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How to defeat "Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON"...

By Author Unknown | Published 02/17/2007
Category: Hare Krishna News
Article Viewed 491 Times
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How to defeat "Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON" and make Kali win?

This drama is a conversation between Kali personified and a jiva called Bholaram.

Kali: Hello. How are you? Who are you?

Bholaram: Hare Krishna. I am a small insignificant person called Bholaram. What is your name?

Kali: I am Kali the most desirable person today in this world. How come you don't know me?

Bholaram: Well, I am not very knowledgeable. I am trying to gain more knowledge by meeting these people from ISKCON.

Kali: Oh that's why you are saying Hare Krishna. Why do you bother, just enjoy I will give you all facilities.

Bholaram: Really, but I am happy in their midst.

Kali: That's only temporary, once you know of the truth about them then you will be convinced that I am right.

Bholaram: Really. Ok then tell me. They all lead ideal lives there. They lead an austere life and follow four regulative principles and help others.

Kali: Oh you believe that? Ok that's on the outside. Now using my mystic power I will take you into a few ISKCON Centers and then you can see "the truth as it is".

Bholaram: Ok, show me.

Kali: Ok, now you can see the center we are visiting. It's a famous city in India. People are believed to be generally rich and pious here. Students are receptive to Krishna Consciousness but you see the result is poor. Its all because I am more popular both in the ISKCON community and outside. Do you know this city? We will visit 2-3 cities like this in a few states and then we can discuss the general state of these places. The cities are...

Bholaram:  Yes, I have heard of it and also visited it before. Its sad to see that its still this way.

Kali: By my magic power, you and I are both invisible, but you can see everything also.

Bholaram: Nice temple, clean floors, kirtan going on nicely, Srila Prabhupada is singing on the music system. Its so nice.

Kali: Yes

Bholaram: Also nice beautiful deities. Their Lordships look so nice in their brilliant clothing.

Kali: Yes, Krishna is very attractive but there are many faults in ISKCON and this is the wrong place for you to be. You see the real inside story and then you will realize.

Bholaram: Ok, show me.

Kali: So what else do you see.

Bholaram: Very nice prasadam. People are being given free prasadam also. Such nice books of Srila Prabhupada are also being given to people. Many are reading these books in the Library and benefiting. I can see them smiling and feeling happy.

Their lives are going to change and it appears that some of them are family people and are following these teachings and feeling joy since many many years.

Kali: That could be true. Now lets get into the ashram. Please relate what you see.

Bholaram: Nice effulgent brahmacharis. Some of them are very new and are bright, full of enthusiasm.

Kali: Can you notice some of the older ones?

Bholaram: Yes, some of them are also very bright. They seem very mature and sober. They are treating each other with respect and are nicely guiding the younger boys.

Kali: Why did you say only some are bright?

Bholaram: Oh, I can see some of the older brahmacharis appear morose and down. I can sense that they are feeling the loss of something.

Kali: Isn't the same feeling of loss there in everyday life for people outside the temple also? What is the ISKCON term for that.. Karmis isn't it?

Bholaram: Yes, it seems to be the same feeling. I wonder why this is so?

Kali: Well, lets go and hear what ails them. Lets go closer, some of them are discussing something.

Bholaram: Yes, I can hear them. Some of them are complaining about another devotee. They are criticizing their Guru's godbrother and saying that he is unnecessarily coming to their Guru's zone.

Kali: I wonder why they are saying this, specially when their philosophy says the whole world belongs to Krishna.

Bholaram: But then such zones were made to help manage the world preaching better.

Kali: Well, but what is the harm if more and more preachers go to a zone, as long as they don't contradict each other and say negative things about each other? Usually if there are more people then its better to preach Krishna Consciousness. Isnt it? Also Srila Prabhupada is very kind and loving to all. He is always showering mercy on one and all. Why is it that some of his followers are so miserly?

Bholaram: You have a point, probably they are morose due to this very reason. I think this kind of talk is called Vaishnava Ninda.

Kali: What else do you hear?

Bholaram: Oh, they are feeling envious of another brahmachari who is doing better than them in Book distribution and other preaching services. They are trying to find faults with him, saying he uses the people he meets to get contacts of others and also gets them to distribute on his behalf. They claim the scores are not really his, because his contacts also distribute books after taking them from him.

Kali: I see, so he works as a team. Well, isn't this what the founder Srila Prabhupada wanted, a sankirtana movement.

Bholaram: Yes, you have a point. Envy seems to be sapping their energies. It also seems to be directed against people who are doing good work. Some people are also trying to form groups amongst themselves to exert some influence on the Temple President to get favors.

Kali: Really, this is surprising, does this befit a spiritual movement? Why is the Temple President succumbing to such pressures? Is he also into propagating such groupism and divide and rule policies?

Bholaram: I am also concerned about this aspect. Can we go in further to see the Temple Presidnet and his activities.

Kali: Sure, it must be this way.

Bholaram: Wow, what a nice office. The other devotees are all working in small spaces, with no privacy and no cabins. He has a nice cabin and a laptop, many phones, camera, fax, digital recorders and other modern equipment.

Kali: Don't you think this is wrong? Why should only the Temple President have all these facilities and why not the others?

