08/12/98 - 1998

Ravindra Swarup About Narayana Maharaja

USA (VNN) - by Vaisnava dasanudas

Sri guru gauranga jayatah.

Just recently I and my godbrother had the great misfortune of reading an article on Chakra by Ravindra Swarup prabhu. The glaring point that comes to mind is that in the midst of the tremendous amount of dysfunctional activities going on right now in and around the institution that he is a leader of, he chooses to take time to speculate on the level of purity of Srimad Narayana Maharaja. Is it that he really has interest in this or that it is a suitable diversion from the troubling issues at hand.

Like the example of Daksa offending Lord Siva, by using his material vision and estimation of Lord Siva as a criterion for judging and understanding his behaviour. Now that is not to say that the actions of srila narayana maharaja are difficult to understand when it comes to Iskcon. The simple fact is that if devotees are satisfied and making spiritual progress they will not see a need to go elsewhere. Moreover by any scriptual understanding to hear from any qualified and bonafide vaishnava is reccommended.

If Ravindra Swarup prabhu or anyone is trully interested in understanding Srila Narayana Maharaja. then set up a fourm to completly get an understanding of why, how and what Srila Narayana Maharaja is saying or doing. But please no secret behind close door meetings, allow any and all devotees to use thier intellegence in these matters by hearing both sides of the issue.

One last thing is that rather than counting the devotees who have supposedly given up Srila Narayana Maharaja's association you should know that there are so many coming to take his association. If Ravindra Swarup prabhu feels that devotees will return to iskcon after associating with Srila Narayana Maharaja, why are there so many restrictions placed on devotees about going and taking Srila Narayana Maharaja's association e.g. being banned from temples, or in the case of leaders being stripped of their services etc.

In conclusion, with all due respect and no offense intended:

1. Please deal with the issues at hand within Iskcon and its leadership and don't obfiscate it with speculation about Srila Narayana Maharaja.

2. Do not try to create doubts in the minds of devotees about the purity Srila Narayana Maharaja, rather deal with purity issues in Iskcon and its leadership.

3. Stop thinking that devotees are blind or less intelligent. And that they don't see what is going on. Many are financially or socially dependent on iskcon and are afraid of being banned or excommunicated for expressing their views.

4. Can we be sincere enough to put it to the test and to let have freedom of association with not only Srila Narayana Maharaja but all bonafide and qualified vaishnavas?

Vaisnava dasanudas
Madhava dasa
Mukunda dasa