03/21/98 - 1707

Let Us Debate

USA (VNN) - by Narasimha das

As reported recently on VNN, the GBC intends to try again to write some credible philosophical replies to Krishnakant’s paper “The Final Order.” I hope their replies will be more intelligent and favorable this time. Otherwise, they will certainly weave more entangling webs of deceit and create more unnecessary offense. It would be better for them to simply say (as they pretty much have been doing for 20 years), “We don’t need to answer this stuff! We’ve got the assets!” This is better than concocting offensive philosophies that justifies electing perverts, criminals, and neophyte devotees as gurus.

The gbc is eager to defeat Krishnakant’s “The Final Order” and other papers that propose that we return to doing things the way Srila Prabhupada personally taught us. Such proposals are so basic that it will be impossible for the gbc to defeat them. Many devotees now understand that Srila Prabhupada set up a perfect system for managing initiations in ISKCON. That system was officially established by His Divine Grace’s written order at the same time He created His final will. Both documents clearly say that all systems for management personally arranged by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada should remain unchanged. So, we ask the gbc, “Why did you cancel the system for initiations Srila Prabhupada so carefully arranged? Where is the order from Srila Prabhupada sanctioning His disciples to appoint themselves or others as initiating gurus in ISKCON?” Some devotees have been asking the gbc for answers to these questions for 20 years now, but the gbc can offer no reply.

They want to defeat Krishnakant prabhu’s “The Final Order,” but the whole point of that paper is only to show that there’s no legitimate reason not to follow Srila Prabhupada’s July 9th order on initiations in ISKCON. Although the gbc has employed their best scholars to dig up some philosophical reason to justify their deviations from Srila Prabhupada’s clear instructions, to date they have been unable. Rather, the more they endeavor to find a way to circumvent Srila Prabhupada’s order, the more foolish and offensive they show themselves to be. This is unfortunate, because many innocent people will suffer spiritually. The real issue is not some misplaced or misunderstood document. The real issue is our faith in Srila Prabhupada absolute instructions, which reveal His perfect preaching concept for ISKCON.

For some leading gbc men, the guru issue is apparently only a question of control of the Movement’s people and assets. To achieve their ends, gbc leaders have employed tactics of brainwashing and mass mind control. Such tactics are very sinful and cruel, particularly when used to manipulate devotees. A few leaders in the gbc deliberately orchestrated a take over of Srila Prabhupada’s assets by contaminating their Godbrothers with false motives. Let them be happy with that. Or let them fight the law suits and attacks that will surely come, one after the other.

In South India there was a strong tradition of debate. Such traditions of debate could perhaps help us resolve our “issues”, which have been made complex by mundane persons. In Vedic times, the king would call together opposing sadhus who supposedly represented the same tradition, and under his executive authority, scholars would conduct a debate according to traditional rules. The losers would either join the victorious mission, renounce their positions, go into exile, or commit suicide. In this way, until recent times, philosophical traditions of Vaisnavism in South India were kept free of the influences of mayavada, brahmavada, karma-kanda, sahajiya and other deviations from siddhanta. When debate is conducted properly with reference to guru, shastra, and sadhu, the results can be illuminating for all.

I think it may be useless to debate corrupt persons without the backing of real executive power, but for the sake a discussion, I’ll offer a suggestion. Why not have this debate in a court of some kind? The assets of the Movement and the right to establish the initiation system in official Iskcon would be at stake. Instead of lawyers, devotees could argue the various points according to court procedures. The question for the Court would be, “Who are the actual heirs of the assets and leadership of ISKCON? Which group correctly represents the will and teachings of ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya?” Another suggestion would be to have the debate using college debate team rules and independent arbitrators. Political debate tactics are of course useless for establishing siddhanta, but I think such tactics will be the gbc’s only possible angle for discussion.

For devotees already convinced that following Srila Prabhupada’s order explicitly is the solution to all problems, such debate is unnecessary. We should just preach to innocent persons in and around Iskcon and try to train new devotees in the proper conception of the Jagat Guru, His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.