[Editors] Just came in

[Guest guest]

Dear Trivikrama Maharaja.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Thank you for your straightforward answer. I will do as you advise me and

write to my Guru Maharaja. I will also add my Guru, Bhaktivaibhava Swami, as

reciever of this letter, and also my GBC, Bir Krsna Maharaja, so that they

are informed.

 

Please, let me just say, that I'm a bit surprised by your answer. I was

expecting something in line of "You are thinking in proper way" or "You are

not thinking properly..." Still, most surprising was your point, that my

question is of personal nature.

 

I didn't intent to put it in personal way, but as I ponder over it, it is

trully personal. It seems that I was alarmed by the case of certain bh.Alex,

whose understanding seems to be strikingly similar to my own. You pointed

out, that perhaps even on Pamho there are devotees, who hold similar

opinion, but such opinion is not satisfying to Srila Prabhupada, and is not

opinion of loyalty to ISKCON, and that it is not inspiring to see such

persons becoming influential, often at expense of ISKCON. Also there was

additional letter by Hari Sauri Prabhu, further denouncing such opinion as

dishonest, puffed-up, ritvik-like, not well-wishing, trying to destroy

ISKCON.....

 

How did I get here? Will I be counted among ISKCON-haters and ritviks? I

know, some months ago, one of local leaders already painted me as being

ritvik. I didn't take it seriously, actually at that time I didn't even know

what "ritvik" means. So I was just laughing at that idea. But today, after

being sanctioned in every possible way by local leaders, I'm not laughing

anymore. If bh.Alex can be painted as ISKCON-enemy, dishonest, independent,

puffed-up, causing dissatisfaction to Srila Prabhupada...., then same thing

can happen to me. And before I even know it, I will be labeled as ISKCON

enemy and ritvik. Maybe it already happened, and I will be the last one to

know.

 

Some months ago I strongly objected to questionable ideas of local leaders

to adjust Srila Prabhupada's books, in order to make them nicer for general

public. As a result I was bullied with all kinds of sanctions, that limited

my preaching in my country, to the point, that I cannot speak anymore in any

assembly of ISKCON devotees. Above labeling, as being painted as deviated

from desire of Srila prabhupada, and possibly being ISKCON-enemy and ritvik,

would surely come in handy. It would surely explain and confirm the

sanctions.

 

Such persons, enemies, are surely to be banned from ISKCON for good, or at

least censured, so that they are kept far away from devotees, in order not

to cause any harm. I admit, if I was leader, dealing with such heavy

offender, I would sanction him in a second, never looking back. But it is a

bit strange observing such things happening from the other side, as the one,

being sanctioned, and pushed away in order to protect other devotees.

 

In the end, my observations raise some interesting questions. If guys, like

myself, are painted as ISKCON-enemies and ritviks, then it is all one big

misunderstanding. I feel, that there may be many devotees, who were already

labeled and sanctioned, but didn't object or put it in public, because of

their humility, or some other reasons. I may be more lucky, because I say

all this things in public, but others may not have been so lucky. And they

just ended up as ritviks, or ISKCON-haters, before even knowing what is

actually happening. And if this is true, then whole ritvik-paranoia is just

a joke, because if most of so-called ritviks are devotees like myself, then

there is no threat at all. There may be some small number of heavy, fired-up

ritviks out there, but I believe, that mostly these are just misunderstood

and unfairly ritvik-labeled, simple, a bit confused devotees, like myself.

 

This ritvik-paranoia with labeling and sanctions reminds of christian

witch-hunting. One grows a bit different in his understanding, and he is

immediately labeled, censured and banned for good. It is an "ISKCON

inquisition", a tribunal held by ISKCON leaders and directed at the

suppression of heresy. It may be removing some bad-ones, but mostly it is

burning many good-ones. And it hurts badly.

 

your servant Giri-nayaka das

 

 

> 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