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> Looking at it from a practical perspective, how would you relate this

> statement to the vast majority of the members of ISKCON who are not

> initiated by Srila Prabhupada? The present diksa-gurus in ISKCON have

> their respective individual approaches to Srila Prabhupada and his

> teachings, and correspondingly they have a scale of emphasis on them.

This is true, everyone is a personality so there are some individual

approaches between the diksa gurus in ISKCON. But we have to see that they

have to present the philosophy as Srila Prabhupada wanted otherwise the

problems arise as we have seen in so many examples. For example Kirtananda

Prabhu slightly changed the view on sadhana and dressing of his followers.

It was a individual approach and Srila Prabhupada was keeped as the Founder

Acarya in the temple room. There is one story a lady told.

She came to the New Vrindavana Temple and suddenly Srila Prabhupada's murty

started to speak to her. He told her to take his shoes since he doesn't want

to be present in this temple. He told her that he is not satisfied because

they are not really following him. So, the lady amazed followed Srila

Prabhupada's instructions. Later one after many years she dreamed Srila

Prabhupada who told her that now it is the time to bring the shoes back. So,

after comming to New Vrindavana she put the shoes back and was observed by

devotees who caught her. They were quite angry with her. She told the whole

incident. She also told that she dreamed now Prabhupada who told her to

bring the shoes back. She has asked him, what happened. And he replied that

now since they again are following him he wants to again be present in the

temple to give the mercy.

 

And

> one diksa-guru will not always be of the same in opinion as the other,

> this is evident in the light of the history.

So, therefore one should serve under a particular parampara. This is

obvious. You can not say that the differences bettween ISKCON diksa gurus

are of the same nature that for example between a ISKCON diksa guru and

Narayana Maharaja. This has to be clear. It is nothing wrong in this, but

one has to see which branch of Lord Caitanya tree one is following.

 

>People adopt teachings

> according to their capacity and inclination, and their followers absorb

> them accordingly. And even Prabhupada has taught different things to

> different disciples.

 

He has certainly given personal instructions but his teaching didn't differ.

One can not take that when small details deffer one from another it is same

as when one makes big changes. Please, do not try to present things in this

way!

 

And one person is never a xerox copy of the other,

> although the haircut may be similar. Thus we are left with some 60 groups

> of people (that is, within ISKCON) who adopt this statement and sometimes

> get on the case of others who have absorbed a different mood from their

> diksa-guru.

 

This is a tricky way of presentation. You are trying to present that even in

ISKCON there are many different groups and so it can not be taken that Srila

Prabhupada presented the philosophy in a particular way. There are no 60

groups in ISKCON since there is a GBC were there is a cooperation and no

individual can present only his way of view. That's why Srila Prabhupada has

made the GBC. And His society is so in a cooperative mood following Srila

Prabhupada. Narayana Maharaja's group is a seperate group. Do not try to

first present the differences in ISKCON and then try to present that

Narayana Maharaja's way of view is off the same nature. The difference

between an idared apple and jonagold apple is not same as the difference

between an pearch and an apple. This any intelligent person can see.

 

> What to speak of those who do not have a diksa-guru. I skimmed through the

> member list of Krishna Katha, and noted that out of its 433 members, 135

> are not initiated, or were initiated by a diksa-guru who lost his good

> standing in the course of time.

So, if one says something he should state that his presenting the philosophy

presented by Narayana Maharaja. We should see what conference we want to

have an ecumenical one or a Srila Prabhupada Followers one? So, then when we

have this policy we can see what we want.

> How would you help those who are not initiated by Srila Prabhupada to

> relate to the quote you have presented? How about those who are initiated

> by various persons with individual moods and emphasis on Krishna

> consciousness?

Those who are following Srila Prabhupada want certainly to present the Srila

Prabhupada's view on KC, and it is also o.k. that the others want to present

the view of their guru. So, we have to see if this conference is preaching

Srila Prabhupada's teachings, or any group can write.

> Some food for thought. I am looking forward hearing more in this regard

> from our learned and wise assembly of devotees.

I am having respect for Narayana Maharaja. But good fences make good

neighbours. And one has to see what one is following.

YHS

DKD