May 20, 2014 — MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SUN) — HDG Srila Prabhupada speaks out on Krsna consciousness in His non-sectarian ISKCON.
On the above webpage we see ISKCONs ongoing stance on Hinduism, and how it preaches about the Society. They say that ISKCON is "the Heart of Hinduism".
ISKCON has boldly and falsely promoted ISKCON as Hindu for decades now. The damage it's done to Srila Prabhupada's movements is vast and very, very serious indeed. Prabhupada's original ISKCON has been nearly killed off. Back in the 1960s and 70s ISKCON's threat was from deprogrammers like Ted Patrick and other demonic groups. Now the real danger is from within ISKCON, not from outside attacks.
Srila Prabhupada warned us they could not harm ISKCON, as Krsna would protect the society and the sincere devotees. However Prabhupada gave us a stern warning, that if the devotees do not cooperate, or change things in ISKCON, it could be destroyed from within -- by devotees. And that's what we are seeing today in the West!
"ISKCON won the battle but lost the war."
The great war is against Maya… the Illusionary Energy and person who is, in fact, a pure
servant of Lord Krsna. She keeps conditioned souls in the material illusion... it's her job. And she did a great job on ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada left the planet!
Despite the fact that Indians in America, Canada and the UK have saved our temples when we lost so many devotees and were in financial trouble everywhere in the 80s,90s, which was a good thing, the direction ISKCON has taken since then is a bad thing.
Any person can visit nearly any ISKCON temple in the West to see that our temples are EMPTY, and it's not because the brahmacaries and brahmacharinis are book Sankirtan. It's because the Bhakta Programs are DEAD, and locals are not joining the temples anymore. This is not happening everywhere, but it's 90 % the case now. That's alarming and tragic.
There is no proof in any of Srila Prabhupada's books that he intended His ISKCON to become Hinduized in the West… Hinduized for money and financial support. That's a fact. Srila Prabhupada always proudly preached that His Temples 'were supported by His books being distributed, but where is that in ISKCON now?
Srila Prabhupada in America was proudly preaching, "These young boys and girls are leaving everything to join ISKCON and preach for Lord Caitanya in the America". Where are locals joining now in America? Almost nowhere.
The Canadian and UK Indian-managed ISKCON temples sadly have no clue, no plan
or desire to restore Srila Prabhupada's temples in the West.
Krsna Consciousness is NOT a sectarian religion, it is a science. Don't take it as a type of religion" [Hindu].
"So on the whole this great knowledge is missing at the present moment in the human society. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is specifically meant for educating people about the spirit soul. It is not a sectarian religion. It is a science. Don't take it as a type of religion. It is a course of education which is understandable by the human society, not by the cats and dogs. If I call a dog, "Please come here, read this book," how he will understand spiritual nature? It is not possible for him. But if I call a human being and I ask him, and if he agrees to understand what is spiritual nature, it is possible.That is the difference between dog and a man. A dog cannot understand what is spiritual nature, but a man can understand. Therefore the conclusion is if in this human form of life we do not take advantage of understanding what is our spiritual nature, then we are no better than the dog. It is an opportunity given by the nature or by God to understand this human form of life. We should not miss this opportunity. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. God is personally giving you the information, what is the material nature, what is the spiritual nature, how you can transfer yourself to the spiritual nature…"
(Bhagavad-gita Lecture - Geneva, May 31, 1974)
What more proof can I or other prabhus give to prove that ISKCON was NEVER meant to be promoted as solely focused on Indians in America, Canada or England, etc. Hinduized programs have dramatically changed the dynamics and mood of Srila Prabhupada's Temples, and this is a serious deviation.
Then there is the "Fear Factor in ISKCON" , so brilliantly explained in the article by Bhakta Dave prabhu. Is it not ironic that a bhakta has the blessing from Srila Prabhupada and the courage, insight and integrity to see what's wrong in ISKCON and speak about it? Moreover, because as he is a 'mere bhakta' -- not an initiated devotee or Prabhupada disciple or so-called leader in ISKCON -- typically, he will be ignored by the authorities!
That's the sad situation we have now in ISKCON. Although the GBC may shun someone like Bhakta Dave and not take his words and realizations seriously, some bhaktas are more Krishna conscious than many of the leaders in ISKCON. However, Lord Sri Krsna is in his heart (and other prabhus like him), hearing all his prayers and seeing the deviations he sees in ISKCON. Krsna sees and hears all.
The ISKCON movement has been hijacked by an elite circle of leaders within the institution who wield power by having many followers and thus a great deal of money. These leaders refuse to listen to the their godbrothers and disenfranchised devotees and hide from the problems in ISKCON. Compromise, unauthorized change, deviations like Hinduized ISKCON, New Age ISKCON, etc. are all protected and promoted by these leaders and their yes man. But fortunately, Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada are NOT blind to see the problems in ISKCON and they hear the prayers of the sincere non-elitists, including those who are GBC, Gurus and leaders in ISKCON. Nonetheless, the GBC takes the full credit (karma) for all the deviations in ISKCON that have upset devotees. But they remain in full denial, as we say in the West. And there will be the devil to pay for these aparadhi changes and compromises to Srila Prabhupada's movement.
I ask the GBC to see the light and defend Srila Prabhupada's instructions, instead of changing them for the comfort of Westerners, Indians and financial supporters, before it's way too late to fix.
