Dear Prabhupada Dasa Adhikari Prabhu
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On Dec. 10, 2001, You wrote:
> I don't agree with you that all of Srila Prabhupada's vision and
> mission can only be carried out through ISKCON.
It is not I who you are disagreeing with. Actually, I personally said nothing of the sort. I simply presented Srila Prabhupada's quotes on the subject. Besides, I am not suggesting we work within the confines of the current structure of ISKCON. Nor am I suggesting we submit to any so-called authority who is misrepresenting Srila Prabhupada. Neither is Srila Prabhupada recommending any such absurdities, nor has he ever. He says that anyone who is interpreting must be rejected immediately without consideration, and in the Bhagavad-gita he points out that any teacher who engages in an abominable action (ie. offending the guru as they have done and are still doing) and has lost all sense of discrimination (as they have) is fit to abandoned, but you will also note that in addition to abandoning his teachers Arjuna was also instructed to fight with them, and as I have pointed out previously, Srila Prabhupada also wrote in a purport of the Bhagavad-gita that history repeats itself.
> How is that possible, ISKCON is a total mess and is not capable of
> even following the basics of proper maintenance?
Oh, yee of little faith, remember the story of the cobbler and the brahmana?
Krsna is the master of doing the impossible.
> My firm conclusion is that any individual who strictly follows Srila
> Prabhupada's instructions is a living embodiment of all he ever
> dreamed of for ISKCON.
Do those instructions not include the ones I have previously presented to you regarding ISKCON?
> I am a firm supporter of the vision and mission being separate and
> separable from the corporate form.
The statements I have made thus far are obviously supported by the quotes I have previously presented to you. I hereby humbly and respectfully submit this request: that you kindly provide the source from which this idea you are presenting comes, bearing in mind, of course, the importance of confirming everything with guru, sastra and sadhu.
> I don not have enough time left in my life to remain emotionally
> wrapped up in trying to save the present day ISKCON by constant
> debate hair splitting and endless attacks on the members
> and leaders.
No one is suggesting an emotional entanglement here. Success or failure, Srila Prabhupada said is not our business, however, we know that if we sincerely execute the order of Sri Krsna and the guru that all Sakti and even Krsna Himself are present in that order, and in the execution thereof, and we know that wherever Krsna the master of all Mysticism is present... Do you recall reading the conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Ramesvara, wherein Srila Prabhupada said that there indeed will even be mysticism utilized for the development of our movement, what to speak of all the other tactics he mentioned? When you read the "Debate 2C" link I sent you you will notice that Srila Prabhupada pointed out that we should not try to avoid discussing controversial issues, because, he explained, such discussion strengthens the mind and makes one's mind more attached to Krsna. Surely we all must make time to do whatever it takes to accomplish the only goal of life, becoming attached to Krsna, that is. Now with regards to the time factor in general, Kala (time), as I'm sure you must know, stands with folded hands ready to serve the devotees. Just see what Srila Prabhupada was able to accomplish in such a relatively short time, and just you wait and see what he has yet to accomplish, what to speak of what he is going to do through his followers. Srila Prabhupada made it clear that he wants ISKCON to be a success and that includes a GBC which has to be made proficient, and I see no reason to scrap or abandon all the properties he worked so hard to acquire. He has also trained so many to act as brahmanas. Why should we start from scratch when, although it may be difficult for some of us to see through all the chaos and confusion, Srila Prabhupada has indeed completed the first half of his mission, and still bit by bit he's inconceivably doing so much more to increase what he did before, and let me assure you, he has absolutely no intension of leaving everything he's done behind to start all over from where he began in New York. His instructions to his followers regarding this point are quite clear, and they are also quite different from the specific one's he personally received from his spiritual master regarding his individual duty. If we simply agree to be engaged in following his instructions to the letter, without being attached to the results, success will surely follow.
> I feel firmly that much more can be done by taking the instructions
> of Srila Prabhupada to those who will listen and follow.
This must be done as well. What I am suggesting is that this is precisely what needs to be done at this time, but that we not loose sight of the goal to make everybody Krsna conscious, and that we not deviate one iota from any of Srila Prabhupada's instructions in the process.
> As far as I can see ISKCON no longer exists physically as it did in
> the beginning and all that is left now is a shadow.
ISKCON is eternal. Get used to it. Presently, ISKCON is simply encountering or experiencing some major reversals, just like those which inevitably occur in all of Krsna's other pastimes, but it will not ultimately fail, because, as mentioned previously, Srila Prabhupada made it very clear that he wants ISKCON to rule the world, and therefore, so it shall, because Krsna fulfills all desires, especially those of His pure devotees.
> If ISKCON exists at all it is in the subtle form of instructions or
> in the form of individuals who actually follow the instructions.
Once again, don't the instructions Srila Prabhupada imparted regarding the maintenance, continuation, expansion and furthermore, the structural improvement of his organization necessarily have to be included in the one's you are referring to as well? Also, as mentioned previously in this letter, there are still many important and valuable resources (ie. Deities; temples; farm communities; books; tapes; records; CD.s; Tulasi plants; laksmi; computers; cars; trucks etc., etc., etc.,) which can and need to be salvaged, in compliance with the orders of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada, and what to speak of the manpower; the GBC structure he established (which obviously needs to be overhauled) and the brahmanas he trained. Sorry for the dramatic ending. Just couldn't help myself or resist. Looking forward to your response.
Aspiring to be the sincere
servant of the servant,
Yours Truly,
Gauranga Prema Dasa
Hare Krsna
On Dec. 10, 2001, Prabhupada Dasa Adhikari Prabhu wrote:
Dear Prabhu,
With all due respect I am not prepared to debate this issue whether or not only ISKCON can carry the vision of Srila Prabhupada or that anyone who is outside the jurisdiction of ISKCON is living in illusion. My mind is set and no amount of arguments, quotes or whatever will change it. This is exactly the kind of dialog I do my best to avoid. I wish you all success in your personal preaching and do pray that you are empowered to make thousands of fresh new vaisnavas.
Pda
On Dec. 10, 2001, Prabhupada Dasa Adhikari Prabhu wrote:
Dear Prabhu,
Thank you for your continuing input on this topic but as I mentioned already I have no interest in continuing the dialog and will not respond to any further letters. I wish you all the best in your preaching work and pray that Lord Krishna will empower you to follow Srila Prabhupada in the same way that you expect others to do.
Pda
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Dear Prabhus
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Have I committed any offenses,
taken any quotes out of context,
made any mistakes, and/or
done anything I shouldn't have?
If so, I'm sorry.
Aspiring to be the sincere
servant of the servant,
Yours Truly,
Gauranga Prema Dasa
Hare Krsna