IRM: An ISKCON guru confesses all!

BackTo Prabhupada, Issue 29: When an artificial guru system is concocted, based not on spiritual principles, but rather on the pursuit and expansion of power, infighting and chaos will automatically result.
When one disobeys the orders of the bona fide spiritual master by usurping his position, disciples, assets and worship, only failure, chaos and deviation will result as Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly warned us:
“Our mission is to serve (…) Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru – gurusu nara matih. That is the material disease.”
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20th,1977)

“And as soon as he learns the Guru Maharaja is dead, “Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.” Then he’s finished.”
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, August 16th,1976)
As proof that Srila Prabhupada’s warnings above are applicable to ISKCON’s current unauthorised GBC elected guru hoaxer system, below we present ample evidence from one of ISKCON’s own current GBC voted in gurus, HH Mahavishnu Swami (“MVS”). In letters MVS wrote to the GBC and others, he offers an insight into the guru hoax meltdown, and also reveals his own personal meltdown in trying to pose as a successor guru to Srila Prabhupada.
The extracts in the tinted panels below, unless otherwise specified, are from letters written by MVS.


ISKCON compared to the great anti-Krishna demon Kamsa
Part 1

“I know there are the “guru fall down and boiling down the milk” counter arguments to the above and maybe this dialectic will just go on forever even as ISKCON dries up as it becomes more and more a heavy-handed Kamsa-ised organised religion smothering spontaneous devotional creepers right and left.”

ISKCON compared to the great anti-Krishna demon Kamsa
Part 2
“So did he (Srila Prabhupada) really later on want us to put a brake on expanding to “at least maintain” what he gave us? Excuse me please but I feel that with this mental laxitude step by step ISKCON will just get more “Kamsa-ised” into yet another defunct organised religion bogged down in its own politics trying (very sincerely, of course), to just “at least maintain”.


Fallen, frustrated and castrated ISKCON gurus

“…in UK (for instance) the ISKCON Managing Council or its sub-committee (presumably understandably acting in a controlling reactive protective mood after so many of its own past UK local initiating guru falldowns) has set up initiation standards and procedures without even inviting input from all the ISKCON Diksa Gurus who initiate disciples in the UK thus making unrealistic standards and procedures which foster bad feelings both from aspiring candidates and from frustrated (castrated?) visiting and resident gurus.”

Unaccountable GBC gurus and GBC spies

“..the GBC authority credibility is being undermined because ISKCON’s published Law Book Initiation standards are being openly flouted as they are being either made locally more restrictive and discouraging (as in the case of UK standards), or being adjusted according to time and circumstances by unaccountable GBC Gurus or ISKCON gurus “out of GBC range” of GBC spies.”

Unwilling guru apologists

“In the early days in expanding ISKCON Srila Prabhupada was very personal and lenient but in UK for instance I have heard complaints from my fellow-ISKCON gurus that the institutional standards set by ISKCON UK are off-putting straight jackets for aspirants seeking personal shelter. The gurus themselves find themselves having to unwillingly become apologists for ISKCON’s rigid impersonal policies.”

Disunity and fragmentation

“If ISKCON instituted kamsa-blanket centralised initiation standards are imposed on a zone by its big established temples then budding devotional communities will prefer to develop legally outside of ISKCON’s legal jurisdiction creating the disunity and fragmentation of ISKCON, (as in Brighton, UK).”

ISKCON has no trust of its voted in gurus

“It even seems that the ISKCON “establishment” has no trust of gurus and that is also not so surprising because of ISKCON gurus track records in the past.”

In all the preceding entries, MVS details the power struggle going on between the elected gurus and ISKCON’s management authorities, and the resultant chaos and breakdown. His criticisms are more harsh than whatever has been on the pages of BTP, as he compared ISKCON to the demon Kamsa.
Below, MVS turns his attention to his own personal failings as a GBC elected guru:
Misguiding devotees

“I want to apologise for my seriously having misguided the devotees on this year’s East African Festival Tour (23rd January – 22nd February 2008) [...] So I am feeling very ashamed and regretful that I caused this to happen. l was not fit as the spiritual mentor of the Festival team. It is now obvious that my hippiesh upbringing’s attitudes are still not cleansed from my heart. So I need to rectify my standard of devotional service at all costs.”

