Govinda dasi’s Letter

BY: URDHVAGA DAS

Aug 31, 2010 — USA (SUN) — Dear Govinda Dasi,
please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to reply to your Letter “Monkey Poo, or Respect for One’s Guru“, published on Sampradaya Sun.

The same questions you where asking, I also have been asking all along for the past 34 years, but I never got any satisfactory answer yet from our so-called ISKCON authorities. But I did find the answers to all of our questions in Srila Prabhupada’s books, which I would like to share with you.

You are asking: “Is it always this way?”

The answer is given in SB, 4.28.48, purport:

“Whenever an acarya comes, following the superior orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, he establishes the principles of religion, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gita.
Religion means abiding by the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Religious principles begin from the time one surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the acarya’s duty to spread a bona fide religious system and induce everyone to bow down before the Supreme Lord. One executes the religious principles by rendering devotional service, specifically the nine items like hearing, chanting and remembering.

Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called swamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. […] The acarya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acarya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master.” (SB, 4.28.48, purport)

When the spiritual master is physically present on the planet, he is personally there to give instructions to his disciples. He is also personally present to clear up any doubts or questions that his disciples may have, with relation to his instructions and with relation to all other factors. Thus, there can be no confusion, no doubt, in the mind of the disciple as to what constitutes the order and desire of one’s spiritual master, because if there is any question, one can simply ask his guru, and the answer is right there.
We had so much practical experience of this when Srila Prabhupada was personally present with us.

Sometimes a devotee would not be sure what to do in a particular instance, and s/he would ask Srila Prabhupada. At times, the GBC members would have differing opinions on a particular issue. When things could not be resolved, the issues were taken to Srila Prabhupada, and his instruction was the final word. At least, this is what was supposed to be. Sadly though, at times, due to duplicity, false ego, pride, etc., Srila Prabhupada’s instructions were not always followed by some of these disciples.

After the spiritual master leaves the planet then so much confusion can set in, as described in above verse (SB, 4.28.48, purport). The guru is no longer personally present on the planet to define things for his disciples when they are possessed of differing opinions as to what they feel it is that the spiritual master would want them to do.

Thus, there can be so many diametrically opposed opinions, and without proper humility and cooperation, there may be so much conflict. Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport in SB 4.28.48, the general chaos that occurs when the bona fide spiritual master leaves the planet. Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on.

For your second question: “Why it is that someone is justifying his wrongdoings?” the answer is also given by Srila Prabhupada:

Srila Prabhupada: “I am practically seeing that as soon as
they, our students, begin to learn a little Sanskrit, they immediately feel they have become more than their guru. Then the policy is to kill their guru and become guru themselves”. “As soon as he learns that Guru Maharaj is dead, now I am so advanced I can kill guru and become guru. Then he is finished.” (Srila Prabhupada 1976).
“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 Thakur says thathe is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga.”

“Bhaktivinoda Thakur 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”. (CC.Madhy.,Ch.1, Text 218 / 220, purport)

Dear Govinda dasi, all other questions of yours are also answered by Srila Prabhupada:
“Why are they changing?” you are asking. The answer is, to serve their private purposes, to serve maya actually. “Kill guru, and become guru yourself”. Very simple, they are Pasandis, Kali Chelas with demoniac mentality. If you are not a devotee, you’re a demon, simple as that. There are only two natures.
The demoniac mentality is clearly described in Bhagavad-gita Ch. 16:

O son of Prtha, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called the divine and the other demoniac. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.
(Bg.16.6)
Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance–these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Prtha. (Bg.16.4)

The demoniac person thinks: “So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him; and my other enemy will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance. (Bg.16.13-15)

Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false prestige, they sometimes perform sacrifices in name only without following any rules or regulations. Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demon becomes envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in his own body and in the bodies of others, and blasphemes against the real religion.
(Bg.16.17-18)
But he who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.
(Bg.16.23)

Devotee: “Can demons become devotees?”
Prabhupada: “Of course – by chanting Hare Krishna and agreeing to serve Krishna. And devotees may temporarily fall down and act like demons. That independence is always there.”

Lord Krishna: “In order to annihilate the miscreants, and deliver the devotees, I appear ”

Srila Prabhupada: There is two mission: not only to give protection to the devotees, but also to kill the demons. To kill the demons, that is one side. So the devotees of Krishna should be trained up both ways: not only to give protection to the devotees, to give them encouragement, but if need be, they should be prepared to kill the demons.
That is Vaisnavism. It is not cowardism. It is not cowardism. When need be.
[Bhagavad-Gita Lecture 1.7 July 11 1973]
Srila Prabhupada: This is also another Vedic civilization, that if you are benefited by somebody, you should always remain obliged to him.
Siksito yad-anugrahat. There is one Bengali proverb, guru-mara-vidya. “Guru, you learn from him first of all, then kill him.
Don’t care for guru.” This is demonic. By the grace of guru you learn something. Then when you learn something, then you become greater than him, don’t care for guru. This is demonic. Even if you have learned something, you must feel always obliged, atah padarsayat(?).
(761004SB.VRN–SB lecture October 4)

