09/03/1998 - 2117

"I Wish To Change This Rule of No Illicit Sex"

Germany (VNN) - Following is a letter from Jayapataka Swami to Harikesa's disciples in response to Harikesa's instructions to his disciples to give up the regulative principle restricting illicit sex and leaving ISKCON:

Camp: ISKCON Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, Radhastami Festival, MayapurDham, India.

My Dear Spiritual Nieces & Nephews,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!Thankyou for your letter cited below with my comments. I have noted thecontents carefully.

> > Sri Visnupada's Statement:
> >
> > > However, I do suggest for those who wish to accept what I say now,
> > > that they do so… especially those who consider yourselves still my
> > > followers, that I wish to change this rule that no illicit sex, which
> > > means no sex except for having children.
>
> I must say that as he describes it, it kind of makes sense to me. And it
> seemed that JPS also agreed with this, when they discussed.
>
> Or am I off? I am really interested in hearing opinions on this.

Srila Prabhupada and sastra are very clear that sex life for having Krishnaconscious children is a devotional service and therefore isn't sinful. Ifone is following such a level of sex life and devotional service, butsuddenly dies while still in the household asram they will still go back toGodhead. Srila Prabhupada said householders who follow this are called asGrihastha Brahmacari's. It is the standard of Krishna consciousness in allsastras. I don't have any different idea on this.

What I discussed with HKM was that if a devotee failed to follow this theway that Srila Prabhupada preached to them was basicly to do the best theycan. I overheard some instructions, but since I was a sannyasi I didn't payso much attention so i don't feel confident to say what Srila Prabhupadaactually said. But it wasn't really sanctioning that one didn't have tofollow, it was giving devotees some guidelines in case they couldn't how togradually come back to the standard. The context in my discussion with HKMwas that certainly Srila Prabhupada would never have imagined or wanted adevotee to commit suicide for not following. HKM agreed that the devoteemust have been a little crazy to apply it like that, but he felt strongabout the issue. I didn't agree that changing the principle was thesolution. Rather advising people who can't follow what they should do inthat case so that they know what to do to get back on the track.

Every devotee vows to chant 16 rounds, but if one misses one day it isn'tthat they should commit suicide nor that we should reduce the number ofrounds to chant per day. However if one can't chant 16 then SrilaPrabhupada would advise to chant some number as a daily minimum andgradually increase until one gets back to the desired number. That type ofguideline is what I was suggesting.

If we break a principle then we are liable for the karma. Sex for pleasurehas some karma factor. If it is within marriage then it is less karma thanif it is out of wedlock. Like that there are some levels of karmic responsibility. Since sastra says sex for pleasure brings karma if a Gurusays to change the principle then he is allowing disciples to do vikarmas.Both the Guru and disciple will have to accept the karma. In Bengal peoplecan hardly follow vegetarian diet. They are very attached to eating fish.They consider fish a kind of swimming "water fruit" and say it is okay toeat. So many so-called vaisnava "gurus" tell their followers it is okay toeat fish since that way they can have more followers. In this way we canadjust the 4 principles in so many variations, but each variation willattract vikarmic reactions. What Srila Prabhupada gave may be difficult,but it is karma free. If someone goes off the karma free route then karmais the result. A guru can't change the Law of Karma to suit the relativeweakness or strength of the local people. The infallible Law of Karma is thesame for everyone.

My point was a grihastha may accept a certain risk factor if they can'tfollow and they should know how to take the least dangerous alternative. Thetotally risk free alternative is actually following the principle ofgarbodhana samskara. However, even in the Samskara Dipika by Gopal BhattaGoswami, one of the 6 Goswamis, there is a ceremony in the simantanayanarite for doing a yajna to make up for a conception which failed to have beenachieved with a garbodhana samskara. So even 500 years ago the possibilityof sex outside of garbodhana samskara was acknowledged and some remedialyajna was prescribed. Certainly suicide wasn't the solution. Sohouseholders should try there best to follow strictly, and know what theconsequences and remedies are in case they fail.

This is what I meant in our discussion. Of course, each Guru may give somepersonal instructions to his disciples, but no guru can change the law ofkarma and its reactions.

I don't agree with this wanting to change the regulative principles as givenin sastra and by Srila Prabhupada. In SB #1 the 4 pillars of Kali are givenand one of them is illicit sex. The sanskrit word is "avaidya maithuna"which is non-vedic or illicit sex. How can we give in to Kali on one of themain pillars? At the same time we should not make householders feel soguilty if they don't follow 100% that they become psychotic or depressed.It may take some householders some time to follow perfectly. That is a riskthey take, but they need to know what is the standard they should work toachieve. That is how I understand it.

I am concerned that Srila Prabhupada's instructions are being made light ofand that can be very offensive. I wonder on what authority HKM feels he canjust make any adjustment he wants without referring to sastra. Thisinstruction and the garbodhana samskara are mentioned in sastra and not onlySrila Prabhupada's instructions. Disciples should be careful to remainsecurely under Srila Prabhupada's shelter. The obvious invitation fordevotees to leave ISKCON and statements that ISKCON was a "SECT" are verypainful for all of us ISKCON devotees to hear. HKM has gone over the limitof acceptable action in making such statements and encouraging his followersto leave ISKCON. I had a lot of hope that things would work out soon withHarikesa Maharaj, but now my hopes have gone done a lot. My heart isshattered. I don't know whether to feel cheated or what. I am very unhappyabout the whole thing. I want very much for Harikesa Maharaja to be with usall in ISKCON serving Srila Prabhupada, but it seems he has another idea.There is really no excuse and he could easily be an ISKCON member grihasthaand have a health clinic as a business or service for devotees. His desireto be out of ISKCON is something almost unfathomable to me. I still hopethat one day HKM might change his mind, but as things are happening it seemslike a longer period of time may be needed for him to return---if at all. Iwas giving Harikesa Maharaja's disciples some hope because I was feelinghopeful. I haven't given up as yet, but I am finding the new turn of eventsvery difficult to tolerate.

I am still praying that all the obstacles in the way of Harikesa Maharaja'sreturn to ISKCON and the shelter of Srila Prabhupada may be removed and wecan be united again. I am also praying for all of you. Please stay with usin Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON family. If we all stay here and don't leaveand if we tell Harikesa Maharaja that we are not unhappy. That ISKCON isn'ta cult or sect, but a happy religious family that wants him to return---thenmaybe he would consider in due time. I don't see any reason to leave ISKCONand I am sad he is encouraging his followers to do so if they like to. WellI am encouraging all of you to stay. If I can do anything to serve youplease tell me. My heart is very heavy today.

I hope that this finds you in good health.

Your ever well wisher and spiritual uncle,

Jayapataka Swami