But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. (74-12-16. Letter: Jayatirtha)
And I am surprised that none of the GBC members detected the defects in the procedure. It was detected only when it came to me. What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure. (2-04-11. Letter: Hamsaduta)
32 FAULTS OF THE GBC
Several Grievances Against the Members of the GBC
USA (VNN) – by Jayadvaita Swami, 1987
The grievances listed here are meant for thought and consideration. I have tried to include only items pertaining to all or many present GBC men, not only one or two and not only those no longer active. The extent to which these complaints are true, the depth of what they mean and the best way to respond, I leave up to the Vaisnavas, and each GBC man himself, to reflect upon and decide. — Jayadvaita Swami, March 5, 1987
1. In 1977, Srila Prabhupada was lonely (“I have become poisonous”), he wanted many devotees to come be with him in Vrindaban. But the GBC falsely conveyed that what he wanted was GBC men and very senior devotees. The GBC then arranged to send only a handful of men, in rotation, and preached to the other devotees that “for service” they should stay home. The devotees stayed home, and Srila Prabhupada left the world.
2. In 1977, most GBC men abandoned Srila Prabhupada in Vrindaban. They flew in when they heard his departure was imminent, then flew out when they found there was no way to know how long he might stay on.
3. The GBC has shown gross incompetence and neglect in regard to the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhis.
4. The GBC instituted, encouraged, and for many years belligerently and obstinately defended symbols, rituals, practices, teachings, and structures subversive to the unique importance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
5. The members of the GBC have, with few exceptions, neglected their pledges to take on, in rotation, the personal seva of Srila Prabhupada at his Vrindaban samadhi and the Radha-Damodar temple.
6. The GBC has failed to adequately implement the last will of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in regard to trusteeship of properties.
7. The GBC has failed to adequately maintain and protect the reputation and prestige of the Society.
8. The GBC has failed to maintain and protect the spiritual standards of the Society.
9. The GBC has allowed the material and spiritual deterioration of ISKCON’s projects in Vrindaban and Bombay.
10. The GBC has allowed the spiritual deterioration of ISKCON’s project in Sridhama Mayapur.
11. Competing for zonal primacy and undue control over disciples and prospective disciples, the members of the GBC have helped undermine Srila Prabhupada’s plans for the International Gurukula in Vrindaban.
12. On the whole, the members of the GBC have failed to maintain in their own lives a proper standard of Vaisnava behavior.
(“The GBC should personally observe strictly all the rules and regulations and they should become the practical example to others. Then everything will be all right.” — Letter to Bali Mardan, May 9, 1974)
13. After Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, for many years the GBC systematically misrepresented Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and instructions about carrying on the disciplic succession.
14. The GBC instituted, encouraged, and for many years belligerently and obstinately defended symbols, rituals, practices, teachings, and structures meant to create and perpetuate for a small group an elite status to which they were never entitled.
15. The GBC pushed and pressured disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to worship selected GBC Godbrothers as though on the same level as Srila Prabhupada himself.
16. The GBC members have allowed, have failed to halt, or have arranged for or demanded gross misappropriation of facilities and funds for their own self-aggrandizement.
17. Various members of the GBC have unfairly pressured devotees to accept initiation from persons the devotees were legitimately reluctant to accept, and have needlessly canvassed or competed for disciples, even against the expressed wishes of local ISKCON leaders. And this is still going on.
18. The GBC has needlessly kept incompetent, fallen, or deviant persons as active members of the GBC body, suppressing, denying, and misrepresenting the nature of their incompetence, fall, and deviation.
19. The GBC has failed to insure adequate shelter for distressed and wronged persons who appealed to its members for protection.
(“If a person is able to care for or give protection to old parents, a chaste wife, children, the spiritual master, brahmanas and other dependents but does not do so, he is considered already dead, although supposedly breathing.” –Krsna, Vol. 1, page 354, latest edition)
20. The GBC and its members have allowed, have failed to halt, have defended, have encouraged, and have deliberately brought about mistreatment and persecution of innocent persons.
21. The GBC, both indirectly by impure acts and directly by confrontation and force, has driven large numbers of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples out of their service, out of their homes, and out of ISKCON.
(“You should always deal things so tactfully that people may not fall away. Every living being is important in Krsna conscious service, and we must take all precautions that one may not fall away.” — Letter to Tamal Krsna, Oct. 18, 1969)
22. The GBC displayed naive, incompetence, crudeness, offensiveness, and gross self-interest in dealings with B.R. Sridhara Maharaja.
23. The GBC members have displayed gross, rampant impurity in their dealings with one another.
24. The GBC, in neglect of its own rules, has consistently failed to promptly, fully, and accurately publish its annual resolutions. In 1986 its executive committee deliberately held back selected resolutions from the published minutes and misrepresented to the members of ISKCON that it was constitutionally entitled to do so. (In 1972, a similar act was among the GBC moves that led Srila Prabhupada to revoke authority from the GBC).
