Beware of Kali's agents

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Sivarama Swami

05-May-06 03:37 (05:37 +0200)

Hari-dhama (das) MG (Hindu-Vaisnava Chaplaincy)

Mukhya (dd) (Ruiselede - BE)

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Reference: Text PAMHO:11517295 by Hari-dhama (das) MG (Hindu-Vaisnava

Chaplaincy)

Developing the inner Vaisnava

---------------------------

Respected vaisnavas

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

 

While Hari-dhama Prabhu has been a personal friend of mine for decades, I

could not let his invitation to Satvatove courses go without a critical

reply. The following text speaks for itself. Unfortunately, there is a trend

nowadays to dilute Srila Prabhupada's teachings on pure devotional service.

I believe these courses are examples of that trend. Discriminating Vaisnavas

beware.

 

Your servant

Sivarama Swami

 

------------

 

A devotee desires at all times to go forward in spiritual life, seeks to

gain a deeper appreciation for the holy name, and overcome obstacles that

prevent progress on the path of bhakti. It is natural, therefore, that

devotees are attracted to courses such as the one being promoted by

Hari-dhama das, offered by Dhira Govinda's Satvatove Institute. However,

there are inherent dangers in the naive acceptance that such a course can

draw out the "inner Vaisnava," and the claim by Hari-dhama das that "there

are various ways and means in developing as people" is an indication of such

dangers. Why? The truth is that there are not "various ways" to develop as a

human being, or more specifically as a Vaisnava. There is only one way, and

that is via the process of Krishna consciousness, sadhana bhakti. And such a

process is only successful when conducted under the direction of a bonafide

spiritual master.

 

There is no divisive issue surrounding either these courses or the existence

of Satvatove. It is a much simpler matter, one addressed already by Srila

Prabhupada: "There is no such thing as a split in ISKCON. There is only

insincerity, that's all. I chant 16 rounds and follow the principles and

preach, and you do also. There is no split. Only if one is insincere and

doesn't follow." Satvatove's foundation is insincerity and a self-evident

inability by it's founder to follow the process of Krishna consciousness as

given by Srila Prabhupada and previous acaryas. Unfortunately, it has

succeeded in attracting some naive devotees who seek personal and spiritual

advancement.

 

A Vaisnava doesn't have a hidden--or "inner"--agenda or persona: they are

identifiable by their qualities, the foremost of which is loyalty to the

spiritual master. Whatever sprouts from soil starved of this nourishing

quality is worthless; worse, it has the potential to halt one's spiritual

progress; worse still, it can harm others. While packaged and delivered in a

seemingly sattvic manner and cultured style, Satvatove courses are devoid of

this essential ingredient, and are thus, in the words of Srila Sanatana

Goswami, milk touched by the lips of a serpent. Srila Prabhupada writes, "It

is futile to make an external show of good qualities like humility and

nonviolence while disrespecting the Lord's lotus feet and denouncing the

process of devotional service. Such so-called good qualities may be of some

material value, but ultimately they are useless and temporary." Claims that

the courses are conducted "under the guidance of qualified and experienced

Vaisnavas" are thus more easily understood according to revealed scripture.

Devotees are discriminate, and understand the qualification of those who

would claim they can help one advance on the path of bhakti. "One must be a

bona fide devotee, and then he can preach and impress devotional service

upon his listeners." Life experience does not replace scriptural

injunctions. Nor does qualification on a material platform supersede,

override, or nullify spiritual qualification, which in modern day parlance

reduces humility to weakness and submissiveness to the order of the

spiritual master as evidence that one is enjoined not to think. In short,

disloyalty to the spiritual master is denouncing the process of devotional

service, and nothing worthwhile can be learned from such a source.

 

In his Bhagavatam purports--in what could have been written specifically for

this present situation--Srila Prabhupada writes: "One should not, therefore,

become victim of these unauthorised advertisements by some bogus

representative of Vedic knowledge. Ardent hearing from the bonafide master

is the only way of receiving transcendental knowledge and there is no other

medical performances or mysticism for miraculous effect. The process is

simple and only the sincere party can achieve the desired result." The

founder of Satvatove has disqualified himself by rejecting Srila

Prabhupada's teachings and embracing ritvikvada, and by his repeated

entreaties to the GBC to reopen the Poison Theory case, claiming that it's

"unresolved status" is an indication of disqualification among GBC and

ISKCON management.

