Srila Prabhupada on Unity & Cooperation

7 thoughts on “Srila Prabhupada on Unity & Cooperation”

1. Hare Krishna. Respects. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

   Unless we study seriously what Srila Prabhupada taught on Istagosthi, personal ambition, unity, cooperation and good management, we will not be able to establish true unity, cooperation, trust and love as Srila Prabhupada wants among ourselves. This means we will promote true bhakti as it is and will not go back to Godhead. This is because we are all very immature in spiritual life. We think ourselves the doers and have the mental need to be thought as someone very great. Due to this, there is no Istagosthi or spiritual communications. This triggers so being humbler than the straw is kicked out totally. Competition, indifference, conflict, anger and attempt to dominate all others, using unethical methodology and having an attitude with no bases, that in at least some cases, it would be better if some Prabhupadanugas did not exist. Offending Srila Prabhupada and his followers, with no doubt can lead to hellish condition of life. So we must not blindly follow some “great preacher,” but we must seriously study and practice all Srila Prabhupada taught on Istagosthi, unity, cooperation, personal ambition, spiritual management, trust and love.

2. As written above “we must seriously study and practice all Srila Prabhupada taught on Istagosthi, unity, cooperation, personal ambition, spiritual management, trust and love” and not follow some great preacher, so true prabhu!
   As is seen in both ISKCONs & some pro riviks,
   it’s very hard to find to experience unity and cooperation, most brainwashed by some great preacher.

   Appreciate being listed here on your “Associated Centers/contacts”
   this site also mentions ISKCON Viakunta Hill and Hare Krsna Hill here in Bangalore.
   Something you should mention in that list is that ISKCON Bangalore group of temples are for “Ïndians” only and western or international devotee NOT welcomed.

   This western devotee was told by one of Madhu Pandit P. generals that they do NOT want any of their Indian devotees to associate with me and I am not allowed to do any service with them, as I’d proposed to train up their men to distrube books.

   Living in their ISKCON Gokulam apartments near their new temple on Vaikunta hill the past three years, been inviting western and internatonal devotees to come and live here, once Madhu Pandit P. heard about this, they now want me out of here!
   Their leaders avoid me as must as possible, not even talking to me (same as other ISKCON) but I refuse to leave the temples and will continue visiting them.
   MPD group of temples have no rasa (taste), kirtans, classes very boring, their sunday feast is in the morning where they serve bland tasting Kitchari. At least when I go to ISKCON Vrndavan, great Kirtans classes and real good tasting prasadam with wonderful international association and respect to Srila Prabhupada disicples.

   Flew to San Francisco recently to renew passport, visited the Sunnyvale temple (MPD) where you see no western or International devotees. The pro rivik devotees in that area do not asscociate with them, because of experiencing heavy “racism” by the “only Indian” rivik temple in Sunnyvale, as In India, they are going for rich Hindus to keep the money flowing with big temples planned and their only Indian devotees allowed.

   In Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad Bahagvatam Introduction he writes “Sri Ramananda Raya was a self realized soul, although he belonged to a caste lower than the brahmana in social status and he was a high government servant, Still, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted him as a liberated soul on the strength of the high order of his realization of transcendental knowledge., Simmilary, Sri Caitanya accepted Srila Haridasa Thakura, a veteran devotee of the Lord coming from a Mohammedan family. And there are many other great devotees of the Lord who came from different communities, sects and castes. The Lord’s only criterion was the standard of devotional service of the partricular person”.
   Try telling that to both ISKCONs.

   To stay in the fire I’ve to go to ISKCON Vrndavan Krsna Balaram temple to do service and get surcharged twice a year. Then back to Bangalore where my service is caring for local cows and book distribution, avoiding leaders of both ISKCONs.

   Please, if you can contact the person listing our “Associated Centers/contacts”
   list that includes MPD temples, they should note that western devotees are not welcome to serve or associate in their opulent temples.
   They will be happy to charge you high rate in their guesthouses and be kind to you since they know you are only visiting, but try to get engagememt with them, its as bad as the other ISKCON who reject pro rivik devotees!

   Both ISKCONs are now in Supreme court in New Dehli wasting millions of dollars fighting over property control with a decison coming Decemeber 15th, my prediction is that they will not settle the case and keep fighting each other for years to come. Meantime, this 62 yr old disciple of Srila Prabhupada is going senile with a falling apart mind and body, but is still looking for another pro rivik community in Europe or INDIA for service or please join me here, to hell with the rascals using Prabhupada’s movement to enrich themselves!
   Any suggestions, let me know.
   Thank you for your important time to rant.
   Your unqualified servant,
   Rathayatra dasa
   PS If I offended anyone , please forgive me and then read Prabhupada’s books.

