08/30/98 - 2095

Simply Irreligious

USA (VNN) - by Ranga Puri das

Maharaj: Pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and the vaisnava acharyas I don't know if the pain in my heart is greater than my indignation when I witness the abuses of some so-called leaders of this society in the name of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya's Movement. I was stunned by a series of statements and letters originated in the United Kingdom, starting with a "ritviks away" resolution, and a couple of letters -with replies- signed by Vipramukhya Swami. I still have the hopeless hope that it is a make-believe trick by some enemies of this movement, because of the dangers it involves. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

First of all, the Hare Krishna movement is meant to deliver the message of Love of Godhead to mankind at large and at no stage is it meant to overrule religion, to repress vaisnavas, to offend them, to invent a new religion or worse even, to convert it into a dangerous cult.

How can somebody dare to threaten devotees of the Lord, living in His temple and serving Him with a conviction that Srila Prabhupada is a true pure devotee, with being banned from Srila Prabhupada's ashram? Let me assert, by the way, that I do not believe myself in the ritvik proposition as the conclusion of the vaisnava siddhanta. But I perceive that the proponents of the ritvik idea are expressing dissatisfaction and lack of faith in self-appraised and vote-appointed acharyas. Unfortunately, both proponents and opponents sometimes go so far as to believe that true devotees of the Lord are confined to time and space, as well as our approval.

Suppressing the brahmanas and the vaisnavas is a clear example of an irreligious act. To cause pain to brahmanas, cows, women, aged and tender citizens is condemned throughout every bonafide religious scripture, and causes severe consequences for the perpetrators. Even worse if he does so in the name of religion or hidden under the name of some institution, management council or whatever name or shape one uses to perpetrate such an act, that is simply evil.

Moreover, true brahmanas are compassionate. The story of Matanga Maharaj in the Mahabharata clearly depicts a cruel person as non-brahmana, as this behaviour is a typical symptom of low class and sinful people. Prabhupada said that when sudras rule, they can not make people happy, no matter how hard they try.

The Lord speaks and eats through the mouth of true brahmanas, and therefore to supress the freedom of speech to vaisnavas is considered very sinful, as it prevents the will of the Lord to be manifest in human society. For further insight on this one the Srimad Bhagavatam is full of vivid examples as the histories of king Vena, Ambarish & Durvasa Muni, etc. Neither ISKCON, nor the GBC, nor the Pope, nor the Queen of England nor any other person or institution of this world or anywhere in any universe is entitled to defy the law of God, as He is the sole true ruler as per the statement of Yamaraj: dharman tu saksad bhagavat pranitam. Everybody else is His servant, and is meant to obey his rules, to follow which is called religion. In this particular case, all over the "civilised" world it is even against ordinary law to deprive somebody of his home. To do this in a so-called church, when the causes are not sinful acts, irreligious acts, acts that are criminal or contrary to State law is not only a shame, but is against the law. It can cause not only the deserved punishment of the violators of law, but can even hamper the legal status of the society of Srila Prabhupada in the United Kingdom -- besides of being an awful bigotry in the eyes of anyone who has eyes in any part of the world.

This abuse of power in the name of religion is the old history of this world. I suggest that you study the "Holy" Inquisition as an example of the injustices, stupidities, crimes and unnameable atrocities that can be committed by people holding some power. The worst comes from the people who do so in the name of God, as supposedly they are acting in behalf of the Almighty.

In particular, the Bhaktivedanta Manor was donated to Srila Prabhupada under the inspiration that it would serve the cause of the Lord, not with the idea that it would become a concentration camp, where women and brahmanas would be publicly oppressed. You do not have the right to do so, as that is not your house, my dear friends. That is a place of pilgrimage created by the potency and hard work of Srila Prabhupada and his true followers.

I urge you, Maharaj, to step back from this abuse for the good of all. And if you are only the tip of the iceberg, let the others know they are stepping into a dangerous field. Sinful acts committed in the dress of a sannyasi have horrible spiritual consequences. And illegal acts as this have terrible material effects, that can start with a justified ban by the government, fines to be paid, monetary damnification and even criminal punishment or imprisonment in some cases.

If we still have some good sense and faith in God, let us remember: "Never has a creature taken birth, neither amongst the gods, the humans nor the demons, who was not bewildered by power." The renounced order of life is meant to free one from the temptation to exert power or attract followers. This is a sacred order meant to help the soul in his search for truth. Because you are accepting disciples, it is impossible for you to impose this "ritviks away" rule from a neutral position. To state that the ones who accept only Srila Prabhupada as a true acharya are wrong and the ones that accept current ISKCON gurus are right, particularly in the Manor where you yourself are acting as such, is in the best case proselytising. We are witnessing so many dedicated leaders falling down into gross deviations due to offenses. I do not exclude myself, as being currently an ISKCON temple president for almost two decades has resulted in deserved suffering for any wrongdoing. We all are called to do good to others, not to exploit them.

I know that it is not proper for me to instruct a senior, less with strong statements but surely it is harder for me to witness harrasment and remain silent. I pray to your feet not to take offense, but my sense of duty is forcing me to do so. Sweet words alone will not help this time.

Yours in the service of the vaisnavas

Ranga Puri das

PS Do you honestly think that an intelligent person could enroll in a cult that rules against the laws of God, and that Srila Prabhupada would be happy the way you are handling it?