clarification for Madhumati

[Guest guest]

At 08:10 PM 3/6/02 -0800, you wrote:

 

>Excuse me? Am I understanding you correctly? Devotees have an opportunity to

>work in a field that promotes Gaudiya Vaisnavism and you're comparing us to

>Algerian patriots calling Americans demons?

 

 

No, you are not understanding me correctly. I think you missed part of the

discussion.

 

My comment said clearly that "I have no problem" with Braja taking this

job. The later comments about Algeria was posted by Ahkilesvara - although

I think you might have misunderstood him too.

 

The only reason I brought this up is that Braja previously slammed another

devotee, writing him so many nasty texts that he left the forum in pain and

shock. Why? Because he wanted to discuss Tripurari's Gita. Braja and Jahnu

told him that we didn't need any other Gitas besides Prabhupada's and

questioned whether Tripurari Swami was indeed following Prabhupada's

instructions.

 

She has also made multiple comments on various forums about how wrong it is

to go outside of ISKCON for association and instruction.

 

My comment was to point out the inconsistency between these statements

which seem to represent her "COM persona" and her personal life, in which

she has in fact taken a job as manager of the very organization that

publishes Tripurari's Gita.

 

Personally, I don't like the ISKCON-non-ISKCON fights, at least not on the

level of us general devotees. I don't think we have anything to gain from

being so exclusive. That is why I asked Hariballabha to explain to us how

she and her husband have set up their temple in Berlin to welcome everyone

and where they have created a loving atmosphere of acceptance and

cooperation. I have no problem with Mandala either. I thought you knew

that. What I do have a problem with is when someone criticizes other

devotees for "going outside ISKCON" or for wanting to discuss Tripurari's

books, without disclosing that they too associate with the same groups.

 

You have never criticized anyone else here for these things and I'm happy

for you that you and KD have found a new community here in CA. I think

Mandala does a very good job of promoting vaisnava (ISKCON and non-ISKCON)

association and as I wrote in a previous text, Advaita and I found these

different expressions of KC to be bright lights on the spiritual landscape

in the book we are about to publish.

 

Madhu

[Guest guest]

At 08:26 AM 3/7/02 -0800, you wrote:

 

>My understanding of this is that the discussion about Tripurari Swami's Gita

>was taking place on the Granddisciples conference. I would have to agree

>that that discussion on that conference was not appropriate.

 

Rama Keshava too is a granddiscple of Srila Prabhupada. Granddisciples

aren't a bunch of kids who need to be protected. Many members there have

been in ISKCON for 15-20 years. The forum is to allow more "peer" type of

discussions that can't be had when godsisters/brothers of one's guru are

present. Besides, there was no need for Braja to be nasty and hurt Rama

Keshava.

 

Finally, Braja's objections were not just about the forum but she

questioned whether Tripurari Swami was following the instructions of his

spiritual master in writing that book. That's a general criticism, not just

a matter of "I think this forum is inappropriate". And on top of it all,

she said this in front of his disciple. He was very hurt.

Madhu