The Hare Krishna Movement
By: Urdhvaga das (ACBSP)
The Hare Krishna Movement technically “began” about 500 years ago, its inaugurator being Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 16th-century mystic, scholar and social reformer, who is accepted by Vedic scriptural evidence to be the Supreme God Himself incarnated on earth to preach the way of Bhakti or love of God.
The essential scripture for the movement, the famous 5,000-year-old Bhagavad Gita, spoken by Lord Krishna, God Himself, explains that religious principles, although beginningless, are revived periodically by Him or His authorized representative only, the purpose remaining the same, although due to time, culture and circumstances, the details emphasized may vary.
The final instruction of Lord Krishna in the Gita is that everyone should surrender unto Him only and make Him the ultimate goal of life. This is clearly stated and requires no “interpretation”. Unfortunately, the Gita is almost invariably mistranslated by unscrupulous persons with no actual knowledge of or devotion to Krsna, who consequently deviates the student’s attention to something else entirely.
The Hare Krishna Movements founder and acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the guru of ISKCON, has written elaborate English commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita and other sacred Vedic scriptures which have been translated into almost every language.
Prabhupada, being a bonafide “guru” directly in the line of Sri Chaitanya, does not distort the Gita’s clear message of devotional theism. He therefore wrote ” Bhagavad-Gita as it is “. Hence his writings, which have astounded literary communities worldwide, are used as standard textbooks in numerous educational institutions.
Unfortunately after Prabhupada’s demise in 1977, some of his leading disciples, such as Jayadvaita Swami, have unauthorizedly changed and edited most of Srila Prabhupada’s original translations and books, thus perverting and misinterpreting the real meaning and rendering them useless. Therefore the readers might be warned to only read the original pre 1977 published books of Srila Prabhupada. Otherwise students might be mislead by bogus philosophy preached by Iskcons false successor gurus .
Regrettably, after the departure of Srila Prabhupada in 1977, the institution he founded, ISKCON, became embroiled in a phenomenal amount of negative publicity and scandals. This can be entirely traced to the fact that false gurus have taken over the movement posing as successors and spiritual leaders, although not qualified in the least . Religious propagandists in the garb of devotees, fakes and unqualified students rushed in to imitate their master, women-hater, homosexuals and paedophiles posing as spiritual leaders.
“There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaishnavas in this Krishna Consciousness movement, and they should be completely neglected. A false acarya may try to override a vaishnava by a high-court decision, (2/3 hand vote) but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga.”
“Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, Kali-cela. He indicates that there are other Vaishnavas, pseudo-Vaishnavas, with tilaka on their nose and kunti beads around their neck. Such a pseudo-Vaishnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaishnavas. Although passing for a Vaishnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaishnava”. (Srila Prabhupada: CC.Madhy.,Ch.1, Text 218 / 220, purport)
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In order to properly understand where the movement went wrong, we therefore have to distinguish between the Founder and some of his over-ambitious disciples and secretaries who did not follow his orders and teachings. Please do not lump in Srila Prabhupada with his bogus successor-disciples!
The false Iskcon gurus who succeeded Prabhupada theoretically accepted the premise that to find God, the false ego must be defeated. And yet with few exceptions they had huge materialistic egos themselves. Religious scholars say that a crisis occurs when the spiritual leader of a religious movement dies. The success or failure of the movement depends upon how pure the new successor-disciples spread the teachings of the founder, or if they deviate from it.
To a large degree, the Krishna Consciousness Society is in shambles because too many new gurus did not want to spread Prabhupada’s teachings; they wanted TO BE Prabhupada. Cheap imitators. Because of that, the Hare Krishna movement degenerated into a number of competing cult members that have known murder , the abuse of women and child molestation , drug dealing, and swindles that would impress a Mafia don .
Iskcon leaders have heavily deviated after Prabhupada’s death. They grabbed for power, money and disciples. They were the inner club, heirs apparent to the assets of Prabhupadas movement. Disregarding his instructions, they put perverts, criminals and sexual deviants in charge of the movement.
What an opportunity! The ” senile old man ” was dead. Now we Westerners, who know better, can carve up the world for ourselves and control the millions of dollars in assets he left, plus control the thousands of followers who are flocking to him, and thereby earn many more millions of dollars .
Unfortunately, when a bonafide spiritual master disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called swamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on….The real guru, the spiritual teacher who is a representative of the Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered through unqualified disciples and false successor gurus, not following the teachings properly.
The exploits of such false Iskcon gurus as Harikesha , Bhavananda , Hansadutta , Bhagavan , Jayatirtha , Kirtanananda , and Rameswara are legendary and extremely embarrassing . They are especially reprehensible because they were GBC-leaders and their GBC peers sanctioned and condoned their activities for many years at the expense of Srila Prabhupada’s reputation, assets, disciples and mission.
These immature and familiar Westerners with no proper training, failed to execute the orders of the founder Srila Prabhupada and deviated from his teachings. They thought that by imitating his external dress they could become like him. They had no idea who He was/is. Power-hungry for name, fame, glory and adoration they artificially posed as successors and took over the movement by politics, disregarding Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and last will ..
