shastra should be mediator

[Guest guest]

>This one goes to modern ISKCON tendency for karmi mediatorship.

 

Dear Giri-nayaka Prabhu,

 

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

 

I myself do not share the euphoric notion of taking what you called "karmi

mediatorship" to be the panacea for every single ISKCON problem.

 

But I would not have responded to your posting, though, had you not used a

derogatory 'karmi' label next to what otherwise appears to be a useful and

effective, in its own right, process of learning to understand other people

before blaming them for what they are not guilty of.

 

Not only is it easy to show that Srila Prabhupada himself on many occasions

used some form of mediation to resolve conflicts between factions and

individuals, rather that resorting to what you seem to imply here he should

have always resorted to -- to an "authoritative decision".

 

Not only is it also easy to show that such personalities as Srila Sanatana

Goswami, Lord Brahma, Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna Himself served at times

as mediators (or 'madhyastha' in Sanskrit) -- perhaps being oblivious to the

fact that mediatorship is inherently 'karmi' and is therefore not befitting

their transcendental position.

 

But, most importantly, such statements as the above are redolent of an

inconsistent attitude that is quite difficult to put to practice.

 

Indeed, do we ever voice concern over ISKCON tendency to use karmi

MP3-players, fly by karmi aircrafts, visit karmi dentists, or employ karmi

mathematics, engineering, or accounting? And do we ever use the 'karmi'

adjective when referring to dentists, appliances and airplanes? And, if not,

why? And what makes mediation technique an exception here?

 

I would agree that if one day we notice a mass tendency among ISKCON

devotees to bloop and become mundane pilots and flight attendants just by

taking a few flights with "American Airlines", that would be a valid reason

for concern with that particular airlines.

 

The same goes for mediation -- if we notice that by using the method of

mediation we see an increasing number of devotees weaken or abandon their

loyalty to Srila Prabhupada, his teachings and his movement and start

seeking shelter and fulfillment in mundane "peaceful" relations -- that

would be a solid reason for concern.

 

But if, by a careful and unbiased study, we happen to find out that,

conversely, by means of the mediation process administered by mature and

faithful Vaisnavas more and more ISKCON devotees regain their trust in

ISKCON, restore healthy relations with ISKCON members and get more time to

read Prabhupada's books -- would we not be forced then to reconsider our

attitude towards the otherwise 'karmi mediation'?

 

Just a few thoughts out loud. No personal criticism intended.

 

Begging to remain

 

your servant,

Madana-mohana das