25. The GBC, in concert with the BBT trustees and against the expressed will of the ISKCON temple presidents, deliberately suppressed publication of Srila Prabhupada’s letters, even in edited form.
26. Various members of the GBC have permitted, encouraged, or demanded the use of ISKCON funds to publish books, magazines, newsletters, records, etc., that excessively advertise their own glories, blaspheme other Vaisnavas, propagate falsehoods, and disturb the peace of the Society.
27. The members of the GBC have systematically misrepresented and allowed and encouraged others to misrepresent–Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and instructions about business and sankirtana.
28. The members of the GBC have neglected and misrepresented numerous other teachings and instructions of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
(“So if there are any defects within our Society it is only symptom that the instructions of the Spiritual Master are being neglected.” — Letter to Karandhara, Feb. 10, 1973)
29. The GBC has failed to adequately respond to just and ongoing pleas for self-reform.
30. Faced with the above grievances, GBC men have tried to avoid individual responsibility for acts – or failures to act – for which they are clearly responsible.
31. The GBC has lost the trust of a majority of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.
32. By allowing, advocating, taking part in, perpetuating, and defending these and other forms of contamination and decay, the members of the GBC have brought the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness to a state of disrepute and pollution.
***
Srila Prabhupada: And I am surprised that none of the GBC members detected the defects in the procedure. It was detected only when it came to me. What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure. (2-04-11. Letter: Hamsaduta)
JAYADVAITA SWAMI’S OMISSIONS
Jayadvaita Swami’s Omissions
Editorial (VNN) – by Madhudvisa dasa
VNN recently published an elaborate paper from Jayadvaita Swami (VNN story #2277) describing many of the GBC’s faults. The paper was written in 1987, and the points he has raised are very important and must be addressed if ISKCON is to continue at all. After 12 years none of the points have been addressed at all by the GBC! However, it should be noted Srila Prabhupada was not confident ISKCON would continue for very long under the “guidance” of the GBC.
73-04-19 Letter: Amarendra
“Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4.17.73. You are asking me to advise what should be your program, but now I wanting to leave these matters in the hands of my disciples. I have created GBC specifically for this purpose. IF YOU THE ELDER DISCIPLES CANNOT MANAGE THINGS, THEN WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE SOCIETY? My business now is to sit down and write my books, and I am requesting you all to please cooperate with me in this endeavor.”
Firstly I would like to beg forgiveness from all the Vaisnavas, both inside and outside of ISKCON for my offenses in the past and beg the blessings of the dust from your lotus feet so that somehow I can be engaged in the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my eternal spiritual master, and his disciples in the association of the devotees.
74-12-16 Letter: Jayatirtha
“…But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED WHATEVER WE MAY RESOLVE IT WILL NOT BE VERY USEFUL. We shall discuss this at our meeting. IF THE GBC MEN CAN EVER MANAGE PROPERLY THEN I SHALL GET SOME TIME FOR WRITING MY BOOKS.”
740713mw.la Conversations
Prabhupada: Now, the Revatinandana and this man and Syamasundara is making a clique. I can understand. What they are planning, that also I know. But I don’t wish to disclose it. So if these things come, then HOW THIS MOVEMENT WILL GO ON? Politics, diplomacy, fraud, cheating, these are the general qualification of the western countries. Politics, diplomacy, fraud, cheating. These things are the general qualification of the western people. Do you admit or not?
Devotees: Yes.
Prabhupada: If they are, these things come within our movement, THEN IT WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. Tat-paratvena nirmalam. ONE HAS TO BECOME PURIFIED. Even sometimes we have to take… But that is for Krsna’s. There must be now checking that all these rascals may not join and spoil the movement. You should not admit.
Bali Mardana: We should not create a haven for rascals.
Prabhupada: Yes. SO HOW IT WILL BE DONE UNLESS YOU GBC MEMBERS BECOME VERY STRONG AND WITH GOOD BRAIN? Now, first of all save this situation. This is only solution.
So, although Srila Prabhupada was unsure of the continuation of ISKCON and the GBC, he wanted to make sure in any case the printing and distribution of his books would never stop.
75-03-14 Letter: Mr. Dennany
“You mentioned in your letter that you had read many other Bhagavad-gitas before you read mine and that none of them revealed as much to you as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The reason is because we do not change the actual meaning of the gita at all. MANY OTHER COMMENTATORS DUE TO POOR FUND OF KNOWLEDGE TAMPER WITH THE LINES OF BAHGAVAD-GITA AND TWIST THE MEANING FOR THEIR PERSONAL MOTIVES, BUT WE DO NOT DO LIKE THAT. We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and THEREFORE IT IS ACTUALLY HAVING A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ALL OVER THE WORLD. The original words of Lord Krishna have unrivalled potency and anyone who is fortunate enough to hear those words and tries to apply them to his life becomes perfect.”
