statement by the GBC executive committee -Reply

[Guest guest]

Hare Krsna to all Srila Prabhupada's faithful followers! I'd like to

relate a recent happening here on the Big Island of Hawaii. As you

may be aware, we are really far removed from devotee association, so

we have a tendancy to mix with all the different Maharaja camps here

- SiddhaSwarupa, Govinda, Sridhara, Narayana etc. For Christmas

there was a gathering at the Golden Temple in Honokaa (managed by

BhaktSaranga M. whp I think is a disciple of Puri M.). anyway, the

following Sunday, we invited some of the devotees (non-ISKCON and

ISKCON) to my house; My son Raghunatha lead a great kirtan, we read

from SP's B.G., feasted, and then we played the new Hare Krsna World

video, produced by ITV, edited by Jalu and Vikram; the 'other'

devotees were transfixed - literally could not take their eyes from

the screen. All they have heard for years is the faults and problems

of ISKCON, and there in front of their eyes unfolded glory after

glory, testiment to SP's potency and the purity of the ISKCON

devotees that have pushed on despite so many obstacles. Some of the

'ISKCON' SP disciples that have been away from th temples for years

were also totally enlivened to see the tremendous preaching that has

been going on. One devotee said, 'it makes me want to go join a

temple again'.

For me the realization is that even if there are so many faults,

even if th guru issue is not resoved, SP's potency is pouring out in

so many ways all over the world. When I see the shining faces of

devotees in Russia or South America, that have never met SP, that

were born AFTER his departure, it is clear that his transcendental

association with Krsna and Lord Chaitanya, and his unalloyed devotion

to carry out the instructions of his guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, is

manifesting in these new disciples.

The visiting devotees, some who have followed 2 or 3 other guru's

since Sp's depature, were speechless - they could not respond to the

video and still accommodate the stance that ISKCON is doomed, full of

error, a dying institution, etc etc. To promote harmony, I did not

push it, but I could have simply asked 'where is the comparable

preaching in your camp?'

So we are embarking on a new year (Happy 1999!); as we struggle to

address and amend, to adjust and grow, to heal and tranform, surely

SP will help us to continue to carry out his loving mood of

compassion for all living entities. We are the only hope for the

suffering of the world, we can not allow maya to divert us from this

mission through quarrel, division and politics. We can see that NO

OTHER camp has the special potency that SP has to carry on in Kali

Yuga. At the very least, let us pray that we can remain under the

shelter of Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet so we can do some small bit

for his pleasure..

PARAM VIJAYATE SRI KRSNA SANKIRTANAM!!!

 

YS

Jagaddhatri dd