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EDITORIAL May 14, 1999 VNN3859 See Related VNN Stories The Art Of Pulling A Brick Factory Out Of A Tree BY PREMA BHAKTI DAS EDITORIAL, May 14 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. A recent article about His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja went a long ways to demonstrate that the rtvik theorists are thankfully running out of steam. This article unabashedly declares in its headline that: His Holiness... states (emph. added) GBC acting against Guru and Sastra. Unfortunate as it may be for the authors of the article, His Holiness never states this. Rather, the authors of this article in a rather shameful way extrapolate this concept, by interpreting a letter by His Holiness by viewing it through an obvious bias. Apparently, His Holiness does state in a letter that he agrees with many GBC decisions and further provides that the GBC probably made wrong decisions in the past. Here is where the authors of the article claim to aquire the bricks which build and support the theories. They claim that since His Holiness doesn't agree with all of the GBC's decisions he is no different from them. They claim that since they don't agree with the GBC they are kicked out, but His Holiness remains in ISKCON and on the GBC. The authors forgot a small (OK some would say very large) difference. While His Holiness may not agree with all of the GBC's decisions, he has made it a part of his life and soul to uphold and follow GBC decisions. He has not, to the best of my knowledge, tried to villify or get rid of the GBC or ISKCON just because he did not agree with all of its decisions. I think it is fair to say, (and I beg forgiveness from the many great devotees of ISKCON for my presumteousness) that there are very few ISKCON resolutions or decisions which all of the GBC members unanimously agree with. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada created the GBC for that very reason. Supposedly, His Holiness' letter demonstrates that he and other members of the GBC did and do not know what Srila Prabhupada wanted and therefore should now turn it over to those who really know! However, His Holiness'letter merely points out that he may not agree with all GBC decisions and that the GBC has made errors. To say his statements form the basis for dissolution of the GBC and are cornerstones of rtvik theory would be comical if it weren't so misleading. This farflung extrapolation would be akin to telling a husband and wife that since they have had disageements or admit to making past mistakes, they are by their statements, supporting an alternative family arrangement and that they are not qualified to lead the family. That they have blasphemed the sacred marriage and that they really did not know and do not know what they were entrusted with or how to carry it out. Never mind that they continue to dedicate their lives to making the family better and stronger. No, the decision has been made, the family should be dissolved, the parents should be endlessly villified and demonized, and the children and teenagers, along with outsiders, distant cousins and uncles, courts and lawyers should take over. People in any situation will have disagreements and they will make mistakes. Why should the GBC be any different? Associates of Sri Chaitanya made mistakes, they even had disagreements with him. Srila Prabhupada dealt with so many mistakes. His disciples also had disagreements with him. They also from time to time got him to change his mind or decisions. In all fairness, His Holiness' statements could be interpreted to say he does not agree with all GBC decisions. So what. He could be wrong but he could also be right. In the meantime I assure you that His Holiness will abide by those decisions. If Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had thought one of his disciples would always make the correct decisions, he may not have instructed them to form a governing commission. Srila Prabhupada did not want to leave things to chance, he ordered the formation of a GBC during his presence to guarantee the continuation of ISKCON. I trust Srila Prabhupada's decision. As a pure devotee he could see who was qualified and who was not. Just because GBC mistakes were made or Gurus fell down, so what. That is not a reflection on Srila Prabhupada's ability to chose the GBC membership. The authors would have us believe that the minute Srila Prabhupada left, the GBC should not have made any mistakes and it would be even worse if they were to admit to making mistakes. If either of these things were to occur it would constitute proof positive that rtvik theory is the light, the way and the means.... This is the slippery slope the authors of the article are traversing. I hope all affected Vaisnavas, the authors included, start sincerely embracing the volumes of statements and instructions which constitute Srila Prabhupada's transcendental literature. The applied deception by the ungracious twisting of the facts by the authors is at best disturbing. At the same time, I am relieved to find that the advocates of rtvik are left with grasping at straws as their sole means to support their unprofound, unsubstantiated theories. I know very kind vaisnavas, who have endured a past which probably contributed to them embracing the feel good notions of rtvik theories. I pray that they can sincerely examine the dogma of their theorists, and by Srila Prabhupada's mercy once again become bricks in the house His Divine Grace built. See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this story | Contact VNN about this story | Send this story to a friend
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