Paul Howard has brought up some very pertinent points. One, that there were in fact many tapes missing from that time period. Yes, this is true, and my understanding is that Tamal had those tapes and they somehow vanished. They were from the same time period that the July letter was written.
Two, the question of whether Prabhupada’s disciples accepted the zonal acharya eleven. Most of them did not. It is noteworthy that at the time when Srila Prabhupada left, it was understood that the initiations would continue uninterrupted just as they had been going on for some years. This was common knowledge.
Certainly, Srila Prabhupada introduced many unique and “unorthodox” systems for his preaching work, and none of us ever even would consider questioning what he did or how he did it. So this system of initiation had already been in place for some time, even as early as 1970, and it was understood that it would continue.
It was only at the time of the Mayapur meetings that the big change came–some months after Prabhupada’s departure. That’s when things changed.
It’s interesting how I heard about it. I was in the park for a kirtan program around Gour Purnima, just a few months after Prabhupada’s departure. One of my friends and Godbrothers came to me and told me, “Govinda dasi, did you hear what they’re doing in Mayapur? They’re having meetings and they’re planning to set themselves us as Gurus and have zones and get worshipped like on Vyasasans, and so forth.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdvO0jcuQ_M
I was shocked. I went home somewhat troubled, and at the time I was staying with Sruta Kirti and Kusa, my dear friends. They were already lying down to take rest, though it was early, because back then everyone went to Mongal arotik, so bedtime was by 8:30 or so. I sat on the floor beside their matt, and told them what I had heard in the park. Sruta Kirti, who had been Prabhupada’s servant longer than anybody, and who had also been in Vrindaban shortly before he left, had an unforgettable response.
Here is the gist of what he said, Aw, Govinda dasi, that’s ridiculous. They would never do something like that. Those are Prabhupada’s temples, no body else is going to be worshipped as guru in them, that’s absurd! They would never sit on a vyasasana in Prabhupada’s temples. Those are Prabhupada’s temples! Why, Prahupada’s disciples would kill ’em! Go to bed, Govinda dasi, stop worrying about this, this is just some rumor…”
Akrurunath, you admit you weren’t around at that time since you were going to college. I was around at that time. I can tell you for certain that Prabhupada was indeed deliberately forgotten, more like shoved in the closet.
On one occasion, there was a young lady disciple of Rameshwar who tried to commit suicide with pills. I went to the hospital to help her, and the doctor released her in my care. I encouraged her to just add Prabhupada’s picture to her altar, and to listen to his tapes. That was an unheard of thing to do. I could have been banned for that, it was considered heresy.
Another young man, a disciple of a still functioning guru, also came close to suicide. I recommended he worship Prabhupada, and pray to him for help. To this day, he says that Prabhupada saved his life. There are many such cases.
Things started changing in 1986, the year of Haleys comet. Gurus as well as South American dictators were deposed. Prabhupada used to say that a comet is like a policemans flashlight; the criminals all run away because they don’t want to be exposed. It brings light to dark places, and misfortune to those who are miscreants.
Then Prabhupada came back into the center of Iskcon at the time of the Centenniel. Before that, he was very unpopular, and many had the attitude that he was to be relegated to some museum position, like a relic, and the new gurus were the only way to become Krishna conscious.
Most of the senior disciples of Srila Prabhupad just stepped back and watched, sad to see their Master’s mission desiccated in this way.
This is just history; as far as I am concerned, I think that every person has a right to choose his guru. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur explains that this choice happens according to adhikar,spiritual eligiblity. From Krishna, one gets guru, and from guru, one gets Krishna. Different people have differing qualifications (adhikar, spiritual eligibility) so each person will be attracted to the guru who is meant for them. Krishna guides this from within the heart; it really isn’t our business to second-guess God.
So far as my own personal experience: did I ever once for even a second believe that he appointed the eleven? NO. Not for even a second.