For their own glorification they belittled Prabhupada in the “false biography” called the LILAMRITA – planting the seed , in which all events are carefully “laundered” to protect the guilty and to misrepresent Srila Prabhupada.
But this is the sad story of how the destructive metamorphosis happened; of how good became evil; of how false gurus claim to embody Krishna’s mercy but behave without mercy. And no power, as we will discover, corrupts as absolutely as fanatical religious power.
“Hare Krishna” is a cultural, philosophical and religious movement which is intended for the reformation and upliftment of the entire human society, but false Iskcon successor gurus have turned the movement into a perverted sect which has to be reformed itself first.
Since 1987, reformers in the movement have worked to purge ISKCON of the horrors committed by false successor gurus . For this reason the Iskcon Reform Group ( IRG ), respectively IRM Iskcon Revival Movement was formed. They hope to restore the spiritually powerful principles on which the movement was founded, but Iskcon leaders are so quick to ex-communicate and banish anyone who preaches contrary to their corrupted leadership and bogus philosophy.
Dissenters can still be banned, beaten, shot or otherwise intimidated as described in the book ” Monkey On A Stick “. Until this mafia-ism halts, many devotees will prefer to stay away and/or remain anonymous. A class-action-law suit filed by Adridharana in Calcutta India , as well as by Windle Turley in Dallas , is presently under way to persecute and purge out the criminal elements in the movement. Many Hare Krishna Devotees are finally waking up. Although some devotees are still fearful of reprisals from Iskcons bogus GBC/Guru leadership, others are openly calling for a change of leadership , as well as rejecting their bogus isKcon gurus .
The recently surfacing of massive evidence that Prabhupada might have been poisoned to death , most likely by a coterie of his ambitious secretaries, who have been, since then, posing as his successor gurus, is to be further investigated.
The 408 page book “Someone Has Poisoned Me” , which documents extensive evidence of the poisoning, can be obtained for free (the publisher requests a donation of $5) from Vedic Village, P.O.B. 28, Efland, NC 27243 ( rivervillage@mindspring.com ) 1-800-242-0115. A poison complaint has also been lodged with the Dallas trial lawyer WINDLE TURLEY, attorney for the plaintiffs of sexually abused Krishna Children .
The names of the child-abusers are given by the children.
We therefore like to request all devotees world-wide , who have been alienated from and abused in Iskcon, not only sexually, but in many different other ways also, such as being banned, beaten, shot at and kicked out of the movement, to file for a follow-up lawsuit to purge out all those criminal elements in the society, and end the bogus GBC/Guru leadership.
Please also see The Iskcon History Page : www.harekrsna.org/history.htm
Yours, in the service of Srila Prabhupada
Urdhvaga das (ACBSP)
Original story URL: http://iskcon.krishna.org/Articles/2000/07/00044.html
Hare Krishna
I am very sorry to say that the so called iskcon is losing its importance day by day due to dirty politics and monopoly of temple presidents, there is no proper correction from the higher level
This website seems completely demoniac, If anyone, after receiving some contact with Srila Prabhupada stumbles onto this site they will abandon ever looking further. I know thousands of devotee’s that despite the current situation in iskcon are still becoming devotees, Srila Prabhupada also wrote some articles against his god brothers for there misbehaviour’s, but He decided to cease after petitions from his beloved god-brothers as airing dirty laundry for all to see is defeating the purpose. The battle is in the hearts of individuals and those who are sincere should be approached and schooled on the actual siddhanta in a gentlemanly way not like this, Spewing all over us? as if anyone who’s been around a couple of weeks isn’t aware of this history? we don’t need to be chucked up on, Those who want something cheap want these bogus guru’s and those bogus guru’s want cheap disciples, Lord Caitanya says this will always exist. Those who want something real will be Chanting with the motivation that “I want to love Krsna, and be dasunudas” and if they are chanting etc… like this, Bhaktyunmukhi-sukrti, who can trick and deceive them? Krsna takes full charge of the real seeker of the truth. “I will protect them from all sinful reactions do not fear, hesitate or worry, is what Krsna declares to arjuna, so how is it possible to be deceived? this website is based on Blaspheming, committing endless offences and achieving nothing positive. Just spewing hate will achieve nothing, positive preaching about the benefits of accepting a bonafide Guru and the glories of devotional service above liberation an sense enjoyment is the only true way to connect with people. The true conception of the absolute only comes from the bonafide acharya in the disciplic succession and such a grate soul is not found by searching with the mundane eyes and intelligence but with the heart, those with dirty hearts cannot understand the acharya representative of Krsna, even when He is amongst them. There is a process to achieve His association that’s what Bhakti yoga is. Its the process to achieve association with Krsna’s bonafide devotee, that’s the goal.The real iskcon has and will always exist and so will its false representative for the cheaters. Everyone knows about the pretenders, history is full of them, those who are sincere to serve the Disciplic succession will follow Srila Prabhupada’s example and get on with it, there are millions of buildings and books in this world they mean nothing why be attached? Srila Prabhupada simply gave the true dharma of the soul, just print new books, Srimad Bhagavatam is not copyrightable and simply repeat what we hear from the acharya that’s all BBT is doing anyway whats the problem? Crying and sitting round blaspheming is useless and detrimental to our own souls. SO PUT YOUR MONEY WERE YOUR MOUTH IS, isn’t that the saying? They have already ruined the BBT books now being printed but the originals are easily available so print them, Just like in china, there was risk of being arrested but they did it anyway for Krsna. So there no excuse and if Your bonafide, not simply offenders you’ll have all success Srila Prabhupada will Be in ecstasy But I cant see Him being happy about this absorption in finding, pointing, and relishing faults, discussing child rape, murder, cheating, this type of hearing and chanting is the business of MAYA. Hari bol.
