Responsibility for Abuse
BY: GOURA BOLA
Jan 30, INDIA (SUN) — Margaret Connors is saying that the responsibilities for abuse lies on the parents. I agree that the parents are also responsible for the child abuse in ISKCON. But she is wrong that the parents are solely responsible for abuse. The person who abused the kids, the people who knew about it and did not do anything, the people who covered up, the people who supported it by not ensuring that abuse does happen by punishing perpetrators, and ultimately, the leaders all are responsible for abuse. Also, the wrong philosophical concepts which led to the gross neglect of children at each level of society are responsible.
Margaret Connors does not realize the gravity of abuse. The reason is that she is not soft-hearted and lacks compassion. Compassion or love towards living entities is a basic characteristic of the devotee. When a person hurts or injures another person, then such person is not a devotee. Margaret does not realize this basic fact. Not only she, but also ISKCON leaders don't realize this basic spiritual fact.
SB 10.2.22 – "A person who is very cruel is regarded as dead even while living, for while he is living or after his death, everyone condemns him. And after the death of a person in the bodily concept of life, he is undoubtedly transferred to the hell known as Andhatama."
SB 12.2.41 – "Even though a person's body may now have the designation "king," in the end its name will be "worms," "stool" or "ashes." What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell?"
Margaret, please understand that in the end, you have to answer to Krishna. Please don't destroy your devotional service by being hard-hearted and not understanding the gravity of suffering inflicted on devotees by these perpetrators.
Maybe you are even worse than those people and you have false hope that you can be a devotee if these people who inflicted suffering on other devotees can be considered devotees! Don't be in this illusion.
Loving all living entities and having true internal love and compassion for them is essential to be a devotee. Don't cheat yourself.
