–Guilt by association

–Manipulation of public opinion by exaggerated stories

–Dismissing contradictory and scholarly evidence by name-calling

–Lastly the most "insidious" technique to engender cult fear is the "Big Lie."

"If this has anything to do with Krsna consciousness, I don’t want anything to do with it."

In my books the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily, the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. So the cleansing process is this chanting and hearing and doing some service and trying to please the Spiritual Master. By this process our consciousness becomes clear and we are able to understand everything. You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krsna Conscious in this life time. (Ltr Bahurupa 74-11-22)

Maintain your activities and increase gradually. I have instructed everything in my books. (Ltr Dina Dayal 76-02-25)

I have given my ideas and direction in my books. People appreciate. I think from my side I have done everything. (770429RC.BOM)

If they (the GBC) cannot answer from their experience, then I have given answer in my books–and still if they cannot answer, they may ask me. (Ltr Kirtika ~ 72-02-16)

And if Srila Prabhupada isn’t available, whom shall we ask?

". . . who is the most highly competent of all my godbrothers. This is B. R. Sridhara Maharaja, whom I consider to be even my siksa guru."
(SP Ltr Hrsikesa ~ 69-01-29)

"What Sripada Sridhara Maharaja has directed, I take it on my head . . . it is appropriate that I should accept his direction." (SP Ltr Govinda Mj ~ 69-01-29)

What Govinda Maharaja has said is true. I consider him my dear son, and his guru as my siksa guru. (SP ~ Iskcon Mayapur Candrodaya Mandira opening ceremony 1974)

Those who are intelligent, they are making something, Sridhara Maharaja and others. (770113RC.ALL)

One of my important Godbrothers says. He’s sincere.
(731211M2.LA) in ref to (SP Ltr Bon Mj 75-07-07) & (760122MW.MAY)

. . . False devotees think that studying books of the previous acaryas is inadvisable, like studying dry empiric philosophies. But Srila Jiva Goswami, following the previous acaryas, has inculcated the conclusions of the scriptures in the six theses called the Sat-sandarbhas. False devotees who have very little knowledge of such conclusions fail to achieve pure devotion for want of zeal in accepting the favorable directions for devotional service given by self-realized devotees. (Cc. Adi-lila 2.117, purport)

"Sri Sanatana Goswami Prabhu, the teacher of the science of devotional service, wrote several books, of which the Brhad-bhagavatamrta is very famous; anyone who wants to know about the subject matter of devotees, devotional service and Krsna must read this book." (Cc. Adi-lila 5.203)

Within the past five hundred years, many erudite scholars and acaryas like Jiva Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Visvanatha Cakravarti, Vallabhacarya, and many other distinguished scholars even after the time of Lord Caitanya made elaborate commentaries on the Bhagavatam. And the serious student would do well to attempt to go through them to better relish the transcendental messages. (Bhag. 1.1.1. purport)

Bhaktivinoda £hakura happens to be acaryas, one of the acaryas. And he has left behind him many books. Caitanya-siksamrta, Jaiva Dharma. These are very important books. They’re in Bengali, in Sanskrit. And many songs. He has prepared many books of song. The song, Ei nam gaya gauracand madhura svare, that is Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s song. So we are trying to present Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s books also in English translation. Gradually you will get it. (690923BA.LON)

We have to worship the acaryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, for making advancement in spiritual life, acaryopasana. So this is acaryopasana, by reading their books, nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why studying so many books? For the sake of establishing real religious life. Sad-dharma. (710628LE.SF)

Amogha: That we should not try to read Bhaktivinoda’s books or earlier books of other, all acaryas. So I was just wondering...
Prabhupada: I never said that.
Amogha: You didn’t say that? Oh.
Prabhupada: How is that?
Amogha: I thought you said that we should not read the previous acaryas’ books.
Prabhupada: No, you should read. (750513mw.per)

The words daivera karana indicate that by dint of providence, or by God’s will, the followers of Advaita Acarya divided into two parties. Such disagreement among the disciples of one acarya is also found among the members of the Gaudiya Matha.