And Bhagaji’s statement was only added proof of that truth. Bhagaji was there with Srila Prabhupada, and he saw and heard everything. His words to me were: “Prabhupada never appointed anyone. They have simply done this, that’s all.”
I do have faith that Srila Prabhupada is guiding and watching over his Iskcon, and I have no negative feelings about it. And I believe he loves each of his disciples, even those who have gone astray. And even those who have fallen prey to pratistha.
Throughout all the twists and turns, and surprising events, Krishna remains the center, and the Controller, and Srila Prabhupad is at the helm. He is far more powerful than any one of us can ever imagine..
(by Govinda dasi, May 24 2010)
Govinda Dasi is simply brilliant. Her words are directly empowered with spiritual potency by Srila Prabhupada. Immediately the fog disappears.
May she live long and prosper!
Govinda Dasi
” I can tell you for certain that Prabhupada was indeed deliberately forgotten, more like shoved in the closet”.
Shoved in a closet, exactly what TAMAL did (main suspect in the poisoning)
in Juhu and Dallas temples with Srila Prabhupada personal belongings
after he took over his rooms.
Thousands of Srila Prabhupada disciples leaving or kicked out soon after if we did NOT believe GBC/TAMAL propaganda that you need a living guru and Srila Prabhupada appointed them acaryas,
the lie still continues.
2019 GBC and their elected-in gurus praise TAMAL as an ISKCON hero, amazing.
The Jewish boys club (gay) proprogandra still continues, they may have control of the assets.
but Srila Prabhupada said Lord Chaitanya is in charge of the movement.
Let them enjoy the private bank accounts,
servants/luxury properties and opulence of being worshipped.
Unless a spiritual revolt happens, we will wait until they die off,
hopefully the next generation will wake up,
Rathayatra Dasa Prabhu, a Spiritual revolt is upon us because the wait to die off particularly the culprit Leaders in the present Iskcon are certainly nearing on account of their old age, disease and then finally death.
Therefore, with the power of the Spiritual Revolt of Prabhupadanugas world wide, the Next Generation of the devotees shall continue to spread Srila Prabhupada’s VANI for Ten thousand years as Srila Prabhupada predicts.
Of this, there is no doubt.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Most refreshing revelations from Govinda Dasi.
It has been said by Srila Prabhupada in the Caitanya Caritanrta that upon the completion of false the business of false gurus they are transferred to the lower regions of hell. Just as Paramatma never leaves the heart of the spirit soul Srila Prabhupada has not left us. Indeed he has not even left the hearts of those who have gone astray.
Srila Prabhupada is The First Hare Krishna and everyone of us has the blessing to live with him at every moment of our lives. Perhaps by our glorious and fortunate position will be better appreciated by those confused and lost as we surrender more and more.
Thank you very much Govinda Dasi for your continuing service and fine example of how a true disciple of Srila Prabhupada should live.
Ys Hasti Gopala dasa
Hasti Gopala: It has been said by Srila Prabhupada in the Caitanya Caritanrta that upon the completion of false the business of false gurus they are transferred to the lower regions of hell.
Mahesh: this is in Isopanisad:
Isopanisad 12
The Lord states that as soon as one reaches Him by devotional service–which is the one and only way to approach the Personality of Godhead–one attains complete freedom from the bondage of birth and death. In other words, the path of salvation from the material clutches fully depends on the principles of knowledge and detachment gained from serving the Lord. The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. BY A FALSE DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS, THEY PRESENT A SHOW OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE WHILE INDULGING IN ALL SORTS OF IMMORAL ACTIVITIES. IN THIS WAY THEY PASS AS SPIRITUAL MASTERS AND DEVOTEES OF GOD. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative acaryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. THEY IGNORE THE VEDIC INJUNCTION ACARYOPASANA–“ONE MUST WORSHIP THE ACARYA”–and Krsna’s statement in the Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam parampara-praptam, “This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession.” INSTEAD, TO MISLEAD THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL THEY THEMSELVES BECOME SO-CALLED ACARYAS, BUT THEY DO NOT EVEN FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ACARYAS.
