focus of this

> conference (which has 134 members who regularly download), as well as the

> topic of Danavir Maharaja's letter that started this thread.

>

> So I'm thinking perhaps you and I should continue our correspondence

> privately. What do you think? What do other members of the conference

> think?

>

> > Hare Krsna.

> >

> > Perhaps I should have said "imbalanced" or "biased" instead of

> > "negative," because actually I don't mind the negative as long as it's

> > truthful, and I hope to be exposed to both the positive and negative

> > because at least it gives a sense that I'm working with honest people.

> >

> > Of course ISKCON has inspired a lot of people. It's inspired me, and I

> > hope it will again. It's just that I became extremely confused when I

> > saw the local guru praise and honor an unrepentant child molester; and

> > when I asked about that ethical dilemma, I was threatened, conspired

> > against, and lied to by his disciples who are the big majority at the

> > local devotee community. They even undermined my relationship with my

> > guru by having secret conversations with him about me, framing the

> > issues against me and setting him up to also lie to me so to not break

> > their confidentiality. So today on Govardhana Puja I have no local

> > temple to visit, no devotee community to chant Hare Krishna with, and

> > I've lost trust in my guru, all because I dared to question someone whom

> > the locals believe is beyond question. I asked that question to do my

> > part for the ethical integrity of ISKCON, what I saw as a service to

> > Srila Prabhupada. I can only hope that Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna

> > will protect me.

> >

> > I came to ISKCON expecting purity, integrity, and honesty from those who

> > are cultivating Krishna bhakti. I never expected to see a dishonest and

> > unrepentant child molester sitting with sannyasis, getting fanned along

> > with them, as shown in the top-left corner of the large picture on this

> > page:

> > http://www.btswami.com/images/BTG_4.jpg

> >

> > I was there, sitting near the feet of a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who

> > had repeatedly molested a girl, who was lying to everyone about it (and

> > had even told the CPO investigators that he would lie), who refused to

> > apologize to the girl, slandering her instead; he was sitting with

> > sannyasis receiving praise and honor with hundreds of devotees at his

> > feet, all while ISKCON is in bankruptcy over widespread, severe child

> > abuse. I'm sorry but that just seemed terribly wrong to me, like a

> > nuclear assault on my faith. Then having several brahmana Vaishnavas

> > lie to me was just too much for me to handle.

> >

> > So now, regrettably, I'm an outsider, trying to figure out what went

> > wrong. I commented on this thread because the Sampradaya Sun has

> > helping me to do that, and is giving me some connection with devotees.

> > Without that, I'm not sure what I would do. I'm sorry if my letter hurt

> > anyone, but if I didn't care so much about ISKCON, I wouldn't say

> > anything at all.

> >

> > Hare Krsna.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> > Pandu das

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Mahadyuti (das) ACBSP (TP Soho St. London - UK)

> > > [Mahadyuti.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net]

> > > Wednesday, November 02, 2005 3:41 PM

> > > Danavir Goswami (USA); Mahat-tattva (das); Pandu (das) BMS (Gita

> > > Nagari, PA - US)

> > > Notice

> > >

> > > >

> > > > That seems a rather negative way of looking at it.

> > >

> > > Your opening comment (above) is followed by your own letter full of

> > > negativity. Please clarify: do you disapprove of negativity in

> > general or

> > > only that of others?

> > >

> > > >ISKCON has disappointed a lot of devotees

> > >

> > > ISKCON also has inspired and continues to inspire "a lot of devotees".

> > I

> > > wonder if the maxim that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" could

> > be

> > > applied here. Or, "Is the cup half full or half empty?"