Sometime back I wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada entitled, “Gurus and God Brothers”, which found its way into circulation on the internet. It is my custom to write letters to Srila Prabhupada whenever I have questions or concerns. It is a healthy practice which keeps me connected with His Divine Grace in a formal way. This was a practice of so many of his early disciples, and there are 5 volumes of the letters that Srila Prabhupada had written in reply to testify to the importance of this letter writing.
There was one reply that was written by Hare Krishna das Prabhu, and because it was a lengthy reply, I have decided to respond to it. In his reply he accuses me of blasphemy, and fault finding with today’s leadership, and current Guru system. My intention is not to be offensive, however, questions need to be asked. We cannot simply close our eyes to the problems facing ISKCON and the society of devotees. We must show some courage and defend and support our Srila Prabhupada, and try to follow his instructions. Why are we allowing Srila Prabhupada’s books to be changed? Why are we not allowed to talk openly about the “Guru Issue”, without fear of banishment or reprisal?
In the battle of Kuruksetra, the great general, Grandfather Bhisma, and Dronacarya found themselves on the wrong side in the fight, not because there weren’t great and pious souls, but because they “did not even speak a word when Arjuna’s wife Draupadi, in her helpless condition, had appealed to them for justice while she was being forced to strip naked in the presence of all the great generals in the assembly” (Bhagavad-gita purport; 1, 11). We must speak out in defense of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, or we will find ourselves on
the wrong side in the conflict. To see an injustice, and not speak out, makes us a party of that injustice.
There were great souls on the other side of the battlefield of Kuruksetra, and because of this Arjuna did not want to fight. “There
Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons,
grandsons, friends, and also his father-in-law and well-wishers–all present there.” (Bhagavada-gita 1.26). This we see in our ISKCON today. So many nice devotees, who have done so much to advance this movement, aligning themselves in different camps. One side wants to change Srila Prabhupada’s books, follow the current Guru System, and support the GBC. The other side wants to protect Srila Prabhupada’s original writing without addition or deletion, for future generations, and follow Srila Prabhupada’s system for initiation which was given in the July 9th letter. Some devotees want to run ISKCON like a business, with paid employees, and others want ISKCON to return to the days of “devotional service”.
Arjuna’s dilemma was: “I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Krishna, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness” (Bhagavad-gita 1, 31). Therefore he considers himself fit to go to the forest to live a secluded life of frustration. As many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were forced to do. But of course Krishna admonishes Arjuna to take up the fight.
So in reply to Hare Krishna das Prabhu’s criticism of my letter entitled “Gurus and Godbrothers”, I have only this to say: “I will follow Srila Prabhupada onto the battlefield and fight”. I have lived alone in the dark forest of delusion, afraid to speak my mind openly, and defend Srila Prabhupada’s mission, long enough. Too Long! It is time for the followers of Srila Prabhupada to unite, to set things right. Some may say, that I am on the wrong side in this battle. But in reply I will quote from the last verse of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita; “Wherever there is Krishna, the master of mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion”.
(Bhagavad-gita 18, 78) I don’t want to be like the foolish Duryodhana, thinking he would be victorious because he had great generals like Bhismadeva, and Dronacarya, on his side. Duryodhana was, of course confident of his victory on account of the strength of his friends. Rather I would chose to fight on Srila Prabhupada’s side, even if greatly out numbered, and un-armed. I put my complete faith and trust in Srila Prabhupada.
In the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
Vyasasan das
Dear Vyasasana Prabhu
Please, please except my humble obeisances at your feet. All glories to Sri Guru an Sri Gauranga..Hare Krishna Prabhu, I will try to make this as short and direct as possible and leave out all the fluff. I am not looking for a pat on the back or an opportunity to make a display of some advancement on my part because to be frank i barely remember Krishna. I am a simple person and have made my way, steadily, through the waves of maya, , for over 30 years, within the confines of this Krishna Consc. mvm’t , by staying clear of politics and devotee fault finding; Especially in a world-wide internet open forum, where every and anyone may make offense through ill spoken words aimed at Krishna’s devotees. Can you attest to the same?.