. . . our relationship is very intimate. After the breakdown of the Gaudiya Matha I wanted to organize another organization making Sridhara Maharaja as the head." (730317RC.MAY)

Sridhara Maharaja’s establishment of a Matha in Mayapur with a branch in Calcutta was his response to the Gaudiya Matha split . . . Here Abhay and Sridhara Maharaja could remain aloof from the warring factions and together pursue their plans for spreading Krsna consciousness.

There is no reason why acaryas cannot differ on certain points.
(SP Letter to Upendra 72-2-19)

One thing is that he was jagat guru. Jagat guru, he has some special inspiration, saktyavesa avatara as I like to tell about him. He was saktyavesa avatara, the abode of some special potency of the Lord. Otherwise, with whose work would not have been possible, by any ordinary acarya, saktyavesa. So a special consideration for him.

But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship. The one who serves the message of the guru really serves him.

According to my consideration, as I hear it, the grandeur of the acarya, the puja of the present acaryas, it is undesirable and too much and that will create some difficulty. It should be modified. The way in which the acarya puja has been established, that should be modified to suit the circumstances and some adjustment with the godbrothers should be made. A protocol, a spiritual protocol should be evolved which may not be very harmful to the body, to the association, the Iskcon organization.

"It has become more apparent that daily guru-puja [for the present Iskcon gurus] is questionable."

"It is not required in the sastras or in the Gaudiya tradition, that there be the formal full arati/guru-puja in the temple every day. This daily puja was not apparently offered to recent acaryas such as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura or Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura."

"If the different worship systems we have instituted are excessive, my answer is that we did not know what to do because there was no precedent or scriptural rule that told us specifically what to do."

"Where Radharani is, Baladeva cannot stay there by the side of Krsna because there will be clash in the service or rasa. There is a clash in vatsalya, sakhya and madhurya-rasas. And Prabhupada [Bhaktisiddhanta] closely followed this line, that Mahaprabhu can stay, both Radha and Krsna combined, nothing else. So I heard that he had installed Radha Govinda and there some sakhis also by their side. But where Krsna Baladeva and Gaura-Nityananda also–not Radharani."

"So to show his real gratitude to Baladeva, Nityananda, he installed them special. Gaura Hari Bol. That I can see, to harmonize his ways and our guru maharaja, from whom he got his spiritual beginning."

Let them capture the whole of the world. But at the same time they should not banish the very Deity of their worship. That is one and the same. Swami Maharaja has clearly written that his guru is Radharani. It is there: "Krsna, Radharani will be pleased if you help me in this campaign." Is it not written there? "Radharani khusi habe e-punya koribe jabe." [Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna]So, he has admitted that his guru is Radharani. So, we aspire after the service of Radharani, under the direction of Sri Rupa and others, not committing any wrong, and we are seen as. "Give a dog a bad name and shoot him." Nitai Gaura Hari Bol. (Laughing) Let Mahaprabhu bless them that they may not shoot their desired end of life. Trying to shoot me, [we hope that] they may not shoot the very end for which they are aspiring after. Hare Krsna.

Bhakti Caru Swami: Yes, we are also afraid of that Maharaja . . .

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: I feel that I am not their enemy. I am their friend. I am their friend. But not a flatterer. I am a friend, but not a flatterer.

Aksayananda Swami: That is a real friend.

No one, while remaining on the material platform, should discuss these different descriptions of bhava and anubhava. One should simply try to understand that, on the spiritual platform there are many varieties of reciprocal love. Such loving exchanges should never be considered to be material. In the Mahabharata Udyama-parva it is warned that things which are inconceivable should not be subjected to arguments. Actually the transactions of the spiritual world are inconceivable to us in our present state of life."

"Actually, amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to be acarya,"

"If guru maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya, he would have mentioned. Because in the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but he never mentioned an acarya."

