BY CHAKRA.ORG
Posted November 26, 2010
Chakra Editorial Comment:
In his memoir, “My Karma, My Fault,” Daniel Lutz, details the abuse he suffered at the hands of those who ran the gurukula where he lived and studied as a child. As a result of his experience, Daniel suffered from severe trauma for many years, and states that he no longer believes in God.
It is heartening to hear the response of GBC member Anuttama Dasa, “For Daniel, and for all of our children, we ask that all ISKCON leaders and members pledge to remain vigilant, to always keep improving our schools and child protection systems around the world, and to build for Srila Prabhupada’s society a reputation as a safe and nurturing home for those placed within our care.”
At a time when several men who were awarded the sannyasa asrama by ISKCON, and whom ISKCON records identify as responsible for extensive child abuse, it is troubling to see these swamis still actively preaching in ISKCON venues, whether or not they are still “officially” part of ISKCON.
In keeping with the spirit of “remaining vigilant” endorsed by the GBC’s representative, Chakra is posting the CPO reports of two such sannyasis, Dhanurdhara Swami and Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, so that temple presidents, bhakta program leaders, and the general public can be aware of their records of extensive child abuse, and thereby protect others from unwittingly falling under their influence. We are not making any statements regarding these men’s ability to help their disciples advance spiritually, but feel strongly that anyone who is about to choose a guru needs to have access to all available information on that person.
At the end of the article it say’s (we feel that anyone about to choose a guru should have access to all available information on that person).
The managers of Srila Prabhupadas Society have packaged up the guru system in a manner that obliges people to choose from a list of possible crooks if a person wishes to participate within Iskcon. In reality you can never ever know what these persons are doing minute by minute, whether they are beating or sexually abusing someone or visiting prostitutes. This is the reality that faces each and every person who comes to Iskcon in sincerity. Time and time again we see the failure of this concocted system, a system that directs people away from Srila Prabhupada and forces them to choose from a list of maybe, could be, want to be, ..ordinary men! Sastra does not tell us to pick a guru from a list and it certainly does not direct us to find a guru in uncertainty. We know and understand for CERTAIN that Srila Prabhupada can deliver us from evil and take us Back Home To Godhead. Why waste precious time choosing from a list of ..maybe, could be, will be later, wanna be’s who have been caught so often compromising Srila Prabhupadas great work and vision for humanity and all forms of life.
Pamho agtACBSP, yes you are right Kurma prabhu the guru is already there, ACBSP, and until we become sincere in the service of Srila Prabhupada we will be cheated by maya sukaya, the witch through jnana- and karma-kanda.
It is very sad to hear about all these abuses in Iskcon, children and women are still unprotected by Iskcon and it is disgusting to see these abusers to hold authorities in Iskcon/BBT although their association is polluted by material desire.
Instead, people should become serious in the way back home by surrender to Srila Prabhupada completely.
ys
Seva das, Haribol
ISKCON gurus are now under the authority of a managerial body what might indicate something like that there is a safety system, someone is responsible?
When looking through the documents new disciples have to sign personally, things look quite different, phrases like ….without guarantee…no liability can be accepted in case a guru falls down… no compensation for loss suffered….being a disciple of an ISKCON guru is on one’s own authority… sole responsibility in case a guru falls down rests upon the disciple….any kind of loss, physically/psychologically is at the expense of the disciple…ISKCON will in no way to bear the damage or to make up for a loss in case a guru falls down….disciple confirms in writing to never consult judicial authority in case of substantial damage….
Rather a scenario Srila Prabhupada never intended for his movement?
Thats why only paid personnel is joining?
Hare Krishna, Sarah. Such a letter as you describe is not in use in Canada. Can you tell me more about it?
Jaya Srila Prabhupada
your humble servant
Vrnda dd
Devamrita Swami started all of this when he introduced resolution 409 in February 2004 which was accepted by the GBC which say’s,
…”When the GBC allows a devotee to take up the service of initiating, it does not thereby endorse him as an uttama adhikari or “pure devotee” or certify his having achieved any specific state of realization. Rather, the GBC indicates that it has no objection to his initiating disciples within ISKCON.”
You see? Srila Prabhupadas books say that a prospective disciple in the first instance must choose an Uttama Adhikari as ones guru, but Devamrita Swami say’s that the GBC cannot and will not guarantee a choice according to Srila Prabhupadas books. The GBC have taken charge of the gurus so this means that they are soley responsible. The GBC control and administer these voted in gurus, so it does not take rocket science to understand that legally THEY ALONE are responsible for all legal implications relating to this contradiction. If they allow someone to act and accept worship, daksina, etc on the level of an Uttama Adhikari then when all the suing starts it remains doubtful that Devamrita Swamis resolution 409 will protect them. One has to ask why such a resolution would even be introduced? Is it as is the usual with the Bogus Iskcon party line? EG: Put the blame back on to the victims of these Bogus gurus ……..” Oh well prabhu it was your choice that you chose an Uttama Adhikari who was having sex with his disciples that’s your badluck!
Thanks Kurma for clarification. Vrnda, hard to believe that Prabhupada instructed that the GBC should engage in such strange diplomacy, on one hand appointing a diksa-guru and when this diksa-guru fails, we did not endorse him as qualified, we just said, we have no objection of officiating on the vyasasana of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya and initiating his own disciples. And demand from these disciples to worship him as good as God?
Isn’t this pretty much the same like a personnel manager of an airline who says, we did not say that this pilot is fully qualified. We allowed him to fly a 747 because – we had no objection?
Now, since there was a plane crash, we don’t feel responsible for the mess, since we never said that this pilot is fully competent. Although we employed him, still, we never said he’s fully qualified.
If this is present situation within ISKCON’s initiation system then this explains why Europe’s temples are empty? Don’t know what is the situation in Canada, but obviously it must be the same?
Anyway, they have a whole chapter on ritvikism in the form of application for new disciples. As soon someone fancies ritvikism he is excommunicated from ISKCON. They don’t ask, is he/she following the 4 regs and chanting 16 rounds, no, ritviks are immediately banned.
Hard to believe that Prabhupada would have ever been so merciless with devotees who follow all the rules and regulations and worship a pure devotee?