Open Letter to ISKCON Members &
ISKCON-GBC Proposal
BY: R.A. SADHUDASA ANUDASA
Dec 09, 2010 — SRIDHAM MAYAPUR, WEST BENGAL (SUN) — Dear ISKCON Members, and ISKCON-GBC Members, All glories to HDG Srila Prabhupada! Please accept my humble obeisances.
During the last fifteen years ISKCON members, and followers alike, have been misguided regarding the primordial subject matter of one's spiritual quest, i.e. (Sambhanda-jnana): Where I come from, and how I came to exist within this material realm?
During the last fifteen years ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 openly declare ambiguity in Srila Prabhupada's teachings regarding Jiva-tattva, by stating:
"From Vaikuntha no one ever falls down. On this we all agree. However, he falls down into the material world."
Thus concluding that no one ever falls down from Vaikuntha, and in the same breath, ambiguously quote that the jivas fall down from Vaikuntha.
The still enacted ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 establish: "No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as CONCLUSIVE [regarding jiva-tattva] in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.)"
However, the above Resolution was immediately neglected by the ISKCON-GBC PRESS publication "Our Constitutional Position" of 1996, which CONCLUDED that the jiva falls down from Vaikuntha, thus ignoring Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta Purports: "The CONCLUSION is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.26), and "A devotee, once accepted by the Lord, can never fall down. That is the CONCLUSION of this incident. " (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.29)
During the last fifteen years ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 openly declare ambiguity in Srila Prabhupada's teachings regarding Jiva-tattva, although Srila Prabhupada and the Vaishnava tradition of ALL four sampradayas declare that "The CONCLUSION is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode. "
Although ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 establish: "No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as CONCLUSIVE [regarding jiva-tattva] in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.)," during the last fifteen years, ISKCON members have been misguided through thousands of duly documented classes of Srimad Bhagavatam, and articles on BTG, about exactly the contrary to Srila Prabhupada CONCLUSIVE statement on his eternal Bhaktivedanta Purports are:
"The CONCLUSION is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.26), and "A devotee, once accepted by the Lord, can never fall down. That is the CONCLUSION of this incident." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.29)
Therefore the question stands: What kind of spiritual leadership our ISKCON-GBC represents, which dares to offer CONCLUSIVE statements against the unambiguous teachings and CONCLUSIONS of ISKCON's Founder-Acarya HDG Srila Prabhupada?
My humble —however emphatic plea— to the honest members of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON-GBC is to please sponsor the following proposal below.
I always beg to remain your servant, in the exclusive service to Srila Prabhupada's Holy Mission.
Sadhudasa Anudasa
NOTE: Those concerned with this subject matter, kindly download more specific information from the following address: https://public.me.com/sadhu
PROPOSAL TO THE ISKCON GBC
NAME: ESTABLISHING THE ISKCON JIVA-TATTVA RESEARCH COMMITTEE
PROPOSED BY: Sadhudasa Anudasa
SPONSORED BY: TO BE SUBMITTED BY 14th DEC. 2010 TO proposals@pamho.net
CONTACT: sadhu.ACBSP@pamho.net / sadhu@mac.com / Mayapur Mobile: +91 97750 54650 / Vrindavan Mobile: +91 98375 16815 / Skype ID: r.sadhu
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 15 December 2010
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS the proposal duly sponsored and presented to the ISKCON-GBC on 9 November 2009 entitled "CREATING THE ISKCON JIVA-TATTVA RESEARCH COMMITTEE" was re-directed for analysis to the Shastric Advisory Council, although said Council is conformed in its majority by members that assisted in the compilation of the ISKCON-GBC PRESS publication entitled "Our Constitutional Position," which is in contention by the proposal—due to its explicit Mayavada contents.
WHEREAS ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 declares ambiguity in Srila Prabhupada's teachings on Jiva-tattva, by stating: "from Vaikuntha no one ever falls down. On this we all agree. However, he falls down into the material world." Thus concluding that no one ever falls down from Vaikuntha, and in the same breath ambiguously quote that the jiva‘s fall down is from Vaikuntha.
WHEREAS ISKCON GBC Resolutions No.79-80/1995 established: "No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as CONCLUSIVE in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.)" to then overturn such injunction through the ISKCON-GBC PRESS publication "Our Constitutional Position" of 1996, which concluded that the jiva falls down from Vaikuntha, thus ignoring Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta Purports: "The CONCLUSION is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.26), and "A devotee, once accepted by the Lord, can never fall down. That is the CONCLUSION of this incident." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.29)
PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION:
[Research Committee.] 1. The Jiva-tattva Research Committee is established to review of the faulty conclusions found on the ISKCON GBC-PRESS publication of 1996 entitled "Our Original Position," with the purpose to accomplish the ISKCON GBC resolution No.87 of March 4, 1990 meant "to establish wherefrom the jiva manifests and falls down."