Losing the faith of “disciples”

“I feel the need to apologise to you both for dealing inconsiderately and pushing your tolerance so much that you lost faith in me as your spiritual master and ISKCON. I was not concerned enough about your welfare to act appropriately.”

Unable to look after “disciples”

“I can also hardly look after my about 100 disciples properly [...] So I do not want to be an embarrassment may consider visiting Russia again provided I am invited and I am allowed to collect donations. But I doubt if that will ever happen. Even if it did I will be frightened of getting committed to having more Russian disciples.”

A bona fide and authorised spiritual master, by definition, can never mislead or give wrong advice and thus hinder a soul’s journey back to Godhead:
“According to sastra, the duty of the guru is to take the disciple back home, back to Godhead. If he is unable to do so and instead hinders the disciple in going back to Godhead, he should not be a guru.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.1, purport)
Yet, in the entries above, MVS apologises for doing just that!
Chastised by juniors
Below, MVS also reveals that he was chastised for his misbehaviour by two devotees.

“He rightfully complained to our ISKCON authorities in UK that an ISKCON sannyasi had done such a thing. Kripamoya and Praghosa Prabhus in the UK brought me to task and I began to realise the negligence and foolishness of my actions.

Then after further realisation and regret and on their advice, I sent a marriage annulment letter to the parties concerned. I stated in that letter that as the couple were not unmarried the marriage I had conducted was not authorised morally or legally and therefore it was being annulled by me.”
At the time of going to press, neither of the two devotees mentioned are, unlike MVS, “gurus” or sannyasis (renunciants), and are therefore, according to ISKCON, MVS’s spiritual juniors.
So not only is MVS acting, on his own admission, without moral or legal authority, but he had to be chastised by two juniors before he realised his bogus actions! Clearly, he cannot be an empowered bona fide Vaishnava guru since a bona fide guru can never be disciplined, counselled or corrected:
“It is an offense to consider an empowered Vaisnava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to try to give him advice or to correct him.”
(Nectar of Instruction, Text 7, purport)
We have copiously documented, in several issues of BTP, the philosophical U-turns and climbdowns by ISKCON’s GBC and gurus and their lip service to the IRM’s program of promoting Srila Prabhupada as the real guru of ISKCON. Now, in addition to all the above, MVS also decides to join the “agree with the IRM” program:
Srila Prabhupada is the real guru, not me

“I may have given you diksa but our pre-eminent siksa guru is of course Srila Prabhupada not me. He is still fully living in his instructions. You must take advantage of them and become his emissary.”

Here MVS admits that Srila Prabhupada and not he, is giving siksha (spiritual instruction). MVS claims that he himself is giving diksha (spiritual initiation), but even this claim is bogus as the GBC itself agrees with the IRM that siksha is the “principal active ingredient of diksa”:
“Such uplifting knowledge is called divya jnana, and its transmission is called siksa.This divya jnana is the principal active ingredient of diksa.”
(GBC Resolution No.404, 1999)
And MVS admits he is not supplying this “principal active ingredient of diksa”.
Thus, Srila Prabhupada is the only diksha or initiating guru in ISKCON, not MVS or anyone else – something he and the GBC should have realised by now after singing every day for the past 30 years or more to Srila Prabhupada during the Guru-puja prayers that he is the one delivering this “divya-jnana”!
Further confirming the IRM’s “ritvik” position that the guru (Srila Prabhupada) does not need to physically meet disciples to initiate them, MVS admits in another letter:

“Srila Prabhupada had disciples who he had never seen physically.”

But still wants to play guru
Of course, the desire to be worshipped as good as God in imitation of the fully authorised and bona fide guru Srila Prabhupada, is just too strong to resist:

“My Vyasa Puja 2010 went off quite well. Late last night 11/2/10 in Hotel Amical, Bunia, DR Congo. Had short talks, my foot washing & guru puja and arati & pioneering feast prepared of imported Egyptian full cream milk & imported Italian spaghetti.”

(MVS SMS text, February 12th, 2010)

“I personally have a niyamag-raha trait and try and go strictly by the ISKCON Lawbook and the prevailing local initiation standards for fear of getting censored and defrocked so I really want a more flexible straightjacket to live in as a dreaded naughty-boy ISKCON Initiating guru.”

Conclusion
Thus, in addition to ISKCON’s “guru wars” documented in previous Back To Prabhupada issues, we now see that “Guru GBC” wars can be added to the power struggles going an in ISKCON.
Previously, in BTP 14, we published the equally stunning revelations of ISKCON GBC guru and Sannyasa Minister HH Prahladananda Swami in our article, “ISKCON guru exposes his own guru system”. And in BTP 20, we quoted yet another GBC member, Badrinarayan Das, stating:
“Having gurus crash and burn every few years is the main cause of ISKCON’s diminished reputation and strength and I don’t see what we have put in place to break this pattern.”
It seems as if ISKCON’s GBC and voted-in gurus can’t help but condemn the bogus system they themselves have invented; and yet the desire to replace Srila Prabhupada is so irresistible that even though they now agree in theory with the IRM’s invincible philosophical position, they will still keep the practice of their unauthorised guru system and attendant worship intact! Srila Prabhupada speaks of this tendency as follows:
“That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that, “Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru. [...] This is going on. Not bona fide guru. [...] Somehow or other become popular and become guru. This is going on.”
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 2nd, 1976)
It is clear that the GBC’s guru hoax system is facing serious meltdown, and we hope it is now only a question of when, not if, they adopt the IRM’s position and at last reinstate Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON’s only diksha guru.

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Iskcon plans complex in Hubli-Dharwad

Yeddyurappa to perform bhoomi puja on February 13

 HUBLI: The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will build a main temple and grand cultural complex at the existing temple premises at Raypur located between Hubli and Dharwad, which will be a unique blend of Hoysala architecture and modern architecture.
According to Iskcon Hubli-Dharwad unit president Rajiv Lochan Dasa, the grand cultural complex will showcase the country's glorious tradition of art, architecture and heritage.
The temple and the cultural complex, which will be beautiful synthesis of traditional South Indian temple architecture and modern facilities and its base, has been designed after the famous “Chennakeshava Temple” at Belur in Hassan district.
The main ‘Shikara' is designed after the famous Galganatha Temple at Pattadakallu. The well-preserved northern superstructure (rekha-nagara shikhara), topped by amalaka and kalasha, is the striking feature of the Galaganatha temple. It will have intricately carved pillars, ornately sculpted figures exhibiting various themes from puranas, ornamental arches, and traditional gold “kalashas” crowning the temple.
The temple will have one swagata-gopura (welcome tower, representing the Lord's feet), one raja-gopura (grand tower, representing the Lord's navel) and one vimana-gopura (tower above the deities' chamber, representing the Lord's head).
The complex will have a prayer and meditation hall and a traditional kalyani for float festivals.
The master project will be called “Glory of India and Pride of Karnataka” and has been designed by a team of architects led by Madhupandita Dasa, President, Iskcon Bangalore, who has designed the famous Iskcon Bangalore temple.
The project will have 2.5 lakh sq. ft. of built up area.
As per the project, the cultural complex will be surrounded by a lush green landscape and will have a state of the art multimedia theatre and will showcase the values of Vedic culture through films, sound and light shows, video and audio animatronics.
The complex will house a heritage auditorium and open air theatre which will be used for nurturing talents through heritage and cultural festivals. In addition to it, the cultural complex will have cultural and spiritual theme park for showcasing the glorious heritage through entertainment.
Bhoomi puja
According to Mr. Dasa, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyuappa has consented to perform the ‘bhoomi puja' for the “Sri Radha Krishna Temple and Cultural Complex” on February 13.

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Sri Shankara: Hare Krishna Song

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HOUSE COMMITTEE EXONERATES ISKCON-BANGALORE & AKSHAYA PATRA

Dear donors and supporters,

In the past one year, ISKCON-Bangalore and Akshaya Patra have come under attack in the media and the same was discussed in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. A House Committee of ten members of the legislative assembly was set up to investigate into the activities of ISKCON-Bangalore and Akshaya Patra Foundation on Oct 16th, 2010.

The Committee met several government officials, gathered hundreds of documents, examined the evidence provided from various sources and finally presented its findings to the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Jan 11th, 2011.

We are pleased to share the salient features of the House Committee Report with you,

That in essence says the allegations made against ISKCON-Bangalore and Akshaya

Patra Foundation is false and baseless.

We thank all our donors and supporters who have stood by us at all times, especially

During the agonizing and trying times that we endured with malicious propaganda. We continue to seek your kind support in our services to the society and underprivileged children of our country. We redouble our determination to improve our services by further improving our governance, accountability and efficiencies.

Yours in the service of humanity,

Madhu Pandit Dasa

President, ISKCON-Bangalore

Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Salient Findings of the HOUSE COMMITTEE

constituted to enquire into

the activities of The Akshaya Patra Foundation

and ISKCON-Bangalore

1. Enquiry into the quality of the programme of Akshara Dasoha being implemented by The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Donations collected by ISKCON from various sources for the purpose of maintaining good Quality food are being properly used. The Principal Secretary of the Department of Education, On behalf of the Government, has stated in the meeting held on 22-09-2010, that there is Nothing wrong in collecting donation, to maintain the quality of the food. This is accepted by The House Committee.

2. Evaluation of the proper usage of government grants under the Akshara Dasoha programme; investigating if there was any misuse of these grants. Examining that proper accounts aremaintained for the usage of the government grants.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation has been spending more than what it has been receiving from the government as grants for the Akshara Dasoha scheme. The Committee has also examined the related audited reports. Hence the Committee desires to express its opinion that there is no evidence of misuse of the government grants in this programme. (See page no. 11 of the Report).

3. Investigation about unauthorized collection of funds from schools where Akshaya Patra food is being supplied; collection of donations from the public as well as from abroad - despite the government releasing grants for implementing the Akshara Dasoha programme. To scrutinize the proper usage of the donations thus collected, for children's mid-day meal programme.

The Committee has examined the Guidelines for the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme released by the Central Government in 2004 and is of the opinion that if ISKCON has utilized the donations received from individuals, charitable trusts and foreign countries for the purpose it was received, then it is not irregular. Therefore, the Committee wishes to express its clear opinion that there is no need of taking any steps in this regard.

4. Portrayal of poor school children for the purpose of collecting donations, in such manner as to bring discredit to the nation.

The Committee has become aware that although Akshaya Patra Foundation has raised funds from foreign countries there is no evidence that the Foundation has acted in any manner that bring discredit to the country. Further the committee strongly condemned any organization that will cause discredit to the nation by any activity. If this activity repeats and is proven, the Committee condemns and recommends that strict action be taken against such organizations.

5. To examine misuse of funds by ISKCON, its engagement in real estate business and misuse of the Akshara Dasoha programme in this regard.

The opinion given by the state's Advocate General on 20-09-2010, has revealed that there is no restriction for doing real estate business by India Heritage Trust, ISKCON charities or any trust in pursuance of the fulfillment of its objectives. The real estate business (for fulfilling its objectives) engaged in by these two trusts is not illegal. This is the opinion of the Committee.

6. Other issues

On examining the documents available about ISKCON and its associate institutions, it is clear that there are ten trustees who are ISKCON missionaries who hail from different parts of the country and also there is an election process adopted for its governing council. Hence it is not a family trust or a trust controlled by any particular family.

