Mahavidya das(ACBSP), Aug 12, London, UK: I have just read HH Bhakti Caru Swami’s article. If I may comment.
In the past, I have spoken to Maharaja on different occasions and found him to be a gentleman. However, I am disturbed by his recent statement (albeit received second hand) that should he take birth again, he hopes it would be as a child of Prana bhandu das (disciple of Sivarama Swami) or Sruti dharma das (SRS).
HH is said to have made this statement at a “Vaisnava appreciation evening” the day before Gauri das was publicly exposed.
Prana bhandu das is the devotee named by one of ISKCON UK’s directors, Viswambhara das, as being caught with £50,000 cash.
I have the tape wherein Viswambhara das is discussing going to the police about this issue.
The police have a copy.
Of course, when the actual time came, pressure was applied to Viswambhara das from ISKCON UK management, and he back peddled.
Sruti dharma das is one of the Bhaktivedanta Manor managers who (along with Prana bhandu das and others ) actively support Gauri das in breaking the ISKCON CPO resolutions.
Interestingly…
I have also been informed by one of Bhakti Caru’s disciples that he (Bhakti Caru Swami)
has a secretary censor all his mail to weed out complaints.
Perhaps HH Bhakti Caru Swami, who is a regular visitor to and has disciples here at Bhaktivedanta Manor, could express his position on salaries, and what his stance on ISKCON becoming a Hindu society is.
If the Manor was filled with thousands of white bodied devotees every Sunday, who had a neophyte understanding, but at least came once a week to pay obeisances and honour some Prashad, it would be seen as a tremendous success. Why then do we criticize if Hindus are coming? This is just an external designation. If ANYONE CHOOSES to come to place of worship it should be viewed with an engladdened heart.
Of course we should stick STRICTLY to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. No one can ever claim to ‘know better’ than Srila Prabhupada – and this includes going out and preaching to the indigenous peoples of the locality, while also welcoming ALL to the temple. Of course this preaching could be going on with much more vigour. But tell me how many of US are trying to change it? Rather than discouraging others in their faulty attempts why are WE sitting on the laptop complaining about it, rather than standing alongside these devotees and helping to improve the condition of ISKCON.
Be the change you want to see in others. In that way encourage them to improve their efforts. Dont simply discourage their attempts altogether – this was NOT Srila Prabhupada’s mood.
daso ‘smi