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---------- Forwarded Message ----------

 

Text COM:2737637 (68 lines)

Dvaipayana Vyasa (das) RSD (Belgrade - YU)

29-Oct-99 11:17

Topical Discussions [1071]

Attempts to silence members of Topical Discussions

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

Dear prabhus, matajis, ladies, gentlemen and everyone,

 

Recently, several attempts have been made to silence certain members of this

conference - to stop them from voicing their opinion on Topical

Discussions - in a rather dirty way. Certain persons who did not like the

fact that on TD a lot of otherwise untouchable subjects may be discussed,

approached gurus of persons whose posts they did not like.

 

We had reactions from more than one guru (of conference members), and we

suppose that we will have more of it in the future.

 

If you are concerned about someone's spiritual life, and the person

repeatedly rejects your offers to help, then approaching the person's guru

may stem from the motivation to help. We have, however, reasons to believe

that in this case, the motivation is primarily not to help but to intimidate

and silence.

 

We, the conference organizers, wanted to bring this matter to your

attention. If the general audience knows about it, chances are that this

conference can continue in the intended way - that people here will be able

to speak without fear in the future as they are now (though even now it is

not completely without fear, sadly...).

 

When people know about this, they may do something. Also, those who like to

do their work behind the scenes, contacting gurus of others and doing other

activities of that kind, might not feel so nice knowing that this is exposed

to the public.

 

We personally consider such attempts as very harmful, as something not worth

devotees of the Lord.

 

Yet in our society (ISKCON) as it is, such attempts may even have results -

if some guru does not want his name (or initials behind disciple's name)

connected to any heated discussion.

 

These persons (who want to prevent thoughts of others) may also try to

exercise pressure on COM sysop, on the GBC and/or the BBT trustees, or

wherever they can, in an attempt to shut down the conference (or transform

it into something more to their liking) or have outspoken members removed

from COM.

 

We will try to continue our work, in hope that it will make entire devotee

community a better place to live, without fear and repressions, but with

love and support. There will always be doubts in any healthy community. We

believe that from the free expressions of our thoughts and feelings, we can

offer each other support and our society can grow into a healthy one, which

will be an attractive option for people who are interested in Krsna

Consciousness.

 

Please support these efforts and support all those who participate in this -

they will need it. You may elect to show your support in private letters or

phone calls, either to devotees with whom you agree, or to leaders with whom

you have good relationships. You may of course also chose to make your

support in more public way. This is a crucial time for our society and there

are many external forces trying to tear us apart. Please help us to ensure

that we can have supportive and loving dealings within our society and allow

all of our voices to be heard. We believe that this is the only way in which

we can remain strong and survive.

 

If your spiritual masters express concern about your participation in our

conference, feel free to invite them to join the forum and see for

themselves.

 

Thank you.

 

Your servants and conference co-organizers

 

Dvaipayana Vyasa das Madhusudani Radha devi dasi

(Text COM:2737637) --------

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Hare Krishna,

 

Could you please give some specific? What is it that is so objected to?

Who is objecting and why? What gurus are being contacted?

 

Your servant,

Sri Rama das

 

[srirama (AT) bbt (DOT) se], or

[srirama (AT) reachme (DOT) net]

 

[http://www.web-construct.net/creditcard.html]

[http://www.web-construct.net]

 

> Text COM:2737637 (68 lines)

> Dvaipayana Vyasa (das) RSD (Belgrade - YU)

> 29-Oct-99 11:17

> Topical Discussions [1071]

> Attempts to silence members of Topical Discussions

> ---------------------------

> Dear prabhus, matajis, ladies, gentlemen and everyone,

>

> Recently, several attempts have been made to silence certain

> members of this

> conference - to stop them from voicing their opinion on Topical

> Discussions - in a rather dirty way. Certain persons who did not like the

> fact that on TD a lot of otherwise untouchable subjects may be discussed,

> approached gurus of persons whose posts they did not like.

>

> We had reactions from more than one guru (of conference members), and we

> suppose that we will have more of it in the future.

>

> If you are concerned about someone's spiritual life, and the person

> repeatedly rejects your offers to help, then approaching the person's guru

> may stem from the motivation to help. We have, however, reasons to believe

> that in this case, the motivation is primarily not to help but to

> intimidate

> and silence.

>

> We, the conference organizers, wanted to bring this matter to your

> attention. If the general audience knows about it, chances are that this

> conference can continue in the intended way - that people here

> will be able

> to speak without fear in the future as they are now (though even now it is

> not completely without fear, sadly...).

>

> When people know about this, they may do something. Also, those

> who like to

> do their work behind the scenes, contacting gurus of others and

> doing other

> activities of that kind, might not feel so nice knowing that this

> is exposed

> to the public.

>

> We personally consider such attempts as very harmful, as

> something not worth

> devotees of the Lord.

>

> Yet in our society (ISKCON) as it is, such attempts may even have

> results -

> if some guru does not want his name (or initials behind disciple's name)

> connected to any heated discussion.

>

> These persons (who want to prevent thoughts of others) may also try to

> exercise pressure on COM sysop, on the GBC and/or the BBT trustees, or

> wherever they can, in an attempt to shut down the conference (or transform

> it into something more to their liking) or have outspoken members removed

> from COM.

>

> We will try to continue our work, in hope that it will make entire devotee

> community a better place to live, without fear and repressions, but with

> love and support. There will always be doubts in any healthy community. We

> believe that from the free expressions of our thoughts and

> feelings, we can

> offer each other support and our society can grow into a healthy

> one, which

> will be an attractive option for people who are interested in Krsna

> Consciousness.

>

> Please support these efforts and support all those who

> participate in this -

> they will need it. You may elect to show your support in private

> letters or

> phone calls, either to devotees with whom you agree, or to

> leaders with whom

> you have good relationships. You may of course also chose to make your

> support in more public way. This is a crucial time for our

> society and there

> are many external forces trying to tear us apart. Please help us to ensure

> that we can have supportive and loving dealings within our

> society and allow

> all of our voices to be heard. We believe that this is the only

> way in which

> we can remain strong and survive.

>

> If your spiritual masters express concern about your participation in our

> conference, feel free to invite them to join the forum and see for

> themselves.

>

> Thank you.

>

> Your servants and conference co-organizers

>

> Dvaipayana Vyasa das Madhusudani Radha devi dasi

> (Text COM:2737637) --------

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