The witch hunting must stop
By: Sattvic Dasa Adikari
IRG : Recently I read a letter sent to Jitarati prabhu by the Manila temple president in which he was ordered not to visit the temple because he was found "guilty" of being a ritvik. The witch hunting goes on. I'm not surprised at the ruthless behaviour of Tamal Krishna Goswami and Giridhari Swami who have allowed this to happen. Of all the devotees they really had to pick Jitarati prabhu who has been a faithful servant of
Srila Prabhupada in that part of the world by donating over a million dollars over the years for the maintenance and propagation of the preaching mission of Srila Prabhupada in the Philippines, Hong Kong, China etc. He was also banned from entering the Cebu temple that was purchased with his money. I lived in the Philippines as a temple president of Manila temple for few months back in '85 and had plenty of opportunities to witness the many vaisnava qualities exhibited by Jitarati prabhu. Now, after years of sincere service he is presented with a letter banning him from coming to the temple. How foolish. How low class a move by the authorities in that area. Jasomati Suta Prabhu, one of the first chinese devotees was told that he could not offer puja to the Hong Kong deities and also to the murti of Srila Prabhupada because he is a ritvik.
A question comes to my mind. Does the GBC really think that by slapping a banning order across the face of devotees who have dedicated their lives to the service of Srila Prabhupada really solve their problems with the ritvik issue?
If this is what they are thinking than they are living the grossest illusion. Those days are over when you could ban someone from the temple simply because they don't agree with the party line. The days of witch
hunting must come to an end if the GBC wants to avoid a conflict that will divide the Movement thus weakening it. This is not a threat; it's the harsh reality that we must face especially the GBC and their staunch supporters. WE WILL NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE BUILT BY SRILA PRABHUPADA FOR OUR BENEFIT JUST BECAUSE YOU TELL US SO. My humble prayer to all of you is this: Please stop this witch hunting and thus spare yourself from the embarrassment of an all out conflict between brothers.
I don't want to go into details as regarding the fallacies of the Guru siddhanta within our institution. Given the track record we can see that after 21 years there is still more darkness than light in this area as
offered by our leaders. Yet the most alarming thing witnessed over the last few years is that despite the raw and open proof that our leaders are unable to convince serious devotees about their constant changes in the matter of the most fundamental essence of Vaisnava philosophy, namely Guru-disciple relationship they are so blatantly and arrogantly going on witch hunting, tracking down those who do not follow their insane attempt to bring down to the mundane platform the most sacred post in the Vaisnava hierarchy.
How pitiable a condition do we find ourselves in. The very same people who forced us to accept the 11 mahabhagavata affair, the very same people who forced us to believe that Guru can fall against
everything Srila Prabhupada taught us on the subject, the very same people who forced and coerced thousands of devotees to take re-initiation some of them 3-4 times (and are now telling that it's not really needed) are acting as the police and take upon themselves the righteous duty of "cleaning up" the house of unwanted presence's (the ritviks).
Dear Prabhus, from the bottom of my heart let me tell you something for our benefit and the benefit of future generations of devotees who will study the history of ISKCON. Don't cheat yourself; don't lower yourself to
the point where you humiliate yourself in order to maintain your insane ambition to be initiating guru.
Reputation is what we take along after the demise of this rotten body; our dharma is what we take along. And the greatest Dharma Is to follow the direct instructions of the Acarya Srila Prabhupada. Dharma is what will nourish us after we depart from this mortal spoil. If becoming diksa guru was so clear to all of us (after all it's written on every page of Srila Prabhupada's books) why then, when the GBC went to Srila Prabhupada he instructed them to be 'Officiating acarya'? (ritvik). If everyone was to turn diksa guru in his own right why Srila Prabhupada declared that "I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up. I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya." If the general instruction was so clear, is Srila Prabhupada contradicting himself? Certainly not. He simply states his desire of how he wanted future initiations to go on (particularly at that time when you are no longer with us). It is us who out of ambition, reject this direct instruction and imagined that we were given the instruction to become diksa guru, because Srila Prabhupada did not confirm that all of us should be diksa guru rather that we should
remain and act as ritvik. I can see that for many of our leaders their temporary glory of diksa guru position is more important than Dharma. Many of them are already suffering from the anguish of embarrassment (for one who is honored dishonor is worst than death). Many more will follow if they don't give up their suicidal mentality of wanting to be initiating guru. This position is given by the acarya to devotees highly qualified. What mockery we have made of this supreme position. How humiliating it must be for those ambitious devotees to have to go around and beg votes to enter the echelon of "profound service" to Srila Prabhupada. Shame on you brother. Your predicament makes me cry. Give up your false pride and bow
to the will of the Acarya Srila Prabhupada.
Probably for thinking like this I will surely receive a ban order by our intelligent and sagacious leaders. Who cares. We have learned to speak the truth and this is our supreme Dharma. Those who remain silent because of material considerations of safety and profit don't deserve to be called Vaisnavas. It's our risk and Krsna will protect us. This is what we learned from Srila Prabhupada and our predecessors acaryas.
My appeal to you dear devotees is that you must stop acting demonically, hunting for witches and recognize that we are loyal servants of Srila Prabhupada. If you refuse and carry on your foolish agenda it will end in a catastrophe.
You must apologize to Jitarati prabhu and the countless other devotees who have suffered from your misjudgment. You must take responsibility for misleading this Movement for the last 21 years. You must recognize that we don't have a GBC but a board of acaryas who have conflict of interest with their position as GBC. You are therefore unable to function for the benefit of the society at large but have to use and misuse your position to maintain the illusion that Srila Prabhupada has authorized you to be initiating guru.
It is our utmost desire to work co-operatively with the GBC to push forward this wonderful mission of Lord Caitanya under the expert guidance of our Acarya Srila Prabhupada. The present situation does not allow for such a co-operating spirit to manifest. The GBC body have to recognize that ritvik is not a philosophy but a simple way to manage initiation by Srila Prabhupada. It was working before his departure and it must be re-instituted if we are to remain together in a spirit of co-operation. What we have now is a confederation of gurus each with their own institution, each acting independently under the guise of so-called co-operation, each manning man and money without any supervision resulting in factionalism and fanaticism. The recent stealing of money by Harikesha could have been averted if the the GBC body was functioning for the interest of Srila Prabhupada. Why have the GBC allowed (and are still allowing) these men whom they sanctify as next link in the parampara to keep money as if they own it? We have to stop being an embarrassment for Srila Prabhupada. This kind of irresponsible leadership is causing people
to lose faith in Srila Prabhupada and his mission. We have to stop cheating devotees in the name of religion. It is the duty of the GBC to shelter devotees in this great house built by Srila Prabhupada.
I'm appealing to the GBC to reflect and conclude that what is going on now through this witch hunting is highly detrimental for their spiritual life and it will lead to rebellion and war. I'm appealing to devotees in
general not to bow to pressure when asked to leave temples because they want to follow the order of Srila Prabhupada.
I'm appealing to all of you dear devotees to understand that the only way to remain together and co-operate is if we keep the acarya in the centre by re-establishing the process of initiation given by Srila Prabhupada.
Speculations, so-called reforms, cosmetic changes will only perpetuate the agony already suffered by all of us throughout these years.
Your servant
Sattvic dasa