Open Letter to Keshava Prabhu
BY: HH. B. RADHA-GOVINDA SWAMI
Aug 23, USA (SUN) — Dear Keshava prabhu, Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my fallen obeisances. I pray that you are well. I read your article, "Jackals and Vultures". Certainly so much can be said in reply, and I feel there should be some reply. My time today at the (public) computer is not long, so let me reply with this:
You have said:
"But the fact that the direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada who have never said a word when we were being raped and beaten in the "Torture Camps" Gurukulas they allowed to fester in ISKCON, are sitting back worrying about their futures and not rocking the boat - as these jackals and vultures pick at the bones of ISKCON - the very body of our beloved Srila Prabhupada! I am so disappointed in the apathy and weakness of devotees and so called followers and disciples of Srila Prabhupada. I have said my peace now it is the turn of the true followers of Srila Prabhupada to make a stand!"
Jackels and vultures eventually die. So do snakes. Prahlad Maharaj, Who was subjected to the abuse of His father, Hiranyakasipu speaks in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.14:
tad yaccha manyum asuras ca hatas tvayadya
modeta sadhur api vrscika sarpa hatya
lokas ca nirvrtim itah pratiyanti sarve
rupam nrsimha vibhayaya janah smaranti
"My Lord Nrsimhadeva, please, therefore, cease Your anger now that my father, the great demon Hiranyakasipu, has been killed. Since even saintly persons take pleasure in the killing of a scorpion or a snake, all the worlds have achieved great satisfaction because of the death of this demon. Now they are confident of their happiness, and they will always remember Your auspicious incarnation in order to be free from fear."
Note this part: modeta sadhur api vrscika sarpa hatya -- "Even saintly persons take pleasure in the killing of a scorpion or a snake."
Srila Prabhupada says in His purport, "The most important point in this verse is that although saintly persons never desire the killing of any living entity, they take pleasure in the killing of envious living entities like snakes and scorpions. Hiranyakasipu was killed because he was worse than a snake or a scorpion, and therefore everyone was happy. Now there was no need for the Lord to be angry. The devotees can always remember the form of Nrsimhadeva when they are in danger, and therefore the appearance of Nrsimhadeva was not at all inauspicious. The Lord's appearance is always worshipable and auspicious for all sane persons and devotees."
When Hiranyakasipu was present, ALL of the devatas, with the exception of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu, were serving him as menial servants. Even Narada Muni was serving in such capacity. (See SB 7.4.14 along with some of the following verses.) This is one of the many lilas in Srimad Bhagavatam, but as with all lilas, this lila not only expounds the glories of Krsna in One of His Rupas, but also serves to give us lessons.
People were AFRAID of Hiranyakasipu, including some REALLY GREAT devotees of the Lord. So as was then, some, maybe many of today's (ISKCON) devotees are AFRAID of these ISKCON "in-charge 'big shots'. I'm sure you KNOW that at least SOME of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, including women, HAVE spoken up/tried to speak up, in MANY cases, but we get "shot down," (sometimes even literally) by these people.
As Srimad Bhagavatam in 12th canto (chapter 2 - some omitting)) explains:
"Sukadeva Gosvami said: 'Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali. Wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man's good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one's power. Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one's expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brahmana just by his wearing a thread. A person's spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person's propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar. A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue...Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful...the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation. As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests...and the religious principles of followers of varnasrama will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of sudras."
From chapter 3, (Mother Bhumi speaking):
"Just see how these kings, who are actually playthings in the hands of death, are desiring to conquer me. Great rulers of men, even those who are learned, meet frustration and failure because of material lust. Driven by lust, these kings place great hope and faith in the dead lump of flesh called the body, even though the material frame is as fleeting as bubbles of foam on water. Kings and politicians imagine: 'First I will conquer my senses and mind; then I will subdue my chief ministers and rid myself of the thorn-pricks of my advisors, citizens, friends and relatives...In this way I will gradually conquer the entire earth.' Because the hearts of these leaders are bound by great expectations, they fail to see death waiting nearby...What is the use of their self-control, which is aimed at political exploitation? The actual goal of self-control is spiritual liberation. For the sake of conquering me, materialistic persons fight one another. Fathers oppose their sons, and brothers fight one another, because their hearts are bound to possessing political power. Political leaders challenge one another: 'All this land is mine! It's not yours, you fool!' Thus they attack one another and die."
