Gurukrpa speaks on ISKCON History
Gurukripa dasa speaks with Bhakta dasa:
Question to GK: What happened the final months of SP’s
appearance in connection with the process of initiating new devotees?
Answer: Nothing happened. In the beginning SP did the
disksa, the yajna and the name giving. As the numbers increased, he
authorized GBC, and senior sanyassis to pick names and chant on the
beads, etc. In 1977 during the months of May, June, July 1977 I was in
Vrindaban with Srila Prabhupada, giving him his massage in his bed
between 1 AM and mangala aratik. During the day, many letters would
arrive. Satsvarupa Swami was the secretary and we decided that only
letters that would give joy to Srila Prabhupada would be read. Like
numbers of books sold, etc. A maximum of five letters daily were read
to SP.
disksa, the yajna and the name giving. As the numbers increased, he
authorized GBC, and senior sanyassis to pick names and chant on the
beads, etc. In 1977 during the months of May, June, July 1977 I was in
Vrindaban with Srila Prabhupada, giving him his massage in his bed
between 1 AM and mangala aratik. During the day, many letters would
arrive. Satsvarupa Swami was the secretary and we decided that only
letters that would give joy to Srila Prabhupada would be read. Like
numbers of books sold, etc. A maximum of five letters daily were read
to SP.
After some weeks like this, there were stacks and stacks of
letters, all relating to initiation. Hundreds of people were panicking
that SP would leave the planet before they were given initiation. At
this time, this situation was brought before SP in his room by
Satsvarupa, Tamal, myself, and maybe some others.
that SP would leave the planet before they were given initiation. At
this time, this situation was brought before SP in his room by
Satsvarupa, Tamal, myself, and maybe some others.
Up until this time it was a very simple matter that we were
doing the initiations, but we first had to ask permission. SP NEVER
refused any recommendation from his senior men. And personally, I would
sometimes argue with some GBC that they were giving it too easily.
refused any recommendation from his senior men. And personally, I would
sometimes argue with some GBC that they were giving it too easily.
At this meeting, SP basically said, “From here on, if you
feel they are ready, then you may give the initiation on my behalf.” I
understood this for what it was, simply extending the authority a
little further than it had been. Tamal Krsna Swami, began to say, “But
who will do it?. Which devotees will do this?” Srila Prabhupada said,
“The nearest one will do it. Whoever is closest.” Tamal said, “Can
Bhavananda do? Can Jayapataka do?” Thus these eleven names came out.
understood this for what it was, simply extending the authority a
little further than it had been. Tamal Krsna Swami, began to say, “But
who will do it?. Which devotees will do this?” Srila Prabhupada said,
“The nearest one will do it. Whoever is closest.” Tamal said, “Can
Bhavananda do? Can Jayapataka do?” Thus these eleven names came out.
Question: Why were you not on the list of eleven?
Answer: Because it did not matter. Srila Prabhupada said
whoever was closest. I was already doing and Srila Prabhupada never
told me or anyone else not on the list to stop. For myself, it was not
very relevant because I was working in Japan and did not have any new
devotees to initiate.
told me or anyone else not on the list to stop. For myself, it was not
very relevant because I was working in Japan and did not have any new
devotees to initiate.
Tamal Krsna Swami, made these list of names himself and SP
signed the letter. But they were only priests to act on behalf of SP.
Tamal asked about Bhavananda who was not a TP or a GBC at that time.
And everyone new well of his homosexual tendencies. But, Tamal pushed
his name, because he was already planning how to take over when Srila
Prabhupada was gone.
Tamal asked about Bhavananda who was not a TP or a GBC at that time.
And everyone new well of his homosexual tendencies. But, Tamal pushed
his name, because he was already planning how to take over when Srila
Prabhupada was gone.
Question: How did Tamal Krsna Swami become so influential at
this time?
this time?
Gurukrpa: Tamal’s original service was as GBC in India. He
left that service without permission and arrived in America. Within one
year the temple presidents made a huge complaint to SP that he was
disrupting the temples by taking important men. I was in the room when
SP told Tamal to go to China. Hari Sauri’s memory of this incident is
not accurate. Either way that is another story.
year the temple presidents made a huge complaint to SP that he was
disrupting the temples by taking important men. I was in the room when
SP told Tamal to go to China. Hari Sauri’s memory of this incident is
not accurate. Either way that is another story.
Tamal went to New York to prepare to go to China. And in May
1976, he showed up in a suit in Honolulu, a broken man. He could not
get a visa to China, he had no service to do in India, and he could not
go back to America, so he was quite depressed. Approximately a day or
two later, SP called for Tamal and me at about 12:30 AM. He said, “My
feet are swelling, my teeth are getting loose, I am passing urine too
frequently. These are the first signs that death is coming.” Then he
sent us back to bed. The next day TKG volunteered to be SP’s
secretary, as the service was vacant at that time. From this position
he could control and manipulate the environment around Srila
Prabhupada. I can write many more stories that will shock people about
TKG’s ambitious nature and his desire to take SP’s seat..
get a visa to China, he had no service to do in India, and he could not
go back to America, so he was quite depressed. Approximately a day or
two later, SP called for Tamal and me at about 12:30 AM. He said, “My
feet are swelling, my teeth are getting loose, I am passing urine too
frequently. These are the first signs that death is coming.” Then he
sent us back to bed. The next day TKG volunteered to be SP’s
secretary, as the service was vacant at that time. From this position
he could control and manipulate the environment around Srila
Prabhupada. I can write many more stories that will shock people about
TKG’s ambitious nature and his desire to take SP’s seat..
After SP left, in November 1977, I stayed in Vrindaban till
Gour Purnima 1978 and there was no discussion of guru during these
three or four months, because SP’s last instruction, or as the ritvics
call it, “The final order”, was that “Now we have build a framework.
