I wonder why the GBC has not yet insisted that H.H. Sivarama Swami demand that his initiated follower, John Richardson, also known as H.G. Jayadeva prabhu, take such videos as these off YouTube.
(see 4:55 mark)
Do the GBC members not follow their own GBC Resolutions regarding kirtan and bhajan standards?
Of course, it's not really surprising that few listen to the GBC. The top leaders just do as they wish with impunity. Not even the GBC listen to what the GBC has to say.
There are so many references on what Srila Prabhupada says about the rasa lila dance. Read, and listen, for yourself to understand what Srila Prabhupada says about rasa lila. (See Footnotes.)
There seems to be a burgeoning problem, not only with SivaramA Swami, but within the entire GBC allowing such deviations to proliferate. All under the ISKCON umbrella!
Granted, it is Jayadeva prabhu who has put such videos online but he is merely the follower of SivaramA Swami. And SivaramA Swami is, or should be, I would assume, accountable to the GBC.
What is the point of having an incompetent, impotent GBC which allows such deviations to proliferate, all within the confines of ISKCON? This is one more area in which the GBC is derelict in its sworn duty to maintain the standards that Srila Prabhupada tried so hard to inculcate in his followers.
It is not that Jayadeva prabhu is entirely at fault. The guidance to utilise his natural musical talents and abilities properly in accordance with the wishes and instructions of Srila Prabhupada is simply not forthcoming. He is merely following his spiritual preceptor's lead. His spiritual preceptor, Sivarama Swami, bears the brunt of the responsibility for allowing such deviations to get out of hand; the onus rests on the shoulders of Sivarama Swami. And, furthermore, every single GBC member and ISKCON sannyasi, who allows such deviations to grow, nurture and fester, is at fault.
Why even bother having such a GBC if they cannot see that standards are being adhered to?
What is Sivarama Swami teaching his followers? What kind of example is he setting?
Was Sivarama Swami a member of the Gopi Bhava Club, all those years ago?
Is Sivarama Swami still busy composing his own thoughts and busy writing books on Vrindavan pastimes?
What kind of watered down, tepid version of ISKCON is being passed down by the sanyasis and leaders and GBC to the younger generations?
Footnotes:
Here are some classes and letters, from as early as the 1960's, on rasa lila by Srila Prabhupada:
"Now, Kṛṣṇa at the age of seven years old, He lifted Govardhana Hill. So if we try to imitate, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa lifted the Govardhana Hill. Let me also try." That is not following. You cannot do that. (chuckling) You see? Because sometimes the foolish rascals they say, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa performed rāsa-līlā. Let me also perform rāsa-līlā." Therefore I forbid that don't discuss Kṛṣṇa's rāsa-līlā with the ordinary persons. They cannot understand. They'll simply think that "Oh, it is very nice to dance with girls, boys and girls dancing. No." (Bhagavad-gita 3.18-30 -- Los Angeles, December 30, 1968 Bhagavad-gita Lectures)
Here is an excerpt from a letter to Satsvarupa Maharaja, written when he was Back to Godhead magazine's chief editor:
"In BTG the rasa-lila episode cannot be published. We are writing on the activities of Krishna, and rasa-lila is one of the most important pastimes of His transcendental activities. Therefore, it must be published in the book, but it cannot be published in any public paper. This is the instruction of my Guru Maharaja. Actually, rasa-lila means to curb down the lusty propensities of the conditioned soul. Unfortunately, it acts differently on the conditioned soul if he is not prepared to understand what is Krishna. So do not try to print this." (Letter to H.H Satsvarupa dated 10-15-69)
Prabhupada Letters : 1968: 26 December
Los Angeles, Calif.
My Dear Satsvarupa,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 27, 1968 along with one very beautiful picture by Jadurani. I am so pleased to see this wonderful portrait and please convey my hearty thanks to Jadurani for her fine endeavors.
Regarding the article suggested by Rayarama, you are correct in your doubts that Radha-Krishna lila should not be discussed in Back To Godhead. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there are so many philosophical discussions and we should concentrate on these philosophical aspects. Otherwise the less intelligent will surely understand Radha-Krishna lila as simply nonsense boy and girl sex life.
Hanuman Prasad Poddar and company are all mundane types and they have no entrance into actual spiritual activities. Superficially they pose themselves as great devotees, but we can feel their pulse; ultimately they are impersonalists. We should not depend upon writings from such unauthorized sources.
Strictly we should avoid publishing these confidential topics in Back To Godhead. This is dangerous for the conditioned soul. Although such Krishna lila can do some good to the mundane people in the long run, to understand the philosophical aspects of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the beginning is essential and will make for good stride in spiritual life.
I do not know why Rayarama has asked you to send such article. It is not to my sanction. We shall be very careful about mundane sex life. That is the pivot center of conditioned life. You are intelligent enough and I hope that Krishna will help you in these matters.