After Mother Bhumi is quoted, Sukadeva Goswami explains:
"The person who desires pure devotional service to Lord Krsna should hear the narrations of Lord Uttamasloka's glorious qualities, the constant chanting of which destroys everything inauspicious. The devotee should engage in such listening in regular daily assemblies and should also continue his hearing throughout the day."
King Pariksit then asks, "My lord, how can persons living in the age of Kali rid themselves of the cumulative contamination of this age?" and before giving the direct reply, Sukadeva Goswami explains some more concerning the nature of men in this Kali Yuga. (This includes the Kali Chelas within ISKCON in positions of MISmanagers):
"In the Kali age people tend to be greedy, ill-behaved and merciless, and they fight one another without good reason. Unfortunate and obsessed with material desires, the people of Kali-yuga are almost all sudras and barbarians...the Vedas will be contaminated by speculative interpretations of atheists, political leaders will virtually consume the citizens, and the so-called priests and intellectuals will be devotees of their bellies and genitals. The brahmacaris will fail to execute their vows and become generally unclean...and the sannyasis will become greedy for wealth...Servants will abandon a master who has lost his wealth, even if that master is a saintly person of exemplary character. Masters will abandon an incapacitated servant, even if that servant has been in the family for generations. Cows will be abandoned or killed when they stop giving milk." (The above has happened within ISKCON concerning cows (even being sold to slaughter houses, or being allowed to die off with improper or no medical care, and devotees who rendered service for so many years were just BOOTED OUT. Some devotees were even beaten and/or killed for speaking up against the various atrocities committed by ISKCON's (MIS)leaders.) "Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant's dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles."
After Sukadeva Goswami speaks these things, He concludes with this:
kaler dosa nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta sanga param vrajet
"Although Kali yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom."
Srila Prabhupada explains in His purport to this verse, "After mentioning the innumerable faults of this age of Kali, Sukadeva Gosvami now mentions its one brilliant aspect. Just as one powerful king can kill innumerable thieves, one brilliant spiritual quality can destroy all the contamination of this age. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, especially in this fallen age."
Keshava prabhu, even the great devotees in the time of Hiranyakasipu were afraid to speak up or "do something." Similarly many devotees today who do KNOW that there have been and still are SO MANY HORRIFIC injustices committed by these CREEPS "in charge" are afraid to speak up or try to do something. And there have been (and still are) devotees who have spoken up are still speaking up/writing, and who have tried (and are still trying) to do something. But as we know, these people in positions of "in charge" within ISKCON have their power, etc.
So it is a FACT that SOME, maybe even many of Srila Prabhupada's disciples have "kept quiet," due to their own reasons; some of them because they are afraid to speak up, others due to their own "ostrich mentality" or for whatever other reasons.
Ultimately Krsna is seeing (and knowing) ALL, and it will be Krsna, Who as the Time Factor (BG 11.32), will DO THE NECESSARY with people like those named by you in your article.
Nrsimhadev EASILY killed Hiranyakasipu.
"As a snake captures a mouse or Garuda captures a very venomous snake, Lord Nrsimhadeva captured Hiranyakasipu, who could not be pierced even by the thunderbolt of King Indra. As Hiranyakasipu moved his limbs here, there and all around, very much afflicted at being captured, Lord Nrsimhadeva placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs, and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand... Hiranyakasipu had been exactly like a fever of meningitis in the head of the three worlds. Thus when the wives of the demigods in the heavenly planets saw that the great demon had been killed by the personal hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their faces blossomed in great joy. The wives of the demigods again and again showered flowers from heaven upon Lord Nrsimhadeva like rain. had been exactly like a fever of meningitis in the head of the three worlds. Thus when the wives of the demigods in the heavenly planets saw that the great demon had been killed by the personal hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their faces blossomed in great joy. The wives of the demigods again and again showered flowers from heaven upon Lord Nrsimhadeva like rain."
Although we, as Srila Prabhupada's disciples, may not have been able (or may not be able) to have done/do so much, be assured that Lord Nrsimhadev WILL have HIS day with these TORTURERS of Krsna's devotees.