There is no need to try and expand more. If we can just maintain our
men and increase the chanting and hearing that is sufficient. We should
sit down now and chant and hear.”
three or four months, because SP’s last instruction, or as the ritvics
call it, “The final order”, was that “Now we have build a framework.
There is no need to try and expand more. If we can just maintain our
men and increase the chanting and hearing that is sufficient. We should
sit down now and chant and hear.”
There was NO TALK about initiations that I heard either in
Vrindaban or in Mumbai during these months. If SP has appointed these
eleven as spiritual masters, why did they not start initiating at once?
Because they all knew very well they were never appointed! We knew the
philosophy what is tattva darshi and what is Saksad Hari…but behind
closed doors there was a plot simmering. In the GBC meeting of 1978
the initiation issue was brought up and it appeared they had already
concluded that they were going to go ahead and say that they were
appointed. I asked Harikesh sitting next to me, ‘how are you going
to let people call you a paramahansa? You are not a realized soul, you
are a piece of shit. He turned to me with a smrik on his face, and
said “What are you going to do about it?” That is basically what
happened, none of us could do anything after that.
eleven as spiritual masters, why did they not start initiating at once?
Because they all knew very well they were never appointed! We knew the
philosophy what is tattva darshi and what is Saksad Hari…but behind
closed doors there was a plot simmering. In the GBC meeting of 1978
the initiation issue was brought up and it appeared they had already
concluded that they were going to go ahead and say that they were
appointed. I asked Harikesh sitting next to me, ‘how are you going
to let people call you a paramahansa? You are not a realized soul, you
are a piece of shit. He turned to me with a smrik on his face, and
said “What are you going to do about it?” That is basically what
happened, none of us could do anything after that.
In 1978, Janmastami, TKG came to Vrindavan to give Sannyasa
diskha to Bhagavan. I was the GBC at the time in Vrindavan. TKG
called from Delhi and demanded flower garlands and a large reception
greeting at the temple with vyasasana’s for them to sit on. I told
them this is Prabhupada’s temple and everybody can sit on the floor.
When they came I gave them no such reception, and the next morning in
Bhagavatwam, Bhagavan brought his politics into the class. I went and
told him, if you ever do this again, bringing politics into Bhagavatwam
class you will never speak again in any temple I manage. That day,
Bhavananda, TKG,and Bhagavan asked me to meet them in the guest house
for a meeting. When I came, they said, why are you making waves? Just
stop making trouble about this appointment of gurus and we’ll make you
the 12th guru at the next Mayapur meeting. I told them, Prabhupada did
not make anyone guru’s, you have to be a realized soul. They said
there was some talk about you in Japan doing some things, therefore
Prabhupada did not name you. I told them you are now believing your own
lies. They were silent. Bhavananda tried to speak. I told him to shut
his mouth because he was a homosex and he had never done service and
had been living off the money I collected and sent to Mayapur for
construction.
called from Delhi and demanded flower garlands and a large reception
greeting at the temple with vyasasana’s for them to sit on. I told
them this is Prabhupada’s temple and everybody can sit on the floor.
When they came I gave them no such reception, and the next morning in
Bhagavatwam, Bhagavan brought his politics into the class. I went and
told him, if you ever do this again, bringing politics into Bhagavatwam
class you will never speak again in any temple I manage. That day,
Bhavananda, TKG,and Bhagavan asked me to meet them in the guest house
for a meeting. When I came, they said, why are you making waves? Just
stop making trouble about this appointment of gurus and we’ll make you
the 12th guru at the next Mayapur meeting. I told them, Prabhupada did
not make anyone guru’s, you have to be a realized soul. They said
there was some talk about you in Japan doing some things, therefore
Prabhupada did not name you. I told them you are now believing your own
lies. They were silent. Bhavananda tried to speak. I told him to shut
his mouth because he was a homosex and he had never done service and
had been living off the money I collected and sent to Mayapur for
construction.
Question: So how did everyone become guru’s, if Prabhupada
did not make them gurus?
Gurukrpa: Had SP seen one of us as being capable, he would
have named that person or persons, but he did not mention that anyone
was fit. His Divine Grace B.V. Puri Maharaja, who SP said “is the only
god Brother who is not envious of me”, ask SP “Please stay another 8 or
10 years with these boys.” SP’s answer was, “They are all hard headed,
I have done all that I can do.”
have named that person or persons, but he did not mention that anyone
was fit. His Divine Grace B.V. Puri Maharaja, who SP said “is the only
god Brother who is not envious of me”, ask SP “Please stay another 8 or
10 years with these boys.” SP’s answer was, “They are all hard headed,
I have done all that I can do.”
Prabhupada said, “I can stay 100 years” many times, but he
left after 81 plus a few months.
In the GBC meeting of 1978, they shouted me down and they
had already decided the fix was in. This was how the future of ISKCON
was going to go.
was going to go.
Question: Is the GBC absolute since they are named as the
ultimate managing authority?
Gurukrpa: Prabhupada said the GBC would be the ultimate
managing authority. But that does not mean they are perfect, and they
have perfect vision. The process of the GBC meetings during the
years, we would have the meeting and report the days minutes of the
meeting nightly to Prabhupada. Usually it would take 5 days.
Prabhuapda said if you people were competent, you people would be done
in 30 minutes. In 1977, Prabhupdad told us, just have your meetings
and after 5 days give me all your resolutions. After 5 days of
meetings, the GBC filed in his room, sat down and read the resolutions;
and one after another. Srila Prabhupada said, ‘No I do not want that,
no that is not what I wanted’. He vetoed almost all the resolutions.
So to say the GBC is the ultimate authority is correct, but that does
mean that it is absolute. As you can see by how many guru’s have
fallen down, and how many GBC’s have had difficulties.
have perfect vision. The process of the GBC meetings during the
years, we would have the meeting and report the days minutes of the
meeting nightly to Prabhupada. Usually it would take 5 days.