   1. Hare Krishna Rathyatra Dad Prabhu
      Respect.
      All glories to Srila Prabhupada
      How this problem can be solved and 2 groups will unite and work togateher for Krishna Consciousness?
      These conflicts are creating bad name for ISKCON. I as a neophyte got frustrated knowing these things. In the clutches of this conflict we will not be able to set an example for the world, as dreamed by HDG Srila Prabhupada…

      1. Hare Krishna Kashyap prabhu. Respects. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thanks for your correct perspective and concern about the tangible fact that the two groups ritviks and non ritviks are not only having conflict with each other, but actually if you research more, the factual evidence shows that both groups have no Istagosthi, (spiritual communication) unity and cooperation even among their own separate internal affairs. This is because in the fervor to show we are special spiritually when we are actually not, it has escaped us to learned the reasons for ISKCON, which are, Istagosthi, unity, cooperation, trust and love and forgotten that we are to consider ourselves humbly fallen rotten. This is the advise of Srila Prabhupada. Interestingly, I don’t know one devotee that knows by heart the reasons for ISKCON, when we should know them and practice them. You can learn about these in this web site in articles under Unity and cooperation. Here, Srila Prabhupada explains that competition is good, but due to ego based lack of Istagosthi, competition turns into anger and efforts to dominate. This is exactly what has been going on in both major camps even internally as I said before, so big conflict arises and thus not possible to have a good reputation and we may actually end up in Pataloka (Hell) instead of Krishna Loka for this, since it is guru aparadha or great offense against Srila Prabhupada who wants we be known for how much we love each other and not for how much we fight like cats and dogs. Having said the above, the solution is tangibly here for all to practice. It’s is simply a matter of education and various devotees including many new ones in their teens and 20s are learning it and practicing it. So there is a all hope. The younger ones like yourself, they can clearly see that the senior ones are creating conflicts based on ego, lack of consideration for Srila Prabhupada and ignorance. I have met a couple that have been around just two years, but they know more about the conflict than senior men and me although I started serving for unity and cooperation in the mid 90s when “I” (Sri Krishna does all) organized the Srila Prabhupada family reunion and 400 devotees attended. So we more senior should be humble enough and try to help in all ways possible, so you the younger generation will establish more easily unity and cooperation. Srila Prabhupada made the statement that if we don’t cooperate, we render him useless, so we should all put our false egos aside and not offend Srila Prabhupada, who also said that even if we disagree, we should still cooperate. One other thing that is helping a lot, is the fact that some senior and younger devotees, are becoming familiar with a little known and honored order. In May 11 1977, Srila Prabhupada wrote and signed the order, “Everyone should should follow the example of Jayananda.” Please try to learn about Jayananda prabhu. He passed away on May 1 1977. Srila Prabhupada was most fond of him and wrote that he was most proud to have such an ideal disciple. He wrote that Jayananda prabhu went back to Krishna Loka and ordered that his picture we placed in all Lord Jagganath carts in RathaYatras and ordered that he be placed in the Vaisnava calendar which is reserved for siddhas, or perfect devotees. So all hope is there. Just Google Jayananda Thakur to learn more about him and or read here on this web site about him. I and many identify with your concern and are happy to know of someone like you. Life in this world is not easy, but by taking up the garce of Sri Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and devotees like Jayananda prabhu, we know that it’s just a matter of time and we will have the unity and cooperation They all want from us. Thanks again! Sincerely, Mahatma Dasa

3. Hare Krishna Rathayatra Das prabhu. Respects. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Yes, we must only follow Srila Prabhupada and the best example of Jayananda das, as Srila Prabhupada advise we do. This means, all inclusive Istagosthi and not deviated secret “tea parties, by capricious and temperamental ones, who do not even know guru tattwa. We must unite and cooperate, despite disagreements, Srila Prabhupada says. This will bring the egos down and the atman closer to love and Krishna Loka, the goal of the most noble science of bhakti.

4. Is There Any Hope Left For The Hare Krsna Movement?

   Hare Krsna.

   Do you think at this point in history that the Hare Krsna movement has any hope of expanding it’s area of influence beyond the borders of simple temples, home programmes and on line web sites? Will it actually start to influence the leaders of the free world and realistically relieve the suffering of the people living in American and Canadian inner cities before the end of this decade?
   If so is there an ongoing plan for this to take place soon? Could you possibly give some details of that plan?
   Do you think that regular daily chanting of Hare Krsna on the streets, distribution of the founders original first printing books and the distribution of the holy food called prasadam will return to North America as it did in the early 1970’s in all major US and Canadian cities before the end of 2025?