The matter about Mahadevapura land is pending before the court. Hence it is sub judice matter to discuss and decide on this either in the assembly or in the committee. Therefore, the committee recommends that strict action be taken based the decision of the High Court.

P

EOPLE’S VOICE

Public opinion on this issue received by post, email, blogs and other sources

M V Rajasekharan (Former Union Minister of State for Planning, Government of India)

From today’s newspapers report I find the 10-Member House Panel constituted by the State Legislative Assembly, headed by Sri N Yogish Bhat, which looked into the allegations made against the Akshaya Patra (Akshara Dasoha) Mid-day Meal Scheme for school children, has given a clean chit to ISKCON. It is a great tribute to the ISKCON’s great work rendered to provide mid-day meals to lakhs of school children in the State. We all knew it was an allegation made by vested interests against ISKCON. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my congratulations for the great work which Madhu Pandit Dasa is doing through ISKCON.

P G R Sindhia (Former Minister for Home, Finance, Industries & Transport, Government of Karnataka)

I was very happy that the Legislature House Committee finds no fault with Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON in the implementation of its programme. You were unnecessarily put to tension because of the baseless allegations made against ISKCON in 2009. At last, the truth prevails. We are happy that the image of ISKCON will go high by this report and it would inspire you to continue your service to the society more vigour.

Sunil

This is with reference to the news item in Deccan Herald "House committee finds no fault with ISKCON" (DH, 12 Jan 2011). I am very pleased to see that truth is still the winner in this age of Kaliyuga. Mr. Shivakumar miserably failed in his attempt to malign the good work done by ISKCON. In fact, it is the job of the government to look after the people who pay their salaries through taxes. But alas, people like DK Shivakumar are a hindrance to country's development. If he cannot do anything good for the country other than making unlimited money for himself, let him atleast desist himself from putting hindrances to others, lest he will be labeled as a traitor. If there is even a minute amount of self-respect, which I seriously doubt, he should publicly apologize to ISKCON. Mr. Shivakumar you are a shame to

this country. We all repent your existence.

Indian Express Ganesan

If ISKCON is to be found fault for the ad. then so must UNICEF, OXFAM and a host of other charity agencies. Mr DKS should be put in jail for making these insults on ISKCON. They say public memory is short but I cannot forget that this imbecile made fun of the food that ISKCON serves to children and in the floor of the assembly said that ISKCON should add onions and garlic in the food. Anything that Mr DKS utters really turns one's stomach and causes revulsion. Shiv Kumar is not worried about the Catholics who collect lot of money in India and send them to Rome in order to enable the pope to pay for the child abuse crimes by their clergy man all over the world except the third world countries.

Indian Express - Sanil

ISKCON & Akshaya Patra is going a great job... We should appreciate their dedication and commitment... Why can’t DKS do something productive and serve the people...

Indian Express - Row

The govt must now form a committee to investigate DK Shivakumar himself. Why does this man have so many issues with an organization that is so clean? It won’t be surprising if he were to be caught doing illegal stuff in everything he does! Akshaya Patra has been awarded the ‘Gold Shield’ by the

Institute of Chartered Accounts of India (ICAI) for Excellence in financial reporting! What more proof does he want?? Does he know better than the ICAI itself?? This only proves he has some other personal agenda ulterior motive to create this issue. He is not quite the saint himself to be accusing other people of such malpractice!! It is time for us citizens to show people like DK Shivakumar their right place.

Such people who destroy the few good things we have left in our society must be immediately thrown out of the government and maybe even prosecuted for wasting everyone’s time and money.

Deccan Herald

The issue should be, are there really starving kids? If there are it should be ok to portray reality. If not, the government wants to project a nice picture while kids starve and the government does not care about starving kids.

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Letter to Hayagriva dasa

As you are remembering our old meeting days on the second avenue, when I first started my lectures there, similarly I also remember the incidents and speak to so many friends and disciples. So our meeting was Krishna’s desire. Apparently it was accidental but actually it was Krishna’s plan.