So unwillingly I accepted. And then I remembered that he wanted me to go to the Western country. So I am feeling now very much obliged to my, this Godbrother [Kesava Maharaja], that he carried out the wish of my spiritual master and enforced me to accept this sannyasa order . . . So he did this favor upon me because he was an ocean of mercy. (681021DK.SEA)

"The disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami are all godbrothers, and although there are some differences of opinion, and although we are not acting conjointly, every one of us is spreading this Krsna consciousness movement according to his capacity and producing many disciples to spread it all over the world." (Bhag. 4.28.31)

"Even amongst our godbrothers we have misunderstanding, but none of us is astray from the service of Krsna. My guru maharaja ordered us to execute his mission combinedly. Unfortunately we are now separated. But none of us have stopped preaching Krsna consciousness. Even there was misunderstanding amongst the godbrothers of my guru maharaja none of them deviated from the transcendental loving service of Krsna. The idea is that provocation and misunderstanding may remain between one man and another. But our staunch faith in Krsna consciousness may not allow any material disruption. Please therefore try to be sympathetic with any person, even if they differ. The only qualification we have to scrutinize is if one is acting in Krsna consciousness as far as one is able to do it." (Ltr November 18, 1967 ~ Brahmananda)

"one should respect one’s spiritual master’s godbrothers as one respects one’s spiritual master." (Cc. Adi-lila 5.147, purport)

"bring unity amongst the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, especially the followers of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura."

. . . equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. Iskcon is one of these branches." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 10.7, purport)

Although one may be well versed in the transcendental science, one should be careful about the offense of maryada-vyatikrama, or impertinently surpassing a greater personality. According to scriptural injunction one should be very careful of transgressing the law of maryada-vyatikrama because by so doing one loses his duration of life, his opulence, fame and piety and the blessings of all the world. To be well versed in the transcendental science necessitates awareness of the techniques of spiritual science . . . The rule is that in the presence of a higher personality one should not be very eager to impart instructions, even if one is competent and well versed . . . The Lord never tolerates the impertinence of maryada-vyatikrama. [Bhag. 3.4.26, purp.]

. . . so in the future we can form a Central Governing Body for the whole institution. Therefore the management should be done very cautiously so that everyone is satisfied in their autonomous managing capacity . . . You should always deal things so tactfully that people may not fall away. Every being is important in Krsna conscious service, and we must take all precautions that one may not fall away.(SP Ltr TKG: October 18, 1969)

There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide. No . . . I am little observing now, especially in your country, that our men are losing their enthusiasm for spreading on our programs of Krsna Consciousness movement . . . The whole problem is that they are not following the regulative principles, that I can detect. Without this, enthusiasm will be lacking . . . I do not think that the leaders are themselves following, nor they are seeing the others are following strictly . . . Our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise and meet it . . . Forget all this centralizing and bureaucracy. (SP Ltr Karandhara Dec. 22, 1972)

The first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krishna Consciousness . (SP Ltr Satsvarupa: 16 June, 1972)

Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and friendly dealings. This is not an ordinary thing that if somebody has got some fault he should be cut. He should be reformed by amicable dealings. We are training our men since a long time. It is very difficult to get trained up assistants. (SP Ltr Bali-mardana: Sept. 5, 1974)

"One of our sannyasi godbrothers has committed suicide, Srila Prabhupada’s seniormost daughter has become bitter to the point of frenzy, the man Srila Prabhupada appointed to complete the Srimad Bhagavatam has left us in frustration and disappointment, an enthusiastic preacher has become discouraged and ensnared by lust and ambition, a main builder of our Vrndavana temple is living like a hermit, several staunch brahmacaris have sought shelter in marriage and a depressingly large number of our godbrothers and sisters have quietly or not quietly left Srila Prabhupada’s society. Now some devotees are turning in desperation to Sridhara Maharaja. And others are holding on in Iskcon, deeply dissatisfied but nurturing a hope that things will change . . . Somehow or other, large numbers of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples feel strongly disturbed, discouraged, bitter, offended, confused, angry, or unhappy because of their relationship with their godbrothers who have ‘accepted the mantle’ as initiating gurus."

21 January, 1985

Dear XX1 Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to our eternal master, guide and well-wisher, Srila Prabhupada.

I am usually not one to enter political frays, waving banners and storming barricades, but I am so shocked and sickened by your recent blood-cry against XX2 Swami’s, sent in the form of a letter and "report" to Iskcon leaders, that I feel compelled to articulate my personal reaction . . . You've come to warn us all–decent citizens of the kingdom–of the doom to come, of traitors in our midst, of "conspirators," ''blasphemers,'' "poisoners," "murderers," "honey-tongued snakes," and "demons." We are informed that the Devil has now incarnated as His Holiness XX2 Swami, and that he is to be shunned and disgraced. We must not, you warn, talk with him nor hear what he says, nor let him darken our doorways, for even the best of us may fall under his magic spell, bedeviled by his sweet and confounding lies.

In my fifteen years in Iskcon, I've never heard such dangerous nonsense. Devotees throughout the world who know Bhakti Dayal Swami have the utmost respect for him and will not be stampeded into unthinking condemnation of him, as you seem to insist. I am no controversy monger, and might not even have had a great curiosity to hear from XX2 if not for your hysterical anathemas ("The lady doth protest too much!").

Myself and others recently met your "devil" and spoke with him at considerable length and found him to be not at all worthy of your fervid denunciations. One need not be a highly gifted discerner of spirits to see that Bhakti Dayal Swami is a sincere and benign Vaisnava of high moral character, a devoted disciple of Srila Prabhupada, a loyal supporter of Iskcon and its institutions, and one of our most expert and successful preachers. He is no "international political revolutionary" or sinister conspirator as you claim. Rather, he is a self-effacing, disarmingly humble devotee who, even in the face of the absurd torment you all are subjecting) him to, seems disinclined personally to seek a vendetta.

I have read your version of the events and heard Bhakti Dayal Swami's. Employing my very best instincts for discerning sincerity and honesty, I have to say that I find myself more inclined to believe him than yourself. There is such a tone of frivolous and malicious exaggeration (and who knows how much sheer inventiveness) in your report that you yourself cast serious doubt on your whole case.

This man's only crime seems to be his willingness, after much suffering and silence, to seek rectification for what he sincerely views (I think quite reasonably) as fundamental violations of sacred principles of Krsna consciousness and of human decency.

Whatver the facts of the case, it is clear that you are subjecting Bhakti Dayal Swami to a horrendous campaign of persecution and defamation which is almost impossible to conceive occuring within a society of devotees. He and XX3 Prabhu present what appear to be fairly compelling documented evidence of considerable wrongdoing on the part of the leadership in your zone (including some rather irregular behavior on the part of Harikesa Swami).

To the extent that the movement, especially its leadership, sells its principles short, to the extent that decisions are made on a passionate, expedient, self-serving basis, to the extent that devotees are dealt with inhumanely, to the extent that power and control are exercised through threat, deceit, intimidation, witch-hunts and Gestapo tactics–to that extent it is difficult to represent Iskcon with a clear conscience and with enthusiasm. I cannot be a glorified P.R. cover-up man. Whatever I speak or write about the movement is taken seriously in academic circles only to the extent that I am perceived not as an apologist, but as an objective and honest interpreter of it. Please do not make my task an impossible one . . .

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Subhananda dasa

It is with great regret that I have read your 1/4/85 letter (and the accompanying report) to "all authorities in ISKCON" regarding Bhakti Dayal Swami, and I want to register my strongest objections to your procedure for dealing with this issue. You should realize how much you have damaged yourselves by your own actions.

I am not, of course, in a position to adjudicate the disputes that have erupted in your zone. That is a matter for the GBC. Yet you have advanced an aggressive and widespread propaganda campaign in [geographical area] against Bhakti Dayal Swami and XX3 Prabhu thus making the issue a public one. In Vienna alone, XX Prabhu was subjected to two lengthy telephone harangues by XX3 Swami with a follow-up from XX1 Swami. And now this letter and report. In forcing this issue into the public arena, you have proceeded with such passionate unrestrained vehemence and produced such an awesome display of overkill, that many of us became very inquisitive to hear the other side. I went out of my way to do so, and I am at least quite satisfied that there are two sides to this case.

In your letter and report you prosecute, judge, and sentence Bhakti Daya Swami before all Iskcon and at the same time try to frighten and bully us into not hearing him. Any honest devotee will respond to this cheating by wanting to hear Bhakti Dayal’s side of the case . . .

All intelligent devotees will recognize the perverted logic by which you try to establish your assertion that Bhakti Dayal Swami is part of a demonic plot against Iskcon. The obvious evidence of his loyality–that he has not left ISKCON like others but is keeping the association of Iskcon devotees–is, you say, only proof of how devious his plot is. I suppose the fact that he is putting his case to the GBC through due process and submitting himself to its authority only show how even more insidiously devious he is! In other words, your assertion that he is part of a demonic plot is wholly metaphysical, for no possible experience could disprove it. The only thing you would accept as proof of his innocence is his confession of guilt. Interestingly enough, this is the same tack taken by the Puritan divines in the Salem witchcraft trials, by Sen. Joseph McCarthy in his communist witch-hunt, and by Joseph Stalin in the Moscow purge trials. However, none of these people should be accepted as models for Vaisnava behavior.

