© 1999 VNN
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USA July 7, 1999 VNN4245 Comment on this story The Ashram In Columbus BY N... DASI USA, Jul 7 (VNN) — I have recently read with interest the articles submitted by various vaisnavas about the ashram in Columbus Ohio which is run by Malati. I too spent some time at Malati's ashram and found that I also had to leave because I was not able to tolerate the situation. It was so very nice to see the article submitted by Mahananda where he gives the suggestion to Malati that she go to Florida to take some time off, and with the temple president there, learn how to become a better leader. One who can inspire the devotees rather than intimidate them into submission and surrender. I myself have been in other temples where the atmosphere is very different. In Columbus I felt forced to do things out of fear of such a repressive leader. I never felt any sense of inspiration but rather fear. If Malati had her opinion, that was it. Everything had to be done as she wanted it. There was no questioning. She had absolute authority and ruled with an iron hand. I have never met a woman with a harder heart than Malati. That includes karmi women as well. As far as the notes go, there were many notes all over the ashram, from the basement cooler, shower, toilet, kitchen to the first floor kitchen, pujari room, alter even on Srimate Tulasi devi's pots and lights and the wall near to her, the hallway, eating area, and all other areas, to the second floor bathroom, office, hallway, stairway. The third floor also had its notes. I used to laugh at all the notes. They were like Krishna, ever fresh. Every day there was at least one or two notes added to the slew of other notes. Outside the shower wall, on the bathroom wall, on the mirror, even over the toilet. Although I would laugh at them quite hysterically at times, I also felt that maybe this was a sign that something was very wrong with Malati herself. Why would someone consistently be writing notes all of the time about such ridiculous things. Besides the notes, Malati had a very harsh personality, very abrupt. Things had to be done right then and there. So much passion. Dressing the deities, which should be a wonderful meditation, was total hell. Passion personified. So much yelling and even pushing the devotees who were dressing the deities. There were times when Malati herself would leave Radha Natabara completely undressed so that she could go and make a telephone call in the middle of dressing them. When I asked another senior devotee if this was correct, she told me that in her opinion it was not. she explained that dressing the deities is a whole meditation where the devotee is alone with Radha and Krsna and there is to be no disturbance unless it is a dire emergency. That was also what I would have thought. I also have seen Malati get so passionate on the alter that she grabbed several of the devotees arms, screamed at them to hurry up and then threw the deities clothing at them. Then she pushed them with the clothing tray in their hands telling them to get it all out of there. It was very frightening and crazy. I was sent to the ashram for training by my temple president. If anything, I was trained to make sure that I never go back there again. Maybe I was sent there to work off some negative karma or something. If I was given the choice between Iskcon Krishna House and having to live with karmis, I would choose the second. Thus I wish that those devotees in position of GBC would take Mahananda's words and those of the other devotees who have submitted articles about Malati's ashram very seriously. From my experience there, what I saw with my own eyes, and what I heard from other women who were there, many devotees left the ashram out of complete anxiety with the situation. Some of them left Krishna consciousness completely thinking that this was what Krishna consciousness was all about. Some of the ladies went to other temples, but there were a few who have left and went into maya. What is really bad is the fact that if one speaks honestly to anyone about the situation, they just do not want to hear or correct the situation. No wonder these newer ladies chose to go into maya. Even some of the initiated ladies left the temple also and chose a situation in maya instead. Of course we should not say anything bad about a devotee, but then again someone has to be honest so that a situation that needs correcting can get corrected. I am asking that the GBC try to contact those women who have left Malati's ashram and try to find out why they left. These ladies have good reason to have chosen to do that. I was there myself, and I could see first hand what was going on there. I was not able to stick out the situation for so long. Believe me, I gave it a good effort, telling myself to tolerate. Be more tolerant than the tree. But should one tolerate insanity? I felt I shouldn't. I don't think tolerance means to be masochistic, and I felt if I stayed in Malati's ashram, that that would be what I was doing. Why should one put oneself through so much emotional abuse in Krishna consciousness? Is that what Krishna consciousness is all about? Mahananda told us no by his submitting Srila Prabhupada's statement to Bhagavan das. Srila Prabhupad did not want the devotees to be treated like dogs, and that is how I felt at Malati's hands. Run to her every beck and call. Let her chastise me and watch as she chastised other devotees, even in front of the deities, even right on the alter. Even during mangal arotike or guru puja Malati would yell at the devotee offering the arotike or she would stop the kirtan to scream at someone for something. I felt like I was in a jail with a crazy guard barking orders for no sane reason. If I had never had any experience before in any other temples and had just gone to Iskcon Krishna House in Columbus, I have to admit that I would have left and chosen to completely reject Srila Prabhupad and his movement. Some other ladies who left the ashram did. If there is anyone who is reading this who knows Malati. If you care about those ladies who are new and are sincerely trying to become devotees, then I ask you to please try to get Malati to examine herself and tell her to give up these ways of her which cause intimidation and intrepidation to people who are trying to surrender to Iskcon and render service to Krishna. Someone out there please help this woman - Malati - and those ladies who will be sent to her in the future. Sincerely N... dasi Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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