Dear Maharajas, dear Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis,
Please accept my humble dandavat pranams.
Jay sri sri Guru-Gauranga!
Kindly accept my letter of sympathy to all of you.
I was greatly shocked that my godbrothers in the GBC of Iskcon wrote and published on the DANDAVAT website a paper greatly vilifying Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja .
I feel very sad and ashamed .
Specially after the GBC of Iskcon came in Karttika to Govardhan to beg forgiveness for previous offences made to Srila Maharaja and broadcasted to the all vaisnava public the successful meeting with Srila Narayana Maharaja in that November 2009, I felt that the paper ” The last conversation ” they wrote must have given great pain to Srila Maharaja and to all the disciples, followers and friend of Srila Narayana Maharaja.
You must all feel so much disturbed and cheated by such duplicitous behavior!
As I expressed it in my letter of protest to the GBC (see attached ) I do not know the circumstances of the redaction of that letter – if all the GBC members discussed it and approved it or not – but I can assure you that many devotees from Iskcon do not agree with the analysis and contents of that paper.
I pray to Srila Prabhupada that the GBC of Iskcon will apologize sincerely to Srila Narayana Maharaja and the all vaisnava assembly of Iskcon , of Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti and the International Pure Bhakti Society and rectify the situation.
Begging for the mercy of Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas,
Aristanasana das
ISKCON – New Mayapura – France
Letter to the GBC BODY About Srila Narayana Maharaja
Dear respected GBC members,
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Jaya Sacinandana Gaurahari!
I beg to inform you that with great sadness I read few days ago on DANDAVAT that you have officially publishe a letter which is greatly offending Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.
I appreciate very much and follow regularly your constant efforts to work cooperatively for the proper management of ISKCON for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada , but , in spite of the great respect you are due, please here allow me to express my strongest disapproval against that letter of yours .
In it , you are trying to demonstrate that Srila Maharaja is a liar , an ambitious opportunist , an hypocrite and so on.
It is shocking that you are trying to attain your goal by comparing words of Maharaja with what you call “ THE FINAL CONVERSATION “ between Srila Prabhupada and Narayana Maharaja as if there was no other conversation after the 8th of October 1977 until the disappearance lila of Prabhupada although there is so many witness who testify that there was so many more visits up to the last day .
I do not want to analyze in this letter all your points but in a second letter if you allow me.
Today I wish to say how offensive it is to Srila Maharaja and that Prabhupada is certainly very displeased by such mistreatments and aparadha to such a dear friend of him.
It is specially embarrassing to see that you send a committee of 5 GBC members in Kartika 2009 to visit Narayana Maharaja in Govardhan for apologizing for previous misbehaviours by the GBC towards him ;and 6 months latter you write and broadcast widely that horrible analysis to attempt to show that Narayana Maharaja is of a duplicitous
ambitious nature .It is millions of time worst than before… UNBELIEVABLE….
It is an enormous offense to a very elevated Vaisnava and especially near and dear to our Srila Prabhupada as Prabhupada revealed it so many times in His letters to him and in that conversation itself.
Today I beg you to consider my words of protest.
We, Iskcon devotees, cannot behave, speak or think like this, and specially our GBC body cannot write and broadcast such terrible offences to an elevated and elderly Vaisnava –nay to any Vaisnava – in the name of our movement, ISKCON , and our Srila Prabhupada .
Was such a letter discussed and voted during the annual GBC meeting in Mayapura 2010?
Were all the members in favour of that letter?
Or is it only the fruit of the Executive GBC committee who signed the letter?
Did you consult with non GBC members who are elderly, mature and wise?
Whatever happened, please consider that such resolution cannot be the object of a vote as it is completely against the Sastra!
If some of us feel that letter is appropriate then I beg you to write it in their name, signed it with their name, taking the responsibility of such endeavours but do not involve others who are not of that opinion.
It is not a matter of majority vote; a managerial issue!
It is a matter of total unanimity or no letter at all.
I must say again that I cannot follow you in that direction.
As a member of ISKCON I feel greatly ashamed and wish to voice my strongest protest.
Srila Narayana Maharaja is our greatest well-wisher and friend especially to the disciples and servants of Srila Prabhupada. Always wishing us to understand and serve better Srila Prabhupada and His movement ISKCON.
He does not want anything else; He does not want our money, our power, our devotees, our prestige, our fame or to be the new Acarya of ISKCON!
We may not see him that way or understand him but let us not make false statements and on that base, false analysis which are meant to vilify the personality of Srila Narayana Maharaja.
Taking a piece of straw in my mouth, I fall at your feet and implore you to beg forgiveness to Srila Maharaja.
I hope you will diligently rectify that terrible step you took by writing and publishing that letter which casts a very dark cloud of inauspiciousness on the head of our Governing Body Commission and on the all ISKCON movement.
Aspiring for the service of HARI, GURU and VAISNAVAS
Aristanasana das – ISKCON – New Mayapura, France
Dandavats to all Vaisnavas from the past, present and future:
Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj must surely be greatly saddened by the behaviour of his involved disciples and praying on their behalf that they be forgiven for their ignorance. But I fear they will be held to account for themselves unless they beg forgiveness at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada’s dear associate, my beloved Srila Gurudeva.
All glories to sincere followers of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who have performed sincere seva and behave like the good disciples he trained and wished them to be.
But I am also in the debt of those disciples who have given me mercy by their making terrible mistakes so that we can avoid such mistakes ourselves. We can with some embarrassment and obvious transparency, see plainly the terrible results and conflicts created by devotees who develop pratistha. How frightening that they would risk their development of bhakti and the precious goal.
I owe my everything to Srila Swami Maharaj and the last thing I wished to do was leave his institution-and in essence, I havn’t. It was the ultimadum made by the GBC which caused me to leave, but it was Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to me-in his books- to find a first class, maha-bhagavat Vaisnava and not to settle for less.
I have not settled for less-I have obeyed his instructions and he sent me Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja as my Gurudeva. More than this I couldn’t have wished for. I am the most blessed of souls. Srila Narayana Maharaja is no different in adhikar from Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Maharaja.
Hare Krsna
It is very interesting reading such viewpoints on spiritual life. We all are servants of the Lord, some have realised it and some have just not.
I am initiated in ISKCON and I have siksa from Srila Maharaj yet live in ISKCON. I always think of the third verse of the siksastakam… How can we chant the holy names of the Lord constantly when we respect everyone except other vaisnavas who are ‘not’ in ISKCON?
In South Africa they are banning devotees for associating with Narayan Maharaj. One temple president called Srila Gurudev a deviant, yet he himself eats choclate, lives the good life at the expense of ISKCON funds and travels to India and America often with his wife. One sanyasi old me that Srila Maharaj is a rascal. Yet this sannyasi only flies business class, only uses silk cloth and uses nothing but the best of sun glasses and laptops.
Srila Narayan Maharaj is not a rascal nor a deviant. He is following Sri Guru and his presentation and loving nature is attracting the masses to come to Sri Hari. Besides new devotees, those followers of Prabhupada( 1st, 2nd and even now 3rd generations) who have drifted from Sri Hari due to different reasons, are now coming back. Naturally the soul will be attracted to the pure devotee. Envy is a big anartha and due to that, people become afraid because if all the souls surrender to Narayan Maharaj, then who will be my disciples and fund my lavish lifestyle as a MAHARAJ (King, although dressed as a sanyasi)
The Lord has blessed Srila Gurudev to travel the world at such an advanced age so many times. He is pure, and unlike us, he has no material desire to enjoy. I wish that we can stop making aparadha against this suddha bhakta because it is causing us to actually burn the house that Srila Prabhupada has built and thats why his children and grandchildren have to run and seek refuge at his nephews house.