Srila Prabhupada is living in his books. As long as Srila Prabhupada’s books are being printed and distributed Srila Prabhupada is living and preaching and initiating new devotees. If anyone dobuts the potency of Srila Prabhupada’s books to create new devotees or the fact that they are non-different from Krishna or that reading them is direct personal association with Srila Prabhupada and Krishna, he is a demon and has no business in ISKCON.
760605mw.la Conversations
Prabhupada: Mean…. Dead life organization, how long it will go on? Apranasyeva dehasya mandanam loka-ranjanam… If this body is dead, how long keep it alive by simply painting? Is it possible?
Tamala Krsna: No.
Prabhupada: It will decompose.
Ramesvara: So then everything, the church, everything.
Prabhupada: Artificially…. Gundan camas kapalethabada-masa. By artificial means you can keep a thing alive for six months. But what is destiny, that will go on all the time. Bada masa. Bada masa: “all the year.”
So Srila Prabhupada created the BBT as a completely separate organization from ISKCON. “The Bhaktivedanta Book TRUST.” This would ensure that even if ISKCON failed his book publishing and distribution would continue.
72-04-22 Letter: All Temple Presidents
“Now, so far the BTG and Book Funds are concerned, these matters shall be managed SEPARATELY FROM THE GBC by a body known as The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The Book Trust shall be comprised of Srila Prabhupada, Karandhara dasa, and Bali Mardan dasa. They shall combinedly collect the sales proceeds from each Center and utilize all funds for the printing of SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS and the construction of ISKCON Centers all over the world. NOT A FARTHING IS TO BE SPENT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.”
74-12-08.Ham Letter: Hamsaduta:
“…You say that the lawyer suggests that BBT be a satellite organ of ISKCON, but does that mean that BBT is separate from ISKCON or not? Ramesvara gives the hint that ISKCON may go into liquidation. I cannot think of it. But, anyway, I cannot at any cost risk BBT if ISKCON goes into liquidation. Why risk the BBT by amalgamating it into ISKCON? THEREFORE I WANT TO KEEP BBT SEPARATE.”
The most serious crime of the GBC by far, something Jayadvaita Swami completely missed in his critique, is soon after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, the GBC attempted to CLOSE DOWN SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BBT and established a CORPORATION (not a trust) called the “BBTI” and attempted to transfer the copyrights from Srila Prabhupada’s BBT to their own CORPORATION which is a SUBSIDIARY OF ISKCON! So this is a direct attempt to circumvent the direct order and desire of Srila Prabhupada that his book publishing remain SEPARATE FROM ISKCON AND THE GBC.
Harikesa dasa was one of the main players in this affair and we have seen his spiritual life and reputation has been seriously hampered by this crime along with his attacks on so many Vaisnavas who are sincerely trying to preach and follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and distribute his books.
So, in my humble opinion, the other parties to this crime should seriously consider the consequences of going against the direct orders of their spiritual master and do the needful.
770429rc.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: Hm? Stryadhisa. So after getting that shelter, I began to grow. Everything was very precarious condition–vagabond. I was selling some books. I thought that “This boy will be trained up” when I got that place. He invited me to “Come to my loft.” It was very big loft. I was holding class, collecting ten dollars. Then he was not paying rent. He gave me the charge of paying rent. So Krsna was giving by collecting. It was on the top. Still, people were coming. Great story. Never mind. Now we… From my part, whatever is possible. NOW YOU TAKE CARE. THAT IS MY REQUEST. DON’T SPOIL IT. NOW IT IS UP TO YOU. My, this ailment… I can pass away at any moment. My health is not good. I am old man. It is not surprising. Now you GBC, young boys, all, American, expert, you have got all intelligence, resources, so DON’T SPOIL. LET THE MOVEMENT GO FORWARD MORE AND MORE. NOW YOU HAVE GOT NICE PLACES, FILLED WITH DEVOTEES. Don’t be anxious for me. That, Krsna will take. And even if I go, where is the harm? Old man. I HAVE GIVEN MY IDEAS AND DIRECTION IN MY BOOKS. People appreciate. I THINK FROM MY SIDE I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING. Is it not? Do you think or not?
Another thing Jayadvaita Swami did not mention is after the GBC “took over” Srila Prabhupada’s BBT they started to CHANGE SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS! Now they are so bold as to try and prove in a court of law that Srila Prabhupada DID NOT WRITE HIS BOOKS!! (They were written by Jayadvaita Swami & Co. who imported Srila Prabhupada from India as a “hired hand” to help THEM write the books!!!) It is too much…
76-05-19.All Letter: All Governing Board Commissioners
“So I request you to relieve me of management responsibilities more and more so that I can complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam translation. If I am always having to manage, then I cannot do my work on the books. It is document, I HAVE TO CHOOSE EACH WORD VERY SOBERLY and if I have to think of management then I cannot do this. I cannot be like these rascals who present something mental concoction to cheat the public. So this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants, the GBC, temple presidents, and sannyasis. I have chosen my best men to be GBC and I do not want that the GBC should be disrespectful to the temple presidents. You can naturally consult me, but IF THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IS WEAK, HOW WILL THINGS GO ON? So please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam WHICH WILL BE OUR LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD.”