Prabhuapda said if you people were competent, you people would be done
in 30 minutes. In 1977, Prabhupdad told us, just have your meetings
and after 5 days give me all your resolutions. After 5 days of
meetings, the GBC filed in his room, sat down and read the resolutions;
and one after another. Srila Prabhupada said, ‘No I do not want that,
no that is not what I wanted’. He vetoed almost all the resolutions.
So to say the GBC is the ultimate authority is correct, but that does
mean that it is absolute. As you can see by how many guru’s have
fallen down, and how many GBC’s have had difficulties.
Guru means one who has no other interest but to realize the
absolute truth, Krishna. The guru, must have first realized the Name
is non-different than Krishna. When I first joined the movement, we
spent 9 to 10 hours a day chanting in the street. These present GBC’s
do not spend that in a year. Hari nama eva kevalam, in this age only
the Holy Name, only the Holy Name. Your bureacuracy and your
mangagement is not the process. The elitisim being shown by the GBCs
putting themselves up on a platform, above all their god brothers is
absolute arrogance and the greatest sin of pride, the opposite of the
humble blade of grass. Krishna is the one giving all directions for
those who can hear him.
is non-different than Krishna. When I first joined the movement, we
spent 9 to 10 hours a day chanting in the street. These present GBC’s
do not spend that in a year. Hari nama eva kevalam, in this age only
the Holy Name, only the Holy Name. Your bureacuracy and your
mangagement is not the process. The elitisim being shown by the GBCs
putting themselves up on a platform, above all their god brothers is
absolute arrogance and the greatest sin of pride, the opposite of the
humble blade of grass. Krishna is the one giving all directions for
those who can hear him.
Must of us are now hitting 60 or more, we’ve made successful
businesses, won some, lost some, raised our families, and personally I
have gone to 25 straight Kartiks’ in Vrindavan. We have been excluded
from SP’s movement, it started in the GBC meeting of 1978. Still
today, the people who have appointed themselves for life have had very
little result. Rabindra Svarupa, the GBC of Hawaii, has come once in 6
years, and he will not give up the position. Kavicandra in Japan has
done nothing there in 25 years. Even one of these GBC guru’s does not
wear neck beads, tilak, sikah, or have any faith in the name is still a
member in good standing. In the west, most of the temples have more
deities than devotees. Most of the devotees are being paid, pujari’s
being paid, cooks being paid temple presidents are being paid, and they
have to bring Indian devotees just to keep the bare minimum going.
have gone to 25 straight Kartiks’ in Vrindavan. We have been excluded
from SP’s movement, it started in the GBC meeting of 1978. Still
today, the people who have appointed themselves for life have had very
little result. Rabindra Svarupa, the GBC of Hawaii, has come once in 6
years, and he will not give up the position. Kavicandra in Japan has
done nothing there in 25 years. Even one of these GBC guru’s does not
wear neck beads, tilak, sikah, or have any faith in the name is still a
member in good standing. In the west, most of the temples have more
deities than devotees. Most of the devotees are being paid, pujari’s
being paid, cooks being paid temple presidents are being paid, and they
have to bring Indian devotees just to keep the bare minimum going.
I have witnessed over all these years how the elitist
mentality of the GBC’s and guru’s have excluded all their god
brothers. They have put themselves on a high pedestal. They have no
taste for staying in the holy dhama’s of Mayapur and Vrindavna, and
they run back to their comfort zones soon as they finish the meetings.
brothers. They have put themselves on a high pedestal. They have no
taste for staying in the holy dhama’s of Mayapur and Vrindavna, and
they run back to their comfort zones soon as they finish the meetings.
In 1977, during the rainy season, all the GBC’s showed up in
Vrindavan.. SP said, we should go in a room and make out his will for
him. I.e., who would manage what properties and so forth…Kirtananda
and everyone was there, and they were going on saying someone will do
this, and someone will do that…I noticed how they totally left me
out. So I just went to the Yamuna and took my bath and came back to
find them still dividing everything up. When they were finished, it
was brought into SP room and read to him as he laid on his bed. After
they finished reading the will, the first question SP asked was, ‘Where
is Guru-krpa’s name’? I had already opened a dozen temples and
collected the most money in ISKCON history, up to that point, and they
totally left me out. But SP noticed it right away. So now, although I
am the first executor in his will, and he told me to develop Hawaii and
other places, (you made read the will), they also have totally
neglected that order. Giriraj even came and asked me if I would resign
from the will. I told him, ‘How can I give up the order of the guru’?
It is not as easy for me as you people.
him. I.e., who would manage what properties and so forth…Kirtananda
and everyone was there, and they were going on saying someone will do
this, and someone will do that…I noticed how they totally left me
out. So I just went to the Yamuna and took my bath and came back to
find them still dividing everything up. When they were finished, it
was brought into SP room and read to him as he laid on his bed. After
they finished reading the will, the first question SP asked was, ‘Where
is Guru-krpa’s name’? I had already opened a dozen temples and
collected the most money in ISKCON history, up to that point, and they
totally left me out. But SP noticed it right away. So now, although I
am the first executor in his will, and he told me to develop Hawaii and
other places, (you made read the will), they also have totally
neglected that order. Giriraj even came and asked me if I would resign
from the will. I told him, ‘How can I give up the order of the guru’?
It is not as easy for me as you people.
There is no new blood in this organization, things have
become stagnated and dry, not dynamic and the offense of neglecting all
their god-brothers by excluding them from their spiritual birthright,
they will have to answer to SP for this apparadha.
their god-brothers by excluding them from their spiritual birthright,
they will have to answer to SP for this apparadha.
Question: What is your idea of how the guru – disciple
relationship should now be handled in ISKCON?
Love can not be insituationalized. I feel in love with SP
the second I saw him. That is why I could surrender to the depth that
I did, to get the insurmountable service I did at that time. Once in
Mayapur, Kirtananda came to me, and said “Why are you giving all that
money to Prabhupada. You should give it to me, in America we are
protected. The communist one day will come and take these buidlings
away.. Prabhupada is making a big mistake.” I was shocked by what I
just heard. At that time, Kirtananda was considered by Satsvarupa to
be the greatest of the great, and the most divine of the divine. My
answer was, I do not care what he does with the money. He can flush it
down the toilet, for all I care, I just love to give it to him.
I did, to get the insurmountable service I did at that time. Once in
Mayapur, Kirtananda came to me, and said “Why are you giving all that
money to Prabhupada. You should give it to me, in America we are
protected. The communist one day will come and take these buidlings
away.. Prabhupada is making a big mistake.” I was shocked by what I
just heard. At that time, Kirtananda was considered by Satsvarupa to
be the greatest of the great, and the most divine of the divine. My
answer was, I do not care what he does with the money. He can flush it
down the toilet, for all I care, I just love to give it to him.
Its a matter of the heart. According to one’s state of the
heart, if one has many material desires, he may say he loves Bhagavan
Sai Baba, the Pope, Charles Manson. Its according to one’s sukriti.
Krishna is sitting in one’s heart, He knows exactly what our intentions
are. Before anyone has a right to ask a question, you must first enter
the class. The price is surrender. Those who have not fully
surrendered can not understand those who have surrenedered. Those who
have surrendered can understand about everyone.
Sai Baba, the Pope, Charles Manson. Its according to one’s sukriti.
Krishna is sitting in one’s heart, He knows exactly what our intentions
are. Before anyone has a right to ask a question, you must first enter
the class. The price is surrender. Those who have not fully
surrendered can not understand those who have surrenedered. Those who
have surrendered can understand about everyone.
SP initiated thousands, he told me once in his room in
Vrindavan, he said “My guru ordered me to go to the west, and I did
that. My main service was to translate these books and I did that. I
have a personal desire to build these temples in India. That is my
personal program. But they (his disciples) will not give me money and
my head is getting hot. I have to translate these books, write many
letters, and I am thinking how to raise the money to build these
temples because my disciples have their own programs and will not give
me money.” So, seeing SP like this, I told him that from today forth,
you just translate the books peacefully, and I will take the headache
and go and get the money. When I walked out of the room, I could not
believe what I just said. So to think all the GBC are 100% surrendered
souls, and the gurus are 100% surrenderd souls with no self interest,
and their only interest is to serve SP mission, they did not even care
during his time(SP time). SP said he would be happy, if he could get
one moon. To get one disciple who would be perfect, out of many
thousands. How rare is a personality of SP character.
that. My main service was to translate these books and I did that. I
have a personal desire to build these temples in India. That is my
personal program. But they (his disciples) will not give me money and
my head is getting hot. I have to translate these books, write many
letters, and I am thinking how to raise the money to build these
temples because my disciples have their own programs and will not give
me money.” So, seeing SP like this, I told him that from today forth,
you just translate the books peacefully, and I will take the headache
and go and get the money. When I walked out of the room, I could not
believe what I just said. So to think all the GBC are 100% surrendered
souls, and the gurus are 100% surrenderd souls with no self interest,
and their only interest is to serve SP mission, they did not even care
during his time(SP time). SP said he would be happy, if he could get
one moon. To get one disciple who would be perfect, out of many
thousands. How rare is a personality of SP character.
The GBC’s duty is to see that SP standard is being
maintained. That standard is based on chanting and hearing, also
becoming a lover of Krishna. If SP said I bless you, I give you a
benediciton, it will manifest. He has the right, the adhikari to do
that. If someone else says I am your guru, I am giving you diskha,
can he give you Krishna? Can he give you the holy name? Can he take
you to Vaikanthua? Have you been there, has the guru been there? SP
told me in the car in New Zealand, he turned to me in the car, and
said, while you were building Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan.
Krishna was building you a house in Goloka. I have seen it, it is very
nice. That is why you can only surrender to the depths, to one who is
from that place, and who can you give you that place, who wants that
place, otherwise it is just a big show. Whistels and bells with no
substance.
becoming a lover of Krishna. If SP said I bless you, I give you a
benediciton, it will manifest. He has the right, the adhikari to do
that. If someone else says I am your guru, I am giving you diskha,
can he give you Krishna? Can he give you the holy name? Can he take
you to Vaikanthua? Have you been there, has the guru been there? SP
told me in the car in New Zealand, he turned to me in the car, and
said, while you were building Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan.
Krishna was building you a house in Goloka. I have seen it, it is very
nice. That is why you can only surrender to the depths, to one who is
from that place, and who can you give you that place, who wants that
place, otherwise it is just a big show. Whistels and bells with no
substance.
My view of seeing this organization, it is croniyism. Most
of the leaders, their hearts are still, steel framed, they are self
interested. They are not self-less. They have stopped somewhere on
this road back to Godhead; they are satisfied with their easy
lifestyle, food, respect, honor, travelling all at the expense of the
community and the younger devotees who go on the street. Its a long
way from chant, dance and be happy.
interested. They are not self-less. They have stopped somewhere on
this road back to Godhead; they are satisfied with their easy
lifestyle, food, respect, honor, travelling all at the expense of the
community and the younger devotees who go on the street. Its a long
way from chant, dance and be happy.
Question: Then how did it come about that immediately after
SP was not present physically, these eleven became worship able as
paramahamsas of the highest order?
paramahamsas of the highest order?
Gurukrpa: Because it is the cheaters and the cheated. People
are basically sudras who want a master tell them what to do. They do
not have sufficient intelligence, or spiritual knowledge,therefore they
not have sufficient intelligence, or spiritual knowledge,therefore they
accepted; and the more realized devotees left , after trying to
correct things. They were told to leave because they were disturbing
the faith of the new disciples.
correct things. They were told to leave because they were disturbing
the faith of the new disciples.
Because they could not take it any more any more they left.
Now it has become like the Pol Pot regime, “accept our way, or die.”
