Anand Das: ISKCON’s GBC is the same body that allowed eleven arrogant neophytes to “play Prabhupada”

The Dr. Misra Conundrum

BY: ANAND DAS

Dec 06, 2010 — ARIZONA, USA (SUN) — The recent snubbing of Dr. Prayag Narayan Misra by the Phoenix temple has been a hot topic of discussion within this news source. From the response by both the Phoenix and Tucson administrations, an outsider might be led to believe that there may be two sides to the story. I have had the rare pleasure to see and hear Dr. Misra several times during his visits to Sedona where I practice yoga, and would like to share my point of view as a long-time friend of ISKCON.

Anyone who knows ISKCON’s history and the rise of Lord Sri Chaitanya’s movement in the 60’s onward, knows what a struggle ISKCON encountered on several fronts. Though basically an impoverished, grassroots organization, the first devotees — whether in NY’s Lower East Side or Haight-Ashbury — had the responsibility of convincing their countrymen that they were a viable alternative to the social ills of both straight-laced Bible belt conformity and the era’s hippie counter-culture.

Next they also had to convince the Hindu people that they represented the essence of their own Vedic heritage: that they were not followers of some hackneyed imitation “God incarnate” or slick storefront Baba. And they had to convince the government that although they seemed to be basically an entirely new way of life, they did so as citizens who are respectful of the laws which govern the land. Quite a tall order to be sure, but nonetheless that phase of ISKCON’s growing pains has been passed over, and the Society has been established as a genuine, accepted and approved religious practice, one that is both ancient and up-to-date.

It seems that today’s generation of devotees who have the advantage of the Vedabase, vegetarian restaurants, opulent temples, a vast library of literature, etc. may not appreciate what a threadbare ISKCON was like just forty years ago. And more than anything else, ISKCON has risen from preaching the glories of the Holy Names of the Lord and distributing literature. Many of ISKCON’s new era of fancy “ministers”, “sub-regional demi-secretaries” and other zonal vice-bosses have become spoiled.

All of which brings up the work of Dr. Prayag Narayana Misra, who is a genuine preacher, book distributor and Krishna pioneer in his own right. Dr. Misra is shifting the transmission of ISKCON’s status into a still higher gear by convincing politicians that the Hare Krishna movement, as the heart and soul of Indian culture, is a viable part of their voting constituency. This is a great service to the Society.

From listening to Dr. Misra, I can understand that he has real empathy for not only the Western devotees who have risked everything for the cause of Krishna consciousness, but he is a genuine admirer and disciple at heart — as I would hope to also consider myself — of Srila Prabhupada. He is a staunch Vaishnava, not a wishy-washy “all is one” Mayavadi. Dr. Misra appreciates that whatever sacrifices were made by ISKCON’s early pioneers simply could not have happened if it were not for the incredible example of the Founder-Acarya. Dr. Misra’s constant glorification of Srila Prabhupada is infectious. He is a brahmana and devotee not only by birth, but by his activities.

Therefore, in her recent article defending Dr. Misra, Sandamini devi, the intrepid President of Tucson, demonstrates good leadership. She notes that “hell has no anger like a woman scorned.” It would seem that “neither has foolishness an equal to some of the GBC decisions.” The GBC for Phoenix could be compared to my absentee landlord, whose presence is felt only when he raises the rent (but not when something needs fixing).

Some people become famous by doing nothing, while hard workers meet only obscurity. ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya did not set up the GBC system of management to run on obsequious sycophancy, nepotism, favoritism, flattery and an absolute lack of common sense. History recalls that ISKCON’s GBC is the same body that allowed eleven arrogant neophytes to “play Prabhupada” all the way down a slippery slope that nearly destroyed the Hare Krishna Movement. Their arrogant style of mis-management actually set the movement back for an entire generation. For this they demanded worship. These self-proclaimed acaryas and their lap puppies actually cost the Society many, many thousands of qualified and dedicated members who the New Acaryas felt could be replaced by part-time bhakti hobbyists.

Now that most of ISKCON’s older members have yellowed walking papers still filed in the recesses of their ancient memories, it appears that Dr. Misra has become a target by default. If the leadership had any common sense, they might consider “Duh! Dr. Misra has the ear of some pretty powerful people. Is this a person I should like to make my next victim?” When intelligence is lost, stupidity fills the void. But even stupidity flees in the face of bumbling arrogance.

Sandamini dasi has soldiered on despite so much discouragement from the fanciful Dhritarashtras who have illegally usurped the thrones of power. We hope that Dr. Misra will not become discouraged by the short-sightedness of ISKCON’s myopic governance. He is a true disciple of a follower of Arjuna, and we pray that Krishna’s protection will remain with him. His work should be appreciated for its far-sighted value.