I have noticed that the gurus vyasa pujas in ISKCON are of a much grander nature than the humble one given to Prabhupada. We are rascals and deviants. Narayan Maharaj is a pure devotee and we cant see it! We use the funds, name, fame, facilty and worship for ourselves, which in actual fact was meant for Prabhupada. We have deviated. Look at the mercy and compassion Srila Prabhupada had on the devotees… Its a fond memory in ISKCON nowdays.
The father has materially passed away but must surly be crying to see his sons, daugthers, and all grand family fight over position, status, authority, disciples or share of worship and funds.
I by no means intend to offend anyone. When one points a finger at someone, 3 point back at him. Rathe than focusing on the 1 finger at gurudev, we must curb our energy to the 3 thats hitting us in the face. Thats causing the society to make new devotees but lose the ones they have and continue to make.
Srila Narayan Maharajs humilty is described in the scripture. Suniti tells Dhruva Maharaj not to wish bad for those that try and hurt him. He is ofeten presented as a demon trying to destroy ISKCON yet now I see that he is a gentle soul whos character is sung throughout the scriptures and he is a special soul to Sri Govinda because he is bringing together the children of the Lord to worship the Lord and not himself. Jesus said to beware of wolves who dress in sheeps clothing. I know that Gurudev is no wolf, yet wolves who know his true nature confuse the other sheep of his true identity.
Hoping to always remain as VAISNAVA DASANUDAS, as was the title given to me by Srila Maharaj. I pray to the Supreme Lord to have such masters guide me and by their example attain topmost humility and freedom from the anarthas which bind me to this world.
Hare Krsna prabhu-ji
I think that a key insight you offer is that “some have realized it and some have not.”
What i have observed over the years, in myself as well as in others, is the egoistic tendency, indeed defense-tactic, to confuse understanding (to whatever degree) of or belief in the philosophy with actual intimate knowledge, i.e. realization, which is a qualification of consciousness rather than merely of mind or intelligence. Krsna-consciousness is a spiritual state, it is not a mental state – but it is the neophyte tendency to confuse these.
When we do this, unawares, we imagine Krsna-consciousness to be a material state.
Material means duality – it is the egoistic plane of divisiveness, where we seek to be ‘right,’ and in order to do so, coming from a dualistic state of consciousness, we necessarily seek for others to be wrong. It is a plane of constant argument, of constantly needing that everyone who is not doing and thinking as we are to be ‘wrong.’
On the material plane, we do not know ourselves as ‘right’ in the sense that we are consciously aligned with, i.e. have actually realized, the Absolute Truth, within which there is also unlimited variety; we only imagine our ‘rightness’ inside of a very narrow sense of identification with a particular dogma/doctrine/interpretation/sect and so on.
Several obstacles to our possibility for actual spiritual advancement immediately expand from such an illusioned place. One is that as long as we think we already ‘know’ what is the truth, what is the true interpretation and application of transcendental instructions, then we are disinclined to engage in deep and dispassionate self-examination – after all, if we already believe ourselves to be on the platform of truth, why would we need to seek our own faults or untruths? So that our own path actually halts under such ignorance.
Furthermore, we instead seek to find ‘faults’ in others, considering the very fact that others think differently to ourselves is proof of their fault, and must be vilified. This is simply the tactic of false ego, drawing attention away from itself, and manifesting as self-righteous and intolerant sectarianism and rigid adherence to narrow and subjective interpretations of dogma. And it is the bane of all religious groups, known as fundamentalism, that in reality is the very antithesis of actual transcendental vision and humility and love, the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ as it were. Nothing is more effective and putting people off from even considering religious life, or at dividing aspiring spiritualists and thus facilitating the splitting off of neophytes into their own companies, lacking shelter of genuine transcendentalists, and so easily overwhelmed by maya again, regardless of their sense of external affiliation, practice and book-understanding.
Furthermore, this error of finding faults in others as a direct expression of a lack of desire to engage in humble self-introspection is hideously compounded when it targets the greatest threats to the false ego, namely those pure- and great-hearted souls whose entire presence in this world is simply an expression of bhakti, their own unalloyed loving service to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, to Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, as well as of their unconditional compassion for all of us.