Devotees never die, KRSNA is always in their hearts. They are the
losers for losing the association of their brothers & sisters. The
senior men can do something, other wise the new men cannot do without
the association of the older devotees.
Devotees never die, KRSNA is always in their hearts. They are the
losers for losing the association of their brothers & sisters. The
senior men can do something, other wise the new men cannot do without
the association of the older devotees.
Most of the older devotees now also do not have the
missionary spirit. SP said, as a group we can’t be broken, but alone we
are all easily broken..
are all easily broken..
The leaders have never cared for the God Brothers/sisters.
They are happy when the see their brother get victimized by Maya, and
never come to try and rescue them. Do you think SP is happy to see the
present leader’s disciples at his temples and not his own disciples????
They talk of love of God, but they do not care one bit for their own
family members, unless the family agrees to accept everything they say.
They have no peers around them that may object to anything.
never come to try and rescue them. Do you think SP is happy to see the
present leader’s disciples at his temples and not his own disciples????
They talk of love of God, but they do not care one bit for their own
family members, unless the family agrees to accept everything they say.
They have no peers around them that may object to anything.
I AM A VERY FALLEN SOUL. I AM NOT BASICALLY A FAULT FINDER, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT SPEAK UP FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT I HAVE NOT. I HAVE LIVED VERY NICELY BY SRILA PRABHUPADA’S GRACE. I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE GBC ACTUALLY BECOME REAL GBC AND GENUINE LOVING COMPASSIONATE VAISNAVAS.
That is the end of this session. If anyone has questions, comments, they can send them and Gurukrpa can answer.
OM TAT SAT PARAM VIJAYATE SRI KRSNA SAMKIRTANAM….
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Sadhu! Sadhu!
Its really great to here from a senior devotee about what exactly SP desired ISKCON to be and what went wrong all the way. We understand Gurukripa prabu and devotees at that time were not able to fight as they were individuals and were easily knocked out when raised their voice.
Finally its not fair to leave the home built by SP unprotected. We cannot allow the anyone plunder on the SP blood (ISKCON wealth). We should raise and sync our voice at-least to the once fighting in the fore-front. ISKCON-Bangalore, trying to follow purely and completely Prabupada is no where supported by the existing GBC (or ISKCON) nor is backed up by eminent senior’s like Gurukripa Prabu. They like to establish standards of ISKCON as was before Prabupadas physical disappearance. They require great amount of inputs from devotees like Gurukripa who were all the way present during those days. You would bring back the actual standards followed by devotee at the ISKCON temples and suggest the Bangalore ISKCON. This combined would bring a temple with SP’s standards. Devotees with SP initiations. Guru puja to Prabupada.
So request you to join your efforts to bring back “Home where the entire world could leave”, back to life with SP in center.
In the service of Srila Prabupada,
Trying to be a faithful servant of SP and Radha Krishna,
Radhakrishna Dasa
Dear Radha-Krsna dasa et al; My obeisances to all the readers. Obeisances to Bhakta dasa Maharajah and Gurukrpa Maharajah. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!
Prabhu, your attitude is courageous and encouraging. There are, indeed, many Prabhupadanugas out there, who are trying to reestablish the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is a real struggle, as most of us have little in the way of resources or influence, and so we rage and watch, in knowledge, but having relatively little that we can do as individuals. Some have now had good success and are preaching nicely. This must be reinforced and continued, we should indeed work together as cooperatively as possible.
I have heard both good and bad of Iskcon Bangalore. In my opinion, it is only be mostly good, as despite any other problesm that may or may not exist there, they are attempting to follow Srila Prabhupada’s orders.
Meanwhile, many of us are ousted from our own guru’s temples that we served at since the early days, by upstart neophyte disiples of our own Godbrothers. But we don’t give up; that is the nature of most of Prabhupada’s disciples. We will NEVER abandon his instructions. A person who has eaten nice Krsna prasadam will never give it up for stale junk food. We hope for the advancement of all, and hope that the new devotees will see the light and understand and even support us in our purification attempts, rather than adopt fanatical cultish ways.
One thing for sure, it is up to the good Lord as to what will happen, so do not fear or be in overmuch anxiety. We must do our best, but the result is not entirely in our hands. The association of good devotees is still available, and to my perception, our influence is expanding. HKHR.
YS
Tamohara dasa (ACBSP) Tamoharadasa@yahoo.ca
Dear Gurukripa Prabhu,
Please accept my most humble obeisances unto your lotus feet!
Please bless me with the particle of your divine service done
for the sake of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Unfortunately I have never heard about you before. How could
I heard about you, from whom could I hear about you?
I congratulate you for being a succesful follower of His Divine
Grace. What can be most fortunate and higher than this?
Thank you for everything.
Your humble servant,
Ahinsra das (former disciple of Harikesh)
All glories to Gurukripa Prabhu!!
Dear Gurukrpa prabhu,
I appreciate your forthright manner. It’s always good to hear someone tell it as it is.
ys
Yaduvendu das
Thank you very much for this interview.
I’ve told to some friends that beside the written and recorded material, there is a big gap between us and Shrila Prabhupada just because about 95% of the Prabhupada’s disciples had to leave the movement. The 5% who stayed are compromissed with so many things that spoil the connection in many cases.
That’s why I think that Gurukrpa Prabhu can make a big service to the humanity writing his memories, I’d be able to beg him this.
I’d like to know more details about that episode he comments that Hari Sauri doesn’t cover accurately, about TKG being ordered to go to China.
Thank you very much.
YS Krishna Shakha dasa (Brazil)
How much evidence is needed? The proof that the GBC is bogus has been there all along. The current GBC is not the original in any case for the simple reason that the original fell down. There is nothing to be done other than formal legal prosecution and where will that get you? If the new devotees are so uninformed and unintelligent to realize that gurus are not created by institutional appointment, even after reading Prabhapada’s books, then they deserver the cheaters. The true ISKCON needs to be reconstituted by sincere disciples from the ground up.
