Our Affectionate Guardians: Conclusion

Our intention has not been to cause our godbrothers unnecessary embarassment, but for the sake of clarifying certain vital points it has been necessary in certain instances to give as complete an explanation as possible. It is self-evident that this has been done in good taste. We are painfully aware of unlimited embarassing facts and downright nasty activities in great detail-given only cursory mention within this book [names, dates, etc.], but find no purpose in stating them herein, other than sensationalism and causing unnecessary pain to the disciples of the parties involved. We hope that our presentation is accurate, such that we cannot be accused of being a "gober Ganesh" [a false scribe made of cow dung].

Those who are not aware of the sequence of events which are clarified within this presentation may question the necessity of this book -- that ISKCON management has changed-things are better now. While we agree that some changes have been made, both individually and collectively, the present situation of degeneration in ISKCON indicates that more substantial reform is necessary. We feel strongly that the institutional aparadha must be given serious consideration, otherwise internal substantial change for the better cannot occur nor can devotees individually make proper advancement being burdoned by the effects of this aparadha. We also hope that this presentation will encourage devotees in their Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, Vaishnava-aparadha, when perpetrated, must act, and it must act with serious consequences. No sincere devotee dares to ignore this. We refer the readers to the previous chapter entitled, Aparadha, The Vaisnava's Greatest Enemy.

Our Confession

One of our objectives in compiling this book is to hopelessly entangle our 'godbrothers' in the higher philosophical conclusions of Krsna consciousness. Krsna, after all is the greatest thief, makhan-cora, and He will steal His way into our hearts, even unwillingly.

"A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one's mind becomes attached to Krsna." ( Cc. Adi-lila 2.117 )

In this way the true glory of our Srila Prabhupada -- all that he stands for -- and similarly the glory of his dearmost intimate friend Srila Sridhara Maharaja will become more fully manifest in the hearts of the Vaisnavas and non-Vaisnavas alike. This can only result in an increase of Krsna consciousness and a decrease of activities and behavior detrimental to the same. Those with a lower standard of faith perhaps will be disturbed by the many previously undisclosed siddhantic points and historical facts, yet if we are to progress in Krsna consciousness we cannot neglect nor avoid these things, as the above verse testifies. Srila Prabhupada stressed that the more we understand the siddhanta, the more faithful we will be to Krsna.

So, you have to study God. Not that we accept anybody and anything, no. Siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa. Don't be lazy to understand God. The more you understand, the more you become a devotee. [760808R2.TEH]

It is not blind following. Krsna consciousness is not a sentiment. It is backed by knowledge and practical [realized] knowledge (Bg 9.1): jnanam vijnanam sahitam. [680911BG.SF]

And in Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bg 4.34, the well known tad viddhi-pranipatena verse about the process of surrender to the spiritual master, we find,

In this verse both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned.

We are not asking, nor do we expect our godbrothers to accept Srila Sridhara Maharaja as their siksa guru, we only humbly request that they maintain a positive non-offensive understanding, and thereby allow us and interested devotees to do so and thereby increase the quality of our service to Srila Prabhupada. We hope that, recognizing the purity of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's siksa and the misapplication of the same by motivated persons, many of the ongoing problems will be alleviated. We pray that all may have learned valuable lessons from the many mistakes made by each and every one of us. This is a basic principle of the dynamics of Krsna consciousness -we always do ourselves a great disservice by trying to mandate affairs of the heart. We also admit that just as Visnupriya devi charmed even the hearts of the most envious by her extreme rununciation after Sri Chaitanya's sannyasa, that in presenting so many charming excerpts of Srila Sridhara Maharaja herein we hope to charm the hearts of even those who hitherto have not recognized his glorious and invaluable contribution.

We are hoping that the illumination provided herein as to the supramundane position of the Guardian of Devotion of the Rupanuga sampradaya, Srila Sridhara Maharaja, will clear the many misunderstandings surrounding him and individually and collectively we may realize our grievous offenses to such a very dear devotee of Srimati Radharani and Lord Krsna. In this regard, we are reminded of a wonderful sloka composed by Srila Sridhara Maharaja:

"On the shore of the broad blue ocean, Gadadhara Pandita used to read Srimad-Bhagavatam to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was suffering from the great internal pain of separation from Himself (Krsna). Gadadhara Pandita supplied the wine of krsna-lila to intoxicate his afflicted friend and give him relief. As he read, tears would fall from his eyes like flower offerings onto the pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam. May the pleasure of that brilliant personality, Gadadhara Pandita, the best of the Goswamis, be my only object in writing this book."

We also feel a deep pain in our hearts, but it is the pressing pain of sorrow that such a noble and grand personality -- who tirelessly and patiently helped us with invaluable guidance in so many's hour of need, though he was rudely treated at every step -- has been caused so much unnecessary pain. In the writing of this book we are also offering our tears thousands of times at the feet of the divine personages glorified herein, hoping that some relief will be afforded for the devotees who are (in many cases unknowingly) suffering the reactions for the many unfortunate offenses committed.

We are humbly hoping that this small offering unto the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas will help extinguish the smouldering anarthas of aparadha, so that we can all concentrate on the preaching of Krsna consciousness proper. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has said: jagate eka matra hari-katha-durviksa chad'a ara kona durviksa nai--that in this world there is no shortage of anything except Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada has also said that the only thing which can stop his grand preaching movement is fighting amongst ourselves, which was unfortunately witnessed by His Divine Grace personally,

Now this displeasing of godbrothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it. (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 Oct. 1973)

To the GBC we humbly request, please do not misunderstand this presentation as a challenge to ISKCON's authority, requiring yet another offense in retaliation, generating further offenses. That is not our intention, nor certainly is it in your best interests. Our presentation is strong in many ways for the express purpose of righting the wrong -- which is always more difficult. This is a difficult task but if the devotees in general are aware of many essential truths regarding Srila Sridhara Maharaja's actual glorious position, we feel strongly that they will not be able to ignore it nor wish to continue attacking it, and will be the better for it. We hope that many devotees upon understanding their offenses can then follow the proper course of action and free themselves from a hellish fate.

History has shown that most of the leaders of ISKCON are not at all interested in the topics contained herein and would much rather ignore the entire subject, or worse, attack a presentation such as this and in the process commit many more offenses. We would like to humbly point out that due to the many lingering and self perpetuating institutionalized offenses to Srila Sridhara Maharaja it is not in the best interest of ISKCON to do so, for one who has not fully amended his vaisnava-aparadha can never achieve Krsna. This is confirmed by Vrndavana dasa Thakura in Chaitanya-Bhagavat, Madhya 22.8,

"If a person commits an offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava, even though he may have received Krsna's mercy, he will never attain divine love, prema."

We place this offering before the Vaisnavas, scholars, aspirants--whomever is a seeker.

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