Hare Krishna,
I have see it all since 1973. This article is not demonic as you say but it is a little harsh
even though there seems to be no lies here. Sometimes the truth is harsh.
I like your comment- put your money where your mouth is- and that seems to be happening. I see Temples opening and many other activities going by these ( Rascal Followers of Srila Prabupada who will not bow down to the ever changing Guru System) I am not sitting around and crying I work and give support to many projects.
It is not a crime to aspire worship and aspire to follow Srila Prabhupada’s teachings outside of ISKCON.
Any retard can see this is not a crime and these people should not be spat on despised by the so called Devotees.
We do not belong to any exclusive Club.
Even though we as women would like that.
We are only what the Mercy of Srila Prabhupada has made us.
Thats my comment.
Rukmini Priya ACBSP
Dear Roy
This website is an unbiased platform for all devotees to post their comments/articles. Concernment of victimized devotees who suffered badly due ISKCON’s defective guru system might differ according location. Then there are those who didn’t experience the fall down of a guru with all those subsequent consequence of having one’s life spoiled.
Prabhupada: “Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect.”
Those who never went through this scenario of having accepted a wrong person as spiritual master might be astonished about what is written by some devotees who became victims. Naturally outside observers might even think this is all negativism, pessimism, exaggeration.
At first it was believed that gurus falling down would happen only once or twice. GBC chairman HH Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja says there are now about 41 fallen ISKCON gurus. So what to do, it is a perpetual situation.
Sastra says that a spiritual master has to be worshiped as good as God since he is representative of God (Prabhupada: Therefore it is said, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih: the guru is as good as God.). But having a guru system installed with an option that gurus might fall down, who is taking guru/disciple relationship seriously?
Prabhupada: “Arjuna said, sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam. Arjuna in the beginning was speaking with Krishna on friendly level, but at last, he submitted that, “I am Your disciple. Please teach me.” This is the process, submissively. “Inquire from him submissively.””
In fact this is the quintessence of Gaudiya-Vaishnavism, vedic knowledhe is not understood with one’s brain, but it is revealed within the heart.
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
It is further stated, tusyeyam sarva-bhutatma guru-susrusaya and taranty anjo bhavarnavam. Simply by rendering service to the spiritual master, one crosses the ocean of nescience and returns home, back to Godhead.
How is it then that we are told that there is nothing wrong with gurus falling down (latest example Prabhavishnu, http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=25213)? And as soon someone suggests to rename neophyte gurus and let them function as officiating priests: “No this is against Vaishnava tradition.”
Prabhupada came to the West with this understanding that he is installing a worldwide spiritual movement that is not defective. Prabhupada: “We are presenting this Krsna consciousness movement very genuinely and authorizedly”. “Our Krsna consciousness movement is genuine, historically authorized, natural and transcendental due to its being based on Bhagavad-gita As It Is.”
Prabhupada was many times asked by reporters, why did you start another religion, there are already so many?
Prabhupada: “One who deviates, he creates another religion. Religion means there is God and we should be obedient to God. This is religion.”
“We should be obedient to God”, this of course what we don’t like to hear, “obedience”. As soon it is mentioned that a spiritual master has to be genuine (“The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself”) people protest and state, this is demonic, etc. etc.
In sum, to brush the fallen guru issue under the carpet isnt a good solution although it might be more convenient. Nice article by IRM: The meaning of preaching
Dear Roy.
“Suppress the truth” is the first thoughts and actions of tyrants.
That said, what is now is better than what was then.
Pamho agtacbsp,well believe or not believe to the law of karma all these so called hare krsna will pay all the karma of the bad reputation they gave to the real iskcon bbt founder acharya HDG ACBSP,they will pay the karma also of destroying lives by making people to lose faith in KRISHNA because of their misconduct, I mean it’s a offense to offer bhoga on iskcon altars to ordinary peope in the guise of guru when they are addicted to prostitutes as happen to ex pvs he will take the karma of all the people who it his bhoga,in few words this is the history of the hare krsna all these troubles are stored for such wretches who killed the guru took over iskcon and bbt by misleading more innocent people in the name of SRILA PRABHUPADA,anyway we are still waiting for justice some work is been already done so we proceed ahead we never lose the faith in the real iskcon and everything will come back to SRILA PRABHUPADA is just a question of time by the mercy of SSGG .agtacbsp ys haribol