Old Hat/Helmet
BY: HH B. RADHA-GOVINDA SWAMI
Jul 17, USA (SUN) — Referring to Hasti Gopal prabhu's recent article, "Machiavelli is Old Hat", Machiavelli may be (or is) "old hat," but his teachings are still being used in many places, including within present-day ISKCON. The point is that ISKCON leaders are not using the principles of leadership taught in Srimad Bhagavatam or by the Personal Bhagavata (Srila Prabhupada), and are instead using that which Machiavelli taught.
One can lead people in two ways: inspire them by love, as Srila Prabhupada and pure devotees do, OR, rule (over - as in control over) through fear. Genuine spirituality is based on love, not fear, (unless we are feeling a sense of fear (concern) to not hurt the person who we love). Thus, this "old hat" of Machiavelli is used as an iron (fear) helmet to HURT, even CRUSH people, and rule over them by force of the fear factor instilled into them.
I was inspired by Srila Prabhupada's love as I believe most of us were, and thus, was willing to give up everyone and everything to serve Srila Prabhupada (and thus, Krsna through Srila Prabhupada's love). Had Srila Prabhupada had a mentality of ruling (control over) by fear, I would NEVER have come to His ISKCON.
In this regard, it might be interesting to note the following verses from Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 16:
Verse 6
O son of Prtha, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called the divine and the other demoniac.
Verse 4
Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance - these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Prtha.
Verse 1-3
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor - these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
Verse 5
The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage.
Verse 7
Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them.
Verse 13-15
The demoniac person thinks: "So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him; and my other enemy will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice." In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.
Verse 17
Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false prestige, they sometimes perform sacrifices in name only without following any rules or regulations.
Verse 18
Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demon becomes envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in his own body and in the bodies of others, and blasphemes against the real religion.
Verse 22
There are three gates leading to this hell - lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.
Verse 22
The man who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kunti, performs acts conducive to self-realization and thus gradually attains the supreme destination.
Verse 23
But he who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.
Verse 24
One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.
Your servant,
Dasi, B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna
