We're all equal-but some of us more equal than others

[Guest guest]

On 8 August Samba Prabhu wrote:

 

>Well for a start the 'upper' class (I presume you mean Brahmanas, as

>oppposed to Ksatrias) have to be completely independant for them to actualy

>be able to freely speak. You have grouped GBC's Gurus etc all together, but

>in a varnsrama society they each have their respective roles and positions.

 

>We understand that the fundamental basis that ensures a Brahmanas authority

>is that they cannot be 'bought'. Unfortunately we find in ISKCON that many

>of the 'Brahminical' members are completely dependant on certain authorities

>in ISKCON, and therefore they are often afraid to actualy speak their minds.

 

That's true. Also many brahmanas (if they are brahmanas) misuse

their exalted (or not very exalted) position, sacrificing the

truth for their own benefits. I guess it's unavoidable thing in

modern age; the varnasrama system which worked fine in previous

yugas cannot be applied for present society. Definitely there

should be many changes made. Brahmanas should be learned and

qualified so that the main concern of their lives whouldn't be

money, fame, power or sense gratification, but the service to

the truth. Other members of varnasrama also should help

brahamanas in their grown by showing respect to brahmanas not

on the basis of their mundane position, but on the basis of

qualification, culture and determination to follow the path of

true brahmana.

 

Also varnas shouldn't be permanent - if a person is not

happy in his position, he may step to another varna, and no one

will consider it as a falldown, thus avoiding "fashioned"

style of life.

 

>The recent revelation that the GBC has apologised to Pradyumna Prabhu for

>kicking him out of ISKCON becasue he wrote a letter which astutely pointed

>out the consequences of their actions 20 years ago, is a case in point. He

>was brave enough to speak up and the result was that he was 'removed' from

>ISKCON. I wonder what message this sent to other 'Brahmanas' in the society.

 

Where have all the brahmanas gone?

GBC kicked out everyone.

Where have all the brahmanas gone?

In ISKCON 'brahmana' is everyone.

 

>It was a very totalitarian thing to do. Similar things have happend over the

>last twenty years, it is only now that the leaders are admitting it. How

>long will it take other leaders (I presume there may be some who are in the

>category) to rid themselves of the habits or instruments of totalitarian

>control.

 

Another question is how we will see the change? It may

externally look like a complete change of habits, but it may be

also just another mask. Many of these leaders are much more

intelligent than me, so it won't be a big problem to delude

delude such simple minded persons. They will just continue to

improve their technique of "smashing by predominance of

intelligence".

 

>So what we need is a SOCIETY of independantly intelligent devotees. This

>means that they are in control of the 'means' of production, I.E. that they

>have land, and are supported by an independant community, so that all their

>needs are met. It is abundantly clear from Srila Prabhupadas instructions,

>that he wanted varnasrama training to be implemented, and it has not been

>done so far.

 

Our temples shouldn't be the landowners. Isn't it? Any temple is

a place to worship the Lord, and should be supported by

community, but not to own the community.

 

>Had we actualy listened to that brave Brahmana 20 odd years ago, we could

>have a different ISKCON now, one that adhered more to ALL of Prabhupadas

>instructions.

 

Maybe you have a little lack of experience of living in

totalitarian society. :> 20 years ago there wouldn't be any

change, even if this event would occur. There is one thing in

any dogmatic society - a Grey Majority. I've seen how in USSR

majority of people sentenced to death another people for their

freedom of thought so many times...

 

yhs,

Oleg the bhakta.