The problem is if the BBT change Srila Prabhupada’s books, for whatever reason, at the discretion of the BBT editors and without any documentation of the changes or authority or justification, the authority of Srila Prabhupada’s books will be lost. Knowingly or unknowingly they are destroying Srila Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada is living in his books but it seems ISKCON wants to change that…
We have seen the BBT produce a “new, enlarged and improved” version of Srila Prabhupada’s “Bhagavad-gita As It Is” and the “improved version” contains thousands of significant changes from the original book that was personally used by Srila Prabhupada daily for five years, and he did not see any need to “improve” it or change it. Nor did he ever give Jayadvaita Swami or anyone else the authority to “improve” his books. He simply wanted the BBT to publish his books as he wrote them. Of course he wanted the grammar and spelling correct, but he wanted the BBT to publish his books as he wrote them.
67-02-10 Letter: Kirtanananda
“Regarding your editing, I would very much like it. I am sending my lecture copies to you. I think my other copies are lying on the left side of my seat in a cardboard box which please find out. PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO CHANGE THE IDEAS.”
68-01-22.Sat Letter: Satsvarupa
“Brahmananda & others CANNOT CHANGE THE STYLE. They want to see if there is any grammatical discrepancy.”
70-02-15.Sat Letter: Satsvarupa
“I have sent a few tapes to Bhagavan das. He sends to you his edited copies and they may be made final. I WANT TWO EDITINGS ONLY, JUST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY GRAMMATICAL OR SPELLING MISTAKE.”
71-03-17.Jay Letter: Jayadvaita
“I have dictated the missing purports from Chapter IX and they are set enclosed herewith. SO FAR AS CHANGING THE WORDING OF VERSE OR PURPORT OF 12:12 DISCUSSED BEFORE, IT MAY REMAIN AS IT IS.”
74-10-24.Fre Letter: Frederico:
“Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that you are translating the Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CHANGE ANYTHING BUT PRESENT IT EXACTLY AS IT IS. THIS IS HOW WE RECEIVE BHAGAVAD-GITA THROUGH THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION as stated in the Fourth Chapter. By this translating work you will learn our philosophy very nicely. It is very important to broadcast Krishna consciousness all over the world. This is the great need of modern civilization.”
76-08-26.Rad Letter: Radhavallabha
“You may title this book, Teachings of Lord Kapila, but it must be subtitled, “The Son of Devahuti”. That will remain, DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE IT. The Americans may like it or not like it, but we must make the distinction between devahuti putra kapila, and the atheistic Kapila. DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE ANYTHING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.”
76-09-07.Rad Letter: Radhavallabha
“Titling of the Ninth Canto as Liberation is good, and the Tenth Canto should be called “The Summum Bonum”. As far as the 11th and 12th Cantos are concerned they shall be named when they are presented. The title which you have given to the Eighth Canto was a little hard to understand at first but if it refers to pralaya, then it is alright. YOU MUST CONSULT WITH ME ON SUCH MATTERS. DO NOT MANUFACTURE ANYTHING.”
76-09-28.Gop Letter: Gopiparanadhana
“Please accept my blessings. With reference to your letter to Harikesa dated 21st inst., regarding the purport, 2nd paragraph to Bhagavatam 2.2.38, IT IS CLEAR. DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE ANYTHING”
There is something mystical and spiritual about the words of a pure devotee. If one simply submissively hears the transcendental sound vibrations emanating from the lips of the pure devotee the dormant spark of Krishna consciousness will be revived in his heart. If one goes on hearing the words of the pure devotee, that spark will gradually become a great blazing fire and will consume all the dirty things in the heart and one will develop a real taste and attraction for chanting Hare Krishna and serving Krishna and his pure devotee.
Perhaps a “scholar” may be able to find what he considers “errors” in the words of a pure devotee. He may even be so bold as to “correct” the “philosophical errors” of the pure devotee, his spiritual master, and in the process add in his own “realizations” and “improvements” in the name of “revising and enlarging the books to make them more attractive to scholars”. And, technically speaking, what he writes may even be correct. It might even be technically better. However the result of hearing or reading his words is not at all the same as the result one gets by hearing the words of Krishna’s pure devotee…
SB 2.9.8 P Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version
“One has to receive the transcendental sound from the right source, accept it as a reality and prosecute the direction without hesitation. The secret of success is to receive the sound from the right source of a bona fide spiritual master. MUNDANE MANUFACTURED SOUND HAS NO POTENCY, AND AS SUCH, SEEMINGLY TRANSCENDENTAL SOUND RECEIVED FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON ALSO HAS NO POTENCY. One should be qualified enough to discern such transcendental potency, and either by discriminating or by fortunate chance if one is able to receive the transcendental sound from the bona fide spiritual master, his path of liberation is guaranteed. The disciple, however, must be ready to execute the order of the bona fide spiritual master as Lord Brahma executed the instruction of his spiritual master, the Lord Himself. Following the order of the bona fide spiritual master is the only duty of the disciple, and this completely faithful execution of the order of the bona fide spiritual master is the secret of success.”
SB 4.20.24 P Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “Maharaja Prthu wanted to have a million ears to hear the glories of the lotus feet of the Lord. HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT THE GLORIES OF THE LORD SHOULD EMANATE FROM THE MOUTHS OF PURE DEVOTEES, who speak from the cores of their hearts. It is stated in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.3), suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam: the nectar of Srimad-Bhagavatam became more relishable because it emanated from the mouth of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami. One might think that these glories of the Lord can be heard from anywhere, from the mouths of either devotees or nondevotees, but here it is specifically mentioned that THE GLORIES OF THE LORD MUST EMANATE FROM THE MOUTHS OF PURE DEVOTEES. Sri Sanatana Gosvami has strictly prohibited hearing from the mouth of a nondevotee. There are many professional reciters of Srimad-Bhagavatam who speak the narrations very ornamentally, but a pure devotee does not like to hear from them because such glorification of the Lord is simply a vibration of material sound. But WHEN HEARD FROM THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE, GLORIFICATION OF THE LORD IS IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.”
SB 4.20.24 P Lord Visnu’ s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “The words satam prasangan mama virya-samvidah (Bhag. 3.25.25) mean that GLORIFICATION OF THE LORD IS POTENT WHEN UTTERED FROM THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE. The Lord has innumerable devotees all over the universe, and they have been glorifying the Lord since time immemorial and for an unlimited time. But still they cannot completely finish enumerating the glories of the Lord. Prthu Maharaja therefore wanted innumerable ears, as Rupa Gosvami also desired to have millions of ears and millions of tongues to chant and hear the glorification of the Lord. In other words, if our ears are always engaged in hearing the glorification of the Lord, there will be no scope for hearing the Mayavada philosophy, which is doom to spiritual progress. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that IF ANYONE HEARS FROM A MAYAVADI PHILOSOPHER PREACHING ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LORD, EVEN IF IT IS A DESCRIPTION FROM THE VEDIC LITERATURE, HE IS ULTIMATELY DOOMED. By hearing such Mayavada philosophy one cannot come to the destination of spiritual perfection of life.”
SB 4.20.25 Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I THEREFORE DO NOT NEED ANY OTHER BENEDICTION BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE MOUTH OF YOUR PURE DEVOTEE.”
SB 4.20.25 P Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “It is explained in the previous verse that one has to hear glorification of the Lord from the mouth of a pure devotee. This is further explained here. THE TRANSCENDENTAL VIBRATION FROM THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT CAN REVIVE THE LIVING ENTITY’S MEMORY OF HIS ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. In our material existence, under the influence of illusory maya, we have almost forgotten our eternal relationship with the Lord, exactly like a man sleeping very deeply who forgets his duties. In the Vedas it is said that every one of us is sleeping under the influence of maya. We must get up from this slumber and engage in the right service, for thus we can properly utilize the facility of this human form of life. As expressed in a song by Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Lord Caitanya says, jiva jaga, jiva jaga. The Lord asks every sleeping living entity to get up and engage in devotional service so that his mission in this human form of life may be fulfilled. THIS AWAKENING VOICE COMES THROUGH THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE.”
SB 4.20.25 P Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. ALTHOUGH WHEN A PURE DEVOTEE SPEAKS THE ARTICULATION OF HIS VOICE MAY RESEMBLE THE SOUND OF THIS MATERIAL SKY, THE VOICE IS SPIRITUALLY VERY POWERFUL BECAUSE IT TOUCHES THE PARTICLES OF SAFFRON DUST ON THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything.”
SB 4.20.25 P Lord Visnu’ s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu “FOR A CONDITIONED SOUL, THEREFORE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE, WHO IS FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD WITHOUT ANY MATERIAL DESIRE, speculative knowledge or contamination of the modes of material nature. Every one of us is kuyogi because we have engaged in the service of this material world, forgetting our eternal relationship with the Lord as His eternal loving servants. It is our duty to rise from the kuyoga platform to become suyogis, perfect mystics. THE PROCESS OF HEARING FROM A PURE DEVOTEE IS RECOMMENDED IN ALL VEDIC SCRIPTURES, especially by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One may stay in his position of life–it does not matter what it is–but if one hears from the mouth of a pure devotee, he gradually comes to the understanding of his relationship with the Lord and thus engages in His loving service, and his life becomes completely perfect. Therefore, THIS PROCESS OF HEARING FROM THE MOUTH OF A PURE DEVOTEE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR MAKING PROGRESS IN THE LINE OF SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.”
