Try To Be Realistic
BY: ROCANA DASA, SUN EDITOR
Oct 6, USA (SUN) — Counterpoint response to Bhakta Wallace Dorian's editorial, Try To Imagine
My thanks to Bhakta Wallace, who has commented on my recent articles by characterizing them as “illuminating and very eloquent”. I would like to offer the same appreciation for the recent writings of others participating in these threads, including Shiva dasa, Ragaputra dasa, and Garuda dasa, who have contributed to this lively debate. As is often the case, Shiva dasa in particular has been “taking the words right out of my mouth”, although he presents them in a much more “eloquent” manner. I agree whole-heartedly with his conclusive debate points. The quality of this free exchange of ideas is very encouraging to me, and the value of the dialogue greatly exceeds the effort required to maintain this Sampradaya Sun.
It is interesting to note the personal spiritual circumstances of the debate participants, and how their circumstances appear to correlate with their freedom to speak their minds. Shiva dasa lives outside of the institution and is, I assume, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Bhakta Wallace, a 59 year old devotee and writer, hasn’t committed to diksa, but seems to have a siksa guru in Danavir Goswami. More importantly, he has been studying Srila Prabhupada's books for many years. I can only imagine how many other devotees out there would freely and honestly reveal their minds if only they weren’t “entangled”. I receive a great deal of correspondence from such individuals, who communicate important and thoughtful ideas in their letters. Unfortunately, many ask that their letters not be published because they are fearful of reprisal. In many cases the danger is not coming directly from ISKCON leaders, but from the sycophantic and fanatical diksa guru followers who live in their local communities.
Shiva dasa laid out a brilliant presentation focusing on a central theme of spiritual pretension and a lack of honesty and humility amongst the leaders of ISKCON and the Gaudiya Matha. I'm taking it a step further, suggesting a practical means by which this unavoidable hypocrisy, which is symptomatic of Kali Yuga, can be somewhat reduced. In a nutshell, this can be done by emphasizing siksa, Srila Prabhupada as the Sampradaya Acarya, freedom of expression/press, and the democratization of ISKCON management.
In answer to the points made by Bhakta Wallace in his Try To Imagine article, I would like to reply by starting with his “proof of the pudding is in the eating” theme. Bhakta Wallace lays out a speculative “post-dated check” scenario which fits well with ISKCON group-think. He intersperses his editorial with the usual lines, “Srila Prabhupada once said” and “only Krsna knows” in an attempt to support his futuristic and speculative theory. “What if” some hypothetical disciple manages to spread Krsna Consciousness worldwide and they accomplish this task without ever experiencing a fall-down, even if their own guru falls down? Bhakta Wallace apparently thinks this dream supports his assertion that ISKCON's re-initiation policy is acceptable. In fact, in putting forth this speculative scenario he ignores all the observable evidence that 1) Krsna Consciousness is the “Science of Self Realization”, not just a field of random happenings, and 2) the previous three great personalities who actually accomplished this monumental task were nitya-siddha, maha-bhagavata devotees following our exacting science.
In our recent articles, both Shiva dasa and I have included relevant quotes wherein Srila Prabhupada clearly states that only specially empowered representatives are capable of single-handedly accomplishing these tasks. We mortals must somehow or other overcome many obstacles, both personal and environmental (Kali Yuga), in order to cooperate together. Collectively, we can make use of the blessings bestowed upon us, and upon humanity, by the jagat gurus.
We have been given a practical, straightforward mission of distributing Pure love of God, and we can easily engage all our senses, intelligence, and God-given talents in this mission. The question before us is whether the present methodology applied by ISKCON for guru fall-downs and re-initiation is best for achieving our mission, or whether we can come up with something that actually works. Bhakta Wallace suggests that we continue on with the current formula and hope for the best - no change or improvement necessary. I assert that the current formula is simply an ISKCON version of Social Darwinism -- “survival of the fittest” in an ISKCON institutional context.
Speaking from the point of view of a “dinosaur”, namely the class of Srila Prabhupada disciples who haven't adequately adapted, today's formula requires us to embrace one or more of the following designations: swami, diksa guru, GBC, bureaucrat, or sycophant. Brahminical free-thinkers are at a distinct disadvantage and are destined for extinction.