   Regards
   Charles Dowson
   Prabhupada Press

5. That Lost Divine Nature

   What is the use of continuing to spend valuable time exposing the theft of the movement from Srila Prabhupada along with the various actors as well as the continued exposing of the book changes if we are not going to give the world the chances they deserve to associate with Srila Prabhupada, his devotees and understand his books? After all isn’t that the sole reason why we are fighting to get the original first printing books out?
   We are supposed to be the teachers are we not? We all claim to be first class examples of Vaisnavas yet we do not utilize in practical ways for the world the knowledge the books contain. The very books we say we are trying to protect in order to solve the worlds problems. Perhaps we do not really value or fully understand what Srila Prabhupada has presented to us over the years. If we did and we cared then we would be acting in a much more generous manner toward everyone. You know, like Vaisnavas, right? Where are all of our Prabhupadanugas practical thinkers and teachers? I do not mean just repeaters but those thinking and writing for others what they have understood so far in their lives. If we can manage wonderful web sites then we can set the example of teaching to those in need in a personal manner. There are far more bogus gurus and so called teachers in ISKCON than there are of us and still we cannot talk to each other to set up world wide programmes.

   The Internet’s availability for open and free speech is under very serious attack right now from some of the demonic cousins of ISKCON. If we do not open up our services and understandings of what vast knowledge Srila Prabhupada has given us and do it now then we should not be surprised if one morning it is no longer available. Of course would that really make any difference at this point to most if not all of us? As it is we are not reaching out to others the way Srila Prabhupada ordered us to do. Our lack of enthusiasm for teaching from the books, sankirtan, prasadam distribution and one on one book distribution on the whole is certainly not up to the original standards set up by Srila Prabhupada. All web sites should be far more user friendly for those we say we care about. They should be staffed 24/7 to answer any inquiries and questions within a 24 hour period no matter who it is.
   The spiritual world is infinitely expanding. We are supposed to be engaged in the same aim and services as the spiritual world. Yet we have corralled ourselves by being seriously distracted with concerns that are no longer necessary. Those of us who feel they cannot lead as well as others should understand what leadership is by Srila Prabhupada’s example. Then support those who are qualified to lead and lead now before it is too late.
   Ys Hasti Gopala dasa
   Chapter 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures
   TEXT 24
   tasmac chastram pramanam te
   karyakarya-vyavasthitau
   jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam
   karma kartum iharhasi
   SYNONYMS
   tasmat—therefore; sastram—scriptures; pramanam—evidence; te—your; karya—duty; akarya—forbidden activities; vyavasthitau—in determining; jnatva—knowing; sastra—of scripture; vidhana—regulations; uktam—as declared; karma—work; kartum—to do; iha arhasi—you should do it.

   TRANSLATION
   One should understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act so that he may gradually be elevated.

   PURPORT
   As stated in the Fifteenth Chapter, all the rules and regulations of the Vedas are meant for knowing Krsna. If one understands Krsna from the Bhagavad-gita and becomes situated in Krsna consciousness, engaging himself in devotional service, he has reached the highest perfection of knowledge offered by the Vedic literature. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu made this process very easy: He asked people simply to chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and to engage in the devotional service of the Lord and eat the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Deity. One who is directly engaged in all these devotional activities is to be understood as having studied all Vedic literature. He has come to the conclusion perfectly. Of course, for the ordinary persons who are not in Krsna consciousness or who are not engaged in devotional service, what is to be done and what is not to be done must be decided by the injunctions of the Vedas. One should act accordingly, without argument. That is called following the principles of sastra, or scripture. Sastra is without the four principal defects that are visible in the conditioned soul: imperfect senses, the propensity for cheating, certainty of committing mistakes, and certainty of being illusioned. These four principal defects in conditioned life disqualify one from putting forth rules and regulations. Therefore, the rules and regulations as described in the sastra-being above these defects-are accepted without alteration by all great saints, acaryas, and great souls.
   In India there are many parties of spiritual understanding, generally classified as two: the impersonalist and the personalist. Both of them, however, lead their lives according to the principles of the Vedas. Without following the principles of the scriptures, one cannot elevate himself to the perfectional stage. One who actually, therefore, understands the purport of the sastras is considered fortunate.
   In human society, aversion to the principles of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all falldowns. That is the greatest offense of human life. Therefore, maya, the material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always giving us trouble in the shape of the threefold miseries. This material energy is constituted of the three modes of material nature. One has to raise himself at least to the mode of goodness before the path to understanding the Supreme Lord can be opened. Without raising oneself to the standard of the mode of goodness, one remains in ignorance and passion, which are the cause of demoniac life. Those in the modes of passion and ignorance deride the scriptures, deride the holy man, and deride the proper understanding of the spiritual master, and they do not care for the regulations of the scriptures. In spite of hearing the glories of devotional service, they are not attracted. Thus they manufacture their own way of elevation. These are some of the defects of human society, which lead to the demoniac status of life. If, however, one is able to be guided by a proper and bona fide spiritual master, who can lead one to the path of elevation, to the higher stage, then one’s life becomes successful.
   Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Sixteenth Chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavad-gita in the matter of the Divine and Demoniac Natures.

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