I Do Know Him
BY: ANIRUDDHA DAS
Feb 05, 2011 — GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (SUN) — I don't know Haridayananda das Goswami, but I do know Hridayananda das Goswami, who by the way matches exactly the same profile of the former.
In the truth-laden essay posted today by Sri Shiv Charan Shrivatstava, "Kiss the Swami Goodbye", he refers to Hridayananda in the following terms:
"Therefore, since those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it, Shri S.V. Sharma's point about bank account swamis is well-taken. For example, to this day, the imposter self-chosen "Acharyadeva" openly uses his intelligence primarily for arguing in favor of his chosen luxurious lifestyle. In his article, Sharma uses the term "ISKCON's tolerance" in this regard. Such "tolerance" is rather created by descending and fearsome threats rather than the tolerance Shriman Mahaprabhu spoke of in His immortal Sikshastaka, wherein the Lord stated:
trinad api sunichena taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."
Whether to prevent another exodus, another migration of devotees to other sangas, or just plainly out of sheer irresponsibility, ISKCON's authorities are purposely turning a blind eye on both Hridayananda and Satsvarupa. But they don't realize this policy will backfire on the whole institution, discrediting it ("do not make a laughing stock of the Hare Krishna movement." ~ Srila Prabhupada) as the same Shiv Charan Shrivatsava is proving it:
"As a footnote, here in Kanpur I showed this poem to a number of associates at a recent club get-together, many of whom were considering becoming Life Members of ISKCON. Each one of them changed their minds after reading it. ISKCON must do better before requesting the blood, sweat and tears of the working men and women in the form of their hard earned paychecks to plaster the coffers of millionaire swamis."
So the ostrich approach to this embarrassing issue is curtailing, to say the least, the future of the institution founded by yuga-acarya and Sampradaya Acarya, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Because they shed light into Hridayananda's case—which I know firsthand -- I want to copy several passages from Part 8 of "Lord Caitanya on Renunciation" posted here a couple of days ago:
gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe
bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe
[Lord Caitanya said] "Do not talk like people in general or hear what they say. You should not eat very palatable food, nor should you dress very nicely.
amani manada hana krishna-nama sada la'be
vraje radha-krishna-seva manase karibe
"Do not expect honor, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the holy name of Lord Krishna, and within your mind render service to Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana. A sannyasi or a renunciate should not live in his village with his relatives. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 3.177):
sannyasira dharma nahe-sannyasa karina
nija janma-sthane rahe kutumba lana
"After accepting sannyasa, it is not the duty of a sannyasi to remain at his birthplace, encircled by relatives." A renunciate should not meet a king or woman. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 11.7) the Lord said:
virakta sannyasi amara raja-darasana
stri-darasana-sama vishera bhakshana
"Since I am in the renounced order, it is as dangerous for Me to meet a king as to meet a woman. To meet either would be just like drinking poison.
A renunciate should remain faultless. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 12.51, 53)…"
"The symptoms of a pseudo-renunciate are stated by the Lord in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Antya 2.117-118, 120, 124, 5.35-36):
prabhu kahe,-vairagi kare prakriti sambhashana
dekhite na paron ami tahara vadana
durvara indriya kare vishaya-grahana
daravi prakriti hare muner api mana
kshudra-jiva saba markata-vairagya kariya
indriya carana bule `prakriti' sambhashiya
prabhu kahe,-mora vasa nahe mora mana
prakriti-sambhashi vairagi na kare darsana
ami ta' sannyasi, apanare virakta kari' mani
darsana rahu dure, `prakritira' nama yadi suni
tabahin vikara paya mora tanu-mana
prakriti-darsane sthira haya kon jana?
"The Lord replied: I cannot tolerate seeing the face of a person who has accepted the renounced order of life but who still talks intimately with a woman. So strongly do the senses adhere to the objects of their enjoyment that indeed a wooden statue of a woman attracts the mind of even a great saintly person. There are many persons with little in their possession who accept the renounced order of life like monkeys. They go here and there engaging in sense gratification and speaking intimately with women. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: My mind is not under My control. It does not like to see anyone in the renounced order who talks intimately with women. I am a sannyasi, and I certainly consider Myself renounced.
"But not to speak of seeing a woman, if I even hear the name of a woman, I feel changes in My mind and body. Therefore who could remain unmoved by the sight of a woman? It is very difficult.
"A renunciate Vaishnava is forbidden from hearing the singing of a woman. As described in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Antya 13.78, 80, 83-85):
eka-dina prabhu yamesvara-tota yaite
sei-kale deva-dasi lagila gaite
dure gana suni' prabhura ha-ila avesa
stri, purusha, ke gaya-na jane visesha
stri gaya' bali' govinda prabhure kaila kole
stri-nama suni' prabhura bahya ha-ila
prabhu kahe,-govinda, aji rakhila jivana
stri-parasa haile amara ha-ita marana
"One day when the Lord was going to the temple of Yamesvara, a female singer began to sing in the Jagannatha temple. Hearing the song from a distance, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately became ecstatic. He did not know whether it was a man or a woman singing. Just then Govinda caught the Lord in his arms and cried: It is a woman singing! As soon as He heard the word `woman,' the Lord became externally conscious. My dear Govinda, He said, you have saved My life. If I had touched the body of a woman, I would certainly have died."
Finally, in comparison, here is visual proof of Hridayananda's lifestyle and reprehensible behavior:
