IRM, Back to Prabhupada
Issue 26/14
While reporting on the 40th anniversary celebrations of ISKCON in the UK for its religious radio show “Sunday”, the BBC made the following comment:“Like many another fledgling religion, the movement was dogged by doctrinal differences and personality clashes after the death of its charismatic founder in 1977.
There were allegations of child abuse at some of its Indian schools, charges of brainwashing and accusations of financial irregularities, none of which clouded the serenity of the true believers, among whom was the former Beatle George Harrison.”
(BBC “Sunday”, November 21st, 2009)
Yet it appears that George Harrison was in fact not so serene about the state of ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, as he revealed in a media interview with The Sunday Tribune in 1987:
Hence, even George understood there was a mad rush to become guru, which has currently seen well over 100 individuals putting themselves forward “thinking they’re the gurus”, rather than becoming humble.“I am always a bit dubious about organisations and since the Swami died it does seem to be chaotic, with all kinds of guys thinking they’re the gurus.
To me, it’s not important to be a guru, it’s more important just to be, to learn humility.”
(George Harrison interview with BP Fallon, The Sunday Tribune, October 18th, 1987)
Humility means to surrender to the order of the spiritual master, sacrificing one’s own desires. Yet, as documented, these individuals sought to become guru not via any order from Srila Prabhupada, but via getting admittance into the GBC guru club by receiving the necessary number of votes, or being self-appointed.
