Hence, YOU! Need to determine whether YOU are:
- Contributing to the problems,
- Or contributing to the solutions.
These two issues in ISKCON, are so serious and grave, that considering the current state of affairs in ISKCON as of 2022, it is a “no-brainer”[1], that one could easily say,
“It would be easier to change the course of a Battle Ship with a wooden canoe paddle, than to change the course of ISKCON.
The reason for this, is that there is wide spread, “Extreme Personal-Vested-Interest”, which is complicated by “Subtle-Sex-Life”; especially amongst its leadership.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura[2] has said that “Subtle-Sex-Life”, is more difficult to overcome, and control; then “gross-sex-life” of having sex with one’s genitals. He stated that “Subtle-Sex-Life”, consists of 3 components:
- “Profit”, (a financial gain),
- “Adoration”, (deep love and respect),
- “Distinction”, (a difference or contrast between similar people).
If you are a “critical-thinker[3]”, or “inquisitive[4]”, this Treatise will facilitate you, in making up your own mind, where you stand, in regards to the two perilous and problematic issues that exist in ISKCON today.
This Treatise is written for Gaudiya-Vaisnavas[5] and anyone who has interest in the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. This Treatise hopes that you will enjoy reading it, and that you will be amazed, as to what you will discover, in the written, and spoken words of Srila Prabhupada, and a few of the-past-acharyas, which sheds light on these two issues.
What is presented in this Treatise, is incontrovertible; you will not able to deny, question, refute, contest, or dispute it. I can boldly write this, because what will be presented, are the opinions, advice, orders and instructions of Srila Prabhupada and the past-acharyas.
To rectify these two issues within ISKCON is one alternative; but as has been described with the analogy of “The Battleship”, that is highly unlikely.
Moreover, in the first half of the 1990’s, there was such an attempt, that was found favorable by the rank-and-file devotees, but not so much with leadership that was functioning at that time. Unfortunately, the GBC decided to literally “squash”, this attempt, and all aspects of this endeavor, dissipated to almost non-existence. This will be discussed at the end of this Treatise.
The first alternative, of rectifying these two issues within ISKCON, is highly-unlikely, Therefore, the second, and another alternative, is “The Reconstitution ISKCON”. If this reconstitution does not manifest, now or in the future, ISKCON; will continue to dry up like a prune, until it has no more juice.
In order for either alternative to become successful; it would be wonderful if all living Srila Prabhupada’s disciples participate in such an endeavor. This Treatise is just a simple blueprint, that simply specifies various types of actions to be taken, that are essential to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. What is needed is for Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, “to-assume-responsibility”, and help in whatever capacity they can. To take upon ourselves, a sense of duty and obligation, to assume responsibility, which often means taking control of a situation or a group.
Srila Prabhupada reconstituted his spiritual master’s Gaudiya-matha, into ISKCON. So why can we not just “come-together”, and please Srila Prabhupada together. Let us show the world what the REAL ISKCON IS and what real cooperation is like.
Devotees are always talking and writing about ISKCON saving the world, the Planet Earth, where the fundamental solution would be, the establishment of Varnasrama-dharma[i], which in Kali-yuga, is very difficult to implement; even under perfect conditions. Yet Srila Prabhupada made it one of the goals and purpose of the Krishna-consciousness movement. This other mission for ISKCON will be explained in a separate paper on this Web-Site, by the title of “Varnasrama-dharma, According to Srila Prabhupada.” So how in the “hell” can ISKCON, as it exists today, even contemplate doing this, when they cannot even follow his primary orders and instructions regarding the “Two Major Issues” that are the subject matter of this Treatise?
FOOT & END NOTES
[1] “No-Brainer” — something that requires or involves little or no mental effort.
[2] Bhaktivinoda Thakura; (1838-1915) the great-grandfather of the present-day Krishna consciousness movement, the spiritual master of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, the father of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and the grand-spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was a responsible officer and a householder, yet his service to the cause of expanding the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is unique. He has written many books on the philosophy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; Appearing in this world in 1838 and departing it in 1914, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is one of the great teachers of Krishna consciousness in the disciplic succession of spiritual masters. He is famous in Bengal for having located the exact site of the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This site at Sridhama Mayapur, near the city of Navadvipa about 90 miles north of Calcutta, had been lost for centuries due to the shifting course of the Ganges river. The Thakura’s discovery rapidly transformed Mayapur into an important place of pilgrimage for Krishna devotees. The Gaura-Visnupriya temple he founded in 1891 was the first of many holy places of worship now visible at Mayapur. In 1896, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura announced the sankirtana mission to the Western world by sending a copy of one of his small books Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts to McGill University in Canada. Many of his Bengali songs are available in Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura predicted that the sankirtana movement would spread from India to the great cities of the Western world.
[3] Critical thinking — is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
[4] Inquisitive — unduly curious about the affairs of others
[5] Gaudiya Vaisnava—specifically, a Vaisnava born in Bengal, or, more generally, any Vaisnava who follows the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya; The name Gaudiya refers to the region of Bengal and Bangladesh. A Vaisnava is a devotee of Visnu or Krishna. Hence, a Gaudiya Vaisnava is a practicioner of the form of Vaisnavism associated with Bengal, as started by Caitanya Mahaprabhu some 500 years ago.
[i] Varnasrama-dharma—the system of four social and four spiritual orders established in the Vedic scriptures and discussed by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. Varna—one of the four Vedic social-occupational divisions of society, distinguished by quality of work and situation with regard to the modes of nature (gunas); Brahmana-a member of the intellectual, priestly class; a person wise in Vedic knowledge, fixed in goodness and knowledgeable of Brahman, the Absolute Truth; One of the four orders of occupational life, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and südra. The brahmanas are the intellectual class and their occupation is hearing Vedic literature, teaching Vedic literature, learning deity worship and teaching deity worship, receiving charity and giving charity. Brahmana; Ksatriya-third of the four orders of the varnasrama system. A warrior who is inclined to fight and lead others. The administrative or protective occupation according to the system of four social and spiritual orders. Ksatriya; Vaisya (Vaishyas)-member of the mercantile or agricultural class, according to the system of four social orders and four spiritual orders. Vaisya; Südra-a member of the fourth social order, laborer class, in the traditional Vedic social system. He is meant to render service to the three higher classes, namely the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas.