Back To Prabhupada, Issue 41, Autumn 2013
All parties claim to want to put "Srila Prabhupada in the centre". This in turn is done by actually putting Srila Prabhupada
in the centre. That Srila Prabhupada is put in the centre by actually
putting Srila Prabhupada in the centre is such an obvious tautological
truth that even those who are unable to do this are forced to agree.
Thus, ISKCON leader HH Kadamba Kanana Swami ("KKS")
agrees with the IRM that we must focus on Srila Prabhupada rather than
ISKCON's multiple guru successors, otherwise ISKCON will not be
successful:
"the relationship with Prabhupada
must be at the core of our spiritual life. Otherwise this movement
cannot be successful. We would become a conglomeration of different
sectarian groups. Sometimes we can see this. When one spiritual master
visits the temple there is a whole different group of devotees and then
when another spiritual master comes there is another ISKCON. Each time
the face of ISKCON changes. We are one family and we can only be one
family if we all look at Prabhupada." (KKS, posted 23/9/2011)
KKS states this even though, for over 10
years, he has also been creating the same "another ISKCON" he condemns,
by acting as yet another spiritual master in ISKCON with his own set of
disciples.
Similarly, ISKCON leader HH Krishna Das Swami
("KDS") states the IRM position, that we should only focus on Srila
Prabhupada as the guru of ISKCON, as there is no need to go and "find
out" any guru other than Srila Prabhupada:
"'My guru fell down? My guru fell
down?' Can there be worse thing, any worse thing than this, that guru
falls down? What with the heart of the disciple? So, movement, because
the Founder-Acarya of this movement was the purest of the purest,
embodiment of purity, embodiment of surrender, embodiment of obedience,
embodiment of faithfulness, and empowered by Lord Govinda Himself --
that is why this movement is continuing. [...] And how to become a
pukka* guru, Prabhupada is there. You don't have to go to anywhere else.
Pukka guru, Srila Prabhupada. Pukka disciple, Srila Prabhupada. No need
of going anywhere to find out." (KDS, Lecture, 12/2/2012)
*Genuine.
KDS states this even though, since 1987, KDS has been putting himself
forward as a GBC-elected successor guru to Srila Prabhupada, whom one
should "find out" and accept, having initiated over 400 disciples.
However, contradicting these statements by his guru colleagues, GBC-elected guru HH Bhakti Charu Swami ("BCS") shockingly claims that we can have Srila Prabhupada at the centre by actually putting BCS in the centre:
"They also made excellent
arrangements to celebrate my birthday. On that day, they presented me
with a surprise compilation of Vyasa-puja offerings containing over 300
offerings from many of you. Although my travel schedule has been hectic
since then, I have been regularly reading the offerings and I am
thoroughly enjoying them. The appreciation and gratitude that you have
expressed through your offerings are very touching. I am also very happy
that you all are able to read the offerings in the shared e-book and I
would encourage all of you to do so because it will help to bring our
family closer together with Srila Prabhupada at the centre."
(BCS Istagosthi, 25/9/2013)
(BCS Istagosthi, 25/9/2013)
BCS claims that his disciples will be able to
"come closer together with Srila Prabhupada at the centre" through the
act of participating in the basking of the glorification of BCS!
This is done via reading a whole book of Vyasa-puja offerings dedicated
to praising BCS, which are based on the false premise that BCS has
succeeded Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON's diksa guru.
That BCS believes that putting himself
in the centre is the equivalent of putting Srila Prabhupada in the
centre, is evidence of the immense delusion which arises when one is
motivated by the desire to take Srila Prabhupada's position and be
worshipped as a "good as God" guru -- the desire for PAD (Profit,
Adoration and Distinction). This desire is so strong that one will say
absolutely anything, no matter how absurd, to try to justify it.