Dear Uncle Gurukripa prabhu, I bow my head for sattva guna last leg of this yuga, hard to find these days.
I cant find any words to describe my hearts pain about all this smelly stuff! I really really really would like to see a book from you, I am sure it would please Srila Prabhupada and Guru Parampara.
As a matter of fact it is your duty!!! Please, hear me!!!
Truth is truth, no mortal can change that.
Anu das anu das anu das,
Pitambara dasa
Dear Prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances, I became a devotee in 1977 and went through a lot of traumatic ( as well as ecstatic , at times ) experiences.About 7 years ago I threw in my lot with ISKCON and only occaisonally visit the temple in London , and have had no association with devotees for that time.I now live in Wales with my partner who is favourable but not a practising devotee. I would love to correspond with devotees who can empathise with my situation.
Your servant, Bhakta Rupa das
Hare Krishna Bhakta Rupa Prabhu.
You are not alone. About ten thousand devotees joined ISKCON and took initiation from Srila Prabhupada prior to 1977 and since then tens of thousands more sincere souls have joined ISKCON temples and preformed full time devotional service living in the temples but somehow ISKCON have not been able to properly guide them and they have practically all left. ISKCON temples, for the most part, are empty buildings now, with a group of Indians coming on Sunday. So that is maybe 50,000-100,000 sincere souls like yourself who surrendered completely to Srila Prabhuapda and Krishna and gave their whole lives, 24 hours a day 7 days a week to the service of Krishna, and they are practically all gone now, all driven out of ISKCON for one reason or another.
The current leaders of ISKCON have transformed it into something like the Catholic church that I left. Now they do not encourage people to actually surrender to Srila Prabhuapda and Krishna and dedicate their lives to serving Krishna. Nowadays the ISKCON preaching to the Indians that come to their temples is basically, “don’t join the temple,” “keep living the life you are living,” “keep your job,” “continue associating with the non-devotees,” “and come to the temple on Sundays and give us big, big donations…” And they have adjusted everything to suit the Indian congregation.
Although this has created a very good business for many ISKCON temples, and a few “fat cats” in ISKCON are getting fatter, this is so far distant from the purpose and goals of the ISKCON Srila Prabhupada established that today’s ISKCON has practically no resemblance to Prabhuapda’s ISKCON at all. So there is no wonder that you and practically all the other devotees who surrendered to Srila Prabhuapda’s ISKCON have left today’s ISKCON.
Because today’s ISKCON it is not what we are looking for. We want Prabhuadpa’s ISKCON, not the monstrosity that today calls itself “ISKCON.”
And what is the main preaching that ISKCON presents to a new devotee, a sincere soul who appears at their door, enlivened and enthusiastic after discovering Srila Prabhuapda and Krishna by reading Srila Prabhuadpa’s books? Who naturally thinks that Prabhuapda is his guru? Immediatly ISKCON jump on the poor unfortunate devotee that and demand that he surrender to the idea that “Prabhupada is dead, you need a living guru…” If he will not accept this they brand him as a “dirty stinking ritvik” and kick him out of the temple.
To “rub salt into the wound” ISKCON quite openly admit that, at least for the most part, their “living gurus” are all conditioned souls completely entrapped in the network of maya. But they claim “It doesn’t matter if the guru is in maya!” “As long as he is approved by the GBC you should take initiation from him!” And they say, “It doesn’t matter if your guru falls down, we have plenty of gurus, you can take re-initiation from another one…” They do not realize that once being cheated by one bogus guru it is practically impossible for the unfortunate disciple to surrender again. And what is the point of going from one bogus ISKCON guru to another bogus ISKCON guru?
In this sense today’s ISKCON are far worse than the Christians. At least the Christians don’t say “Christ is dead… surrender to me instead…”
So they have created such an offensive, poisonous atmosphere that it is better to stay well clear of ISKCON.
They have no intention of connecting anyone to Prabhuapda. Their intention is to connect people to their “living gurus” who they openly admit are conditioned souls. And anyone who is even faintly familiar with the philosophy of Krishna consciousness as it is taught by Srila Prabhuadpa will know that it is pointless to accept a spiritual master who is a conditioned soul as he will not be able to guide the disciple out of the clutches of maya, because he is in the clutches of maya himself! This is such a simple basic point, if a man is drowning and another man wants to save him but he can’t swim then, even though it is a nice sentiment, it would be insanity for him to dive into the water and try and save the drowning man. They would simply both drown. And that is what is happening in ISKCON. Many of the “gurus” are sincerely trying to save their disciples but they can’t swim, so we see it happining time and time again in ISKCON, both the gurus and the disciples go under the water of maya and everyone drowns…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Dear bhakta rupa das,i am a devotee who lives outside iskcon temple scene.However my wife and children have a class everyday when possible which i give.We chant for ten to fiften minutes everyday.However it was not always the case!I learnt how to cook devotionally so we could progress in spiritual life.Taking prasadam is truly so important when you are away from the temple.Everyone chants 16 rounds now,including my teenage daughter and sons.Every sunday we travel the two hours to our local temple in Auckland new Zealand.We have a god centred family life …..although i have been initiated since 1980 and chanted 16 rounds since then,….. it is still difficult.Iskcon here is great….we have none of the USA PROBLEMS…HARE KRISHNA GOOD LUCK …CONTACT ME ANYTIME …YOUR NEW FREIND YUGA…
Dear Gurukrpa Prabhu,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We have never met but I have heard many stories of you from some of your Japanese party of the 70′s. Firstly, I would like to say thank you for putting the record straight about what happened in 1977. Really if you analyse ISKCON it was an American Way of doing religious business. There were tax benefits etc. Those early boys with smarts came to Srila Prabhupada and set up ISKCON and he signed the papers.
When Srila Prabhupada was ready to leave there was an amazing global religious business prospering. What to do? In the family world they would sell all the assets and divide the spoils between the family members.