NoD 10 Techniques of Hearing and Remembering
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommended this process of hearing as a means of self-realization in the present age of Kali. In this age it is very difficult to follow thoroughly the regulative principles and studies of the Vedas which were formerly recommended. However, if one gives aural reception to the sound vibrated by great devotees and acaryas, that alone will give him relief from all material contamination. Therefore it is the recommendation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that one should simply hear from authorities who are actually devotees of the Lord. Hearing from professional men will not help. IF WE HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY SELF-REALIZED, THEN THE NECTAREAN RIVERS, LIKE THOSE WHICH ARE FLOWING ON THE MOON PLANET, WILL FLOW INTO OUR EARS. This is the metaphor used in the above verse.”
NoD 17 Ecstatic Love
“This statement is also confirmed in the Third Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter, verse 25, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, where Lord Kapila says, “My dear mother, when a person is actually in association with pure devotees, the sublime potency of My devotional service can be experienced.” In other words, WHEN A PURE DEVOTEE SPEAKS, HIS WORDS ACT UPON THE HEARTS OF THE AUDIENCE. What is the secret of hearing and chanting? A professional speaker cannot impress transcendental ecstasy within the hearts of the listeners. However, WHEN A REALIZED SOUL WHO IS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD IS SPEAKING, HE HAS THE POTENCY TO INJECT SPIRITUAL LIFE WITHIN THE AUDIENCE. One should, therefore, seek the association of such pure, unalloyed devotees, and by such association and service a neophyte devotee will certainly develop attachment, love and devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
TYS 8 Sources of Absolute Knowledge
“The idea is that any Vedic literature, especially the Bhagavatam or the Gita, should be learned as spoken by a realized soul. Especially this literature, which is called Vaisnava literature, should not be heard from a person who is not a devotee. This point I have several times stressed. Those who are nondevotees, those who are mental speculationists, those who are fruitive workers, those who are meditators or mystic yogis, cannot explain the science of God. This is especially mentioned also by Sanatana Gosvami, another great saint; those who are not in devotional service, nongodly, those who have no faith in God–such persons should not be allowed to speak on the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, or any literature which is in relationship with the Supreme Lord. SO IT IS NOT THAT ANYBODY CAN SPEAK THE BHAGAVATAM OR THE GITA AND WE WILL HAVE TO HEAR IT. NO. Sanatana Gosvami especially prohibits us: WE SHOULD NOT HEAR OF THE SUPREME LORD FROM ONE WHO IS NOT PURIFIED.”
TYS 8 Sources of Absolute Knowledge
“One may ask, ‘How can you taint the words of Krsna, which are naturally transcendentally pure? What is the harm if we hear from the nondevotee?’ This question may be raised. The example given here is that milk is very nice and nutritious, but as soon as it is touched by a serpent it becomes poison immediately. The serpent is very envious. He bites and puts to death immediately, unnecessarily, and therefore is considered the cruelest animal amongst the living entities. In the sastra nonviolence is recommended, as in every scripture, but the serpent and the scorpion are allowed to be killed. You cannot say that milk is so nutritious, and we can drink–what is the harm if it is touched by serpents? No–the result will be death. One should not hear at least the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam from those who are not devotees of the Lord, who have no realization of God and who are envious of Him. Their touch renders it poison. The words of the Lord are always sublime, but as soon as they are touched by the serpent-like nondevotee, one should be very careful about hearing.”
741024SB.MAY Lectures
“So this is the way, that “Don’t speculate nonsensically.” That is the injunction of Lord Brahma, jnane prayasam, that “You are very much learned scholar. You are a great politician–‘So I can speculate some religious system by misinterpreting this Bhagavad-gita’–no, you should stop this.” That is the recommendation. Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva: “Just become submissive, submissive.” That is the only way, to become submissive first of all. Then you can understand what is God. Therefore Krsna demands, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. So jnane prayasam udapa…, namanta eva. And what is the next business? San-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam. ONE SHOULD HEAR BHAVIDYA-VARTAM, THE MESSAGE OF KRSNA, FROM A REALIZED SOUL, NOT A PROFESSIONAL MAN. A REALIZED SOUL. San-mukharitam. Sat. Om tat sat. That same, again. That is the way. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended, bhagavata paro giya bhagavata sthane. Don’t go and hear Bhagavata-saptaha by a professional man. That is useless waste of time. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT BHAGAVATA, THEN bhagavata paro giya bhagavata sthane–REALIZED SOUL. Grantha-bhagavata and… That is the recommendation of Brahma, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted it.”
70-10-06 Letter: Krsna dasa
“The next point is that religion without philosophy is sentimentalism or fanaticism. Simply performing empty ritual without understanding is condemned by Srila Rupa Goswami in his Bhaktirasamrta sindhuh–pure devotional service which ignores the injunctions of the scriptures is simply a disturbance to the society. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated “One should approach a spiritual master and inquire from him submissively, render him all kinds of service. THE SELF-REALIZED SOUL CAN IMPART KNOWLEDGE UNTO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN THE TRUTH.” ONE HAS THE HEAR THE MESSAGE OF GODHEAD FROM THE PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD OR ACARYA. The religion is originally spoken by Krsna Himself and that message or science is coming down directly through the chain of disciplic succession and one who is in that chain is called acarya or one who teaches by his life. Religion is practically presented by the bonafide spiritual master or acarya.”