THESE ROGUES ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS ELEMENTS IN HUMAN SOCIETY. BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT, THEY ESCAPE PUNISHMENT BY THE LAW OF THE STATE. THEY CANNOT, HOWEVER, ESCAPE THE LAW OF THE SUPREME, WHO HAS CLEARLY DECLARED IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA THAT ENVIOUS DEMONS IN THE GARB OF RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDISTS SHALL BE THROWN INTO THE DARKEST REGIONS OF HELL (BG. 16.19-20). SRI ISOPANISAD CONFIRMS THAT THESE PSEUDO RELIGIONISTS ARE HEADING TOWARD THE MOST OBNOXIOUS PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THEIR SPIRITUAL MASTER BUSINESS, WHICH THEY CONDUCT SIMPLY FOR SENSE GRATIFICATION.
Note: those who have given poison to Srila Prabhupada, usurped his Diksa Guru position, denied the Ritvik System as Per July 9th 1977, denied his Direction of Management (1970), usurped his temples,disciples, money,property, distorted his Original books – these people are NOT getting away. Laws of Karma are very strict:
751005mw.mau Conversations
Prabhupada: SO THEY ARE FIRST OF ALL TRAINED UP IN THAT HELLISH PLANET AND THEN THEY COME HERE TO SUFFER THE SAME STANDARD OF LIFE.
Indian man (4): When our soul gets out from our body, it goes to the hell or…
Prabhupada: Hellish planet.
Indian: …hemisphere or it take birth immediately afterwards?
Prabhupada: YES. THOSE WHO ARE SINFUL, THEY DO NOT TAKE IMMEDIATELY BIRTH. THEY FIRST OF ALL TRAINED UP IN THE HELLISH PLANET HOW TO SUFFER TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED AND THEN THEY ARE TAKEN BIRTH, THEN SUFFER. Just like you pass I.A.S. Then you become an assistant to the magistrate. You learn. Then you are posted as magistrate. Even if you are fit for going back to home, back to Godhead, you are first of all transferred to the universe where Krsna is now present, and there you become accustomed. Then you go to real Vrndavana.
Indian man (4): Therefore, after our death…
Prabhupada: Every arrangement by God is perfect. Purnam. Purnam adah purnam idam purnat purnam… Whatever is created by God, that is perfect.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SB 5.26 Summary
Chapter Twenty-six
A Description of the Hellish Planets
The Twenty-sixth Chapter describes how a sinful man goes to different hells, where he is punished in various ways by the assistants of Yamaraja. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (3.27):
prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” The foolish person thinks he is independent of any law. He thinks there is no God or regulative principle and that he can do whatever he likes. Thus he engages in different sinful activities, and as a result, he is put into different hellish conditions life after life, to be punished by the laws of nature. The basic principle of his suffering is that he foolishly thinks himself independent, although he is strictly under the control of the laws of material nature. These laws act due to the influence of the three modes of nature, and therefore each human being also works under three different types of influence. According to how he acts, he suffers different reactions in his next life or in this life. Religious persons act differently from atheists, and therefore they suffer different reactions.
Sukadeva Gosvami describes the following twenty-eight hells: Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurava, Maharaurava, Kumbhipaka. Kalasutra, Asi-patravana, Sukaramukha, Andhakupa, Krmibhojana. Sandamsa, Taptasurmi, Vajrakantaka-salmali, Vaitarani, Puyoda, Pranarodha, Visasana, Lalabhaksa, Sarameyadana, Avici, Ayahpana. Ksarakardama, Raksogana-bhojana, Sulaprota, Dandasuka. Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana and Sucimukha.