Los Angeles 18 November, 1968

My Dear Hayagriva,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Nov. 12, 1968, and I am very much pleased to note the contents. The handbill of Dr. Frog, Ph.D. is very funny, and we should try to fight with these frog philosophers overcrowding all over the world. Your success in kirtana performances in the University campus is also very encouraging.
New Vrindaban should be taken up very seriously because actually I want to develop a replica of Old Vrindaban. I have got ambition to construct there 7 temples as follows: 1. Radha Madan Mohan, 2. Radha Govinda, 3. Radha Gopinatha, 4. Radha Damodara, 5. Radha Raman, 6. Radha Gokulananda, 7. Radha Syamasundara.. The whole modern city of Vrindaban was established originally with these temples, started by different Gosvamis. And later on, many kings and princes started their own temples and thus the present Vrindaban is now full with small and big 5000 temples. We have to make such scheme in our New Vrindaban, gradually expanding to an area of one mile long and one mile broad. Vamanadeva is still here, and I have advised him to construct some thrones for Radha and Krishna, because Nara Narayana is attempting to get some pairs of Radha Krishna Murtis 24″ high. We shall require so many pairs of Radha Krishna Murtis at different temples. Anyway, do not feel discouraged. As soon as New Vrindaban is connected with a link road as well as electricity, very soon it will develop into our idea. I shall personally go and stay there and see it is developed.
Regarding Srimad-Bhagavatam, please send me the chapters which you have already revised. I want to see it, how it is being done. I am glad that you are not omitting anything, but just making grammatical correction, and phrasing for force and clarity, and adding Pradyumna’s transliteration, that is very nice.
Yes, henceforward, as I have already told you, that Srimad-Bhagavatam will be ultimately seen by you, before being printed. That will keep consistency, I quite agree with you. My present plan is to stay in Los Angeles, perhaps at least for more than a month, which will cover Christmas holidays. And so, during that time, if you come here, it will be very nice. In January I may go to Hawaii, if Gaurasundara takes me there. As you have given up the idea of marriage, I think you can give up the idea of seeing your parents annually. You just prepare yourself for further advanced spiritual life. After all, our mundane relationships with father and mother, or wife and children, cannot protect us from the trap of maya. It is said by one Vaisnava poet that in every form of life, one gets a father and mother, because without father and mother, nobody is able to get a material body. So father and mother is possible in any form of body, but only in this human form of body one can get in touch with Krishna and a bona fide Spiritual Master. That is the highest gain of our travelling in different species of life in different planets.
I am so pleased that you are feeling for me and listening to my old tapes with pleasure. As you are remembering our old meeting days on the second avenue, when I first started my lectures there, similarly I also remember the incidents and speak to so many friends and disciples. So our meeting was Krishna’s desire. Apparently it was accidental but actually it was Krishna’s plan. So we should always remember this plan of Krishna and must continue to work jointly for advancement of Krishna Consciousness movement in this part of the world. I shall always pray to Krishna to give you more and more strength and confidence in this great responsibility and I shall pray for your long life to execute this mission.
Thank you once more for your nice sentiments, and I hope you are all well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
P.S. I would like to know whether if two young boys come there, if you can take charge of them as teacher for them. They are very nice young Krishna Conscious boys, and their mother is very much in favor of them being trained up in our philosophy. They are between 10 and 12 years about. By teaching I mean teaching them The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam, not preliminary education; preliminary education they already know. Please let me know about this.

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Akshaya Patra hit by price rise too

TNN | Jan 30, 2011 | 05.04 am IST | BANGALORE: Spiralling food rates are also affecting Akshaya Patra, the largest non-government school meal programme by Iskcon, which is gearing to combat the price rise. “We are looking at procuring dal from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh where the price is around Rs 40 per kilo.
Our meals, with a combination of dal and pulses, retain nutritional value. As a long-term measure, we held talks with agencies to see whether we could import dal directly from other countries,” Chanchalapathi Das, vice-chairman, Akshaya Patra, told Sunday Times of India. In Karnataka, around 5 lakh children are covered under the scheme.

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