Publicly Representing ISKCON
BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS
May 26, 2011 — UK (SUN) —
I have just read Govinda prabhu's recent Sun article, "Invisible Hare Krishnas".
If I may comment... Govinda prabhu is quite correct .
When will we give Sri Harinama the importance it deserves?
Yes… I remember being one of those souls who would dance in the streets for many hours.
I also used to be enthusiastic about distributing Srila Prabhupada's BTGs .
I also used to be enthusiastic about festivals… distributing prasadam… making Life
Members… cooking… cleaning… fixing the toilets… milking cows... you name it.
I used to equate all of these activities with Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON sankirtan movement.
At one point I used to consider asking people to come to ISKCON… the "positive alternative".
"Come to our Sunday Feast… listen to the philosophy as presented by Srila Prabhupada,
why not join in ?"
Sadly, although I do still have faith in Srila Prabhupada,
chanting, taking prasadam, etc…
I have become like many others who want to be devotees of Krsna
but...
struggle with being associated with ISKCON.
I for one do not feel comfortable directing those I meet to my nearest ISKCON temple.
Consequently…
I have been obliged to separate the process of Krsna consciousness from ISKCON.
(Just as one would separate Lord Jesus Christ from modern day Christianity.)
I have given Srila Prabhupada's books to several of my neighbours only for them to ask…
"So… when can I go to the temple… when will you take me?"
I am then obliged to explain why I cannot.
One of my neighbours then replied,
"Well… in that case… why should I go?"
So, Govinda das prabhu,
when Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON institution is being used for blatant personal gain...
our ISKCON leadership is openly corrupt…
our holy men pay each other secret salaries…
the rank and file lesser souls have no rights whatsoever…
one can be excluded from Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON without even a hearing, at the whim of the management…
Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON is openly advertised as being a mundane sectarian religion…
etc…etc…etc…etc.
Perhaps...
this is one reason some of us hesitate to become enthusiastic about publicly representing ISKCON.