All i am asking is that for someone who was away for, lets just say, many years, to accept responsibility for ones own weakness , not put blame to others that ‘because of this person i fell down’ , or ‘because of this policy, i fell down’….you know what i am saying and i won’t go into the past here or ‘there’. We always have a choice in leaving Krishna.At least those that stayed have been trying sincerely to push ISKCON forward.. we could have used your help over the years, as well as others. But now you are here so you Can help, and it begins in the heart, not just by ‘words’..
I like you, Vyasasan. I respect you for the services you have done, and i am not out to embarrass or belittle you,I care for you . I hope you are hearing from sincere devotees ( sincerity meaning one who does not deviate from his vow to guru) who have had success in KC , in traversing the path with all it’s tests. That said, this path of open letter writing on the net forum is definitely not a healthy way of achieving your goal for unity and progress, and in fact may be having the opposite effect. ,and that should be obvious by the tone used to confront devotees on issues here… I also reveal my heart to guru and Krishna in unlimited letters,but it is not to the masses on the internet, it is to my guru.I do not look for some adulation that ‘ oh, such a sincere person, oh he must love his guru so much’. Without a certain degree of humility,( and you do not have to defend yourself here, I speak for mostly my own benifit), the road becomes seemingly filled with cruel obstacles.A test of faith. How much faith do you really have in Krishna? Do you trust Him that” if i am completely sincere in fully following my ‘Vow’ to my guru, He will take care of me”?
How does one know his path is actually sincere and worthy of Krishna’s protection..Krishna makes that promise.. What right do we have to claim His protection.?Only if we are strictly, strictly adherent to guru’s order.,beginning at home with our daily practice of sadhana bhakti.. This happens in all religions , does it not…” I believe therefore , I am saved “It is not a matter of ‘ I am initiated by so and so or by so and so, therefore i can do no wrong nor make no offense..’The inheritance of our guru and the disciplic succession, comes through the following of our Sp. Master’s instruction , namely our regulative morning and daily sadhana .With out that, first and foremost, one cannot begin to imagine to know anything, especially ‘how to exact a change within or how to spread this transcendental movement of His Divine Grace , Srila Prabhupada’..If one wants to be a force to spread KC, .. one MUST become pure .This is the crux of all problems individually or collectively… Without diligent attention to minimum 16 rounds , free of the ten offense( that is a daily lifestyle of practice) and strict adherence to the 4 regulative principles… one cannot claim clarity or sanity of mind.. Srila Prabhupada initiate or not, there are no free passes. You were never forced to do anything in your past as you are also not now..
Personally , I have never been more excited in Krishna consciousness as i am today , and each day i look more and more forward to what Krishna may offer. . One must not be trying very hard if one cannot see the positives in this movement’s spreading. I see a direct correlation in my seeing Krishna’s magic through the spreading of the Holy Name and His Glories through the agency of this movement and the devotees ,with my own Krishna Conscious practice.
If i didn’t like ISKCON, i’d have never stayed, and i could have always done my own thing. I feel indebted to stay. I owe everything to this movement.. and i feel Srila Prabhupada here every single day. I want to remain loyal to Sr. Prabhupada’s ISKCON by never leaving , even in ‘thick n thin’ . Krishna has a way of rectifying and purifying all impurities, be patient with Him.
One may only expect to have a remote chance of seeing clearly, when one makes all efforts to do what guru has asked , and we ‘vowed’ to do before our spiritual master and the deity at the time of initiation ; beginning with intensely focused chanting of Krishna’s Name.
The material world is in a state of flux ; This movement’s Founder Acharya and general has departed, physically; Why should we expect exact measures of success in exact same ways as in the first 12 or so years . Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu walk on this planet and it still found a way to degrade itself after his departing .KC mvnt may not look to be the same as it was when you left us over 30 years ago but it is advancing in many ways in terms of books, and prasadam distribution. as well as huge followings,and in many parts of the world that were not so successful when Sr. Prabhupada was here. Could this happen without the Grace of our Founder Acharya?. I know i just opened myself up for criticism,, I only have your , Vyasasan prabhu, best interest at heart…
Krsna Consciousness in this vast ocean of maya is a very difficult road, even for a simple man, but simple helps.
