Brahminical Perception and Hari Nama

[Guest guest]

My Dear Prabhus,

Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been following somewhat the discussions by the illustrious

members of this conference, Godbrothers and others, and would like to say it

is very encouraging that you are all using your brain substance to find a

positive path of bettering Srila Prabhupada´s ISKCON through the leadership

of the GBC.

I would like to humbly make some comments that were felt from hearing

some things that Bhaktarupa Prabhu said and which I feel is a very real

problem confronting ISKCON and basically will prohibit it from gaining the

basic purity needed to implement, properly, Varnasrama Dharma. Although it

is certainly not true for all places, there is a definite lack of the

execution of the Yuga Dharma or the congregational chanting of the Holy

Names of the Lord in every town and village. Due to this devotees in

general are losing the life force necessary to spiritually perceive the

tendencies of others and therefore engage them properly, according to their

propencities (basically VAD). This Brahminical Perception is employed by

Temple Presidents to perceive who is apt for a particular service and engage

him accordingly, thus he stays longer in devotional service. In a social

context the Guru perceives the tendencies of others and suggests that they

engage in a particular type of work wherein they will feel more natural and

peaceful and thus be in a proper frame of mind to accept the higher concepts

of spiritual life. So, all that is really necessary is that purity of

perception, that naturally comes to a devotee who is in the "fire" of

Krishna Consciousness, the fire of Hari Nama! Varnasrama College is simply

to engage everyone so that they will eventually come to the stage of being

peacefully situated so that he will be favorable to the hearing and chanting

of the Holy Names of the Lord. Take a poll about how many of our leaders

regularly go out on Hari Nama, and you will know a little bit more about the

problem. As far as Grihastas or Sannyasis being on the GBC, my experience

of years on the GBC, I would say that this is really not a factor, rather

the criteria is one´s purity and desire to implement the desires of Srila

Prabhupada. Thus Krishna gives the devotee what is needed to do that

service.

My perception of the GBC, over the years, has been one of an authority

that does not exercise authority, thus there is a feeling of insecurity

amongst the devotees under them. Because of fear of doing something wrong,

better not to do anything, so there is an impotence to impliment resolutions

and laws of ISKCON. Leadership means to lead and control. This control is

positive and makes us feel secure and protected. Right now we have centers

in zones where GBC secretaries have not visited in years, so just to

maintain some position, the result is insecurity. My feeling is better a

blind uncle then no uncle, better a GBC that makes some mistakes than one

that doesn´t do anything. But better yet is a GBC which is forceful and

Krishna Conscious, learns from the past, engages everyone and anyone in the

service of their Spiritual Master (even maybe their own Godbrothers), and

who is the driving force of the Congregational Chanting of the Holy Names.

Hari Bol!

Your servant,

Jagajivana dasa