 

As far as ISKCON leaders attending Satvatove courses, this is a misnomer.

Prior to understanding that Dhira Govinda's courses were in fact a ruse to

promote his ritvik-vada philosophy, some ISKCON devotees--including

leaders--attended the courses. That ISKCON's leaders are keen to embrace

processes constructed on the basis Srila Prabhupada's teachings is a sign of

healthy leadership, and one that many devotees appreciated and emulated.

However, it wasn't long before the truth was realized: Dr. David was the

proverbial Wolf in sheep's clothing. Since then, it is clear to ISKCON's

leaders that Dhira Govinda's courses are an attempt to introduce ritvikvada

philosophy into ISKCON, and to lure naive devotees from the shelter of Srila

Prabhupada and their diksa gurus, all of whom, according to the doctrines of

ritvikvada, are irrelevant, irreligious, and apsiddhantic.

 

Haridhama das writes: "These seminars were recently conducted with great

success in Vrndavan and Mayapur."

 

This is incorrect. The terms "Vrindavan and Mayapur," when used amongst

ISKCON devotees and on ISKCON forums, imply ISKCON Mayapur and ISKCON

Vrindavan. These courses were not conducted on ISKCON property. The

"Mayapur" seminars were not held in Mayapur at all, in fact, but some miles

away, across the river, in a rented public hall, and attended by mostly

disenchanted ex-ISKCON devotees and members of other maths. It is noted that

while denouncing ISKCON, it's founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada, it's

leadership, and it's members, these promoters find it neecessary to utilize

ISKCON's property, temple, restaurants, and festivals, where the greatest

number of Vaisnavas gather regularly. The same attempts were made in

Vrindavan to promote these courses, and extensive campaigning was carried

out at the MVT, where management put a stop to soliciting by one

particularly aggressive person. Therefore, to state that these courses were

conducted in Vrindavan and Mayapur is incorrect.

 

Devotees are uniting to protect ISKCON in Kazaksthan: it's property, it's

reputation, it's future, it's devotees. In the same way, ISKCON needs to be

protected from those who would harm or oppose Srila Prabhupada, his

teachings, his legacy, and his devotees, some of whom are liable to succumb

to philosophical attacks. We are obliged to Srila Prabhupada to keep the

wolves from the door...

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*Dear Respected Vaisnavas

*

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

*this meet you well.

*

*Srila Prabhupada makes reference throughout his writing how the Vaisnava

*must develop internally, by means of daily sadhana, in order to become a

*better devotee so that we can better serve one another, the guru, ISKCON,

*and ultimately Lord Krsna.

*

*There are various ways and means in developing as people. A better person

*makes a better devotee. I decided to address issues which prohibited me

*from becoming a better person, issues which held me back from diving deeper

*into my sadhana. These are issues related to my past experiences which

*inhibited me from flourishing as an abundant, progressive, effective and

*happy person and devotee.

*

*The Satvatove Institute, www.Satvatove.org under the guidance of qualified

*and experienced Vaisnavas, are offering devotees and others unique

*opportunities to undergo life transformational training and experience.

*These seminars have been conducted across the globe, attended by several

*ISKCON leaders and devotees.

*

*I invite you to consider attending one of these seminars. Please

*communicate directly with the person listed under each of the upcoming

*seminars. See list far below.

*

*You may also want to write to me directly should you have any further

*questions about these seminars. I am also happy to share with you

*quotations from those ISKCON leaders and devotees who have attended it in

*the past. You may also be interested to read related research papers on,

*"Vaiñëava Life Skills/Personal Transformation Seminars and the Process of

*Kåñëa Consciousness"; etc.

*

*These seminars were recently conducted with great success in Vrndavan and

*Mayapur.

*

*Your servant.

*

*Hari-dhama dasa/Henry T. Dom.