Srila Prabhupada never advocated mass criticism as a means of progressing this movement. In fact he told us Krishna would give us the world if we were sincere.and we would co-operate within our house .If my family members are acting in a way i may not like, i talk with my family..not to people whom may not have the best interest for family at heart.Devotees are trying, I see that . they give their blood and sweat to preserve this ISKCON.. They may not all be superb managers but i have faith Krishna as’ their’ charioteer, will carry them for what they lack. Call me blind, call me passive, but as Arjuna had Krishna, so does the devotee who follows to a tee what his Sp. Master asks. We don’t need bickering and chest puffing to solve our woes. Kirtan, Kirtan, Kirtan. Everything will come by way of the Name. You want to help? Become a madman to serve the Holy Name.. not one day here and there . Every day, Show that as your sincerity over the remainder of your time here., We all spoiled a lot of time ,this life and previous lives, now be humble to the Name and it’s devotees. Until then, nothing will ever seem right, I promise you that. And If you do keep your promise, not just in heart but through action, to your spiritual master ,Srila Prabhupada,and Sri Sri Radha Krishna..He promises to take care of you.. please forgive me if i offend you or any others..I pray we all may soon come together at the Lotus Feet of our Master, Srila Prabhupada.
I know so little and I do not deserve any kindness in response, i have been greatly sinful for more time than i can imagine… a few years of meager service does not make up for lifetimes of forgetting Krishna…i deserve nothing prabhu.I am a great fool , that i know..i am sorry for hurting you, Krishna’s dear son
I am but a dog to my guru,
aspiring to be your servant .Hare Krishna d
not concise, i am not that good at writing..
Dear Hare Krishna Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for your kind reply, and I am grateful to you for your previous replys as well, for it has afforded me the opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Issues confronting our Movement today. As I do not know you personally, nor do you know me, I am surprised that you assume to know what is in my heart. I am also surprised by your writing on this forum because in your own words…
“I am a simple person and have made my way, steadily, through the waves of maya, , for over 30 years, within the confines of this Krishna Consc. mvm’t , by staying clear of politics and devotee fault finding; Especially in a world-wide internet open forum, where every and anyone may make offense through ill spoken words aimed at Krishna’s devotees.” (Hare Krishna Dasa)
…and yet you chose the world-wide internet open forum, where anyone may make offense through ill spoken words aimed at Krishna’s devotees. But I take no offence, as I understand that you have a need to express yourself. Also it seems my letter to Srila Prabhupada entitled “Gurus and Godbrothers”, must have touched some kind of nerve within you.
My only point in my previous reply is that we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand and pretend the lion will not see us. I was reading from the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the other day, The Activities of Saksi-gopala. You may know the story. The young brahmana was addressing the Lord: “You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore kindly be a witness in this case. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities” (CC Madhya-lila 5.90)
We need a open and honest discussion on the Issues facing our society. What is the need of “blind followers”. What is that saying; “surrender with your intelligence, but don’t surrender your intelligence”. In my letter to you, I simply reminded you, that there were two sides on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. There were great souls on both sides. That is not a criticism, that is a fact.
“In the battle of Kuruksetra, the great general, Grandfather Bhisma, and Dronacarya found themselves on the wrong side in the fight, not because there weren’t great and pious souls, but because they “did not even speak a word when Arjuna’s wife Draupadi, in her helpless condition, had appealed to them for justice while she was being forced to strip naked in the presence of all the great generals in the assembly†(Bhagavad-gita purport; 1, 11). We must speak out in defense of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, or we will find ourselves on the wrong side in the conflict. To see an injustice, and not speak out, makes us a party of that injustice”.
I am glad to hear you are sincere in your efforts to chant your sixteen rounds and follow the regulated principles. And that you are excited about developing your Krishna Consciousness. No doubt you are a great inspiration to others. If you would like to correspond with me personally you can contact me at vyasasan@gmail.com.
Your Friend in the Service of Srila Prabhupada
Vyasasan das