Dear Assembled Vaisnavas, I would like to seek your blessings in celebrating the natural ending of what I now know to be an unhealthy guru-disciple relationship.
I have been so torn up for years, conflicted between the voice of the Supersoul in my heart and the cautionary warnings from ISKCON authorities and the pleas of my (perhaps well-meaning) godbrother and godsisters. I myself wanted to believe that I was seeing evil when there was only good, that everything dysfunctional that occurred to and around me was merely the projection of my own disturbed mind, rather than face the cold reality that my guru was using me as an object for his own subtle sense gratification. (This devotee is still in good-standing within ISCKON, and in fact viewed as a saint).
Now that I have let go of a burning iron, I feel re-invigorated in my spiritual life. Even my bodily health and luster has improved due to the inner peace I have found. Contrary to the dire predictions of authorities that I would fall down directly the moment I rejected my so-called spiritual master, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the guru parampara, I am now chanting more rounds and doing more preaching than before. And I am happy! It is this happiness which attracts the fallen souls to Krishna, not the strained efforts of a tortured soul, trying desperately to convince herself that abuse is merely heavy mercy.
I wish this emotional freedom, mental clarity and spiritual bliss for everyone. Please know that your spiritual life can continue and even thrive after you renounce the false guru (even if he is GBC-approved)!
To anyone sincere who would like to share their experiences with me, I can be reached at Tulasi devi dasi | ISKCON Gurus | Rtvik – Part Two
Thanks Tulasi devi, wise decision! Actually more and more Vaishnavas are doing the same. Krishna kirti, editor of siddhanta.com, Hare Krishna Journal, after leaving his guru HDG, wrote recently:
Parallel Institution
BY: KRISHNA-KIRTI DAS
Mar 07, USA (SUN) — On the Sampradaya Sun, there are some postings (here and here) that call for the establishment of an institution separate from ISKCON. Of course, this idea isn’t a first; after all, there will always be people dissatisfied with the management and who decide to strike out on their own.
What I would like to know is if there is a (more or less) single new idea motivating the present calls for a separate institution. I suspect not, but this is testable. If you’re one of these dissatisfied people, and you are calling for a separate institution, I’d like to hear your reason.
You can contact me at krishnakirti-at-gmail-dot-com.