A person who steals another’s money, wife or possessions is put into the hell known as Tamisra. A man who tricks someone and enjoys his wife is put into the extremely hellish condition known as Andhatamisra. A foolish person absorbed in the bodily concept of life, who on the basis of this principle maintains himself or his wife and children by committing violence against other living entities, is put into the hell known as Raurava. There the animals he killed take birth as creatures called rurus and cause great suffering for him. Those who kill different animals and birds and then cook them are put by the agents of Yamaraja into the hell known as Kumbhipaka, where they are boiled in oil. A person who kills a brahmana is put into the hell known as Kalasutra, where the land, perfectly level and made of copper, is as hot as an oven. The killer of a brahmana burns in that land for many years. One who does not follow scriptural injunctions but who does everything whimsically or follows some rascal is put into the hell known as Asi-patravana. A government official who poorly administers justice, or who punishes an innocent man, is taken by the assistants of Yamaraja to the hell known as Sukaramukha, where he is mercilessly beaten.
God has given advanced consciousness to the human being. Therefore he can feel the suffering and happiness of other living beings. The human being bereft of his conscience, however, is prone to cause suffering for other living beings. The assistants of Yamaraja put such a person into the hell known as Andhakupa, where he receives proper punishment from his victims. Any person who does not receive or feed a guest properly but who personally enjoys eating is put into the hell known as Krmibhojana. There an unlimited number of worms and insects continuously bite him.
A thief is put into the hell known as Sandamsa. A person who has sexual relations with a woman who is not to be enjoyed is put into the hell known as Taptasurmi. A person who enjoys sexual relations with animals is put into the hell known as Vajrakantaka-salmali. A person born into an aristocratic or highly placed family but who does not act accordingly is put into the hellish trench of blood, pus and urine called the Vaitarani River. One who lives like an animal is put into the hell called Puyoda. A person who mercilessly kills animals in the forest without sanction is put into the hell called Pranarodha. A person who kills animals in the name of religious sacrifice is put into the hell named Visasana. A man who forces his wife to drink his semen is put into the hell called Lalabhaksa. One who sets a fire or administers poison to kill someone is put into the hell known as Sarameyadana. A man who earns his livelihood by bearing false witness is put into the hell known as Avici.
A person addicted to drinking wine is put into the hell named Ayahpana. One who violates etiquette by not showing proper respect to superiors is put into the hell known as Ksarakardama. A person who sacrifices human beings to Bhairava is put into the hell called Raksogana-bhojana. A person who kills pet animals is put into the hell called Sulaprota. A person who gives trouble to others is put into the hell known as Dandasuka. One who imprisons a living entity within a cave is put into the hell known as Avata-nirodhana. A person who shows unwarranted wrath toward a guest in his house is put into the hell called Paryavartana. A person maddened by possessing riches and thus deeply absorbed in thinking of how to collect money is put into the hell known as Sucimukha.
After describing the hellish planets, Sukadeva Gosvami describes how pious persons are elevated to the highest planetary system, where the demigods live, and how they then come back again to this earth when the results of their pious activities are finished. Finally he describes the universal form of the Lord and glorifies the Lord’s activities.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
SSR 1 Learning the Science of the Self
Srila Prabhupada: The process is very subtle. The spirit soul is invisible to our material eyes. It is atomic in size. After the destruction of the gross body, which is made up of the senses, blood, bone, fat, and so forth, the subtle body of mind, intelligence, and ego goes on working. So at the time of death this subtle body carries the small spirit soul to another gross body. The process is just like air carrying a fragrance. Nobody can see where this rose fragrance is coming from, but we know that it is being carried by the air. You cannot see how, but it is being done. Similarly, the process of transmigration of the soul is very subtle. According to the condition of the mind at the time of death, the minute spirit soul enters into the womb of a particular mother through the semen of a father, and then the soul develops a particular type of body given by the mother. It may be a human being, it may be a CAT, a DOG, or anything.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
60526mw.hon Conversations
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be. Supposing it is good. BUT HE DOES NOT THINK “HOW I SHALL LIVE IN THIS WAY AND NEXT TIME I MAY BE CATS AND DOGS AND COCKROACHES. WHAT I’M DOING FOR THEM?” THEREFORE THEY WILL EVADE: “NO, NO. THERE IS NO NEXT LIFE.” BECAUSE IT IS HORRIBLE FOR THEM.
