03/01/98 - 1654

Boycott Chakra?

USA (VNN) - by Narasimha das

Recently, while browsing at the Chakra site, I was happy to see so much Krsna-katha yet shocked to find offensive statements about Srila Prabhupada. Some of these statements were attributed, in an editorial, to a devotee who never made the statements nor statements resembling them. Other offensive statements about His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada were mentioned on Chakra in denial of Nara Narayana's claim on VNN that a senior ISKCON sannyasi had slandered Srila Prabhupada with certain quoted words. These "quoted" words were published in articles on Chakra by devotees who were agitated by the investigations reported on VNN.

Some GBC supporters slander devotees for political reasons, yet I never expected to see slander of Srila Prabhupada on Chakra, because this site is run by senior ISKCON devotees and sannyasis. These are devotees close to, or part of, the leadership of ISKCON. Devotees in exalted positions of spiritual leadership must always remain friends and defenders of Srila Prabhupada, first and foremost. Why did Chakra publish blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada? Apparently just to defame devotees not in their camp. Who actually made these offensive remarks, or whether anyone did, is another issue.

The writers of one of the above-mentioned Chakra editorials were criticizing a devotee involved with VNN. They never actually claimed that this devotee (mentioned by name) had said precisely the mentioned blasphemous words (yet they published these words as his quote). Rather, they claimed these words reflected this devotee's attitude. They felt his actions or statements implied his belief that Srila Prabhupada had defects, like a conditioned soul. In other words, writers on Chakra published blasphemous statements of their own creation and attributed them to another devotee. In another article on Chakra, blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada was quoted--only to have a witness say, "It never happened."

I know a devotee who jumped through a plate glass window to avoid hearing blasphemy (from deprogramers). Now Chakra distributes such poison freely to thousands of their friends and followers. Why? Not to help the investigation. Not to defend Srila Prabhupada. Only to discredit devotees. The result of their actions: thousands of innocent people got contaminated by reading blasphemous remarks about a paramahamsa Vaisnava.

It's wrong to repeat slander of a devotee, especially a paramahamsa acharya. It's simply a misfortune to hear such things. The scriptures recommend drastic measures for those who hear blasphemy of a Mahabhagavata. Even if we can't decisively defeat the statements with philosophy and logic, we should leave the place immediately, even if it means risking our life. Why would any devotee want to pollute the entire universe by repeating blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada?

Nara Narayana Vivakarma mentioned on VNN slander of Srila Prabhupada that he said he had heard. In that case, Nara Narayana immediately defeated the blasphemy in his long article. He expressed regret for having heard this and for not countering it immediately. He obviously thought his testimony would put heat on a man he felt might be a criminal suspect or an offender who had misled ISKCON. Whether he should have offered such testimony publicly is another issue. His motive seemed good, and VNN published his article. (There's a fire in the Movement. It's a fact. Should VNN, or anyone, talk about it publicly? Good question. Similarly, should devotees condemn each other by name in public forums? I don't think so, but that's another topic.)

What's especially alarming about Chakra's editorial policy is that they ran blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada without justification and without bothering to refute it. As friends and leaders of ISKCON, they want to nail ISKCON's "enemies" and protect the GBC. How do they do this? They publish blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada! Then they forget to defeat it! Can we trust the motives of such persons?

A paramahamsa, like Srila Prabhupada, is beyond the laws of material nature, although sometimes it may appear otherwise. The Supreme Lord Krishna seemed to bleed when Sri Bhismadeva shot Him with arrows. Lord Krishna seemed to cry when Salva showed Him an illusory Vasudeva and beheaded it. Similarly, it appears that pure devotees are sometimes attacked, injured, or killed. In ancient times, Gautama Rishi's disciples plotted to kill him, and he "had" to leave his ashram at Srirangapatnam in disgust. Srila Ramanujacarya "had" to run for his life on two ocassions. His Holiness Keshava Maharja "had" to disguise himself as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati when there was a threat on the Acharya's life. Pastimes of the Supreme Lord and His pure devotees are sometimes difficult to understand. (I discussed these points in my essay "Can Pure Devotees Be Killed?" - VNN.)

Perhaps the Chakra site is more a political tool than a forum for education. How else can we explain their offense? They offended Srila Prabhupada and every devotee who happened to read these blasphemous statements. Every devotee who reads or hears blasphemy of Srila Prabhupuda is dutybound to defeat it. If we don't at least protest, won't we become implicated in this offense, just by hearing or reading? Advanced devotees have risked their lives to avoid hearing blasphemy, and Chakra distributes it freely.

Devotees who have read this blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada should write Chakra, denouncing their editorial policy. Unless Chakra apologizes and promises to never again run offensive statements about pure devotees, everyone should boycott their site. Dialog with offenders is useless. The scriptures advise extreme measures for those who have had the misfortune to hear blasphemy of a pure devotee. It's not possible, nor has Srila Prabhupada suggested, that we follow all this advice in this day and age. But we can do the minimum, as I've suggested above.

For those who feel they must "reply to" or "defeat" offensive statements, please try to do so without actually repeating the statements. Such statements, even about lesser devotees, are serious. According to the Bhagavad-gita, devotees of Lord Krsna are great souls. Even if they do something abominable, we should still respect them as sadhus. The test is: 1.) Are they fully engaged in devotional service? 2.) Do they understand and regret their mistakes? (Their camp or affiliation should not be an issue.)

When asked why he came as an "old man", I heard Srila Prabhupada replied, "It's easier for people to accept an old man as authority." All glories to Srila Prabhupada! He is perfect in every way. Hare Krishna!