AW: sad-acharity and ISKCON

[Guest guest]

Dear Giri-nayaka Prabhu,

 

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

 

Thank you for your letter and remarks.

 

To stave off further quoting, counter-quoting and misquoting, let me restate

my creed in this discussion, point by point, so it is easier for you and

other Vaisnavas to correct me:

 

1. Lord Krsna is the Supreme Absolute Truth

 

2. Pure devotional service to Him is the highest goal of life and also the

means of attaining it.

 

3. Devotional service should be done in accordance with the instruction of

guru, sadhu and sastra

 

4. If performed properly, it invariably leads to one's developing and

manifesting best qualities of humans, compassion to other living entities

being included.

 

5. Development of these qualities is the prime gauge to measure one's

spiritual progress.

 

6. The mission Srila Prabhupada left for ISKCON is to preach devotional

service to the Lord by all means, primarily through his book distribution,

harinama sankirtana and by generous distribution of Krsna-prasada. These are

the primary preaching activities of ISKCON

 

7. At the same time, qualities mentioned in p.5, if manifested, individually

and collectively, greatly help primary preaching activities mentioned in

p.6, and, if absent, individually and collectively, greatly impede them.

 

8. Therefore it is incumbent upon ISKCON members, individually and

collectively, to be able to visibly, consistently and increasingly manifest

these saintly qualities so we could fulfill Srila Prabhupada's mission in

the best possible way.

 

9. Mass prasadam distribution is a unique way of both preaching, helping all

living entities become close to Krsna consciousness and for devotees to

develop and manifest these qualities in a visible and consistent way.

 

10. It could be greatly enhanced and accelerated by cooperation with the

government, welfare organizations and businessmen if organized properly and

conducted in a rational, reliable, intelligent and socially relevant manner.

This includes programs in emergency spots.

 

11. It is NOT necessary for everyone to engage in prasadam distribution to

become purified or to develop or show compassion.

 

12. However, every devotee should see mass Krsna prasadam distribution as a

genuine way of showing compassion and as a purely spiritual activity, even

if conducted in an organized and systematic manner under the guise of social

welfare.

 

13. It is, however, mandatory for ISKCON temples to distribute Krsna

prasadam as much as possible, using all means for the expansion of such

activity, provided it does not undermine or compromise the basic spiritual

principles laid down for ISKCON temples by Srila Prabhupada.

 

14. There is a way for a Vaisnava to deal with people in such a manner that

it benefits them spiritually even if they do not know who is dealing with

them.

 

15. Prasada distribution as well as politeness, compassion, saintly behavior

and friendliness on the part of Vaisnavas are one of such methods and

therefore should be considered a purely spiritual activity even if those who

we treat in this way are not aware about our being Vaisnavas.

 

16. Prasadam distribution as well as other angas of devotional service,

including book distribution, chanting the holy names, worshiping the Deity

etc., could also be conducted with material purposes in mind and/or

externally improperly, and we should carefully guard against such

deviations.

 

 

If you disagree with any or all of the above points, I am ready to explain

and/or advocate them -- or rectify myself if I am found wrong.

 

If not, I would be happy to congratulate ourselves with yet another victory

over our apparent differences towards uniting ISKCON in Srila Prabhupada's

service.

 

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

Begging to remain

 

your servant,

Madana-mohana das