Devotee (2): Most of the karmis think that if you believe in the law of karma, it applies to you, but if you do not believe…
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Devotee (2): Most of them think that if you believe in the law of karma, it applies to you.
Prabhupada: WHEN IT IS LAW, YOU BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE, RASCAL, IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE, IF IT IS A LAW. YOU BELIEVE, I DON’T BELIEVE, IF I COMMIT THEFT I’LL NOT BE PUNISHED. SO WHAT IS YOUR BELIEF? AS SOON AS YOU COMMIT THEFT, YOU’LL BE PUNISHED. YOU BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE. THAT IS LAW. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF YOUR BELIEF? RASCAL MAY BELIEVE THAT “I’M NOT GOING TO BE OLD MAN. I SHALL REMAIN YOUNG MAN.” BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE, MUST BECOME OLD MAN. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF YOUR BELIEF? Trust no future. You believe or not believe, there is future. What is value of your belief? Where do you…. You have complete control? Here the law is “Keep to the right.” You don’t believe. Now “Why shall I keep to the right? I shall go to the left.” Immediately you’ll be punished. You have to believe. I’ll do wrong way, see the result. Immediately there’s ticket. So what is the value of your belief? The law is law. Ignorance is no excuse for law. You have committed something wrong, and in the court you’re going to be punished. If you say the clerk, “Sir, I did not know that by committing this act how I shall be, I will have to be punished.” That is not excuse. Your ignorance they do not believe; you must go. That is the law. It is called foolishness. “They believe,” “I think,” “It may be.” This is science. This is their proposition: “It may be,” “I think,” “I believe.” What is the value of this? And everywhere you’ll find all these philosophers, scientists,and they’ll talk like this, nonsense: “I believe,” “It may be.” Believe in the words of Krsna. But he believes himself. You see? Krsna says it is this. That he doesn’t believe. But he has become more than Krsna, he’ll believe something is correct. This is his foolishness. Mudha. You believe in the words of Krsna, who is worshiped by everyone. Hm? But you won’t. You believe in your conviction, “I believe.” So what you are? First consider in comparison to Krsna.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lectures & Classes 740604SB.GEN
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.15
—
Geneva, June 4, 1974
Nitai: “As long as Vidura played the part of a sudra, being cursed by Manduka Muni, Aryama officiated at the post of Yamaraja to punish those who committed sinful acts.”
Prabhupada:
abibhrad aryama dandam
yathavad agha-karisu
yavad dadhara sudratvam
sapad varsa-satam yamah
So Vidura is Yamaraja, the superintendent of death. After our death, we are brought before the justice Yamaraja, what kind of next birth I may have. So Yamaraja is not sudra. He is devotee of Lord Krsna, although he has the duty to punish the criminals. Just like a magistrate is always punishing the criminals. That is his business, but he is not criminal. He is giving judgment to the criminals. Similarly, Yamaraja is the appointed magistrate, superintendent. After death, one has to go before him and take the judgment of his next life. This is the process.
So Vidura was cursed by Manduka Muni, Manduka Muni. He was a great sage, but sometimes in his asrama, some thieves were caught, so police arrested both the Manduka Muni and the thieves, and later on Manduka Muni was chastised to be punished by sula. There was a system of punishment. I do not whether (it is) still existing. The sula means one lance, lancer. Lancer, it is called?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupada: It was to be pierced through the rectum and it will go through the head and the man will die. The pierce was standing, and he was to sit down. What is this punishment? Is there any mention?
Pusta-krsna: I never heard of anything.
Guru-gauranga: Arabians have this. It is called pala(?).
Prabhupada: Sula punishment. So when he was condemned to the sula punishment, then the king heard that “Manduka Muni, the great sage, he is punished like that?” Immediately he stopped. “What is this nonsense that Manduka Muni has been punished? He is a great sage.” So the king stopped the punishment and immediately came to see what has happened. Then he was immediately released. But he was very sorry, that “Why the judge Yamaraja punished him like that?” So he asked Yamaraja, “Why you have punished me like this?” “Now, in your childhood you pierced the rectum of an ant with a…,” what is called?
