05/15/98 - 1799

Jiva Jago and Smell the Roses

USA (VNN) - by Yadubar das (see also VNN story# 1797)

Dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I just finished reading the sad letter written by a fine devotee, Gaura Mandala Bhumi das, about the state of affairs in Indonesia with regards to Kavichandra das (Swami). I personally know Gaura Mandala Bhumi Prabhu and believe me when I say that he is the type of gentleman who is always looking for the best in others.

But this personality (KCM) may be a lost cause. Even if he rectifies himself both physically and spiritually, he is obviously not qualified to be an initiating guru nor was he ever qualified by the sounds of it. How does such an individual become a guru except within a society led by fools and rascals.

'Oh, fie upon you!' I can hear the cries of indignation, 'he was elected by the GBC (Gross Bodily Conception according to some) who was elected by Srila Prabhupada himself. If you blaspheme the GBC or their representatives you blaspheme Srila Prabhupada!'

Let's look at some facts here. We only have to examine the colorful history of the GBC to gain some understanding of where they're at. For those who came in late..., the official story is that Srila Prabhupada chose 11 advanced and intimate disciples to succeed him when he left the planet. But where is the proof? Nothing substantial has been presented after more than 20 years except a tape which has proven to be falsified to support their claims.

Let's jump now to the 1990's. Six of the original 11 have fallen away over the years due to the fact that they were never qualified and not chosen as was the claim (one even lost his head). Of the five remaining, we have one in Europe claiming that Prabhupada was a hired writer and that BBTI is the official owners of the rights to Prabhupada's books not the BBT. The Texan fellow is accused of poisoning Srila Prabhupada. Another is officially retired from being a guru and wants to now concentrate on his academic studies instead. Aren't these warning signs to everyone? Aren't the alarm bells ringing loud enough? It's time to jump ship and look for another more seagoing vessel.

My dear friend Gaura, let's say KCM cleans up his act and gets back on track and the sordid details are swept under the carpet (yet again). Will you seriously recommend this man to innocent sincere seekers as Srila Prabhupada's bonafide guru representative? Will you implicate yourself in this sinful endeavor?

I truly believe you are an honest and sincere devotee who wants to do the right thing, to direct sincere souls to a bonafide and qualified guru for their ultimate benefit. But if you continue to direct people to 4th class bogus individuals, then I guess I was wrong about you. You see today Iskcon doesn't mean purity anymore, it's a lot less than that now. It means accepting not 2nd or 3rd or even 4th best. I'm not even convinced it's better than nothing anymore as it implicates innocent newcomers to blaspheme and commit aparadhas to bonafide advanced vaisnavas such BV Narayan Maharaj and BP Puri Maharaj, what to speak of the horrible and offensive behavior to Bhakti Rakshak Srila Sridhar Maharaj.

Lastly, I challenge the followers of the ritvik philosophy to provide direct scriptural evidence from Prabhupada's books for their stance. And I ask the proponents of the fall-from-vaikuntha group to provide clear cut evidence from Srila Prabhupada's books to support their claims.

Vaisnava das anudas
Yadubar das

E-mails welcome ca150763@mail01.mel.aone.net.au