Make The Next Right Turn....
BY: JANMASTAMI DAS
Aug 23, 2010 — WEST VIRGINIA, USA (SUN) — For many of the liberal, left leaning former hippies, the slow but sure turn to the right in the organization they have aligned themselves with has left them at philosophical odds with those setting policy. The current failure to follow Srila Prabhupada's directions regarding how the temple presidents are to be appointed has been a part of the de-democratization that lingers from the Zonal period.
The removal of the temple istagosthi programs, throughout ISKCON worldwide, and it's replacement with "guru darshan" or some other alternative information exchange, is another disservice that has been perpetrated on the devotee community. When we study the errors in direction, post-1978, we see the blame disregarded in favor of more optimistic assessments, thus eliminating the possibility of any "faultfinding". This theory, that there is nothing wrong if we don't discuss it, also once called "ostrich philosophy", has failed to eliminate the problems that such approaches breed. Who knew?
With the serious restrictions that are incumbent when maintaining a corrupt regime (lying about past histories, lack of proper authorization, reduction of liberties and benefits to the minions, need for fanatical loyalty, like that), the surrender of one's integrity has to be an accepted fact. That such concessions are made, no doubt justified by their nature as "service", prompts most unbiased observers to question the motivation of such "spiritualists". When murder, rape, organizational prostitution, child abuse, massive corporate theft, and the blatant disregard and disrespect for other devotees have come to be the most newsworthy accomplishments of the past three decades, the current cadre of "gurus" and their disciples and informed supporters pose quite the opportune target for those seeking to malign Srila Prabhupada's real movement.
By linking these miscreants with Lord Caitanya's movement, rather than with the band of usurpers who have availed themselves of treasuries, living facilities, transportation, and the like, we accept their basic premise that they are "the devotees", by virtue of the fact that they have shrewdly obtained title to most of the properties.
Organizational authorization has failed to provide the necessary protection for unqualified individuals who have assumed more authority for themselves than they were worthy to receive. Having to explain these myriad, misrepresented "infallible pure devotees of the lord" would not be a problem if the egotists involved had not usurped more authority for themselves than they were qualified to have.
With a lack of bona fide authority to support their endeavors, failure is not only an option, it is a virtual certainty. Step down or fall down are the two choices most often faced by those overly optimistic about their own level of empowerment. Still, false ego generally prohibits the least destructive of the choices and the havoc left in the wake of the falldowns create problems the real ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada's mission, never had to face or deal with. Hence we are left with a handful of bureaucrats, devoid of real spiritual vision, who are left to cut and paste the perverted babbling of media outlets they were viewing, instead of doing Harinam or book distribution. Witness these current postings, which constitute "ISKCON news":
The right wing slant, reflective of the mentalities of those steering the organization, is far from the ISKCON that those familiar with Srila Prabhupada's era and the organization of those days had come to know. This new direction is claimed to be "perfect and unquestionable", as were all directions taken before this. Vested financial interests aside, the oligarchic decision makers, up to their eyes in the steaming pile of past catastrophic miscalculations they have spewed forth thus far, cannot be considered as a valid source of future spiritual guidance.
This fact is not lost on those governmental agencies most threatened by the presence of a real, radical, revolutionary movement. That the western world has ceased to be a hotbed of spiritual growth, that the philosophy has been compromised, that the books have been changed, that book distribution has fallen in the West to levels not seen since the 60's, these are not unrelated events. One can only hope the these ISKCON leaders of today have enough concern for Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, that they recognize the true way to serve him when they finish their "fame, profit, and adoration" sojourn.
