Guest guest Posted January 6, 2006 Report Share Posted January 6, 2006 Dear Giri-nayaka Prabhu I have read your letter. Actually I am a simple person and not an intellectual, therefore I don't feel myself qualified to respond properly. Perhaps your Guru Maharaja would be better equipped to answer, not only from the intellectual point of view, but and also from the relationship point. So I suggest that you right him a personal letter as this does seem to be a personal question which might not be of interest to all the receivers here. Yours sincerely Trivikrama Swami > Dear Trivikrama Maharaja. > Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. > > > We appreciate his honesty here, I imagine there are many sincere > > followers of Srila Prabhupada, perhaps even on this conference, who hold > > a similar opinion. However I am convinced that Srila Prabhupada doesn't > > feel that way. And for those of us who have remained loyal to Iskcon it > > is not very inspiring to see this person become more and more > > influential, often, as in the case of Bh. Alex here, at Iskcon's > > expense. > > I carefully read your response to the case of certain bh. Alex. I would > like to ask you for some help in developing my understanding. > > I don't know bh. Alex in any way, also I cannot say, that I agree with > quoted bh. Alex's view fully, but I may be familiar with some of his > presented points to some degree. It seems that it is hard to understand > the other party fully... It strucks me with wonder why is he thinking like > that and what could be done, in order not to exclude him from ISKCON > society, and paint him as ISKCON enemy, who just wants to destroy whatever > ISKCON is, and replace it with his own version. I'm wondering if this > strong separatism is actually needed. Actually, I'm more and more > convinced, that there is not so much of "this party and that party" at > all. It is just a bunch of simple devotees acting according to their own > situation. > > Please let me explain my thoughts. > > There seem to be two kinds of devotees in ISKCON. Those, in leadership > positions, who can do much to change wrongdoings, and those in subordinate > positions, who cannot do much to change wrongdoings. > > When misbehavior is spotted, both kinds of devotees reject questionable > activities, but each in his own way. Those, who can change things, remain > loyal to ISKCON by seeing wrongdoings as something, that is to be > corrected, and they know how to do it, and they have the means to do it. > Therefore they feel no frustration with ISKCON, rather they fully engage > in correcting mistakes. The others, who cannot change things, because they > are not in position, remain loyal to ISKCON by tolerating wrongdoings and > by stepping aside from problems, avoiding criticisms. They also feel no > frustration with ISKCON, rather they tolerate situation and avoid finding > faults. > > It is the same thing in both cases. Both kinds of devotees see > wrongdoings, and react according to their situation and ability. One > engages in correction, the other engages in tolerance. If they are both > succesful in this, there is no problem. > > Problem arises, when they fail. When devotee in superior position fails to > correct wrongdoings, then there is problem, he becomes distanced from > ISKCON in the eyes of his subordinates. And when subordinate follower > fails to tolerate situation, he becomes distanced from ISKCON in the eyes > of his superiors. Thus ISKCON presents itself dual to both of them, partly > connected to Srila Prabhupada, and partly deviated, because of their own > failure to perform their duty. > > The problem becomes existential, when one is judged for his failure in > performing his abovementioned duties. Subordinates judge superiors for > their failure to correct wrongdoings. And superiors judge subordinates for > their their failure to tolerate wrongdoings. Such judgement leads to > separatism, and creates camps, which fight over who is right. And it leads > to sanctions and excommunications. > > I believe solution is in definition of duties of ISKCON members according > to varnasrama, to define who is superior, and who is subordinate. But > thats probably utopia, as was already mentioned several times here in > forums. And devotees will not be 100% sure even, if they are expected to > act as superior or as subordinate. Therefore, untill everybody is perfect > in performing their duties, there will be failures. Superiors will be > judged for their failure in correcting deviations, and subordinates will > be judged for their failure in tolerance and for their faultdinding. There > is not much that can be done regarding this. > > One thing, we could do, is to try to avoid judging those, who fail to > perform their duty, and this may reduce separatism and reduce sanctions > and excommunications. And of course, those more advanced will be less > judgemental. But it seems a bit odd, because if 'avoiding judgement' is > connected to spiritual advancement, then leaders, who are most advanced, > should be most free from judging. But this makes no sense, actually those > in higher positions should judge the most, isn't it? > > Please, kindly comment on this. What am I missing? Is my understanding > moving in proper direction at all? > > Thank you > > your servant Giri-nayaka das Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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