Devotees: Pin, straw.
Prabhupada: No, not straw. Prick, pricking?
Devotee: Pin.
Prabhupada: Kanta, kanta. We say kanta, that pricks. What is called?
Devotees: Thorn.
Prabhupada: Ah, thorn, yes. So therefore he was punished. NOW JUST SEE. IN HIS CHILDHOOD HE WAS PLAYING WITH AN ANT, PIERCING THE RECTUM WITH A THORN. THAT IS ALSO TAKEN ACCOUNT, “ALL RIGHT. YOU WILL BE PUNISHED.” JUST SEE HOW FINER LAWS ARE THERE IN NATURE. SO THE MANDUKA MUNI DID THAT. THEREFORE IT WAS RECORDED HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED LIKE THAT.
THIS IS OUR POSITION. ANYTHING… IF YOU ARE WALKING ON THE STREET, IF YOU KILL AN ANT BY WALKING, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED. THIS IS NATURE’S LAW. WE ARE IN SUCH A DANGEROUS POSITION. IN EVERY MOVEMENT THERE IS PUNISHMENT. NOW, IF YOU BELIEVE THE SASTRAS, THAT IS DIFFERENT THING. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE, THEN DO ANYTHING YOU LIKE. BUT FROM SASTRA WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF NATURE, OR GOD, IS VERY, VERY STRICT, VERY, VERY STRICT. So Manduka Muni also chastised Yamaraja, that “In my childhood, without any knowledge I did something and for which you have given me so great punishment. So you are not fit for becoming a brahmana or ksatriya. You become sudra.” So he was cursed to become sudra. Therefore Yamaraja took his birth as Vidura and was born in the womb of a sudra mother. This is the history of Vidura’s birth.
So in his absence, Aryama, one of the demigods, he officiated Yamaraja. Therefore it is said, abibhrad aryama dandam. The office must go on, the magistrate post cannot be vacant. Somebody must come and act. So Aryama was acting. Yathavad agha-karisu. Agha-karisu. Agha-kari means… Agha means sinful activities, and karisu. Karisu means those who commit sinful acts. And yathavat. Yathavat means exactly to the point, how he should be punished. Yathavad agha-karisu. Yavad dadhara sudratvam. So long Yamaraja continued as a sudra, Aryama was officiating in his place as Yamaraja. This is the purport. (reads purport:) “Vidura, born in the womb of a sudra mother, was forbidden even to be a party of royal heritage along with his brothers Dhrtarastra and Pandu. Then how could he occupy the post of a preacher to instruct such learned…? Answer is that even though it is accepted that he was a sudra by birth, because he renounced the world for spiritual enlightenment by the authority of Rsi Maitreya and was thoroughly educated by him in transcendental knowledge, he was quite competent to occupy the post of an acarya or spiritual preceptor.” Vidura was a sudra, born sudra. Then how he became a preacher?
So the reason is… “According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, anyone who is conversant in the transcendental knowledge or the science of Godhead, be he a brahmana or sudra, a householder or a sannyasi, is eligible to become a spiritual master.” Not that because he was born a sudra, he cannot preach, he cannot take the post of acarya or spiritual master. That is not Caitanya philosophy. Caitanya philosophy has nothing to do with this body, external body. Caitanya philosophy is concerned with the soul. This movement is the movement of elevating the soul, saving the soul from degradation. Therefore people sometimes are surprised. The bodily concept of life, the same activities will be karma. And on the platform of spiritual life, the same karma will be bhakti. Same karma will be bhakti. So bhakti is not inactivity. Bhakti is all active. Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi kurusva tad mad-arpanam. This is bhakti, bhakti-yoga. Krsna says to everyone, “If you cannot give up your karma, then that’s all right. But the result of your karma, give to Me. Then it will be bhakti.”
