08/09/98-1985

Corrections to Moscow Events

USA (VNN) - by Sri Rama das

In the last two days I have read many articles about HKS. Two contained references to me which I would like to set straight:

After organizing the Gauranga Bajhan Band concert, some senior devotees ask me to come back to live. I did about 5 weeks later. I was not coming back to be the temple president, but rather a Regional Secretary.

However, when I arrived things had changed quite a bit. I was clearly not wanted there by the HKS disciples. Instead of being given a place in the temple, or near by, disciples of other gurus found me accomdations 6 Metro stops from the temple. I couldn't go to mangala arotika because the Metro didn't leave that early.

On the 6th night, I was mugged by 4 men, while walking the 6 blocks form the Metro to my flat. I was knocked off my feet and a rag was stuffed in my mouth and over my nose. One sat on my legs and the other 3 kicked me, about 30 times in the head and 60 times in the stomach. It didn't seem like they were going to stop.

I fixed my mind on the mantra and gathered enough control of my mind that I stopped reacting to the blows. They thought me either dead or unconscious and left, taking only a paper shopping bag. (I had thousands of rubles in one pocket, and hundreds of dollars in the other.) They didn't take my passport, nor my rigns.

I got to a hospital near the temple and got stiched up. I spent no more than two or three days there.

There was a lot of speculation at the time that it had been arranged by the Russian BBT devotees. But there was no proof that they were responsible and I was not much interested in knowing the truth.

After that, I stayed in Moscow for 2 more years. Ultimately I left because of poor health and my inability to accept the point of view of HKS's disciples.

I had some serious talks with his senior disciples. But there was one concept I could never buy into nor hide my feelings about: These disciples were of the opinion that HKS was above all other ISKCON gurus and had special powers. It fact, they were incredulous that I could not see what they saw and accept these "truths."

HKS was asked a number of times to correct his disciples understanding. But it was so ingrained in them they could not obey his order. There was always a tone "my guru told us that only because it was disturbing the devotees and forced by the GBC.