The Suggested Members are:
Chairman: HH Bhaktividya Purna Swami
Secretary: (To be invited to participate)
Research Members (To be Invited to participate):
HH Hridayananda Dasa Goswami
HG Gopiparanadhana Dasa
HH Bhanu Swami
HG Ravindra Svarupa Dasa
HH Shivarama Swami
HG Virabahu Dasa
HH Guru Prasada Swami
HG Drutakarma Dasa
HG Gaura Keshava Dasa
HG Sadhudasa Anudasa
If anyone cannot participate, the secretary, along with other members, can replace a member, or add another at the committee's discretion.
They are to:
1. Submit to the committee's Secretary via email, within six (6) months from the date of the Jiva-tattva Committee approval by the ISKCON GBC, individual papers with their particular views on Jiva-tattva.
2. Immediately after the six month period above, every member will receive via email all individual conclusions submitted by the other Committee members.
3. After three months, i.e. nine (9) months since the Committee approval by the ISKCON GBC, preferably the committee members should personally gather for discussions during a period of no less than four weeks, at a common chosen place (of preference at Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir), or if not possible, they can discuss via Skype or other means. If all committee members cannot be present, at least those whose views and research have rendered similar conclusions, can meet to discuss.
4. The Research Committee members will deliberate from the research found in the ISKCON GBC-PRESS publication of 1996 "Our Original Position," Sadhudasa's publication entitled "Tatastha-Shakti-Tattva" published in 1990—personally distributed to the NA-GBC members at Los Angeles—and any other essays submitted, as well as via email, previous to their personal gathering for final discussion.
5. The Committee Chairman will officiate as the meeting's moderator, as well as to supervise the draft of the Committee's conclusion, which is to be submitted to the ISKCON-GBC within two weeks period after the four weeks final deliberations.
They are empowered to:
1. Establish a definitive harmonious understanding on the philosophical conception (siddhanta) of Jiva-tattva, for all ISKCON members to follow and preach, while using the same teachings, presentations, and preaching examples on the subject as HDG Srila Prabhupada delineates on his Bhaktivedanta Purports.
2. Establish ISKCON Jiva-tattva siddhanta in accordance with the teachings of ISKCON Founder-Acarya HDG Srila Prabhupada, as non-different and in line with the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as delivered through the writings of the Six Goswamis, and all Gaudiya Vaishnava acharyas in disciplic succession, and followed by all Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
They are requested to:
1. Accomplish the purpose of the committee within nine months, from the date of the committee's establishment by the ISKCON GBC.
2. The members of the committee will fund their own expenses for the purpose of traveling and lodge for meetings, whenever possible or at their own discretion.
3. The Jiva-tattva Research Committee members should attend all scheduled meetings or Skype conferences, as per the rules of the ISKCON GBC meetings, according to the schedule composed by the Committee's Chairman in previous consultation and agreement by all members, or be duly represented.
4. The Jiva-tattva Research Committee will disband on completion of purpose.
EXPLANATION:
(1) What prompts you to submit this proposal?
THAT the purports and teachings of HDG Srila Prabhupada should not be approached as philosophically ambiguous under any circumstance, for they are transcendental, and are completely in line with the teachings of the Gaudiya Vaishnava parampara. "Such transcendental literatures, even though irregularly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest (SB 1.5.11)."
THAT it is due to ambiguous interpretations of his teachings that makes the transcendental literature offered by Srila Prabhupada for the ultimate spiritual benefit of mankind, to be read or to appear philosophically ambiguous. Most particularly when analyzed from con-temporary mundane cultural and/or scientific conceptions labeled as "modern."
THAT HDG Srila Prabhupada is a broadly recognized shakti-avesha-avatara, thus he is never to be brought down from his exalted position due to ambiguous interpretations of his homogeneous transcendental teachings, which include examples relating to circumstantial mundane activities, commonly practiced in mundane cultures and Universities. To become intellectually affected by ambiguous considerations based in contemporary mundane cultural and/or scientific conceptions labeled as "modern," suggesting that His Divine Grace could have explained things relating to Jiva-tattva in "better ways," amounts to enforce on the Absolute conditioned ambiguity.
(2) Why this proposal is important for the success of ISKCON?
ISKCON success is based in passing on Srila Prabhupada's teachings "As They Are," without any sort of circumstantial ambiguity found in contemporary mundane cultural and/or scientific conceptions. ISKCON represents Srila Prabhupada's institutionalized mission to defeat the nirvishesha and shuniavada misconceptions, which is meant to be non-different from the teachings of Sri Chaitanya and the Six Goswamis.
(3) What would be the implications of implementing this proposal?
To demonstrate that the ISKCON-GBC members can factually correct their philosophical mistake, and are able to stop misguiding the ISKCON members, and followers alike due to ambiguous interpretations and duplicitous conclusions as found in Resolutions No.79-80/1995. Such honest adjustment would reflect in a better image on the whole GBC, and therefore promote a permanent adherence amongst ISKCON intelligentsia regarding a philosophically homogeneous and comprehensive definition of ISKCON's Jiva-tattva siddhanta. Such comprehension constitutes the vital understanding to base one's relationship with the Lord, or the sambandha-jnana process of practical spiritual life (Cc. Madhya 20.124).
