"Bhakta Eric (Krishna Cow)" <williams.992@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu> wrote:
>madhudvisa@krishna.org (Madhudvisah dasa ) wrote:
>>
>>
>> Purity is the Force
>> ===================
>>
>> Currently ISKCON is not presenting Krishna consciousness in a pure
>> way, and it is certainly not representing Srila Prabhupada's
>> dynamic preaching mood and great compassion for the fallen
>> conditioned souls.
>words are easy to come by, examples are a bit more difficult.
>At Gita-nagari in 1991 or 92 Jayadvaita Maharaja gave a class on
>better preaching and speaking. In one of his classes he discused
>false dilemmas such as : "If we [a temple] does not sell stickers,
>the temple will go under." Jayadvaita Maharaja is the editor of
>the Back to Godhead magazine, practically the voice of ISKCON. To
>say that these acts go in within ISKCON is true, they do. But to
>say that they are sanctioned and supported by ISKCON is a lie.
"Back to Godhead" was supposed to be a magazine to preach outside the
movement. (Of course it was ecstatic for the devotees as well!) I
remember one of my first experiences with Krishna consciousness was
"Back to Godhead". I was living in Perth and going to the Hare Krishna
restaurant and they had books and "Back to Godhead" magazines
everywhere. When I saw "Back to Godhead" I was amazed, I asked the
devotees there how many of these magazines were there and they told me
it had been coming out every month for the last twenty years. I really
couldn't believe it. How they could produce such a wonderful magazine.
So I started reading all the BTG's I could get my hands on and they
were fantastic. They just presented the philosophy of Krishna
consciousness from the absolute platform in an easily understandable
way. Then I started reading Srila Prabhupada's small books, then the
Bhagavad-gita, then I started the Bhagavatam and by that time I head to
join. But I don't know what would have happened to me if it had been
the current BTG's they had in the restaurant...
I was "fried" with religion and the thing that attracted me to Krishna
consciousness was the amazing consistency of Srila Prabhupada's books
and the devotees preaching. Everybody had the same philosophy,
something I had never seen in any other religious organization. But I
have seen it change. I joined when the zonal acarya system was still
going strong and things were clear in ISKCON then. You knew what was
what and devotees accepted the temple authorities and their gurus.
There were lots of devotees... I went to London soon after joining and
there was always more than 100 devotees at Mangal-arati... And there was
only one philosophy. The philosophy in Prabhupada's books. But now
there are so many ideas coming from so many different directions.
Someone told me that now there are as many different philosophies in
ISKCON as there are devotees...
>> Srila Prabhupada said we need devotees like Prahlada Maharaja to
>> defeat the demonic, Mayavadi mentality in ISKCON. Therefore it is
>> our responsibility to Srila Prabhupada to take Krishna
>> consciousness very seriously,**avoid poisonous association**, chant
>> the Hare Krishna maha mantra and read Srila Prabhupada's books
>> incessantly and simultaneously distribute Srila Prabhupada's books
>> and preach Krishna consciousness loudly all over the world. If we
>> do this to the best of our ability we will please Srila Prabhupada
>> and get his mercy.
>Hrdayananda Maharaja once said that distributing Prabhupada's books
>is the topmost service. Prabhupada said this as well. Tell me,
>which ISKCON temple does not distribute Srila Prabhupada's books?
>And if there is one, why aren't you there starting a book marathon?
I have tried (and are still trying) to distribute as many of
Prabhupada's books as I can. I've spent most of my time on the streets
trying to preach to people and sell them Prabhupada's books. Now the
most common question people ask me is "What Happened to the Hare
Krishna's?" One day seven different people asked me! Of course this is
Australia (it was Sydney in particular) and the devotees have gone from
very high-profile to almost no profile. I'm sure it's not the same
everywhere...
I have myself, as I said, distribute books to my limited capacity and
I have tried to encourage other devotees but the mood is not there...
I feel great separation from ISKCON, from the devotees and from the
Deities but my service is not acceptable in ISKCON because Srila
Prabhupada is my spiritual master although I didn't have the great
fortune to see him physically. I met him through his books...
>> All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
>> Prabhupada who has come to the Western countries to defeat the
>> philosophies of impersonalism and voidism and in their place
>> establish pure devotional service to Krishna, the Supreme
>> Personality of Godhead.
>>
>> Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
>> Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
>> Hare Rama Hare Rama
>> Rama Rama Hare Hare
>>
>> (form "What Happened to the Hare Krishna's?")
>>
>>
>>
Thank you. Hare Krishna!
Madhudvisah dasa
(madhudvisa@krishna.org) /sudarsana
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!
Sudarshana Home Send some feedback madhudvisa@krishna.org