02/17/98 - 1620

Does Anyone Really Care?

Canada (VNN) - by Mother Pracetana

Dear Malini devi,

I am a mother of a Gurukula boy, who after spending his whole childhood, in Iskcon gurukulas, from age 5 yrs. to l2 yrs. left his faith in Krsna with bitter memories, and a total lack of respect for authority. This was the result of my sending my son away thousands of miles from me, to persons, I had no knowledge of in regards to their character. I sent him away, because of my love for Srila Prabhupada, I sent him away because of my faith in Srila Prabhupada's purity. I sent him away because I trusted the authorities.

Can you restore the faith in my son? Can you repair the damage done? Can you restore the trust and love that was broken? I have been trying my best to nurture my son in his development of spiritual understanding, and I have been encouraging him on his own individual path, to finding truth. He has read all of Gandhi's teachings, he has studied Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita, he has studied Buddist teachings of the Dahli Lama, and is presently working and going to school, studying political science.

Who from Iskcon will encourage him in his development of Love of God? I fear there is no one but myself. Who will console and support myself, a mother, who feels pain, because her son was so mistreated? Iskcon is missing the HEART!!! If one has heart, then one has compassion, then one can understand the pain of another. But I believe that the heart of Iskcon is dead. Can you Malini devi, help me to understand, why I should continue to trust and put my faith in an organization that lacks heart? Is there anyone there among you at Chakra, who even care about the pain I experienced as a mother, when I had to remove my son from Vrndavan Gurukula, because of the sexual misconduct in the school? I spoke up eleven years ago, but no one cared to listen. Is there any among you, who care to listen now?

Please answer my letter Malini devi. Or perhaps, due to politics, again my heart felt inquires will be deleted, by the Chakra editors. Why are we afraid to face the truth? Will someone please answer my questions? If my questions are answered perhaps my faith in Iskcon could be restored. Does anyone really care?

Your sincerely and truthfully,
Mother Pracetana.