The ISK’CON Cult Mentality

ISKCON cult leader Kirtanananda – now dead –
deviating from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings

The ISK’CON Cult Mentality
by Mahesh Raja

We have seen in the history of ISKCON someone comes does something good then people take him as BIG authority. Anything he says has to be accepted by all. That forms a CULT mentality. That is blind following. Often the CULT leaders wants to HIDE something later on do some mischief to stay in power. We do not want this CULT business.  We are followers of Srila Prabhupada . We have to discriminate right from wrong. And also speak out for the TRUTH.  This is why open discussion on siddhanta is best among devotees to ascertain the truth:

Letter to: Ayodhyapati
Vrindaban, 22 September, 1976

My Dear Ayodhyapati das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your undated letter and I thank you for it. Your siddhanta is correct to the sastra and in this way go on reading books and have the correct perception and Krsna will help you. siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa iha haite krsna lage sudrdha manasa [Ādi 2.117]. A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one’s mind becomes attached to Sri Krsna.

You should be always alert in understanding the sastric conclusions that will help you, otherwise we can be misled by bogus philosophies. I am very pleased that you are studying the books. This will make you happy and successful.

SB 1.7.42 The Son of Drona Punished
The specific words used in this sloka are vama-svabhava, “mild and gentle by nature.” A good man or woman accepts anything very easily, but a man of average intelligence does not do so. BUT, ANYWAY, WE SHOULD NOT GIVE UP OUR REASON AND DISCRIMINATORY POWER JUST TO BE GENTLE. ONE MUST HAVE GOOD DISCRIMINATORY POWER TO JUDGE A THING ON ITS MERIT. WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THE MILD NATURE OF A WOMAN AND THEREBY ACCEPT THAT WHICH IS NOT GENUINE. Asvatthama may be respected by a good-natured woman, but that does not mean that he is as good as a genuine brahmana.

“A devotee should have intelligence to know who is deviating. SURRENDER BY YOUR INTELLIGENCE BUT DON’T SURRENDER YOUR INTELLIGENCE.” (SP to Bali Mardana, 1974)

Madhya 5.90 The Activities of Saksi-gopala
A PERSON WHO KNOWS THINGS AS THEY ARE AND STILL DOES NOT BEAR WITNESS BECOMES INVOLVED IN SINFUL ACTIVITIES.”

730503mw.la  Conversations
Prabhupada: BUT ONE WHO TOLERATES MISCHIEVOUS ACTIVITY, HE IS ALSO CULPRIT. If you are mischievous, you are criminal. But if you tolerate mischievous activities that is also criminal.

SB 4.14.41 P The Story of King Vena
Brahmanas, the topmost section of human society, are mostly devotees. They are generally unaware of the happenings within the material world because they are always busy in their activities for spiritual advancement. NONETHELESS, WHEN THERE IS A CALAMITY IN HUMAN SOCIETY, THEY CANNOT REMAIN IMPARTIAL. IF THEY DO NOT DO SOMETHING TO RELIEVE THE DISTRESSED CONDITION OF HUMAN SOCIETY, IT IS SAID THAT DUE TO SUCH NEGLECT THEIR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE DIMINISHES