Writing from Life Experience
BY: GOVINDA DASA
Jan 29, USA (SUN) — Dear Margaret, I just read your latest reply to Mahavidya das. You write well and seem to have a very analytical and logical approach to things but honestly, you don't know what you are talking about. Or you are purposely playing with facts to concur with your views.
I was in gurukula, and I mean not the gurukula of the late nineties, but part of the first batch that came out "burnt laddu". Your analysis might be right in a normal situation, but definitely not the one I grew up in. I believe you're right when you say that the responsibility is not only on the teacher in question. But parents "didn't really have a choice" - a very strong "spiritual" pressure was put on them to enroll their kids in gurukula and go on "sankirtan". Or get out of the temple and even zone of the ruling acarya.
I know that this "spiritual" pressure is still present and I'm not going to go into the details of show off day for the parents or guru, the punishment we got for telling certain details to our parents once they left, etc., etc., etc. And the lies and false propaganda for ISKCON schools who, contrary to karmi schools, are not slaughterhouses. There definitely are cover-ups and protection of unqualified people.
From whom do you think those abusers got their position? You seem to think that there is a gurukula handbook for parents wherein they are notified that certain "gentlemen" will firmly apply corporal punishment according to school rules. And that parents, after reading this document, still choose to leave their kids?! You're wrong in your analysis Margaret, and I don't believe you were around or aware of the whole gurukula screw up. You are not qualified to give an opinion.
respects,
Govinda dasa
