Realistic Dreamers
BY: JANMASTAMI DAS
Jan 30, WEST VIRGINIA, USA (SUN) — Dear Margaret, when one frames their arguments based on sastra rather than emotions or from one's own personal motivations, we can expect more of a broadminded "mahatma" approach. Of course, those with personal motivations are often knowledgeable enough to attempt to make their interpretation and explanation of scripture work for their own personal gain. We are continually warned throughout all scripture to be wary of any and all such characters. Therefore, in all scriptural confrontations, at least one of the contenders espouses a contaminated philosophy, and the reason for the discussion is usually to resolve the issue of spiritual purity.
The understanding that a rational discussion will win converts from one position to another is generally overly optimistic. What generally occurs in these circumstances is that those who hold these positions only become more entrenched in their own beliefs, usually with each side accusing the other side of heresies worthy of expulsion from the devotee community. The only ones usually influenced by these discussions are the innocent individuals, attracted by KRSNA consciousness, who may become somewhat disillusioned toward the process based on the errant behavior of some of it's candidates for the priesthood.
To date, there have generally been two primary schools of thought, each with their own preferred methods of dealing with the predicament that ISKCON finds itself in. The "party line", the refusal to discuss any of the past actions with perceived negative repercussions, holds that any and all discussions of past transgressions is ill intended and of no value to entertain. While there are varieties of intensity in this belief, each forming their own philosophical sect, the counter-belief (and all it's related cousins) holds something to the effect that the perceived "ignorance is bliss" state of euphoria sometimes used to entice bhaktas into ashram life, which almost always fades when the neophyte bhaktas come to learn of the transgressions, is a deceptive line of preaching that is not of any real lasting value.
The 'party liner's have forced themselves into almost a no-win situation with their demands for secrecy on matters of personal behavior. "Ceasar's wife must be above suspicion!" Srila Prabhupada would often say, but now the fact is that so many offenses have soiled Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON with the likes of these high visibility transgressors, and all this accumulated trash they would have us believe. The present day immeasurable or unachievable assessment of what constitutes 'pushing forth the preaching mission', always laudatory of their own efforts, has been seen by some philosophical opponents as highly self-congratulatory and eternally overly optimistic.
So too with the now ubiquitous ISKCON sponsored and endorsed vyasapuja ceremonies, birthday parties for the ruling elite. Once ordered to be held outside of ISKCON facilities (the disciples own private closet was mentioned, as if devotees had 'their own private closet' in those days), these have taken hold throughout the ISKCON world, often with the equivalent status of Incarnations ISKCON accepts and offers homage to. To the Godbrothers of these often less than pure devotees, such fantasies border on delusional. The overly enthusiastic comparisons made with the earlier acaryas, claiming their performances equal to or greater than the previous acaryas in the same line, cannot have a unifying effect in Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON.
The alternative school of thought, generally denigrated by the temple sycophants as 'Ritvikism', also has as many variations as there are individuals considering the subject matter, and not so many old timers do that as much any more. Not that KRSNA or Srila Prabhupada ever leaves the devotees, but some have chosen to believe and to preach like this. Unfortunately, the spreading of this philosophy has financially benefited some of the persons who use ISKCON as their own cash cow, and therefore this sort of deviant philosophy is quite often found in ISKCON temples and publications. This has driven large numbers of former residents and well wishers into a state of suspended animation, waiting for ISKCON to return its operation to something they can enthusiastically support.
These people gave up their lives, as they were, to follow Srila Prabhupada, and it is not a fact that only those with the ISKCON 'in good standing ' seal are devotees. I know you may have heard like that in some temples, but it just isn't so. Neither is it true that those who want the purity that once was "the force" that ISKCON worked with, those who want that purity restored, they are not "unrealistic dreamers thinking that Srila Prabhupada is still with them". They are very realistic dreamers, and that is a good thing.
