Ravanari das: Hridayananda Bounces Back

BY: RAVANARI DAS

Jan 04, 2011 — USA (SUN) — In his recent online Istagoshti with his disciples and fans, Hridayananda das appears to have re-entered the ring, boldly preaching Krishna Consciousness once again. Probably last year’s spate of articles here in the Sampradaya Sun made him poignantly aware that there are many who disapprove of cheap and polluted preaching.

What happened to him in the Vaishnava press (causing him to resign from the GBC) stands as an example for the other GBC members. And now Hridayananda das wishes to set another example, and we hope, the correct one. Let us give credit where credit it due.

In his intelligent and well-worded letter (which follows), Hirdayananda das indirectly condemns the present state of dilution of ISKCON’s execution of the philosophy due to the tacit approval of the leaders. The GBC in general, as seen on their soppy propaganda site, ISKCONnews.com, has been notorious for sacrificing wholesale the true essence of the message in favor of sentimental compromises.

That which is called “religion” and “education” in Kali Yuga are forms of ignorance only, yet devotees are obediently led to the slaughterhouse of false equality with demonic creeds of the mleccha society. For all their learning, that knock-kneed body has been reticent to offer the society the true guidance that is expected of them. Like Guinea pigs, devotes have been cluelessly sent to offer handshakes at churches, synagogues and colleges, and the movement as a result has turned out a new generation of punks, karmis and Sunday worshippers while the original members were sent for exile. As a self-appointed “Acharyadeva”, Hridayananda das must have figured out how much responsibility he bears for spiritual crimes against devotees and ISKCON’s philosophy.

In getting back on his fee, apparently Hridayananda das faces an uphill battle, as in the same e-forum, a letter from a junior member takes him on by interpreting Hridayananda’s position and criticizing his speculative interpretation, and all done with the usual show of humility that befits ISKCON’s new “intellectuals.” And in the e-forum under discussion, the letter from the devotee was placed above that of the sangha’s leader, and was touted by the organizer of the Istagoshti as “a nice letter.”

Here is a graphic example, therefore, of the bitter fruits of watering the milk and attracting sentimental followers. Srila Prabhupada compared the situation to currency: once it loses value it is very difficult to re-establish its worth. Similarly, even an ashram guru will be condemned by the neophytes he leads if he has allowed his own poor example and concessions over to a misguided belief system to water down the essential teachings of that sangha. The brilliant scientist who pieced together the Frankenstein monster was strangled by him.

I know I represent all members of Prabhupada’s ISKCON by wishing Hridayananda das great success in his efforts to come out punching. That does not mean that we wish him success against the imagined foe of his Godbrothers, disciples and other well-wishers who rightly pointed out his subtle deviations in the matter of neglecting sannyasa dress, chanting his rounds, chanting Gayatri mantra, living a luxurious lifestyle with an emphasis on materialistic enjoyment (like karmi music, etc.). No, we are referring to the battle he will have amongst his own so-called supporters, who latched onto him due to his emphasis on finding the middle ground in order to make preaching appear more palatable. Only he who is convinced can convince others, and this will be an uphill battle for Hridayananda das.

The following exchange should be a lesson for any ISKCON leader who purposely dilutes Srila Prabhupada’s teachings of Krishna Consciousness. Re-establishing one’s position as servant of the Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada after a long sabbatical of compromise can only be a struggle. As far as Hridayananda das’ laudable letter is concerned, we first recall Srila Prabhupada’s important instructions:

“Just like we have done it in Nairobi, Africa. There are also many Indians living at that place, and they are also wealthy businessmen, and the African black people are poor, neglected, not very much educated. So at the beginning Brahmananda was mixing only with those Indians, and they were giving profusely money, and there were so many plans for temple and deities. In this way he was neglecting to do the real work which was preaching to the black Africans.

No one Hindu who is rich and living in foreign place is very much interested to become devotee, it is show only, sentiment or custom. So I wanted that he should preach to the Africans and convert them to become devotees, that should be his real business, never mind wasting time with so many nonsense Indians.

And as soon as he did as I instructed, immediately he has got some black devotees, and he has removed himself from the entanglement of the Hindus, and he is making good progress spreading Krsna Consciousness amongst the native citizens. And there black devotees are making advancement and they are also going out to preach themselves to other places in Africa. So that should be the program in Hong Kong.”

(Srila Prabhupada to Bhurijana das, 1977)

Srila Mahavishnu Swami with African devotees on street sankirtan

So, Hridayananda das, thanks for coming back. Now chant your rounds, put on sannyasa-vasa, and turn off that damn classical music!

First, the letter from Hridayananda das:

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Srila Prabhupada. On the last day of 2010, I wish you all a wonderful Krishna conscious 2011. For me, the greatest and most inspiring challenge in the coming year is to strengthen ISKCON in the western world. When I joined the movement in 1969, ISKCON seemed like a North American movement with branches in Europe, Australia and East Asia.