In the 4th chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna gives Arjuna the simple and fundamental necessity for engaging in spiritual life where we can be protected from our own and others’ unqualified subjective ignorance and distorted perception and motivations.
He says, ‘inquire from and render service to someone who has seen the truth, and who is thus able to impart knowledge to you.’ This is not a complex message. We must consider if we have not ourselves seen Krsna, directly, and whether the person(s) we are taking direction from have done so, or are at least directly hearing from such a self-realized soul. Do they themselves have direct perception of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as a matter of personal realization? Never mind that we are reading the books written by persons who undoubtedly had/have such. Because between their writings and our own understandings and interpretations lies the mental distortion of our own conditioned state. The book Bhagavat without the person Bhagavat to check in with, to check our erroneous comprehension, is insufficient. Therefore so many devotees can read the same books, and have very different and contradictory ideas. Therefore Sri Guru is always necessary. And even though Bhagavad-gita has been there for so long, still, Sri Guru is manifesting via so many transcendental persons again and again, so as to give us conditioned souls association that we are able to directly perceive.
So again: “Some have realized it, some have not.” First we must become conscious of our own actual position, and to recognize that all our learning and intellectual comprehension is not so significant – indeed, it is our enemy if we use it to avoid self-examination and to find fault in others, like the jewel atop the serpent’s head. And then become very serious to recognize who is actually self-realized, who can give me actual spiritual guidance. And consider – it is very likely that such a person’s teachings are different to our own understandings and beliefs, and that their words and behaviors may awaken a sense of conflict within us. After all, we are conditioned by ignorance – and we should not judge a guru as unqualified because he disagrees with us! The correct attitude is to ‘hear submissively, and to render service.’ The difficulty so many of us face as neophytes who have received so much philosophical teaching, is that we can imagine we know so much, and from such a sense of self-worth, it is very hard to approach guru submissively. And then offenses begin – all following this point of imagining that I am actually very advanced in understanding, I am also Krsna-conscious.
But if we can latch onto the vision that I really don’t know, that all I think I know and understand is simply so much stuff in my mind that I think I know and understand, and the truth is, I am still quite wrapped up in maya, I see and am attached to illusion everywhere, and I don’t actually see Krsna … then our vision can begin to clear, and instead of belligerently making offenses to great souls our false and independent egos have no desire to recognize or surrender to, we can actually begin to perceive something of their transcendental qualification.
Perhaps this is the key to such an imperative distinction regarding “some have realized it, and some have not.” A willingness to be humble, to admit that I still don’t know anything after all, that the truth of my spiritual qualification is simply and purely this, without any other adormment I could claim as being ‘my own’: “Gurudev, your mercy is all that I am made of.”
Dandavat Pranams Prabhus;
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to Srila Gurudeva
According to the most potent and wonderful “Sri Slokamrtam” by Srila Gurudeva, the very first understanding of sambandha-tattva (our eternal immutable relationship to Sri Krishna) is to render service to Sri Guru without any duplicity. He alone can reveal the secrets of the scriptures. Sri Guru’s position is pivotal to the jivas advancement in spiritual life. Thus he can not be neglected, vilified or ignored. He remains forever in a superior position. This very fact has eluded the hearts and minds of many so-called devotees. One can not even begin to think that one is rendering service to the Supreme Lord without the express sanction of Sri Guru.
“a disciple should not find or see any faults in Sri Guru”
“a disciple should never consider Sri Guru to be an ordinary mortal”
“even if the spiritual master hits him, the disciple should not retaliate or do anything displeasing to him”
“one should not deliberate on the validity of the order of the Guru.”
“one who thinks of the spiritual master as an ordinary man is said to live in hell.”
“it is useless to take shelter of a Guru who is not fully realized”
“a materialistic, professional, or sectarian ‘Guru’ must be given up.”
