meaning of arrogance

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> > which in this case have been drawn from Srila Prabhupada's teachings --

> > something that you find to be arrogant.

>

> That is not what I found arrogant, but this:

>

> > What a bizarre viewpoint from a member of ISKCON!

>

> An ad-hominem attack (and almost the same thing you did to Mahatma):

> "If you do not agree with me, you are off."

 

It's noteworthy that you guys adopt the very same viewpoint: 'If you don't

agree with us you are off. In other words, what you are saying is that if

one has firm faith that Srila Prabhupada's program of pure devotional can

solve any and all problems, you are off. You have to accept that some

devotees need modern therapy to be able to practice devotional service,

otherwise you are just a fanatic or living in a dream world.'

 

That's the basic message we get from you, even though you have succeeded in

diverting the subject to Braja alleged arrogance.

 

It seems that on the internet any attempt to defend Srila Prabhupada's

program of pure devotional service against material contamination is met

with a barrage of indignation from a certain section, and all kinds of

obfuscation techniques are employed by them to divert the attention away

from the real problem. Note how it all started out as a discussion of

whether we need modern psychology in ISKCON and now has ended in the good

old subject of child abuse. That's always a very effective weapon employed

by Kali's agents to inflame the ignorant and intimidate the opponent.

 

The real point is that ISKCON is meant to propagate Srila Prabhupada's

program of pure devotional service all over the world. His idea for ISKCON

was that it should be a society where people congregate and practice the

yuga dharma. Prabhupada said that devotional service was the ultimate

solution to all problems of the world - material as well as spiritual. Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami said that there is no material solution to

material problems. He said the only thing lacking in the world is Krishna

Consciousness. You don't find any of the acharys saying that we need modern

psycholgy or Atma-yoga or what not to make progress in devotional service.

You don't need anything except devotional service to make progress in

devotional service.

 

Those who claim that we need all kinds og material means to boost us towards

greater hights of devotinal service or insight into ourselves are either

less intelligent (well-meaning, but less intelligent) or deliberate, evil

agents of Kali.

 

It is the duty of ISKCON to propagate and perpetuate the message of Srila

Prabhupada and the acharyas. In fact, devotees of ISKCON have no other

business than that. It is definitely not the duty of ISKCON to provide

therapy to devotees based on modern karmi-psychology. Someone might argue

that a section of our second generation devotees are so traumatized by their

upbringing in ISKCON that they have lost all faith in devotees and the

devotional process and that therefore they need modern therapy to overcome

their mental anguish. That is the same as saying that something material can

stop devotional service, which is false. One of the characteristics of pure

devotional service according to NOD is that nothing material can stop it.

 

This means that it is only one's desire that can stop you from engaging in

pure devotional service. If someone says, that I could not practice bhakti

yoga because this or that traumatic circumstance in my childhood, it is

directly against conclusion of guru, sadhu and sastra.

 

Prabhupada said that Krishna consciousness was only for the most

intelligent. Now if someone is not intelligent enough or too traumatized

from his childhood or to mentally disturbed for some reason to just practice

bhakti-yoga, and therefore wants to seek help from the modern self-help

gurus, then that's one thing. In that case we are talking about a program

for mentally disturbed persons, not a program for devotees in general. It

could be argued that it would be better for disturbed devotees in ISKCON to

get their therapy within our society rather than having to seek help from

outside karmi-psychologists.

 

But do we need people like Dhira Govinda, who is openly antagonistic towards

the GBC, who in fact has been banned from conducting his courses on ISKCON

property, to provide such service? I think not. There should be counseling

in ISKCON, definitely, but the counseling should be conducted by loyal

followers of Srila Prabhupada, devotees who are well founded in Vaishnava

siddhanta. It should not be conducted by some rascal who doesn't know

guru-Tattva or who tries to inflame people with the poison theory, and who

on top of that charges a lot of cash for his courses. What kind of lunacy is

that? It should not be possible for someone to go out into karmi-society and

get an education as a therapist and then come back and make his living in

ISKCON. If someone needs counseling the service should be provided for free

by loyal and philosophically fixed up followers of Prabhupada.

 

As it it is now we have people like DG (and also this Atma-yoga guy, I might

add) who are aggressively canvassing all over ISKCON for their programs.

They present their courses as something that can aid devotees in finding

their real selves and come to terms with their difficulties. What kind of

hogwash is that? Even a new bhakta in ISKCON knows that the only solution to

any and all problems, and the only way to self realization, is bhakti yoga

and the holy name. And these people don't offer their life-reformation

courses out of their bleeding heart. No way, it's hard cash. When I was in

Vrindavan recently I met two of Dhira Govinda's followers (one of them a

socalled Prabhupada disciple) pestering all new guests in the MVT about DG's

upcoming course in Navadvip. And if you weren't interested they kept at you

as if there was something wrong with you for not being interested in

learning from DG. They told me I was a fanatic for not taking any interest

in his course. Why on earth would I be interested in learning ANYTHING from

a loser like DG when I have Prabhupada's teachings?

 

These people are not followers of Prabhupada, they are followers of DG. We

should once and for all kick this nonsens out of ISKCON. If you think it's

arrogant to be fixed in Srila Prabhupada's teachings, to have faith and

personal experience that his program works, then so be it. Who cares? I

certainly don't give a toss about what the less intelligent think and it's

about time some more devotees woke and realized where their loyalties ought

to be placed. Anyone who is enamored by DG (or the Atma-yoga guy for that

matter) doesn't know our philosophy.

 

The tragic thing is that these things need to be said in a society of

devotees. It should be self evident.

ys, jdd