In 1970 Srila Prabhupada dramatically established ISKCON in India. The movement also spread throughout East and Southeast Asia. Prabhupada planted a transcendental seed in the Soviet Union which blossomed into a huge, powerful mission throughout Russia and other CIS countries.

I helped to expand the movement in Latin America in the mid 70’s and ISKCON is now well established throughout that region. However it is ISKCON in India that has expanded beyond comparison. Of course, India has a huge, natural advantage. It is the land of Krishna. Even in America, ISKCON congregations in most large cities consist mainly of devotees from an Indian background.

We find the same phenomenon in the UK and South Africa, and in most other countries that host a significant Indian diaspora. This phenomenon is not so evident in most of Latin America, or in some parts of Europe, where there is a comparatively small Indian population.

Still, the massive expansion and unique wealth of many Indian devotees, both in India and other countries, presents an interesting challenge to the International Society for Krishna consciousness. Is ISKCON destined to be basically an Indian movement with branches in foreign countries? Or is it meant to be a truly international society that establishes the yuga dharma as a dominant spiritual process throughout the world?

In India, ISKCON’s influence at all levels of society is enormous. In America, and most European countries (England and Hungary might be exceptions) ISKCON’s national influence is insignificant. Personally, I believe that ISKCON can fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Caitanya’s vision only as a truly international society that presents Krishna consciousness as a non-sectarian, non-ethnic spiritual science. I learned this from Prabhupada himself. Thus it is the responsibility of those of us who serve Srila Prabhupada in the west to do all we can to reignite the fire of a powerful, relevant movement in our respective countries.

I find this vision, of reestablishing the full power and relevance of ISKCON in the west, to be a most inspiring challenge. It is to the fulfillment of this vision that I wish to dedicate myself in 2011. I invite all the devotees to share and serve this awesome vision.

Wishing you all a year of health, happiness and potent service in Lord Krishna’s divine mission, I invoke this blessing: Krishna-shaktir astu te! May the force of Krishna be with you!

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami

ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor today

Now for the challenge from his “follower:”

Dear Srila Acaryadeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am writing an open letter to you, for the benefit of all devotees, because I know that many devotees worldwide have doubts about this point, and by your answer, everybody will be enlightened.

In a recent letter you said, “Personally, I believe that ISKCON can fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Caitanya’s vision only as a truly international society that presents Krishna consciousness as a non-sectarian, non-ethnic spiritual science.”

After reading this statement, I was trying to figure out what exactly your vision of ISKCON as a non-ethnic society is. I looked up the word ‘ethnic’ in the dictionary to ascertain its exact meaning and there it says “the distinctive ways of living of a group of people,” its synonym being “cultural.” As a society, it seems we have to have some kind of a common culture. Shouldn’t it be based on the spiritual lifestyle that is propounded in Srila Prabhupada’s books? We know that in the early days Srila Prabhupada did introduce some aspects of culture which may seem to be ethnic.

For example, he taught his disciples how to wear dhotis and saris, he taught them how to make chapatis, to play mrdanga and karatalas, etc. Is it just because Srila Prabhupada came from an Indian background that he introduced these things? Or do they actually play an important part in our spiritual advancement? Are they only Indian, or are they elements of the divine culture of the spiritual world which we are practising to be a part of?

My speculation (please forgive me if I am wrong) is that perhaps you feel that ISKCON in the USA is being taken over by Indians and becoming rather too sectarian-ly Hindu or ethnically Indian, and as a result is becoming culturally uncomfortable for the common American. Americans, as a result, may be put off from joining because ISKCON seems like something foreign, because they feel like they are a minority, or maybe because they just don’t like Indian food. While this may be the case, we must be careful not to develop an anti-Indian attitude.

After all, they’re spiritual souls, too, and have every right to be Krishna conscious. The fact that more Indians come to the temple than Americans reveals that their consciousness is a little higher. We should not put them down. If a non-devotee Indian person would visit an ISKCON temple in Italy, would he be put off from joining by the fact that he might have to eat pizza and pasta everyday? Possibly.

The fact is that because we are an international society, we will always have ethnic diversity. However, the more we advance in Krishna consciousness, the more we will transcend our ethnicity which is also a kind of conditioning. If I think I am American then naturally I will prefer American food. But if I know that I am a pure spirit soul, an eternal servant of Krishna, then I will be happy to eat whatever Krishna likes (because we cook for Krishna), wear whatever Krishna is pleased to see me in, listen to the style of music that Krishna prefers, etc.

And I think that this is precisely why Srila Prabhupada introduced the things that he did. Srila Prabhupada, above all, was not Indian. He was a pure devotee from the spiritual world. Therefore, he lovingly encouraged his followers to adopt a culture that is pleasing to Krishna. After all, shouldn’t this be the ultimate goal of all of our activities? Rather than American-izing ISKCON, or Indian-izing it or Italian-izing it, etc., we should seek to Krishna-ize our lives by following the example set by the Krishna’s pure devotee. In my understanding, this should be ISKCON’s common culture.

I would appreciate hearing your comments and thoughts on these points. Thank you very much.

Your servant,

Yajna Murti das