Finally, you proclaim that anyone who "supports" Bhakti Dayal Swami is "falling under the spell of psychological intimidation." Since the letter we have just read is a masterpiece of psychological intimidation, we are lead to wonder whether this whole demon-hunt in Eastern Europe is an egregious instance of the unfortunate practice of scapegoating, i.e., projecting one’s own sins onto others and then "purifying" one’s self by destroying the others . . . It is especially unfortunate that a devotee of Srila XX5 Swami’s stature [GBC Guru] has signed his name to this letter and endorsed the enclosed report. One can only hope that he has been the victim of very bad advice.

I pray that this finds you well.

Your servant in the service
of Srila Prabhupada

Ravindra Svarupa dasa

6th January 1985

Respected Privilege Commitee

Dear GBC Godbrothers!

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet, all glories to Srila 'Prabhupada.

As you are probably all aware already, during the last month we (myself and about 30 other devotees, mostly disciples of Harikesa Swami) have been thrown out of his zone, our temple has been raided by his men, practically all of our things have been confiscated while the devotees have been threatened several times both physically and spiritually. As another criminal act, they broke into our boutique and preaching center (which is owned by one of us privately) stole all the items for sale etc. All this has happened in my absence as a suprise attack and only after this did I hear from others in other zones that I am accused with being a leading figure in a world conspiracy that is meant to destroy the whole Iskcon society and that I destroyed the faith in the disciples of Harikesa Swami etc. These accusations were unheard before. Since this tragic happening I tried to contact Srila Harikesa Swami several times but everyone refuses to talk with me or with the rest of us. I wrote two letters to Harikesa Swami but no reply came. Up til the present day I have not heard from them anything so I do not-know why we were and are treated like this. As at this point I do not have any other choice, I would like to turn to the Privilege Commitee for help. The situation right now is very tense. A big campaign is launched against us with the aim of forbidding us to enter any other Iskcon temple or that we present our case to other devotees. Around 30 devotees have been forced by the violent actions of Harikesa Swami and his men to seriously doubt his spiritual leadership.

The story of the raid: On Christmas day I called our boutique and preaching center. Somebody picked up the phone but did not reply. From the back the-sounds of smashing things and tearing things down came. I thought it must-be the wrong number. I called again.The 5th time finally somebody answered, but didn’t speak. Finally, XX1-Swami replied: "This is XX1 Swami. "We broke into your place, got all of your documents and finished off your empire. This is a war and you will be killed." I was so perplexed that the only thing I could utter was "thank you" and I hung up. The worst is that some senior devotees heard the phone conversation and immediatly their faith in the leaders of our zone was greatly shaken. They told me they cannot accept such an unjust and criminal-act. I tried to calm them down and told them that the only thing they should do in this regard is to pray to Krsna so that everything will be corrected. But they should not give up the guru (that’s what they wanted to do upon hearing what has happened). They said that only because of our faith in your words that we accepted Harikesa Swami as our guru. If he rejects you and acts so strange then we will follow you instead . . . I went to the apartment of a householder couple (disciples of Harikesa Swami) and there I found all the devotees of our temple. Some were crying, some were devastated and hopeless while others just stared at the walls. They have been all greatly shaken by the (for them unexplainable) behavior of Harikesa Swami especially that he forced them to accept something which is not the truth and when he saw that they hesitated, he immediately kicked them out into the street . . .

They never told me why they did this against me.There are of course some accusations but let me point out that they were never heard before, noone told me anything and all this came up only after this chain of violant actions . . .

Sincerely,
Bhakti Dayal Swami

Is the GBC going to recognize that in the letter that Pradyumna Prabhu wrote to Satsvarupa Maharaja in 1978 he pointed out all the defects that in 1987 due to so many fall downs they had to admit? Are the GBC men going to approach Paramadwaiti Maharaja to recognize that all the defects that he was presenting in his letter of 1984 were forcibly accepted in 1987? Vaisnavas do not get stature by bureaucracy and diplomacy, Vaisnavas get stature based on humility, simplicity, meekness, detachment and so many other godly qualities.

