What Happened to all those Blissful Hare Krishnas?
WE ARE OUT HERE…blooped disciples that grew weary of the politics and scandals! And, even though karmies on the outside, Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada are in our hearts and in our lives and, although not pure devotees, devotees non the less. You may criticize this approach but, that’s OK.
I have never thought about Krsna and Srila Prabupada more intently than I do today.
I read the article Born Again Krishnas with great interest until I got to this one line about the initiated devotees “carving” up the world and proposing that….
“After all he was a paramahamasa, a pure devotee on the topmost platform of devotional service, he was non-different from Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself!”
I knew Srila Prabhupada. I met Srila Prabhupada many times at the Culver City Temple in Los Angeles. He NEVER had the audacity to proclaim that he was as great as The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna! As a drop of ocean water has all the qualities of the ocean, we all are, even in this unnatural state, as good as Krsna but can’t, won’t, nor ever will be, as GREAT as Krsna!
Yes! We ARE different. We, the spirit soul, are separate yet united. To have the “puffed up” attitude that we can ever be as grand or stand in the shoes (so to speak) of Krsna is preposterous!!! The devotees, however well meaning they are, need to go back to the basics and read Prabhupadas teachings again.
A plume of lust, greed and anger have seemed to have cast a cloud over ISKCON. I can only hope and pray that things can change for the better. I left ISKCON shortly after His Divine Grace left this earthly plane to return to his place of divine bliss….that would be on another plane, taking more souls home on the way. That’s his pastime, his devotion to Krsna. He won’t go home as long as there’s a soul to save. THAT’S his heaven! He’s always there because he never really left home but to take on a material body to knock us up side the head (figuratively speaking) to take our attention away from the endless cycle of birth, old age, disease and death. Although I am not perfect, and will be the first one to admit it, I keep Krsna and His Grace in my heart. I “sankirtan” when the Lord brings the opportunity and when people are receptive. Sometimes I explain it in layman’s terms and sometimes I have the opportunity to go deeper when the occasion permits.
BUT, of one thing there is no doubt!…WE ARE OUT HERE…”blooped” disciples that grew weary of the politics and scandals! And, even though “karmies” on the outside, Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada are in our hearts and in our lives and, although not “pure devotees”, devotees non the less. You may criticize this approach but, that’s OK. I have never thought about Krsna and Srila Prabhupada more intently than I do today.
I’m not here to judge, but, I feel obligated and qualified, to “comment”, having the “been there” vision of living in a temple, that had the priorities somewhat twisted. Damn me if you wish, I’m not in your court, nor are you in mine. You’re not my jury. Nor am I yours. Just chant Hare Krsna and be happy.
This web site is unique as it has an “unbiased” and “unprejudiced” approach to Krsna Consciousness. For that, I thank Krsna for instilling the organizers of it the ability to bring it to not only us “blooped” souls, but all people, and the opportunity to “see the light” through clear eyes. God bless your Sankirtan.
With deepest regards and obeseness,
Bhakta Mike.
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Bhakta Mike. I’m also one the blooped . Infact from 21yrs old I came and went about 5 times from temples , bhakta courses and so on. That probably says as much about my impulsive immature nature as any politics / scandals / management .But hey ho life goes on .As you said I also never forget Prabhupadas teachings and I try not to do too much ISKCON bashing. (Although my time was in then 90s so a lot had started to change ) Now in my 40’s I am more stable in terms of work and home and I realise and remind myself I still have Prabhupadas books, I still have the holy name , I still have my pictures of Krsna so there’s really no excuse . No point staying bitter or hurt after all we are still faced with the same desire for happiness and Birth death old age and disease are ever present etc. I think to myself whilst I still have breath I should try and practice ..
(I know others have have been through the mill far more than me so apologies if I make it sound easy)
I like ISKCON oraganisation to continue as it was at the time of Srila Prabhupada,the great guruji.I doubt whether is any slackness by some of the organisers inspreading Krishna conciousness.Are the temple accounts are being audited,if any major fraud is detected,that must be published in this news letter. With humbleness HARE KRISHNA
There are too many scandals and too much politics. When I joined, the guru I was to accept as my own, my saviour, the carrier of my soul to Heaven, had only met Prabhupada once, and seen him in person twice. He was never initiated to sannyasa by Prabhupada, he was initiated post-humously. He was found to be guilty of conspiring an army of his own devotees and booted out of the GBC only to return again. All of this was hidden from me until I did my own research.
Judge the tree by its fruits, goes the old Jewish saying…. and the fruits of modern ISKCON are indeed rotten and corrupt.
Hare krishan,
I can understand..there are a lot like you in India.We are married ,work,have kids and still chant and try to follow the 4 principles to the best of our ability.In fact most Hindus in India are like that.
I have questions and comments.
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