April 30, 1999   VNN3749  

Srila Govinda Maharaj And ISKCON

AUSTRALIA, Apr 30 (VNN) — Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Sridhar Sangha, Australia

His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj has given some advice to disciples involved in preaching in Australia with regard to our dealings with ISKCON, the divine Mission founded by Om Vishnupad, Prabhupad Sri Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaj.

Srila Govinda Maharaj advised that last time he was in Russia a delegation of senior ISKCON men came to see him, with tape recorders etc., to discuss various matters. Srila Govinda Maharaj told the ISKCON delegation that "I will not initiate any ISKCON devotee who is serving within ISKCON and connected with ISKCON". Maharaj went on to explain that ISKCON has done great service to glorify their founder Acharyya Srila Prabhupad, who we consider as our Guru, and that he would never want to see any unnecessary disturbance or weakening of that great society. However, if any person who is rejected by ISKCON and outside of ISKCON, but who was previously connected to ISKCON, were to come and ask for initiation, then Srila Govinda Maharaj would consider giving initiation to that person. The Russian leaders were very satisfied with Srila Govinda Maharaj's statement and they now have a very happy relationship with our Srila Gurudev.

Since Srila Govinda Maharaj arrived in Australia last Saturday and began speaking in public a number of disciples of BV Narayan Maharaj of Mathura have started coming to see Srila Govinda Maharaj. Even one man who has given up his connection of Srila Sridhar Maharaj and taken shelter of BV Narayan Maharaj has been regularly coming to see Srila Govinda Maharaj and sits at his feet while Srila Govinda Maharaj is speaking. And we are seeing that Srila Govinda Maharaj has been showing amazing tolerance, being very merciful to everyone who is coming to have his darshan.

In Australia, our preaching is 100% focused towards contacting new people who have no previous connection with Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Some people who were with other societies may come and make a connection with Srila Gurudev while he is here with us in Australia. This is possible. But we are not preaching against ISKCON or saying to ISKCON people that they should leave their place of service. Every day fifteen devotees led by Sripad Paramhamsa Maharaj are going out in a bus and preaching in different towns and cities in the region, and our real aim is to try and find new people who are searching for a positive life of devotion and to speak about Hari-katha with them.