. . . the reform of our movement has not begun yet. In 1987 due to the pressure exerted, some mistakes were admitted, but not publicly and things weren’t very widely presented, just some new GBCs were made, and some new gurus and that’s all. There was no real change of heart. For example in 1987 the zonal acarya thing was recognized to be a mistake. So actually there was no real reform, only a show bottle reform; get some of the dissatisfied and opposing men into the group and that’s all. Real reform will appear when a preacher that is working hard in a place to get the movement established and to make devotees and spread Krsna consciousness will be recognized as the GBC for that area, not that there are GBC with enormous zone that they can’t control and somebody else is doing all the hard work. Please do not take this as an offense, just try to see that our movement is becoming stagnant due to so much centralization and ‘power-trips.

Recently, a godbrother was telling me that he read in a newspaper that in a survey about religious movements it was reported that the "Hare Krsna Movement" was a more impersonal one. It is shocking that the movement with the most personal philosophy is considered to be actually more impersonal. But actually, in reality, I have personally experienced in the last 16 years that this is terribly true; the relations between ourselves are very impersonal, diplomatic, political and generally with no real love. There is no real feeling of family as at the time of Srila Prabhupada. For example, I remember that at the beginning when a young devotee would bloop I would go to look for him and try everything to get him back. Now, if even a stalwart devotee that has twenty or more years of service goes away, it is just a matter of conversation during breakfast.

Just a few days ago I was speaking to a godbrother explaining to him the situation of a devotee who is now very dissatisfied and lacking faith in the institution. This godbrother was telling me of the very wrong mode that the devotee in question has, and also that this devotee was not making sufficient effort to regain his strength. Although I may agree on many points, in the whole conversation he did not consider for one second what we could do to help him regain faith. The only consideration was what he should do to regain faith.

So, always the entire fault is on the dissatisfied, the dissatisfying party is always fully innocent and the dissatisfied fully guilty.

Pradyumna: Generally, there is one practice in our temples, that every morning in front of Guru Maharaja’s vyasasana, the disciples conduct Gurupuja. They offer arati and some puspa and pranama. So, just next to Guru Maharaja’s seat, the new acarya is taking his seat, and at the same time as Guru Maharaja’s puja is going on, that puja for the new acarya is going on. So . . .

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: One thing you will remember, that to your gurudeva, you give the maximum respect, and his guru, how do you give above him, flower, fruit, our guru maharaja. So his guru maharaja is Bhaktivedanda. How do you praise your gurudeva and Prabhupada and Bhaktivedanta, his guru, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Gaura Kisora. What difference do you find?

Pradyumna: We do not question the sisya to give respect to his guru. That is granted. But in front of everyone else, there is some public pressure and force that Godbrothers also should worship as the sisya worships. Because it is in the public place of worship, when Gurubhai comes, there is public pressure. Why don’t you worship, he is acarya?

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: You should respect that my Godbrother, meaning that they would worship and that also may be formal.

Pradyumna: There is some pressure in that way.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: We are meeting only you, you are non acarya. I want to meet the acarya class also. At the same time I told Svarupa Damodara, the leaders of both the parties may come to me and I shall try to help. As much as I can help you, I shall do my best. Both the parties should be there. Before the big meeting, they must come in a private meeting to me, and there should be some adjustment, then you have the big meeting, otherwise there will be a clash. I have said like that to Svarupa Damodara and others. We must have a private meeting here. And we shall try to help you all to minimize the differences. And having harmony here amongst the leaders, then you will attend the big meeting on Gaura Purnima. It is a disturbing thing. Before that we must have agreement. To save the glory, the good name of your guru and your mission, you must come to an understanding and it must be sincere understanding, good understanding. Then you will go in the sabha. Before that we must compose ourselves . . .

You see, we want two parties to have a say. Then it will be easier for me; that will be good. What are their feelings, what are their demands. They will also say that they don’t like this thing, this sort of facility. How can we go on with our service that has been entrusted to us? They are creating hindrances in our way . . .