SUMMARY
So, in summary, in his critique of the GBC, Jayadvaita Swami did not mention the following most important mistakes made by the GBC:
1. Soon after Srila Prabhupada left his body the GBC attempted to close down Srila Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Book TRUST which was independent of the GBC and ISKCON.
2. They then attempted to create their own corporation, “BBTI“, a subsidiary of ISKCON completely controlled by the GBC.
3. Then they attempted to transfer the copyrights of Srila Prabhupada’s books from Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Book TRUST to their ISKCON subsidiary corporation.
4. They then embarked on a massive project to change Srila Prabhupada’s books for reasons only known to them. They have also severely edited Srila Prabhupada’s lecture tapes, the first edited versions were released in 1986 and these tapes have varying amounts of the class deleted, generally from the end of the tape, Srila Prabhupada’s summary and conclusion of the lecture has very often been completely deleted. The amount deleted varies from nothing to up to five pages of the transcript or more. Another, more extensive editing job, was completed in 1996 and these tapes also have selected portions deleted from within the main body of the class.
5. ISKCON now claims that “Srila Prabhupada did not write his books… The were written by the BBT editors!” Prabhupada was just their “hired hand” therefore he had no right to create the BBT independent from ISKCON and invest his copyrights in that “Bhaktivedanta Book TRUST!”.
He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die
When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try
To sread the holy name around!
(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
Once again begging your forgiveness and taking the dust from your lotus feet. All glories to your service. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Your fallen servant,
Madhudvisa dasa
Pamho agtacbsp,the GBC are the worse offenders mayavadi maha aparadhi all demons they been worse then Jesus Christ disciples and a lot of suffering is stored for them in the hellish planets no doubt about their misconduct they can’t escape to their nasty punishment agtacbsp ys haribol
Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out –
“You cannot take protection of another rascal who interprets Bhagavad-gītā in a different way. You have to take shelter directly. ”
The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized
“The reviews have very much encouraged me. Especially those of Prof. Bhatt and Prof. Vajpeye. I have personally written a letter of thanks to Dr. Bhatt, that he has so much encouraged me. Dr. Vajpeye’s review we are going to print and widely distribute, especially in Bombay and Madras, where there is so much propaganda from these bogus gurus and yogis. He has got practical experience of how they are cheating the innocent people in foreign countries and he has written; “The authorized edition of Bhagavad-gita will help to stop the terrible cheating of ‘gurus’ and ‘yogis’ who are false and unauthorized. [Letter to: Svarupa, Ranadhira, Mayapur-3 February, 1976 Los Angeles]”
Srila Prabhupada: “…You cannot take protection of another rascal who interprets Bhagavad-gītā in a different way. You have to take shelter directly. Of course, Bhagavad-gītā instruction is there. Everyone can take shelter of Kṛṣṇa directly. Where is the difficulty? Just like here is is said, mayy āsakta. You have to develop your attachment for Kṛṣṇa. You can do that. How these Americans and European boys, they have developed their attraction for Kṛṣṇa? There is a process. If you adopt…” (Lecture BG 7.1, Hyderabad, April 27,1974)
So therefore, Bhagavān uvāca. We have to hear from Bhagavān, not from rascals. Then your knowledge is perfect. If you hear from rascals, then you become rascal. Don’t hear from any rascal. Hear from Bhagavān and take it and accept it. Then, gradually, your existence will be purified. Just like if somebody comes… Recently it so happened. There is a big Māyāvādī sannyāsī in India. His name is Akshananda Swami. Perhaps you know. Did you know? No. Anyone? Anyway, he is a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. So Acyutānanda Swami went to sell some books in their camp. So, his disciple requested him, “Why don’t you ask some question from Swamiji?” So, he said, “What I have to ask from him?” He was so convinced that “What this rascal can say to me? I know. I have heard from Kṛṣṇa.” This is knowledge. So, if you stick to Kṛṣṇa and hear from Him, you haven’t got to hear from any rascal, any rascal. Then you will waste time. Don’t hear from any rascal.
