All is Not Well in Sivarama Swami's Privately Owned Fairyland
BY: NITAI DAS
Apr 30, 2010 — UK (SUN) — I would like to thank Jakob Smahl for his recent article, "Sivarama Swami's Kingdom". In the article he is clearly defining the dual standards of Maharaja. There are the standards that he is superimposing on the rank and file devotees (volunteers), and there are the standards (lack off) that he is having for himself. The two are diametrically opposed.
By acting in such a hypocritical way, Maharaja is creating a disturbance in our society. Our philosophy is based on ‘preaching by example' and not on a 'Don't do as I do - do as I say' model of leadership.
We have to ask ourselves, where did Maharaja learned this double standards policy? The answer lays in history -- Maharaja`s history.
Sivarama Swami was groomed and trained by Bhagavan ‘Maharaja'. While under Bhagavan's care, he acted as Bhagavan's henchman. On the instruction of Bhagavan, Sivarama Swami would forcefully (physically) kick out the devotees (godbrothers) who questioned Bhagavan's erroneous ways.
Sivarama Swami is still following this fear and intimidation program of management, which is totally inappropriate for a Vaisnava society.
We also know very well that it was Bhagavan who started this luxurious 'lifestyle of the gods' for the sannyasis, gurus and GBCs in ISKCON, thinking that instead of following, they can imitate Srila Prabhupada. But they did not imitate, as Srila Prabhupada was not attached. They are very much attached to their toys and their big lifestyles, comforts and controlling everyone and everything around them.
It appears that while under the care of Bhagavan, Sivarama imbibed this inappropriate mentality. We only have to look at the damage that Bhagavan's concocted lifestyle had on the at the time flourishing ISKCON, while he was in charge, in zones like France and Italy. Even 25 years after Bhagavan's fall down, ISKCON France (his zone) still lies in ashes and ISKCON Italy is not doing much better.
Sivarama Swami must look at this history of ours and learn from it. Let him remember that those who try to forget the past are condemned to repeat it!
There is still hope for Sivarama Maharaja and his privately incorporated project in Hungary. He can still change his ways, however the time will eventually run out. Maharaja, abandon this erroneous Corporate lifestyle of five star hotels/resorts, abandon the gravity free chair, abandon the female secretaries/servants, and live simply and purely, instead. Lead by example. Take care of your followers properly.
Do not base your management on impersonal corporatism, fear, intimidation, manipulation and rejection of devotees (volunteers) who do not want to follow you blindly. Rather, base it on personal brahminical/Vaisnava education, honest love, appropriate care, and protection.
Dear Sivarama Maharaja, please do what is right or you will have to suffer the consequences as well, like so many other big and powerful devotees in the past who strayed from Srila Prabhupada's instructions, thinking that they know better.