There are also differences amongst them also. But still we must go on with some differences and we shall try to minimize the differences. Looking at the feet of the great gurudeva will remove any stress of differences. Still we can go out, but we should not leave them. Our guru maharaja asked us, "How will you be able to perform sankirtana? Kirtana means mixing in the company of those of different adhikari. And with the spirit of harmony you have to go on. So don’t think others are superior to you, or all of you are of the same category, same mentality. You can’t expect that. There will be some differences and difficulties. Still you must go on, looking up. You are given the benefit of going to Him according to status. So, accordingly you must receive others also with sympathy. What is the difference between yourself and the supreme? In that way, the difference between yourself and the other people is very less, very insignificant. I want to have the admiration, the love, the affection of the Supreme Being. And in the case that there is a little difference between yourself and him, you cannot tolerate him, then how can you expect the Absolute to tolerate yourself? Better if the differences can be harmonized . . .

Next day you may be an acarya. What are the facilities the acarya should get minimum? When you and I will be placed in his position, you will feel that necessity is the mother of invention. Then you will see how these things are, this minimum demand, to maintain the position of the acarya. So, the acarya they should also be represented. And before you all what I shall have to speak I shall speak then. They may also complain here. Then I will recommend some sort of adjustment which will help you all and mostly the followers of the mission. All over the world. It is so important, the movement, all over the world, it will be a most valuable thing for us. We could not even think or dream that this type of preaching we shall see in our lifetime, prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama . . .

Pradyumna: One question is, whether the instructions of the new guru-godbrother or acarya, are their instructions considered absolute for the godbrother?

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: The sastra is there, the guru’s statements are there, sadhu, sastra guru vakya sistaka koriya aikya. These three things, the guru vakya, the Vaisnava vakya and the sastra, with the help of these three we have to come to a solution, try to come to a solution. sadhu sastra guru vakya cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa . . .

I don’t think that this is mine, this is my guru’s. It comes from gurudeva and you are all his vaibhava. This is also service, service for the whole, the mission. It is a favor to me, given by my gurudeva . . . Try to acquire the position of a Vaisnava. Vaisnava dasa. So, we create this varnasrama, this sannyasa. The fourth order is sannyasi. The sannyasis are servants of the Vaisnavas. They take the lower position, sannyasi preachers, and they should preach to greatness, the nobleness of the paramahamsa Vaisnavas. And what is the object of our preaching? We have to fight with the Mayavadis. Mayavada is the mother of all pseudo conceptions of religion. Mayavada is the foundation and the basis, the mother polluting all this line of thought. And Ramanuja, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka are one in the fight against Mayavada. We also must combine together as Maharaja Yudhisthira had the Pandavas join with Duryodhana to fight Citraratha and the Gandharvas . . . So, for common enemies, Ramanuja and others united. We are common in fighting with Mayavada. And then we may fight one another to adjust our position as Gaudiya Vaisnava. Mahaprabhu gave acintya-bhedabheda. This one is advaitavada, another suddhadvaitavada and we differ here. And then for differences we shall fight with one another. But in Mayavada we are one to fight. We are weeping, we cannot allow it . . .

This is the wonderful characteristic of Krsna bhakti, that externally there is so much burning sensation, but within we are breathing in nectar, taking bath in a tank of nectar. It is the quality that it is so good, that when we get a little we think, "I want more, give me more, give me more." So this is very fortunate, union in separation. Without hunger, any quality of food won’t taste good. So, real hunger, that I may get real hunger for the infinite. The infinite is coming in the finite. That sort of hunger should be created there that he can accommodate the infinite in him, being a finite being. The hankering is creating a vision, the will to go there. As much as you can get His touch, the slightest touch you can relish it so much. In the discourse of Ramananda Raya and Mahaprabhu there is so much hunger. As much hunger as there is, so much is the satisfaction by preaching. So, the hunger, the degree of hunger is the cause, necessary cause. So, fill the heart with satisfaction, happiness, anandam. The negative and the positive. The negative in that stage is present is Sri Radhika. To attract Krsna, rasa, the devourer, first place devourer. The highest devourer of that rasa, Radharani. And all is joining the rasa of Krsna . . .