Therefore, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, as it is, without any change. Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] “Just become My devotee. Always think of Me.” We are teaching the same thing. We have no difficulty. What we are requesting you? “You think of Kṛṣṇa. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” That’s all. Where is the difficulty? We don’t say, “You think of that, this of that, to this demigod, that demigod.” No. We don’t say. What is the use of other demigod? We show all respect to everyone, even to the ant, but that does mean that any demigod, any damn, any rascal, should be worshiped as God? No. That is not possible. We can show respect even to the insignificant ant. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. That may be another thing. But we cannot accept anyone as God. That is not possible. That is knowledge. That is knowledge. Be convinced firmly, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam: [SB 1.3.28] “Bhagavān means Kṛṣṇa, nobody else.” Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ [Bg. 7.20]. Anya-devatāḥ, accept as God, they are accepted by the rascals, hṛta-jñānāḥ, those who have lost their knowledge. They have lost their… Hṛta-jñānāḥ and naṣṭa-buddhayaḥ, those who have lost their knowledge. So, don’t be lost of your knowledge. Stick to Kṛṣṇa and accept His words as it is. Then you will be one day fearless, abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhiḥ. Your existence will be purified, spiritual existence. Purified existence means spiritual existence. We are spiritual; we are not this material just like I am not this shirt, you are not this shirt. You are within the shirt. Similarly, asmin dehe. Dehino ‘smin yathā dehe. Dehino ‘smin yathā dehe [Bg. 2.13]. We are within the shirt. This is the first knowledge, that “I am not this body.” Why I shall be puffed up with this body? This is superfluous. I am spirit soul. I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa; therefore, my only business is with Kṛṣṇa. (Lecture BG 16.1-3, Hawaii, January 27,1975)
Srila Prabhupāda: And that will give you guidance. Read Bhagavad-gītā as it is, word for word. But don’t misinterpret and spoil. The rascals misinterpret and spoil the whole Bhagavad-gītā. That is the difficulty(?). You cannot misinterpret Bhagavad-gītā. Then it will be spoiled. If you get Bhagavad-gītā as it is, you are benefited. And if you misinterpret, then you spoil. So generally, they misinterpret. Everyone speaks on Bhagavad-gītā, but he misinterprets.
Guest (1): You’ve made it very clear,
Srila Prabhupāda. I want to thank you for that. I like your purports as much as Kṛṣṇa’s actual words, because now I can understand it.
Srila Prabhupāda: Therefore, we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Otherwise, for the last so many years—I am speaking in Western countries—so many swamis, so many yogis come, they speak on Bhagavad-gītā but misinterpret. So not a single devotee was there. And now Bhagavad-gītā is presented as it is, and so many devotees are coming. (Evening Darsana — July 11, 1976, New York)
Great mural that is of no value to anyone except those who love to cut and paste and pontificate endlessly while leaving the world in its most miserable state!! Amazing!!
It is incredible how the illegal GBC still has control of the hearts and minds of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and followers in the Prabhupadanugas organization. Maya continues to keep them running in circles crying the blues about the past while they destroy their own future with great in action.
WOW! The ongoing stupidity will certainly be written in the history books how Operation Prabhupada Trust subdued the Hare Krsna movement which is a counterintelligence operation of the GBC. The operation, which was set up by the GBC years ahead of Prabhupada’s passing as a fake anti-ISKCON GBC resistance organization, Sleeper agents were left behind and there were many Prabhupada followers who did not leave after the GBC took control in a new form. They cooperated in a lose form. When they were discovered they were not removed but were maneuvered into a shell group to be used by the GBC for their own means.
This has kept real Prabhupada followers and disciples from active actions, as they have been convinced for years to wait for the development of a real original ISKCON and internal anti-GBC ISKCON forces which will never appear.
Among the successes of Operation Prabhupada Trust has been the slow selective elimination of true voices of progress as taught by Srila Prabhupada. This has successfully stymied Lord Caitanya’s Hari Nam programme while luring so called pundits to set the example that simple book knowledge is both profitable and effective for personal growth and the world be dammed. The Hare Krsna movement has been slowly captured and neutered.
The great sinister movement within the movement as Srila Prabhupada called it continues today within all those associated branches both inside and outside of ISKCON.
The solution is there and action can be taken to restart the fire. It can only be done by great sacrifice but sadly there is none among us who can do it. Unless the reality of the situation is understood then it is lost.
All this was written with no cut and paste lip service.
“Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” – Mark Twain.
Pranams
Below is a video posted from Rome by a priest who is speaking out. I humbly suggest we all listen to it. At one point he says ”you think that what you do on the internet is real so you don’t do anything”
Getting back to basics like on the street Hari Nam, prasadam distribution, one on one book distribution, in personal scriptural lectures and teaching to open audiences, open in person Sunday feasts, open temples, morning, afternoon and evening classes have all been neglected indeed stopped. So naturally we take to the internet because the words of Srila Prabhupada and Krsna are non-different. We rest our futures completely on the internet which is quickly censoring all of us. We think that the censoring will only affect others and not us until the day comes when we will no longer have that internet voice. By that time our mental and spiritual facilities have been so atrophied that it will be impossible for us to function as a devotee is supposed to function. How? with an open loving heart face to face with the suffering of others who are more desperate now for want of Krsna consciousness than at any time in their lives. If we do not move out of our comfortable trenches and soon then we will be buried in them.
We cannot transmit prasadam.
10:02 in length
https://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2021/01/priest-issues-warning-from-rome-they-want-to-take-us-to-hell-with-them-2518004.html
https://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=52412#comment-62817
Dear Readers,
I find the above cited link very informative to those who are serious and sincere in sharing Srila Prabhupadans VANI which is very much appreciated.
Unnecessarily distortion in this age of Kali is often unproductive which creates hinderances in learning and sharing the ability of Krishna Consciousness for those who visit this site.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.