An Historical View of ISKCON's History
BY: ASHVATAMA DASA
May 25, USA (SUN) — Author unknown, posted on the Net by Caitanya dasa.
"When Prabhupada came to the West in 1965, he had the determination to spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world and found the then troubled youth of the Western World more that happy to help.
Many had been jolted into questioning their existence from taking LSD and began searching for an understanding that could answer the many questions about why they existed; this was one of the side effects of LSD."
So in droves they started coming to Prabhupada who arrived in America at the same time this 'LSD insurrection' started in America that was greatly influencing music, literature, poetry, art, philosophy and religion.
So it was from this background Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON movement of Krishna Consciousness began in 1966.
His American followers had grown up in an extremely materialistic world where their parents where embroiled in a worldwide war 20 years earlier and a server Economic Depression before that. They were now determined in the 50s and 60s to give their children all the material comforts they missed out on.
However a small but influential baby boomers generation had become disillusioned by the material values their parents were setting up. As Prabhupada said in his Srimad Bhagavatam,
"Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the fields of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society".
In order to bring many of these disillusioned American youth into his fold, he had to adjust some of the high spiritual principles he was used to following back in India, for example he asked his new disciples to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krsna mantra a day instead of 64 rounds.
In 1972 the massive book distribution programmes began all over the world and some aspiring Vaishnava historians, like myself, who was there when this massive book distribution program began, believed that this 'distribution of books' as well as building big ISKCON Temple basis in India, was paramount to anything else in laying the solid foundation of ISKCON that would with stand any future storm.
As far as I am concerned, the greatest bliss in Krishna consciousness was during those early pioneering years selling books while Prabhupada was with us. From 72 to the end of 74, they were the best years of book distribution I will always remember, I remember selling 80 of the book 'Nectar of Devotion' one Thursday in Sydney, the money we collected paid for the Melbourne Temple.
This massive book distribution program meant to some degree during the pioneering years of 1966-77, that even if a devotee was qualified or not, if they could distribute books and help lay the basic foundations of ISKCON, even in a small way, then that contribution by them to Prabhupada (most of them young girls and boys in their early 20's) was more important during these pioneering years to Prabhupada than how sinful, fallen or immature they were.
Most of us were just juvenile confused kids disillusioned with the material values of our parents. We therefore new something was missing and no amount of material opulence given to us by our parents could ever quench our thirst for the truth and wisdom.
Prabhupada new this, but had the realization that if he could somehow use our enthusiasm and youthful energy to spread his teachings, then centres would be established and be solid bases in all major cities around the world for those future generations who are seeking the truth.
Somehow, by Krsna's mercy, he had to spread the message of Lord Caitanya by 'hook or crook'. He therefore was not concerned if the 'postmen and women' who carried his message were qualified or not. He new, that in time, such transcendental service would purify them.
Srila Prabhupada had come alone with the message of Lord Caitanya from his humble abode in Vrndavana India, to a struggling sinful Western materialistic culture in 1965, that was on the verge of a technological and cultural revolution, over shadowed with the fear of an all out Nuclear war.
Regardless of this, Srila Prabhupada new that he had to speedily establish a firm foundation of his ISKCON society in the West, as well as back in India, then such Temples and the millions of books distributed, while he was here, would lay the concrete foundations that would endure any calamity the movement may go through after he departs this planet.
He also new, from his own experience with the Gaudiya Math, set up by his Spiritual Master, there also maybe infighting amongst his young immature disciples. In this way, by Krsna's grace, Prabhupada was determined to lay a solid foundation that his ISKCON society can grow from and withstand the impending conflicts of wars between nations and the internal ISKCON 'growing pains' his movement may go through during its youthful development to Adulthood.
In this way he believed a solid foundation of book distribution and big Temples all over the world, especially in India, would shelter his ISKCON teachings and organization from the mundane effects of Kali-yuga, not allowing the problems of the world to impede his preaching (Sankirtan) movement in the future. He believed if his movement was strongly established, it would weather any storm and continue to grow and expand into a dominant world Movement, as it is doing now, as predicted by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
In this fashion, considering the hash and violent background of the 20th Century, from where his disciples and grand disciples came from, it really was no surprise to anyone with spiritual intelligence, that after his disappearance their would be serious problems in ISKCON as devotees adjust and mature on their path to reach the high principles Prabhupada taught by his humble example.
