07/12/98 - 1907

Another Open Letter to Tamal Krishna Maharaja

USA (VNN) - by Gauridasa Pandita Dasa - July 9, 1998

Dear Tamal Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Jagat-Guru Srila Prabhupada!

I have been thinking of communicating with you for quite some time now. The last letter I sent you some 7 years ago was returned unopened by the Dallas Temple President along with a note that you no longer wish to communicate with me. Therefore I have no other choice but to write you an open letter since the matter is crucial to Srila Prabhupada's mission.

First of all I would like to have a friendly relationship with you. I have been hoping to meet you personally in LA or wherever; but you don't come around much anymore.

We go way back to 1974. Although Visnujana Swami was my main inspiration your preaching made me join the Sri Sri Radha-Damodara Traveling Sankirtan Party. I'm sure you have as good of memories as I do of all of our preaching pastimes. You mentioned some of these in your book, Servant of the Servant. I have always been a 'small' devotee and you have always been a 'big' devotee. I don't want to be preachy with you because you are always my senior; still I am dutybound to serve the orders of Srila Prabhupada and let the other devotees know what happened back in 1977.

When Srila Prabhupada decided to leave the planet in Hrisikesh we were shocked. When he went to Vrndavan to 'leave his body' he made all proper arrangements for the future of this great movement. When Srila Prabhupada appointed the ritvik representatives to initiate after his departure he was dictating a letter to you. I stood there as I did every morning fanning him with the camera. He spoke about this for weeks. We both know what he said to do. It was very clear until he left the planet. Then you acted like you didn't know what he said to do. The result has been a disaster. You admitted this in your famous Pyramid Talks of 1980. Is your profit distinction and adoration of your 'disciples' really worth deviating from Srila Prabhupada's instructions for a ritvik system to continue for ISKCON? You will be happy when you tell the truth again.

I hope and pray that you reconsider your position and life and the life of ISKCON. You have been accused of many things. I don't think you poisoned Srila Prabhupada; but I did see you try to control him. You must atone for this before you leave your body. You have the power to change the world if you do this. The sooner the better. I know it will be the hardest thing in your life to do; but you must! If you do I and many of my God-brothers are ready to serve you and work with you to spread this great mission of Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga. To forgive and forget is a Vaisnava quality.

The heat is on and it's only getting hotter. We all want peace. The only way to have peace is to tell the truth and let the healing begin. This is supposed to be a happy movement; not a divisive group of devotees with some of the most aggressive competing for the new disciples and the assets of ISKCON. The guru has been made a cheap thing as a result of not following Srila Prabhupada's instructions. This issue will not go away as you and hundreds of others wish it would. You can be a hero before it's too late.

Please respond to this as soon as possible. If you refuse then will you at least be present for a GBC discussion on this matter? I'm sure we can act nicely for Srila Prabhupada.

I just realized that this letter is dated July 9th; the same date as the letter Srila Prabhupada dictated and you typed up to all Temple Presidents and GBC's. I think Krishna is making me write this to you. My only interest is to help the mission. I have no intention of defaming you. Do you remember when I got electrocuted in front of Srila Prabhupada and I left my body for awhile? Well; I think Krishna saved me then just so Srila Prabhupada's instructions for a ritvik initiation system would not be lost in time. So although I am a small devotee I have a big service. I have been through the ringer trying to defend Srila Prabhupada's instructions while many of the leaders of the movement have condemned these instructions for a ritvik system. Unless they repent and atone they will be very sorry in the end. I don't want a big fight. Srila Prabhupada asked us to cooperate. I am asking you to cooperate. Can we do this for him?

I have been waiting for 21 years now and will continue to wait until the day I die. The happiest day in my life will be when ISKCON accepts the ritvik system as ordered by Srila Prabhupada. Then the movement will grow just as it did in the 60's and 70's. Hundreds of devotees understand this now but until the GBC understands Srila Prabhupada's instructions in this matter and implements them we will continue to have disunity and factionalism all over the movement. Let us communicate and cooperate.

Let us swallow our ego for this one lifetime and follow the orders of His Divine Grace.

Then we can chant Hare Krishna nicely; and be happy. Thanking you in advance, I know you have a soft heart. I hope this meets you well.

Your servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa