"The sankirtan movement will continue. What is clear is that a spiritual revolution of this magnitude can not be achieved from a centralized ecclesiastical institution, "bishops" included. "

BY: JAGANNATHA MISHRA DAS

Sep 28, 2010 — MALAGA, SPAIN (SUN) — A friend has asked me to write a letter explaining why my preaching center in Malaga (Spain) has claimed from its beginning this year the name “ISKCON”. And I also explain why I decide to give up the name.
My sincere desire was to somehow help restore Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, going back to the roots, but the harsh and sad reality is that unfortunately, this institution for years has not implemented the basic instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
From my point of view, our beloved ISKCON has reached a status comparable to the gangrene disease, and not without much pain I decided to dissociate globally and not just from the corrupt leaders as I have done so far, but from the name and institution which I consider ruined and turned into a pseudo-religious scheme now.
As confirmed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati himself in writing, no organized spiritual movement survives after the departure of the Acarya. The religionists handle that pretty quickly.
At the end of the day, an institutional name means nothing to the preaching work, book distribution and Nama sankirtan. We do not need an institution to support us, we need to pray for purity and all the spiritual strength it takes to fulfill our duty.
The results must be many people taking prasadam, how they listen and sing the Holy Name and if possible, how many people read Srila Prabhupada’s books, helping them wherever possible to find their way with our friendship and love.
Blind fans and supporters will say that the GBC has a mystical self-correcting mechanism, and that corruption is a “test” to see who survives the Caitanya tree shaking, and other such concoctions. Anything but facing reality.
Ministries galore, GBC assistants, committees, subcommittees, national councils, regional, European GBC. It seems that there is a frenzy to get a (paid) position and there are more chiefs than Indians, but overall, is this not an intricate bureaucratic maze, ruining the movement, as Srila Prabhupada himself said and stopped on several occasions?
Is that climbing of the bureaucratic structure considered now the symptom of spiritual progress in Krishna Consciousness?
Can this be considered the Hare Krishna movement of Srila Prabhupada?
“Our duty is therefore to be very, very careful. The venom is personal ambition.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satyabhama, January 11, 1970)
The sankirtan movement will continue. What is clear is that a spiritual revolution of this magnitude can not be achieved from a centralized ecclesiastical institution, “bishops” included.
I know that there are separate small groups throughout the world who are making a quiet but effective work, and are precisely those who devote their energy to carry out the original program of SrilaPrabhupada. And they have nothing to do with the today’s corrupts. They have no visits of “big fish” and are not subjected to administrative bureaucracy. They do not rely on a name or any institutional support.
And they do better than anyone.
On the other hand, the more passive external devotees are trying to survive by trying to “associate” at festivals and to bite the bullet at leaders and the current deplorable conditions, but this is not a “social” or salvationist movement. It is a preaching movement, san-kirtan, to glorify the Lord together and especially to join actively in the sacred duty to expand the movement of Lord Caitanya, the singing of the Holy Names as the religion for this age.
But inevitably the spiritual life, both personal and collective, withers when we do not please our beloved savior, Srila Prabhupada:
yasya prasada bhagavat prasado
And it is obvious that all these years, the leaders have emphasized almost anything else but that. Hence the current state of things. Of course they are like politicians, as long as they are well situated personally, the status of “people” and their conditions are negligible, they live in a bubble, away from the reality of the street.
You inept leaders who over the years have created this situation, you know who you are. While trying to hide behind the orange clothes, important positions, economic prosperity or even moving your nefarious activities to other countries and other continents, when you finish off all the resources and credibility. You have killed and buried Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON for so many years now, it does not even smell.
And those who keep silent with their personal benefit in mind, you are the real culprits because you have perpetuated and supported these corrupt and inept leaders for many years. You know perfectly well who you are.
Sadly, I see some of you confused philosophically, such as participating in activities leading to minimizing Srila Prabhupada’s books and position, all because of your selfish activities and personal perpetuation schemes.
Anyway I do not want to add any more misery to the already existing.
Dear ISKCON devotees, fans, blind followers, survivors in distress, and enthusiastic new blood, sooner or later destined to see face-to-face the reality of daily life in the institution, to those who somehow want to benefit from their membership, thanks to all for everything, and be happy!
Krsne matir astu
Jagannatha Mishra das
www.BhaktiYoga.es
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