Thursday, February 4, 2010

An Open Door


I often reflect how we had such a small window of time with Srila Prabhupada. During those eight brief years, some of us had personal time and training with him that left indelible marks on our consciousness. I was one of those people. Although I left his movement in 1986 he was never removed from my being. In moving towards greater balance I reassembled many understandings and experiences. I went into unhealed areas, released unexpected emotions and took on some difficult lessons - but never was I alone. At no time did I feel judged by God or Guru.


Sometimes in our awe and reverence for him, Prabhupada’s human nature was overlooked. We saw it when people went hungry or when a disciple would leave, or when he would get criticized and in the end when he took time to assure the well being of his former wife and family. In his attempt to create a social body he tried many things. Some worked well some didn’t. This is in no way a criticism. It is my personal observation of a human being and a Mahatma trying to bring the light of Radha Krsna into the world based on his own upbringing and the profound influence of his guru maharaja.


In the orchestration of his ISKCON, Prabhupada and Krsna sent many people to me to help develop their spiritual lives. Although the imperfections can be noted, I know that for who I was at the time I tried to give 100% of my self to everyone. For those of you who still have a connection and want to begin new communications, my close friend Guru Gauranga and my son Vaisnava have opened these cyber channels.


You may not agree with what follows but this is who I am. I am sorry for the confusion and disruption that came from the way I left but integrating form and essence is not always smooth. Everyday is another opportunity to begin again. Death leads to new life and new life leads to new love. We live in a time of war and natural disaster, of kali yuga politics and phantom wealth. The house that everyone can live under safely still needs to be constructed.

4 comments:

  1. Dear Bhagavan Prabhu,
    Namasté.
    Thank you for coming online and opening up to the world at large. I joined ISKCON in England after you'd left, but as you made such a mark on the society - many friends were initiated by you - you are a big part of history that I missed out on. Your communications are very pleasing and it is easy to see how you attained the position you did. I hope things progress for you in a healthy way and ISKCON devotees can once again benefit from your association.

    I would like to ask you, as you are a self-professed friend of Narayana Maharaja, if you could comment on his recently saying that he is the father and mother of ISKCON, and that ISKCON cannot give bhakti. He says if you want money then go to ISKCON as they are very good at collecting, but if you want bhakti then you have to go to him.

    Thank you once again,
    Vraja-kumara das

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  2. Yes, it is the about the message but it is your responsibility to educate the neophyte disciple to understand this principle from the beginning of their relationship with you, it is easy to say after the hype and influence that the disciple has been exposed to that they should have worshiped the message rather than you. Just tell them that you were not advanced or mature enough to have lead them but now you have more realization and maturity to help where you can.

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  3. Dear Bhagavan Prabhu, Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

    It was after hearing you speak at the 74 West Forest Avenue temple in Detroit in 1970 that I decided to become a devotee. Therefore, you will always be near and dear to my heart. I wish you all the best in everything that you do.

    Your servant, Pratyatosa Dasa

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  4. It is the message that sits on the Vyasasana ? Im sorry but all I ever read in Srila Prabhupada's books is one must be qualified to sit on the Vyasasana.
    Srila Prabhupada; "A gosv... See Moreāmī must be free from all these vices before he can dare sit on the vyāsāsana. No one should be allowed to sit on the vyāsāsana who is not spotless in character and who is not freed from the above-mentioned vices. He not only should be freed from all such vices, but must also be well versed in all revealed scriptures or in the Vedas. The Purāṇas are also parts of the Vedas. And histories like the Mahābhārata or Rāmāyaṇa are also parts of the Vedas. The ācārya or the gosvāmī must be well acquainted with all these literatures." SB 1.1.6 Srila Prabhpada's Purport
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