Truth or Fiction? Guru Websites Visited
BY: NRSIMHANANDA DAS
Nov 02, 2011 — LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN) — Piqued by recent observations about Radhanath's official website not saying anything about Srila Prabhupada, I thought it prudent to do my own research. Sure enough, there is not only no picture or biography on the Homepage, but no mention of ISKCON either! You have to go into the archive pages and read the voluminous text to find buried references to Srila Prabhupada (7) and ISKCON (1). Of those seven mentions of Srila Prabhupada, 2 are indicating that another devotee present at some event was a Prabhupada disciple.
You would never know from a light reading that Radhanath Swami was a disciple of Srila Prabhupada or has anything to do with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The "About" Radhanath Swami page, however, does mention two saintly people from whom he took association:
"A spiritual stimulator" maintains that those who become aware of their spiritual identity share an imperative to reduce suffering in the world - employing all means at hand and stopping at nothing to do so. This truth was slowly revealed to him by teachers he had met including the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa."
Hello? Who? No mention of Prabhupada?!?! See for yourself.
Gosh, I thought that Srila Prabhupada was very insistent that his name be present on all ISKCON communications as the "Founder-Acarya, International Society for Krishna Consciousness." In the 1972 MacMillan Bhagavad-gita, the added honorarium, "... and greatest exponent in the western world of Krsna Consciousness" was personally approved by him, (unfortunately, edited out of the revised edition). There are numerous stories of Srila Prabhupada becoming angry that his name and title were not present or properly displayed on various literatures, signs, etc. Perhaps readers can share some of those pastimes.
I decided to check out the "official" websites of a few of my other guru-godbrothers. I was certain that they would not exhibit the same consciousness. I was expecting to see Srila Prabhupada glorified with great fanfare, gratitude, photos, etc. I was stunned by the fact that Srila Prabhupada was either omitted or "barely mentioned" in most of the ones that I perused. I can't give statistics because I only had time to do a small sampling. I was disappointed not just from a disciple's point of view, but from a resignation that Srila Prabhupada's immense influence and kripa were going unheralded by our godbrothers' disciples. My understanding is that we are all nothing compared to him, and without him, we'd all be confused, bewildered seekers - at best. Prabhupada isn't just "another" acarya, and his books are the "lawbooks for the next ten thousand years." Yes? His books are the ones that will endure - at least, are supposed to. We are pebbles that disappear in the ocean; he is that ocean of mercy who will remain. How is it that there are not prominent detailed introductions to His Divine Grace on each and every one of these "official" websites?
In all fairness, Radhanath Swami may be unaware of how his editors have shaped his "official" website. A Prabhupada disciple's knee-jerk reaction may be to blame the guru, but the problem may or may not be with him. Disciples, after all, are surrendered to their gurus, not Srila Prabhupada. Perhaps they don't understand the difference between someone like him and their own guru. We just need to do some compassionate education about how their guru would be pleased by the glorification of Srila Prabhupada even more than that of themselves. Some of you may say that I am wishfully thinking, but, really, it's the most effective way to influence. No good will come from berating these servants of the servants just because they don't understand that their guru only has stature because he is standing on Srila Prabhupada's shoulders. Prabhupada alone can keep us all - including the 75+ ISKCON gurus and those who left ISKCON - from drowning.
I would be interested if others would take up the task and looking at some of the "official" websites of the ISKCON (and non-ISKCON) gurus and give some critique. We can read some of the reports here on the Sun; I doubt other websites would entertain such an open discussion. Many ISKCON and other "authorities" sneak a peak anyway. If we analyze with constructive criticism rather than guru bashing, I think that we can send messages that can help promote the understanding of Srila Prabhupada's position relative to ours (theirs). The research can only benefit everyone by shining lights on these websites that have, for the most part, avoided inspection since they generally are only read by the disciples of the respective gurus.
YS, Nrsimhananda das
P.S. I only looked at a handful of sites. I'm desperately sure that many of my godbrothers' disciples did Prabhupada's position justice.