Regardless of all the critics, ISKCON WILL mature out of its present immature pioneering version. And in time within this 21st Century, due to the gradual purification, ISKCON will become a stronger more powerful voice than it already is, in spreading the pure, humble, genuin, SELFLESS teachings of Lord Caitanya, as Prabhupada had envisaged for his ISKCON creation.
Hari Sauri Prabhu once suggested to Prabhupada, "It will take some generations for devotees to become purified".
Prabhupada told Hari Sauri it does not have to be that way; we can all become purified now if we all became convinced and learn from our mistakes."
AFTER PRABHUPADA'S DISAPPEARANCE IN 1977
Srila Prabhupada appointed eleven men himself as 'initiating Gurus', of whom the oldest was 38 years old and the youngest being only 26 years of age, just before he left the planet, knowing it would be more dangerous to appoint a single devotee acharya, which was not the way of Gaudiya Vaishnavism anyway because the next Acharya would naturally evolve and stand out similar to the way Prabhupada stood out from his Gaudiya Matha Godbrothers.It is important to note how old the devotee were during those beginning years, the average age in 1977 was 26.
Srila Prabhupada always meant that the GBC body was the ultimate authority and NOT the individual gurus or sannyasi's. All of them were suppose to be subordinate to the GBC body headed by an elected President who has a term at that post; instead they divided the world up into their own empires. This was the first mistake of disobeying Prabhupada's orders and was the beginning of the end to the so-called 'chosen guru' system.
We in fact, in an innocent green-horn kind of way, carried on the Guru reverence as if Prabhupada had never left, which in itself is not a bad thing if it worked, after all Prabhupada appointed these men himself.
The appointed gurus were built up by all of us with the expectations of them being pure devotees however, they were not proficient on the level of Prabhupada, yet we would adore them anyway ON THAT LEVEL with the trust they would turn out to be competent and be like Prabhupada, that's how childlike we were.
In this way we legitimately assumed that in time, due to the purification process of Bhakti-yoga, all the 11 appointed gurus would turn out to be pure devotees under the test of time.
In all fairness to all the original eleven 'chosen gurus', it was also their Godbrothers, including myself, who saw them as a substitute 'Prabhupada' so to speak, and then extravagantly worshiped them like Prabhupada to their disciples, attracting more and more disciples, building them up to be a 'Prabhupada' to all new devotees that we innocently yet ignorantly mislead in the early 1980"s, calling them bogus, yet sentimental names like 'Vishnupada, Bhaktipad etc'.
In this lesson, it must be understood the search for shining examples in a leaders disposition, is actually a natural occurrence within human society however, when we are young, inexperienced and undeveloped, our naivety unfortunately over glorifies those we have a high regard for around us, to be something they are not experienced to be, just like we did after Prabhupada left us in 1977 with the appointed eleven gurus.
As the years dragged on through the 80s and 90s, the method of communications with many ISKCON leaders was very patronizing. Unfortunately as the years went on, many had convinced themselves and others, who naively followed them, that they new 'everything' in both spiritual and material communications, when in actual fact they new very little of the 'real' world of accountability.
Sadly many ISKCON leaders had no insight into what the repercussions would be in the future due to their unqualified leadership.
In other words they had no insight of what their judgements now, would affect seriously the lives of other devotees and the movement as a whole in the future. They and many others in leadership had become over confident, arrogant and puffed-up with the little realizations they had during these early pioneering years, but could not see at that time how childish and immature they were at just the beginning of a great pioneer movement.
Due to their own self-importance, to pass judgment on them in the way in their attempted to manage during these early pioneering years, would only catch the attention of the criticism of them and there supporters
If justice is achieved and truthfulness and honesty is to be ever understood, the and others must admit they just did not have the 'mature vision' back then to appropriately guide others from putting themselves and others harms way.
It is however a fact that if one has firm faith in the chanting of Hare Krishna, no doubt THEIR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS will be protected, maybe not the biological vessel they are presently in. A devotee is fully dependant on Krishna's plan and surrenders to the chanting of Hare Krishna.
Give it time and service and purification will come, I do not think it is a bad thing we speakout about what we see because some leaders are still holding on to their 1980s 90s old guard mentality that keeps ISKCON in the West stagnated.
In Easter Europe and Russia it is still new so they are still going through the 'novelty stage'. To see where ISKCON is presently at, we have to look at America, Canada, Great Britain, Australia-New Zealand and India. Because of Indias economic boom, places like Australia are being flooded with Indian students and those taking migrating. Because of that the Temples are packed however, take them away and one will see how little effect we are presently having on European ancestary.