Our complete sampradaya is predicated on the existence of the bonafide parampara. If that line becomes distorted by material considerations then the line is broken. One must look to Sri Guru who is fully in line with the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. Who is that most qualified person? Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gave all his disciples that indication. He very clearly and potently directed all eyes to the eminently qualified Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. Anyone with a soft heart free from envy could easily detect this very subtle gesture. He clearly indicated that Srila Narayana Maharaja could be approached with any questions regarding spiritual life. That he was qualified to answer any and all questions related to Krishna Consciousness. Only one with personal ambitions would see Srila Narayana Maharaja as an obstacle. Therefore we have this long standing objection to the most qualified and sincere Vaishnava. This is a very dark time in the halls of Srila Prabhupada’s movement. If this path is not given up then what will remain is just another so-called religion. It may look like Gaudiya Vaishnavism but it will be far away from the real spirit of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Only the completely realized Sri Guru can direct this movement onto the path of “Uttama Bhakti”, leaving behind karma, jnana and yoga.
We who are aware of this travesty must cry out in sincere prayer as did Sri Advaita, for the mercy of Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. Only by this action can a solution be found. Please, all who wish for the offenses to stop, cry out loudly so that your prayers will be heard.
In the service of Sri Guru
Thank you Prabhu for taking such a courageous stand.
You are right when you say that such persons on the GBC body should ‘identify’ themselves by name rather than seeking anonymity behind the ‘GBC’ name and claiming to represent al those in ISKCON.
This is a disgraceful and cowardly thing to misrepresent Srila Prabhupada and Srila Narayana Maharaja in this way. Shame on them!
I still have a lot of friends in ISKCON who are doing wonderful service and most are pretty dismayed by the actions and demeanor of the GBC generally but they are compromised. Unfortunately where the GBC are concerned their authority far outweighs their realization.
The gurus in ISKCON should also condemn this travesty then they would be real gurus and not just ones that are rendered impotent by the deviations (from Prabhupadas’ instructions) of the GBC.
I am sick of reading of the gossip and crap GMVS and Iskcon, I just want to serve and be left out of all this gossip, not only for my sanity, but also why leave the material world full of prajalpa and to come here and see nothing more but the same.
Just give me pure devotion, Iskcon threw me out for being outspoken, expressing my oppinions, I don’t care anymore. I live on an island with no devotees, just the email, the last thing I want to read is all this crap. More about Krsna and throw all this crap out.
Nandalal Prabhu. Adelaide.
Srila Prabhupada must be very pleased with someone who defends and protect his institution. If we can not do it, at least we should appreciate. Jaya Radhe
Dear Aristanasana prabhu,
Dandandavat pranams. Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !
With my heart, I commend you for speaking out against the atrocious,
deviant, vaisnava aparadha against someone so near and dear to our most beloved Srila Prabhupada ! That is courage in the highest degree! As a member of ISKCON in good standing, you’ve stuck your
neck out for righteousness and you will be blessed beyond words ! HDG 108 Sri Srila BV Narayana Maharaja is also very near and dear to Srimati Radhika,so you can only imagine the great spiritual rewards
you will receive at Her Lotus Feet ! You, speaking out in protest, shows that there are still some very kindhearted devotees in ISKCON, who do not go with the status quo, and are not afraid speak out when vaisnava aparadha is being committed !
We have read in the Mahabharata what happens to those who remained silent while Draupadi was being viciously violated in the assembly! Again, I commend you for your great courage and pray that
those devotees responsible for writing and voting to publish that
horrendous article, find it in their hearts to retract it and offer
a humble and sincere apology for their vaisnava aparadha against
HDG 108 Sri Srila BV Narayana Maharaja !
Thanking you unlimited times, I remain yours in the service of
Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas,
Jayanta das
Aristanasana prabhu,
Please accept my dandavat pranams.
Thank you very much for your letter. The subject matter is a sad one and the behavior or the leaders of your organization is atrocious at best. This is not a new thing though. They once before behaved in this manner towards Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja then nearly 20 years later issued an apology. It is my prayer that they do not do a repeat performance but rather issue a proper apology now. The apology they issued at Govardhana was that they didn’t inform Srila Narayana Maharaja that they were banning him. Truly that was not an apology. Sadly, according to Antya-Lila of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta, all who associate with such offensive people become implicated themselves. We cannot deny the shastric conclusions. As I joined Iskcon in 1971, I have strong feelings and only the best wishes for the society. That being said, there needs to be some serious change. The sincere devotees need to stand up and be counted and demand that Vaishnava aparadha cease. The GBC, sannyasis, elders and all devotees should learn how to behave properly and how to avoid offenses. There is ample scripture on the subject. If the leaders cannot control themselves then they must be replaced. This has been told by Srila Prabhupada also, that if they are deviating then they should be replaced. What greater deviation is there than the commission of Vaishnava aparadha and implicating all the praja in the society?
I feel very proud of you that you are taking such a strong stand and you have my deepest respect.
humbly,
Mithiladhisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Thank you for your letter. I totally agree with your view. I’m also a member of ISKCON. After reading that letter about Srila Narayana Maharaja’s so called “Last Conversation” with Srila Prabhupada I was also very sad and disturbed. Since that letter is from the Executive Committee of the GBC, it is claiming to represent the view of the entire GBC body as well as the entire ISKCON Society. However, they are wrong, as there are many devotees in ISKCON who feel the same way as you do, even some among the GBC, but they are out numbered, and those who may speak out are considered to be traitors and back stabbers.
Srila Prabhupada wants cooperation but many of the present leaders of ISKCON don’t, therefore, doesn’t that mean that ISKCON’s leadership is no longer representing the mood of the Founder Acarya in this regard? This is not the ISKCON we joined. If the leaders do not retract their erroneous and offensive statements in that letter or resign from their leadership positions then how can we in good conscience remain members of this ISKCON Society? I thought that there was still some hope for cooperation and maybe there is, especially since it is Srila Prabhupada’s desire, but we will have to wait and see what transpires.
I’ve heard some ISKCON leaders say, how can they cooperate with someone who makes such strong statements against ISKCON. But don’t they realize that those strong statements are simply in response to the actions of the present leaders in banning ISKCON members from associating with someone whom Srila Prabhupada not only approved of, but who was dear to him? According to Srila Jiva Goswami, that is envy of a senior Vaisnava, and is a disqualification. Is it offensive to repeat the teachings of Srila Jiva Goswami?
Anyway, let’s hope that good sense will prevail and that ISKCON’s GBC will retract their statements.
Hare Krishna.
If we do not assimilate a non-sectarian spirit as individuals, and as a whole, we will be lost forever in a see of maya. This letter was very nice to read.
Hare Krsna prabhu-ji
Thank you for writing such an excellent letter, so clearly expressing your dismay at the actions of a few who would suggest that they are representative of ISKCON as a whole.
The fact that you are yourself a member of ISKCON in good standing gives so much credibility to your rejection of the position and statements of the GBC members in question – and thus affords the other devotees in ISKCON the chance to deeply consider all that is at stake here.
I have already seen that, since I have made my affiliation with and faith in Srila Gurudev clear, most of my old ISKCON friends and godbrothers and sisters do not clearly hear what I am saying, but filter whatever I may say through a dismissive and doubting ‘oh, he’s a Narayan Goswami man now, he’s just an apologist for “x,y,z” ‘ But as more and more ISKCON devotees such as yourself, and who afford no threat to their own sense of affiliation or loyalty, come out in protest of the misinformation and misconduct being directed against Srila Gurudev, then the sooner can this all be resolved. Then may the general community of Vaisnavas following from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu be properly united in transcendental fellowship, where all devotees may be also be blessed and guided by such transcendentalists as Srila Gurudev, regardless of whichever specific branches of the family tree they may have been initiated into.
Thank you again prabhu, for your humble and heart-centered statements, free of self-righteous duplicity or malice, and so inviting proper consideration by all sober listeners.
I am wondering, did you submit the same to dandavat, and if so, did they publish it?
Aspiring to be both desirous of, and accepted within, the association of the Vaisnavas
Narasingha das