Bholaram: Well, it will be nice if others also had good working spaces. It may not be necessary for everyone to have all those equipment. But they can use the same available with the Temple President. After all this is what yukta vairagya is all about.

Kali: I agree on that. But why are these equipment not kept in a common but safe place where everyone has access to it and can use it freely in devotional service.

Bholaram: Well, I think you have a point there. And yes, its necessary to give other devotees also some good working spaces, and not treat them so impersonally.

Kali: Lets go see the Temple President's private quarters.

Bholaram: Yes. Its nice. It has a nice cot, actually two cots. One is for sleeping. The other one has many items that he uses everyday. Lots of electronic gadgets are there. Wow, such wonderful cashewnuts, raisins, beautiful fruits and so many delicious eatables.

Kali: Why should a Temple President stock all these in his room? Why are these not accessible to others? Why does he sleep on a bed when others are not given the same? Why is it that other senior devotees don't have similar facilities? Even the Vice President doesn't have a room or an office. Why is it that only the Temple President is allowed to keep mobiles and computers and others are not? Why does he wear footwear and socks in the temple and why are others prevented from doing so? Why is cultivating so many sycophants? Why is he restricting other devotee's spiritual growth?

Bholaram: I cant explain this. I am wondering why the leader has two standards. One for himself and another for the ordinary brahmacharis.

Kali: Just see, this is the nature of this age of hypocrisy and quarrel. It is present even in your favorite ISKCON temple. Ok, lets go to the prasadam room. Lets see if some discrimination there also.

Bholaram: Ok. Everything seems fine. They all are eating the same prasadam here.

Kali: Look closely. Do you see a hot case? Whose is it? Do you see a separate plate of fruits? Why is it not equally distributed? Why is it that the Temple President sits separately and doesn't sit with the congregation or other devotees? Why are other Vaishnavas considered impure?

Bholaram: Yes, I am bewildered now. Why don't the other devotees who go out have to eat cold prasadam and why only he needs special treatment? I can't understand this. As far as I read the philosophy, the senior devotee is treated specially by the juniors out of love, not fear. Also the senior never desires such treatment and instead is meant to be humble.

Kali: Yes, but don't you think there is a difference in philosophy and actual practice here?

Bholaram: I am losing faith in this temple, but my faith in the process is still strong.

Kali: Why is it that even though the Temple President has been in this temple for so many years, he still is so attached to his post and prestige? Why does he not become more renounced? Is there something wrong with the process?

Bholaram: I don't agree with that. The process is perfect but the application may be imperfect by some.

Kali: So why are you following imperfect people? Isnt it better to find better people to follow? Lets go out of the association of devotees. Better you enjoy in the material world. After all even if you follow for many years, you are going to be imperfect. Do you think you will not be a hypocrite?

Bholaram: Well, I have faith in the Lord. I think Krishna can rectify. I will not leave the association of devotees. Rather I will stay inside and try to reform them. I will boldly speak up about the ills of society with a view to improve the situation.

Kali: But do you think you can succeed? Can you stand up to such influential people? They will just find some means of sending you away from their temple. They will give some excuses saying your vision is different from theirs or that you are too independent minded or you will flourish elsewhere etc. How will you resist them?

Bholaram: All this may happen but if Krishna decides to help me then through the agency of my Guru, I can be saved and I can live and fight and help both the devotees who are falling into this trap of pratishta asha and also help ISKCON.

Kali: Oh, let me see. I wish you would just not wear yourself out in this way. Better to go out and enjoy. If you don't want to leave Krishna Consciousness completely why don't you stay at home and practice.

Bholaram: Well there is nothing wrong in practicing at home but given my nature, I think I will be able to serve ISKCON better by being in the temple only. I have lots of ideas and am young and energetic. And inspite of all your faults, ISKCON I love thee and want to change thee.

Kali: Well that seems like a good spirit and if more people like you are going to positively work in ISKCON and boldly speak up, then probably I will have to wait for about 9500 years as predicted to really take over the world.

Bholaram: I certainly hope more like me will come and give you a much needed holiday. You can take a long nap.

Kali: Well, I will certainly come once in while and test your strength. Also there are many souls in ISKCON who also like to play games with me. Unlike you they are not so averse to my presence. They enjoy me.

Bholaram: Sankirtana will change that. With my genuine love and care for them, I will attempt to make them forget you. Please leave me here. I want to serve this temple only. Hare Krishna

Kali: Ok, take care sincere soul. I will test you also some day. Hare Krishna.


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How to defeat "Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON"... Comment
 
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said this on 17 Feb 2007 5:11:08 PM EST
Unknown dasa has a serious gift for writing creatively. It shows how effective allegorical stories can be. I am a playwright and poet am very impressed by this piece. I am also in complete agreement with the point it is making about change from within. That is a universal Truth. Rather than just criticize ISKCON from the sidelines (and I have done my fair share of that), I find that some of the older devotees are receptive to changing the faults and weaknesses of the temple spiritual consciousness. Some of them do not become hostile and defensive when criticisms are made. Some of them are actually Vaisnavas. They prove themselves to be disciples of their spiritual master after all. If enough of these changes are made internally the false superstructure of authority could easily be exposed and topple. In fact that is the only way that the corrupt hierarchy can be dismantled short of 'smoking gun' evidence of wrong doing which after so much time has been increasingly difficult to obtain.


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