VNN World - Statement By Bhavananda Dasa

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October 20, 1999 VNN4977 Related VNN StoriesComment on this story

Statement By Bhavananda Dasa

BY BHAVANANDA DASA

USA, Oct 20 (VNN) — To all the devotees of ISKCON. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been most apprehensive about becoming involved in what I saw to be an "endless debate" on the internet over the poison issue. When Hari Sauri prabhu made the point that many innocent devotees were becoming bewildered by all this I felt duty bound to make a statement - and one statement only - for the record.

I did not poison Srila Prabhupada nor was I involved in a conspiracy to poison Srila Prabhupada. Absolutely none of my Godbrothers poisoned Srila Prabhupada. The entire poison issue is ludicrous and beyond absurd.

Anyone who was present in Vrindavana at that time could not deny that every attempt both material and spiritual was made in an effort to keep Srila Prabhupada with us all as long as possible. Srila Prabhupada departed by his own sweet will and by the desire of his beloved Lords, Krsna and Balarama.

Those were extremely difficult times not only for those of us who were nursing him but also for all his disciples around the world. I don't know where Nityananda dasa was at that time but his assistance in caring for Srila Prabhupada would have been greatly appreciated by his Godbrothers.

Srila Prabhupada was certainly never more approachable by all the devotees regardless of sannyasa, grhastha, male, female or even child. I remember thinking Srila Prabhupada would want some privacy from the video camera of Yadubara prabhu but he told me Yadubara should be allowed to film whatever he wanted. So you can understand that an atmosphere of openness prevailed, not one of secrecy and whispers as the real poison conspirators are implying.

Doubtless there is much work to be done for Srila Prabhupada to save the conditioned souls from the horrendous onslaught of maya. Let us all at least put this particular lunacy to rest to allow us to get on with the serious work at hand.

I remain the most lowly and unqualified servant of all the Vaisnavas of ISKCON.

Bhavananda dasa.