Saints Or Swindlers
BY: KURMA DASA (NOT THE CHEF)
Feb 20, AUSTRALIA (SUN) — Propaganda seeks popularity, and the purpose of propaganda is not to discover intellectual truths. Bhakti Caru Swami is simply introducing the "repetition principle" by making sensationalist claims about Tamal Krishna. Play it again Sam! Repetition of things, though they may not be proven or are even lies, has a very distinct effect upon us. Let's not kid ourselves, Bhakti Caru Swami seeks to flood the Society with un-proven and sensationalist propaganda, that's all.
Just two days ago here in Australia, we had Mary Mackillop canonized as a saint, in a process that has been going on since the 1920's. Bhakti Caru Swami may wish to consider that sainthood does not come about by bogus propaganda, but rather by a very lengthy and investigative process.
Consider this, when we are in the supermarket we are more likely to buy familiar brands, even if we have not tried the product before, based upon the clever strategies of the advertising agencies. Similarly within a Society such as ISKCON, if one of the "big voted-in guys" makes a statement, then it is highly likely that all the sheep will run with it, without even giving it any consideration.
Following are some historical points, statements and contradictions made by Tamal Krishna that we may wish to consider, before we run with the flock who wish to canonize him"
"The GBC members met together in Vrndavana and prepared a few last questions to put before Srila Prabhupada. [...] Then he said that he would name the initiating gurus later. [...] Then one day in June he gave his secretary the names of eleven disciples who would be initiating the disciples. [...] Now these godbrothers are worshipped by their disciples as genuine spiritual masters. This means for example, that they are to be considered, as stated in the Guruvastakam, as nikunjo-yuno rati keli siddhyai - intimate assistants in the pastimes of Krsna."
(The Process For Carrying Out Srila Prabhupada's Desires For Future Initiations; A paper prepared by the GBC in consultation with higher authorities, Mayapur, 1978)
"Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.'
(TKG, Topanga Canyon Confessions, 3/12/80)
"I do not think that there is any problem in accepting the spiritual masters who Srila Prabhupada appointed. (…) Our movement is progressing and growing more and more, at least as much as it was during Srila Prabhupada's time. [...] You have enclosed a clipping from Back To Godhead in which Srila Bhaktipada is advertised as 'Bona fide Spiritual Master'. You say 'this is something that seems a little strange to me'. Would you please explain to me what seems strange?"
(Letter to Gadai Prabhu, 14/6/82)
"6 months before his own demise, Prabhupada had announced that he would appoint some of his disciples to perform all of the functions of initiating new disciples as he had become too ill to do so. Those so initiated would still be Prabhupada's disciple while those who would be initiated after his demise would become his grand-disciples."
('The Perils of Succession', 1996, H.H. Tamala Krishna Maharaja)
"Tamala Krishna Goswami, the leader of a large number of sannyasa and brahmacari preachers, insisted that he was now their via media in relating to Prabhupada and expected that his godbrothers follow him absolutely."
('The Perils of Succession', 1996, TKG)
"The stormy decade following Prabhupada's demise left many casualties in its wake: perhaps as many as 90% of Prabhupada's initiated disciples were now marginalized; disciples of fallen gurus felt they had no shelter; the preaching mission as a whole lost momentum and cohesion."
('The Perils of Succession', 1996, TKG)
"Also it was Tamal Krishna who claimed that Srila Prabhupada had not given us the highest understanding, and so told everyone to take guidance from the rasika guru Narayana Maharaja, who Ravindra Svarupa Das described like as, '...a crooked and talented pretender or impostor, who has seduced, beguiled…"
(Ravindra Svarupa das, 'Taking Srila Prabhupada Straight', 1998)