In ISKCON it was get on the GBC and takeover the power, glory and guru rights. It was American business as usual. The basic rules of business applied. Those who understood that took over the power. Simple as that.
Nothing to do with their spiritual qualities, just their straight business brains. So today ISKCON is like any other religious business with a story, a belief system and a heirachy.
What you experienced was personal LOVE of Srila Prabhupada! What you lived for was personal Love of Srila Prabhupada. What I would say you will depart this earth for is personal Love of Srila Prabhupada.That is your perfection. That is your journey.
To me that’s what I am left with after reading your story. That is what I have experienced when I speak to devotees. Who personally loves Srila Prabhupada? You do and I love you for that. That is all that matters. The Loving Consciousness of pure personal Bhakti.
We all had to leave ISKCON, there was no love to sustain us, only in our heart and in Srila prabhupada’s books and a few devotees scattered all over the world spreading bhakti moment by moment as best they could. Always what shone through was the personal loving mood towards Srila Prabhupada.
In 2005 when my beautiful devoted wife Ulupi was preparing to leave her body, Srila Prabhupada arranged for his personal Vrindavan bedsheet to be placed under my wife and a beautiful garland worn by Srila Prabhupada which had been preserved was placed around her neck. How do these things happen? Krsna’s Mercy!
This is how we know all is well. Krsna knows who is who.
Thank you for your story and please pass my warmest regards to Bhakta Das, last saw him in Fresno in 1982.
Hare Krsna
Kaunteya Das
Dear Prabhu,
All glories to You.
All glories to the dust of your lotus feet.
Jai Srila Prabhupada.
I am very happy to hear your message of a truth that will be victorious in the coming years because the truth is always victorious. Salutations to you, you have proved your worth as Srila Prabhupada’s most loyal servant.
To glorify you brings joy to my heart. Jai Jai to you.
ram
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
I began visiting ISKCON centers since 2004 when my ex roommates enthused me to read and listen to Srila Prabhupada’s (original)books and lectures. I was in a state of joy just by reading the Bhagavad Gita As It Is . I was thus fully convinced that I have met a truly bonafide well wisher in Srila Prabhupada and was willing to go the extent of surrendering to him. I steadily improved in my interest and commitment even while I was working full time as a software engineer. There was a time when I was chanting 16 rounds early in the morning , reading prabhupads books , listening to lectures on the way to work and back, cooking for my picture deities twice a day and only taking their prasadm while living with non-devotee roommates. During this period I believe I received help from Prabhupada(many times in dreams which would always help me overcome whatever situation).
However my sadhana has completely deteriorated now even though I follow all the prohibitive principles, I’m chanting only on Ekadashis and Festivals . I am hoping I can rediscover the good times when I felt there was a bond between me and prabhupada and chant 16 good rounds everyday. I wonder if my attempts to unravel if the ritvik initiations are to be followed led to any offenses towards senior devotees currently serving ISCKON for which I am suffering reactions. I presented the question about the July 9th letter to a senior sanyasi guru\GBC from whom I’m being asked to take initiation but did not receive a meaningful reply. I was told that there are so many other letters that prabhupad wrote. That answer did not convince me and Im still not initiated.
Is my individual endeavor to ascertain if the ritvik initiation is the correct approach cause for offense against either Prabhupada or the current Gurus?
How can I be sure that Prabhupad is not offended by me not approaching a current guru and refrain from seeking initiation, cause I can see so many full time and part time devotees going about their sadhana with joy even after being initiated by a current guru?
There are other issues which could have led to my current situation but I am of the opinion that the two questions presented above must be answered first(Highest Priority) before I can regain my sadhana practice.
Please take some time to help me out. I value any help that is offered.
Hare Krishna.
hare krsna.
All glories to srila prabhupada ji
i am really hurt by what i hav read about present day ISKCON,and GBC,never expected these things.I became Iskcon devotee by reading sp’s books esp “BG-as it is “.but these facts u just meniotned are horrifying.
i just want 2 ask u a question ” is there any use guru naam given by present day gurus at ISKCON ?”
should young krshna devotees like me be regularly in contact with these people..is that right coz i want 2 b a pure devotee lik SP used 2 say”
hope you wud reply and correct me if i am wrong…
||hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare raam hare raam raam raam hare hare ||
Hare Krishna Prabhu
You have the right idea. We should aspire to become pure devotees of Krishna. That is what Srila Prabhuapda instructs us to do and that is the only way out of the cycle of birth and death, samsara, in the material world.
Today’s ISKCON guru system is crazy. Srila Prabhuapda clearly says all the way through his books, letters and lectures that one must accept a pure devotee as his guru. And Krishna clearly establishes this point in the Bhagavad Gita in many places. And even common sense tells us that if we want to become liberated from the material world then the only way we can become liberated is by finding someone who is already liberated and learning from him. That is what Krishna suggests we do in Bhagavad Gita 4.34.
However, todays ISKCON, after so many years of presenting bogus gurus who have been painfully not liberated and completely unable to guide their disciples back home back to Godhead, have changed the philosophy. Now ISKCON preach that you do not have to accept a liberated soul as your guru. They say as long as you accept someone approved by the ISKCON GBC, even if his is not following the regulative principles and chanting his rounds, that is OK… But if you do not accept a GBC approved guru then you may be suspected as a follower of Srila Prabhupada and be driven out of ISKCON…
Still, having said all this, this philosophy of the GBC is so ridiculous and most ISKCON devotees know this and they are simply serving Srila Prabhuapda in ISKCON.
So if you take advantage of ISKCON and if you know that Srila Prabhuapada is living and that Srila Prabhuapda is quite capable of guiding you and if you know that most of the ISKCON gurus are bogus then you are in a better position.