So Vidura was Yamaraja. Not only he was Yamaraja, ordinary, but he is one of the great authorities. There are twelve authorities mentioned in the sastra. One of them is Yamaraja. Balir vaiyasakir vayam. This is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Yamaraja is one of the GBC of Krsna. Yes. As we have got twelve GBC’s, similarly Krsna has got GBC’s. Now,
svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam
That twelve men are authorized to preach Krsna consciousness. So we have to follow. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Therefore we have created these GBC. So they should be very responsible men. Otherwise, they will be punished. They will be punished to become a sudra. Although Yamaraja is a GBC, but he made a little mistake. He was punished to become a sudra. So those who are GBC’s, they should be very, very careful to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise they will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly, the punishment is also very great. That is the difficulty. You can see from this example, Vidura. He was immediately punished. He did little mistake at Manduka… Because the rsis, the munis, they will curse. Dealing is very… Even Yamaraja is not taking.
(reads:) “He was to play the part of so-called sudra for years, being cursed by Manduka Muni. He was the incarnation of Yamaraja, one of the twelve mahajanas, on the level with such exalted personalities as Bhisma, Narada, Brahma, Narada, Siva, Kapila, Bhisma, Prahlada, etc. Being a mahajana, it is the duty of Yamaraja to preach the cult of devotion to the people of the world as Narada, Brahma and other mahajanas do. But Yamaraja is always busy in his plutonic kingdom, punishing the doers of sinful acts. Yamaraja is deputed by the Lord to a particular planet some hundreds of thousands of miles away from this planet.” That is mentioned. He has got a different planet, where the criminals are taken away after death, and he gives the judgment, what kind of body he will have. And not like the theosophists’ thinking, “Now I have got human body. It is permanent settlement.” No, that is not permanent settlement. According to one’s work… Work means all sinful acts. Without Krsna consciousness, anyone who acts, he acts sinfully. There is no doubt of it. Because he is acting for sense gratification, and sense gratification means almost 99.9% all sinful activities. Duskrtinah. It is very risky job. Unless you act in Krsna consciousness… Yajnarthe karmano ‘nyatra loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah. This is the stringent law of the nature, that you have to act only for Yajna, for satisfaction of Krsna or Visnu. Otherwise, you will be entangled. And who is serving Krsna? Nobody is serving Krsna. So everyone is being entangled. This is the material world.
(reads:) “Yamaraja is deputed by the Lord to a particular planet, some hundreds of thousands of miles away from the planet of earth, to take away the corrupt souls after death and convict them in accordance with their respective sinful activities. Thus, Yamaraja has very little time to take leave from his responsible office of punishing the wrongdoers. There are more wrongdoers than righteous men. Therefore Yamaraja has to do (more) work than other demigods who are also authorized agents of the Supreme Lord. But he wanted to preach the glories of the Lord, and therefore, by the will of the Lord, he was cursed by Manduka Muni to come into the world in the incarnation of Vidura and work very hard as a great devotee.”
The punishment was also reward. Those who are servants of Krsna, even they are so-called punished, there is some motive behind this. Just like Jaya and Vijaya. They were also punished to come down and…, just to become enemy of Krsna. Krsna, when they were very much perturbed that “We are going to the material world from Vaikuntha. So what will be our fate, Sir? There is some little mistake on our part. What we shall do?” So Krsna gave him that “If you become My enemy, then you will be relieved in three births, and if you become My friend, then seven births.” So the Jaya and Vijaya agreed, “Sir, we shall become Your enemy.” So what is the purport? Krsna wanted some enemy to fight. Just like we sometimes want to fight. So this desire is there, Krsna. Otherwise, where we get this desire? So actually, it was Krsna’s service, this Jaya and Vijaya. Krsna wanted to have some fight. In the spiritual world there cannot be fight. There is no fight. There is only service. Therefore some of His devotees, this Jaya and Vijaya, agreed to become His enemy, come to this material world and to…, Krsna fought with the Jaya and Vijaya. As Ramacandra, He fought with Ravana, and as Nrsimhadeva, He fought with Hiranyakasipu, and as Krsna, He fought with Yamara…, er, Kamsa.