Pradyumna: A question is, that usually in any organization, like maybe this Matha, Gaudiya Sanga, or Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, whoever is acarya, he is like a pope, he is all-powerful. His word, he is the ultimate spiritual authority.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Not all-powerful. Madhava Maharaja is also under governing body. This [inaudible] Maharaja is also under governing body. This Audolomi is also under governing body. When the founder acarya expired, then the governing body was formed, and really the governing body is ruling the mission. But when there are many acaryas under one governing body, there will be some trouble raised there . . .

If you can construct different zones with one acarya, then their position will be like that. But you have one governing body to govern different zones, and this position of acarya is minor. There are many. Now the difference between the governing body and the acarya is there, but in near future there will be differences between the acaryas.

Pradyumna: Yes, I think that also. That is why I am not satisfied, there is some difference between us and them, also in the future between them, I think.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Gradually the acarya will quarrel with one another . . . I was thinking, that just as in India, there should be three phases of government. One, the Vaisnava sabha, another the eligibility government and another the court of justice.

Pradyumna: In America also they have this–the executive, the judicial and the legislative.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: They are independent.

"we agree in principle that we must extend the number of gurus but do not feel the inspiration at this time."

"Let us hope that their decision may help Iskcon, by the will of Krsna it may not bring any disaster to the organization. Let us hope and pray.

Last time also I asked them what they wanted me to do–should I give ditto to whatever they will do. Then I asked them, "do you think that I am under your committee." "No, no, that we don’t think." Then the day before yesterday, again the same thing. "We had a meeting and in our meeting we accepted the principle that the number of acaryas may be increased. But we did not receive any inspiration this year for extension. But this was not told to you, so we have been told that you remarked that our decision is injudicious and unfortunate." Yes, I did remark in such a way because I want to clear my position to you now that, I am not wholly one with Iskcon and even not wholly one with Swami Maharaja. I have got my special consideration and inclination and thinking. With other godbrothers also I differ in many ways. So everyone has his special characteristic and I also have such. So, what you think to be srota-pantha, your meeting unanimous verdict, what you think the right thing coming down, I am not bound to pronounce the same thing–that it is infallible. The meaning is like that. According to my consideration your combined decision was a faulty one, but I did not say so clearly.

"I take it that Prabhupada is speaking to us through you."

I find no difference at all [from Srila Prabhupada] in how you are blessing us.

"If one is following the instruction of his spiritual master and that instruction is different from the instructions of another spiritual master, this is called detailed information. But the basic principle of acceptance of a spiritual master is good everywhere, although the details may be different." (Nectar of Devotion, Ch. 6)

"Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual movement with the aim of bringing men to Krsna consciousness. Therefore, the method of one acarya may be different from that of another, but the ultimate goal is never neglected."

"there is no reason why acaryas cannot differ on certain points."

Swami Maharaja himself requested me, not only once but several times, that you are to look after them. I did not think at that time that I shall survive him, so I did not give much attention to his words then, but repeatedly he told me that you are to look after those that I have brought to this side (Krsna consciousness). This I heard. And his plan was also that ‘I shall live there in Mayapur, construct one quarter there and I have asked that another quarter just side by side for yourself, and you will have to stay there and I shall go abroad . . . you will have to take care.’ I told him it is not possible always, but sometimes I shall go there and stay there with you. (1977 Room Conversation)

Prabhupada: Both sides [of Viraja] he’s a devotee [Lord Siva].

Sridhara Maharaja: This side, he’s not such a devotee. But that is pure devotee on the other side, Vaikuntha.

"Now we have surpassed Sridhara Swami and we are in a position where we can improve upon Sridhara Swami’s conception."

"I am simply reminded of the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘swami na mane yei jana vesyara bhitare, tare kariye ganana,’ that now we must remain faithful to our swami." [otherwise we will be prostitutes] (Cc. Antya-lila 7.115)

"Although one may be well versed in the transcendental science, one should be careful about the offense of maryada-vyatikrama, or impertinently surpassing a greater personality . . . The rule is that in the presence of a higher personality one should not be very eager to impart instructions, even if one is competent and well versed . . . The Lord never tolerates the impertinence of maryada-vyatikrama. [Bhag. 3.4.26, purp.]

"One should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami therefore offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. Iskcon is one of these branches." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 10.7, purport)