There is still great spiritual benefit in ISKCON. The new devotees are attracted by Srila Prabhuapda. They are Prabhupada’s disciples. They join because Srila Prabhuapda preaches to them through his books. And the new bhaktas in ISKCON are worshipping Srila Prabhuadpa with great enthusiasm. Everything goes off the rails when they take initiation from a bogus ISKCON guru. But many are waking up and not taking such a bogus guru, but simply taking shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet. And some ISKCON gurus also are starting to admit that they are simply connecting their disciples to Srila Prabhuapda and that Srila Prabhupada is actually the principal guru for their disciples.
So if you go into ISKCON knowing that you want to become a pure devotee of Krishna, and knowing that this is only possible by accepting a pure devotee as your spiritual master, and knowing that Srila Prabhupada is living and available, and just serve Srila Prabhupada then it will be Ok….
It is something of a difficult time. But we are so fortunate to have the association of Srila Prabhuapda. Please take advantage of this and read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. You can purchase them at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and read them online at http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
Also you can watch over 60 hours of Prabhuapda films and videos:
http://krishnastore.com/prabhupada-dvd-set-h-krishna-403.html
So there is no point in becoming depressed. Take shelter of Srila Prabhuapda, read his books, listen to his classes, watch his DVDs and chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Awesome!
I post this on my facebook page.
Thank You.
We know ISKCON is rotton “At the core”. The dweebs that took control are correctly identified here by Srila Guru Krpa prabhu as “pieces of shit”, who knew that they were exactly that yet set themselves up “As good as God” for profit and adulation.
GBC ~ Gangsters, Bullies and Criminals. Each with at least one exotic country as a ‘partial zone’ so that they can have a cool ‘free vacation’, or operating headquarters.
When you begin an equation with false information, there can never manifest the desired true result. ISKCON has been a cult since 1978 as proved here by Guru Krpa. The more we speak the truth about IS_CON, the sooner the demons can be revealed.
I would like any stories about negative dealings with any IS_CON leaders ~ at any time in the past. I want to build a profile around each of these men from the stories of those that suffered under them. Guru Krpa is no saint, he threw Shyamarani (Jadurani) to the floor ~ an offense that he has to deal with, but he is honest about his qualifications to be a guru and dearly loved Srila Prabhupada. Send stories to: jury.colin@gmail.com
Like a Blackhead ~ each of these men need pressure put on them for past indiscretions until they pop. Not qualified to accept disciples in the first place, they should be removed from any such illusions.
After reading this interview and the comments, I don’t know quite what to think of the current situation of Iskcon leadership and the
GBC. I know for certain that Prabhupada would be most happy if we do not leave his ISKCON that he built with every ounce of his will. His mission needs all the wonderful devotees around the world to work to rebuild what he left us. If we can find ways we can work together at our local temples we are showing great love for Prabhupada’s legacy. Prabhupada’s ISKCON can still be healed and it can only be healed from within, the GBC is not all in all, it is those humble sincere devotees who can make the difference. By the power of the devotees, ISKCON will reform. We do not have to turn our backs on the good that is in ISKCON. God protect me from some of your so-called followers, but we do not have to leave Prabhupada’s ISKCON family altogether.
Does anyone have contact details for HG Gurukripa das? I am an old friend and cannot seem to locate him. Any help would be eternally appreciated! Ratnabahu das ACBSP Sydney, Australia +61433275674
GURU KRIPA PRABHU, thank you for all of your service to Srila Prabhupada. Especially the courage and faith in out Spiritual Master. I Was in Vrndavan in the final days, I NEVER new this going on. I would just talk to Upendra about about Prabhupada’s health and get updates as he gave them. Thankyou for clarity and hope you will share more. I was personally given my name, beads, as well as Gyatry from Prabhupada in person. PLease keep me informed your godbrother and friend.
Haribol,
Srila Prabhupada left His Gaudiya Math, which was set up by His Spiritual Master. I was reading, I think it was in the writings of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati, that we must all be like Martin Luther and re-establish the sanatan dharma, according to the time and place. The organization that was established by Srila Prabhupada is ” International Society for KRISHNA Consciousness “. I remember I was in the Denver Temple when there was a GBC meeting. And, of course, they were all arguing with each other. They went to see Srila Prabhupada; and, He told them to take a break and read KRISHNA book, aloud. The devotees did this for about an hour; and, then Srila Prabhupada adjourned the meeting. The lesson I got from this was KRISHNA is not only our Goal but the means of our purification, in order to make correct spiritual decisions. I, also, remember a time when one of His books was coming to Him from the printer for final editing; and, He said ” How many times was KRISHNA’s name mentioned in that purport. Then, He said – ” The more times KRISHNA’s name is mentioned, the more potent it is. The debate over who is the guru is endless and pointless. Whoever gives us KRISHNA or helps us in our developing our KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS is the real GURU.
bhaktijan das
AFTER HAVING THE GREAT BLESSING OF SRILA PRABHUPADA,BEING, TO DISTRIBUTE HIS BOOKS FOR MANY YEARS,AND COLLECT LAKMI FOR HIS PROGRAMMES.THE SAD THING FOR ME IS THAT NOW THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WHO ARE SO DEVOID OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION HAVE NO WHERE TO GO AND BE TRAINED AS I WAS.DISTROYING THE MISSION AS IT IS BEING DONE LEAVES THE POOR SOULS WITH NOTHING.TO LEAVE THEM WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED IN THE BHAKTA PROGRAMME AND HARI NAM IS SO SAD.
THAT TO ME IS THE GREATEST PAIN ,IGNORANCE OF THE TRUTH.
Hare Krishna Prabhus! Gurukrpa lives here in Bangkok and I talk with him pretty much every day. He does not use computers, email, internet. If you have any pertinent questions to ask him, please send them to me at bhakta@saintly.com, and I will ask him and relay his answers to you.
Jaya Sri Krishna!
Your servant,
Bhakta dasa (ACBSP)
bhakta@saintly.com or bh.dasa@Gmail.com
Skype : bhakta_dasa Twitter : bhaktadasa