You cannot say that the preaching is not going nicely, because it is. The Melbourne Temple is so packed on a Sunday you cannot even get in!!! However 90% are Indians.
But I agree maturity is an on going thing to again attract the non Indian Australians. therefore 'free speech', even if we name names, is important if we sincerely desire Prabhupada's REAL ISKCON to shine through to all people and not just Hindus.
LEADERS WHO CAN BUILDING SELF ESTEEM AND SELF WORTH?
Calling a spade a spade is NOT offensive (thank Krishna we still have free speech) if the shoe fits those in leadership in the GBC. Like this Quote, certain leaders must admit to this kind of emotional abuse, otherwise they will NEVER make advancement and just stay stagnated surrounded by the hand full of naive 'yes' followers
"What about so many devotees who have been hurt by the patronizing words of ISKCON leaders over the years, I remember one Sannyasi telling a devotee to go a stick his head in the stool house and pull the chain and everything he touches turns to stool. Yes, everyone one laughed and revealed how immature and stupid they also were, but such bulling tactics were NOT funny to him, his self esteem and self worth were nil"
George Orwell's "Animal Farm
"BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" George Orwell's Animal Farm
Actually there is nothing to reform in Krishna Consciousness because everything is already here, given to us by Prabhupada, we just have maturely follow his teachings and be not afraid to speak out when things seem not quite right.
It is NOT offensive to 'expose the mismanagement and neglect' of sannyasis and Temple authorities in the past, that spoke arrogantly and hurtfully to aspiring devotees. It is psychological and emotional abuse that is designed to break ones spirit and self respect and was possibly one of the causes that lead to this devotee having other problems.
Lets face it, if your self esteem is destroyed by lazy layback leaders who always demand respect instead of commanding it with compassion, intelligence and example, then really, what does one expect?
As long as these kind of leaders are running ISKCON and are never punished for their past abuses and mismanagement, then today's version of ISKCON will stay stagnated. The only hope then for all leadership at ALL times and places, is to always have a good look at themselves.
Therefore it is the duty of every sincere and intelligently thoughtful devotee is to always question ALL leadership in line with the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Gita and Caitanya Caritamrta, pointing out their oversights, laziness and aloofness instead of being 'silent' and scared of the external dress of GBC, Guru, Sannyasi, Regional Secretary or Temple President.
In a perfect society, their is no need for free speech because REAL freedom IS Krishna Consciousness however, ISKCON, even though in principle it IS a perfect society of Vaishnavas, in it's present pioneering version, it still has a lot to learn, and only the sincere input by devotees who want to see ISKCON become stronger, MUST speak out as long as they are following the basic principles of Prabhupada's teachings.
The only expectation then for all management at ALL times and places, is to for ever and a day have a good look at themselves and how they appear to others.
Unfortunately, some of these so-called sannyasi's and leaders, (not all) as depicted in the leadership of Comrade Napoleon in the book' Animal Farm', are so arrogant, they think they are ISKCON and ISKCON is them and the only way to ISKCON is through them. It is certainly CERTAINLY NOT the ISKCON Prabhupada told me to surrender to in and 'do as they say'
Their version of ISKCON is NOT the ISKCON I joined in 1971 NOR THE ISKCON Prabhupada talks about in his books, letters, and lectures. And it will NOT be the future of ISKCON later in the 21st Century either because gradually, the 'REAL' ISKCON Srila Prabhupada started will outgrow their post 1977 mundane 'self centred' immature pioneering so-called leadership and ownership over ISKCON.
As Hari Sauri once said to me, 'It's good sometimes to be outside and look in to see another view, even a more clearer view of ISKCON's present development".
Lets pray this mentality of leadership is exposed - "Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure. On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?" from George Orwell's book Animal Farm
Again it must be stressed that the leadership back then MUST be honest enough to admit that they were clearly wrong in the way they handled many struggling devotees due to THEIR immaturity and arrogance as leaders. This period of was dominated by youthful inexperience and unpredictability.
Their attempts to lead the way in ISKCON directly after Prabhupada's departure had absolutely no future insight of what the serious consequences would be later to many lives due to such pioneering immaturity if they were not qualified..
It is foolish therefore, for them all to deny part responsibility for the things they could have stopped with maturity, wisdom and insight. These so-called 'good intentions' went on like this for years and it can historically in ISKCON be put down to the immature growing pains or teething problems (there only excuse and defense) of a young pioneering movement destined to one day be a major world wide institution as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicated.
