Pray Tell, GBC: Why? Why? Why!
BY: RAVANARI DAS
Aug 22, 2012 — USA (SUN) —
Part Three: A Few Questions, If You Please.
Over the past couple of days in Part One and Part Two of this ongoing article we have endeavored to answer our critic (that is singular, critic) by explaining why we are voicing our disapproval of so many modern and invented GBC policies. We have taken great pains to explain our position. It is our hope that, following our example, the GBC—either individually or collectively—will deign to respond of some of our concerns which reflect 95% of ISKCON's devotees. Indeed, these thoughts are not mine, they are questions which are exercising at present all thinking persons of the entire Hare Krishna Movement.
The general consensus among many sannyasis, temple leaders as well as the rank and file of ISKCON is that the GBC are out of touch with not only them, but the directions of Shrila Prabhupada. Not only that, but as the financial wealth of the movement continues to accumulate, these questions will be the very ones asked by the media, and the GBC should be ready with the answers when such queries arise in public forums.
The overall feeling is that the GBC is on a slippery slope and is gliding away from the strict principles that Shrila Prabhupada demonstrated as ISKCON's Founder-Acharya. These concerns are whispered here and there like a silent cancer, and the GBC needs to deal with them like a surgeon removes a tumor. Ostrich philosophy (hiding your heads in the sand) will not help. For if these issues were not pondered by the vast majority of devotees, how then has the Sampradaya Sun, which airs these doubts, become the most popular website in ISKCON? Indeed, the Sun is performing a real service for not only ISKCON as a whole, but for the GBC as well by bringing these issues to light in a forum wherein the members of the GBC will be given respectful latitude to respond with their views. That way if we (and the rest of the movement) have missed anything, then our doubts and confusion will be cleared up once and for all.
So here we go with our questions and we look forward to a response other than the usual deafening silence or propaganda that comes from the GBC's exclusive towers:
THE CHOSEN FEW: Are the GBC aware that they appear like an exploitative body to the other members of ISKCON? Is it necessary to grant yourselves such huge priveleges as you are privvy to while demanding constant service, large expense accounts, cooks, chauffeurs at your beck and call, etc. If there are any members of the GBC who do not demand such advantages (as the GBC is famous for), why do such honest and austere leaders not ask their fellow GBC members to follow their examples? Is the temple prasadam so bad that you are unable to eat what Krishna provides for His devotees? Why do the GBC members require special diets and service?
MILLIONAIRE SANNYASIS: Why does the GBC not object when GBC members or ex-members enjoy lives of luxury, and yet they are still allowed to represent ISKCON as worshipable preachers? I am referring to millionaire sannyasis such as Giriraja Maharaja, who famously lives in his own resort villa on the California coast with female servant(s), yet who is always heralded as a leader at Hari Nama retreats and at ISKCON temples. And if Giriraja is such an enthusiastic preacher for the upliftment of the world in general, why has he not accepted the request to preach from Mayeswara dasa? Mayeshwara Prabhu is a staunch disciple of Shrila Prabhupada and his sincere invitations to Giriraja to preach in the Mayavadi capital of Ojai (which is near the Swami's private villa) have been repeatedly ignored.
MUNDANE SOCIAL WELFARE: Why is the GBC allowing ISKCON to slip into positions of dire compromise from which the society will find it impossible to extricate themselves in the future? I am referring to mundane humanitarian activities like Delhi's Mid Day Meal programme, Bombay ISKCON's karmi children's school, and ISKCON-supported Interfaith Conferences. Where are the brave and bold GBC members who will explain to the members of "other faiths" that so-called religions in which cows are slaughtered and devoured are not religions at all, but are the deepest forms of ignorance and irreligion? How will ISKCON explain the genuine principles of Shrila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita As It Is when the world (and ISKCON's donors) perceive us as just another mundane charitable organization dedicated to serving mankind?
BHAKTIVEDANTA INSTITUTE: Why does the GBC allow ISKCON gurus to encourage mundane academia among their disciples while the Bhaktivedanta Institute, ISKCON's academic wing, has been left for dead years ago? If mundane qualifications and degrees are so important for preaching to scholars, why then with the increase of devotee graduates has the Institute only floundered all the more? And if a degree is required for preaching to academics, why then is the only remaining devotee on the front line of this programme, Shriman Drutakarma das Prabhu, a non-college graduate yet one who is very well studied in Shrila Prabhupada's books? Do you believe that Shrila Prabhupada's books have all the answers, or do you think that we need to look elsewhere?
ISKCON NEWS: Why does the GBC have a propaganda minister, Anuttama das, whose official site, ISKCON News is a resource for prajalpa and false propaganda that has nothing to do with Krishna consciousness? Do you not know that Shrila Prabhupada would be livid with rage upon seeing any number of articles that this misleading and non-Vaishnava site pretends are Krishna conscious? Do you not know that the editor of this site has made a film entitled "Krishna the Playful God" and therefore must be considered a Mayavadi with no real devotion to the Supreme Absolute Truth Personified as Shri Krishna? As an example of your false propaganda, today's top article about Rambhoru dasi entitled "Rambhoru Dasi Finds Spiritual Fulfillment as Interfaith Chaplain" states that she "moved back to her native USA after nearly thirty years of traveling and spreading Krishna consciousness around the world. Well, here is how Rambhoru in her own words describes many of the past 30 years, a life of suffering at the hands of an ISKCON GBC member and guru. Do you think that Shrila Prabhupada would be pleased with your deceptive tactics of trying to change ISKCON's message to one of compromise? Are you ashamed of the rigid principles that our Spiritual Master stood so strongly for and therefore seek to create some new definition of his instructions? Do you know what other devotees feel about this sort of behaviour of yours?
DURGA WORSHIP: Since you are supposedly the leaders of the International Society for KRISHNA Consciousness, why then have you not objected when a member of your esteemed body ejected a devotee for objecting to Durga worship in front of the Deities of Radha and Krishna? Do you not know that this puja is offensive not only to the Founder-Acharya and the Deities, but also to Mother Durga, who is a devotee of Shri Krishna and who will never agree to be worshipped in His presence?
We sumbit these questions respectfully and look forward to your answers. Hare Krishna. All glories to Shrila Prabhupada.