Srila Prabhupada: “If anyone strictly follows the regulative principles of Krishna Consciousness then he will always remain enthusiastic and dynamic.
So if there are any defects within our Society it is only a symptom that the
instructions of the spiritual master are being neglected.[!!!!!!!]
Follow my instructions strictly and always think for giving this gift of
Krishna consciousness wherever you go and to whomever you meet, this is the
advice of Lord Chaitanya.” (letter to Karandhar, Melbourne, 10 February 10,
1973)

Srila Prabhupada’s clear answers are pretty amazing. Are there any defects in ISKCON? Yes many! Why? Because the instructions of Srila Prabhupada are not being followed. Most particularly in the area of initiations and the book changes.
Concerning the book changes there is a nice segment in the Caitanya Bhagavat by Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura Adi Lila Chapter 11. Here, the Supreme Lord Himself states His position on changing the literatures of His pure devotee. Please consider the conversation between Lord Caitanya and Isvar Puri below… the Lord’s order is crystal clear.

Caitanya Bhagavat Adi Lila Chapter 11

by Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura

Lord Caitanya visited Isvara Puri every evening after teaching his students.
Isvara Puri was always glad to see him. Although he did not know that Nimai
was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his love and affection for him
flowed unrestrained. He spoke affectionately to the Lord, “I know you are a
great scholar. I have written a book about Lord Krsna. I want you to go
through it and find the mistakes. This will please me very much.”

“These are descriptions of Lord Krsna by a pure devotee,” replied Nimai. “If
anyone finds any mistake, then he is a sinful offender. The pure devotee
never writes anything from his imagination, devoid of a scriptural basis.
These writings are bonafide and always pleasing to Lord Krsna. When offering
obeisances in the temple an ignorant person might make a grammatical mistake in addressing Lord Krsna while a learned scholar would address him using
proper grammar.

But the Supreme Lord Krsna accepts both their obeisances.
The Supreme Lord is not impressed with mere learning, but He is supplicated by the inner mood of surrender of the living entities. Whoever looks for faults in your writings is actually at fault himself because Krsna is fully satisfied by the writing of this pure devotee. Whatever you have written is an expression of your love for Krsna. Who has the audacity to find some discrepancy in it?”

The main Problems in Iskcon are coming from playing the game of “kill guru and become guru” as Srila Prabhupada has pointed out, or posing as guru without proper qualification. Cheap Guru-imitation.

Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, purport:

“A neophyte Vaishnava or a Vaishnava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same
platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritual master.”
“In this verse Srila Rüpa Gosvami advises the devotee to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari. The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur has given some practical hints to the effect that an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to convert many fallen souls to Vaishnavism. One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari.

I hope this clarifies the situation.

Your eternal servant

Urdhvaga das
——
From the “The Hare Krishna Explosion” by HG Hayagriva dasa
Every morning, a different devotee comes up to Paradisio to visit Swamiji for a day. Although there is no formal initiation ritual or fire sacrifice, Swamiji chants on the initiates’ beads and bestows spiritual names: Aniruddha, Uddhava, Murari, Devananda.
One day, when Janaki visits, she takes exception to the painting of Lord Nrishingadev tearing out the entrails of the demon Hiranyakashipu. “It’s really ghastly, Swamiji, she says, making a face.
“For the devotees, it is beautiful,” he says. “The devotee praises Lord Nrishingadev: dalita hiranyakashipu tanu bhringam. ‘With the nails of Your beautiful hands, you have torn apart this wasp-like demon.’ Hiranyakashipu was such a great demon that he even tried to kill his small son, Prahlad Maharaj, just because he was a devotee. So the Lord killed Hiranyakashipu to protect His devotee and liberate the demon.”
“But there are no such demons now, Swamiji,” Janaki says.
“Oh yes,” Swamiji says. “Demon means nondevotee.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t call them demons”, Kirtanananda suggests. “People will never come if we call them demons.”
“But they are demons,” Swamiji says. “If you are not a devotee, you’re a demon.”
“Aren’t most people somewhere in between?” Kirtanananda persists.

“‘In between’ means demon,” Swamiji says.
“But most people never heard of Krishna,” Kirtanananda says. “How can they be called demons?”
“Everyone has heard of God,” Swamiji says. “Krishna is God. Anyway, they may be innocent; therefore we are informing them. But actually, because they’re here in this material world, they are not really innocent. Somehow, they’ve chosen to forget Krishna, and are therefore demons.”
“I thought that in Krishna consciousness, you see Krishna in everyone,” Kirtanananda says.
“Yes,” Swamiji says, “Krishna is also in the demon. But does this mean that we aspire to be demons? Unless you distinguish between demons and devotees, you cannot progress in Krishna consciousness.”

Website of Govinda Dasi: http://www.govindadasi.com