Bhakta Wallace has taken on the persona of the aloof, uncommitted, creative intellectual, observing all of us subjects from the viewpoint of sociological interest. I know many others in this right-brain subgroup who live in a fantasy world where they like to imagine they know past, present and future. However, it is not detached musing that brings about true understanding, but rather active duty in sincere service to the bona fide Sampradaya Acarya.
Bhakta Wallace states that “pure devotional service manifests in "action". This action is then open for judgment. He suggests that gurus and swamis should be judged on the basis of how many persons they have brought to Krsna Consciousness, which he equates to ISKCON. He fails to consider or mention that it is hard to judge the degree of credit that should be assigned to Srila Prabhupada himself for starting ISKCON, writing all the books, setting down the standards for sadhana, and so on. How many of these notorieties would have “made it” independently from Srila Prabhupada? How many could attract any disciples if it weren't for the nectar Srila Prabhupada provided, which serves as the magnet for attracting followers.
We can also observe that many of the newcomers are attracted to ISKCON not because of the swamis and diksa gurus, but as a direct result of the "lower echelon" devotees who go out actively preaching. When newcomers come to the temples they seldom find swamis and gurus preaching at Sunday festivals or doing introductory one-on-one preaching to newcomers. The “big timers” wait until after the interested jivatmas are properly prepped by their underlings, when they manifest for the all-important initiation stage. After the ceremony of fire, beads and name giving, in most cases the guru disappears and the locals again take over the training. But as we know, the propaganda is that this guru or that guru has “made” so many disciples. Most readers know this system very well, so I’ll not elaborate further.
Bhakta Wallace asks and answers the big question: can an un-initiated devotee go back to Godhead? He then feigns sastric ignorance, going on to muse that in his opinion, this is “possible”. We are talking about linking up with God, for Whom anything and everything is possible, so naturally it is possible for the un-initiated to go back to Godhead. How God makes this possible is by putting the blessed spiritsoul in contact (through Caitya guru) with a pure devotee. In our present situation, this will most likely occur via the form of the Book Bhagavata”, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada. Submissively and sincerely hearing from a Sampradaya Acarya is, in itself, essentially a type of initiation into the parampara. As with any one of a variety of initiations, the degree of advancement is dependent upon the degree of sincerity of the disciple, so long as the via media is an actual pure representative. In our circumstances with Srila Prabhupada, this is clearly the case.
In previous writings I have addressed the subject of diksa in great detail, but I would like to reiterate several points:
First, there is no way that this legitimate option can be prohibited or controlled.
Second, diksa is not the only guru relationship that allows the sincere seeker entrance into the Sampradaya.
Third, the genuine seeker should be properly educated as to the dynamics of a relationship between a diksa guru and their disciple, from both sides of the equation.
Fourth, before taking diksa an aspiring candidate should insure that they have established a deep, personal, intimate, connection with the Sampradaya Acarya/Book Bhagavat, Srila Prabhupada, along with Caitya guru, a number of advanced siksa gurus, and attachment for devotional service (especially the Holy name).
Fifth, the neophyte spiritualist has to become as self-sufficient as possible with respect to protecting their private interests. As such, they should resist any undue coercion from institutional dynamics such as the solicitation of disciples, seductive diksas, or any combination or manifestation thereof.
In the final analysis, we are alone in this material world except for the Lord of the Heart and His unalloyed representatives. All others can disappoint us when put to the test, and love is always tested. That’s Maya devi’s devotional service. Pretending or wishing it to be any different only invites depression, bewilderment and frustration, which leads to anger, fear, and offensiveness. We can't ignore the fact that ISKCON diksa gurus have regularly disappointed their disciples by falling down into serious Maya, nor can the institutional policy of re-initiation avoid serious scrutiny.
We have to assume full responsibility for becoming an embodied conditioned soul on account of our impure desires. Each jivatma is a unique individual and as such, their journey back to Godhead is different than any other jivatma's. Granted, there is a bona fide process for freeing oneself, namely surrender to Lord Krsna, but the type of service, the association, the circumstances are undoubtedly different for every spiritsoul. Therefore, searchers of truth have to reject anything or anyone that suggests there is an easy, standardized method that fits one and all. Be suspicious of any person or religion which proselytizes anything resembling a magic formula, silver bullet, or exclusive way. Take the pure and leave the bad.
I suggest the reader disregard most everything Bhakta Wallace muses about in his article. By writing it, he serves as an example of what not to do and where not to go.