So similarly, Vidura also, he thought that “I am always busy in this magisterial work, simply to punish. I have no chance to preach.” So Krsna is very kind to His devotee. So He gave the chance to preach. So this was the arrangement, that he was cursed by Manduka Muni, came down to this material world. That is also material. Yamaraja’s planet is also in the material world. Therefore he was given the chance of preaching. (reads:) “He is transcendental to such divisions of mundane society, just as the Personality of Godhead assumes His incarnation as a hog, but He is not hog.” If somebody thinks that He has come as a hog, playing the part of a hog, that is not the fact. Even though assumes the… (reads:) “The Lord and His different authorized devotees sometimes have to play the role of many lower creatures to claim the conditioned souls, but both the Lord and His pure devotees are always in the transcendental position.” Etad isanam isasya. That is the authority of God, that even though He accepts some lower position, He is never in the lower position. He is always in the transcendental position. I have given the example yesterday. Just like the sun is sometimes evaporating the urine. This is not very good business. But still, sun is sun. He is never polluted. Similarly, Krsna or His devotee, if sometimes apparently does something which is not befitting their position, still, they are in their position. This is the conclusion. Krsna has given this concession to His devotee.
It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,
api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
Even sometimes, not by willing, sometimes accidentally, a devotee… Just like the other day in the meeting, somebody was giving the example, “Lord Christ, he ate fish.” So he can do that. There was some necessity. But you cannot do that. So even though it is sometimes done, abominable, but still they are in exalted position. This is to be understood. Tejiyasam na dosaya. Tejiyasam, those who are very, very powerful, anything abominable done by them, it does not contaminate. This is to be understood. But you cannot do that. You cannot imitate.
(reads:) “When Yamaraja thus incarnated himself as Vidura, his post was officiated by Aryama, one of the many sons of Kasyapa and Aditi, the Adityas, or sons of Aditi, and there are twelve Adityas. Aryama is one of the twelve Adityas, and therefore it was quite possible for him to take charge of the office of Yamaraja during his one hundred years’ absence in the form of Vidura. The conclusion is that Vidura was never a sudra, but was greater than the purest type of brahmana.”
Now, have kirtana. (end)
Rathayatra Dasa: …hopefully the next generation will wake up
Mahesh: there are some even among Temple Authorities who are second generation who after money – so it is more a question of those who are sincere and those who insincere :
Bhaktivedanta Manor Accounts SALARIES
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=49416
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=47869
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=38907#comment-24810
SALARIES
Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015
Bhaktivedanta Manor (UK)
259649 –
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS LIMITED
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/DocumentList.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=259649&SubsidiaryNumber=0&DocType=AccountList
==================================================================
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends49/0000259649_AC_20151231_E_C.pdf
==================================================================
Wages and Salaries: £1,658,355
Employees: 172
No employee received emoluments in excess off £60,000
Does not exactly say who or how many got paid up to £60,000.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SALARIES
Soho St Temple – London(UK)
1132794 –
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS LONDON
Accounts for 31 Dec 2015:
received 07 Oct 2016
Annual Return for 31 Dec 2015:
received 07 Oct 2016
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1132794&SubsidiaryNumber=0
=======================================================
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends94/0001132794_AC_20151231_E_C.pdf
=======================================================
Wages and Salaries: £443,967
Employees: 45
No employee received emoluments in excess off £60,000
Does not exactly say who or how many got paid up to £60,000.
Wages and salaries £443,967
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/01-08/editorials2459.htm
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=41633
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Temple President of second generation(has brain cancer) has just been replaced by Visakha dasi(the old boys club look after their own interest):
http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2019/09/vishaka-griesser-takes-molester.html
http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2018/03/bhaktivedanta-manor-president-cancer.html