Part Two of a Three-Part Series

“Papam means sin. So sin, we commit sins out of ignorance. Our sinful nature is due to ignorance. Just like a person who does not know the laws of the state, he commits something which he does not know, but he is captured, he is arrested under the law. So similarly, all kind of sins we perform, it is due to ignorance.” Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.28-8.6 -- New York, October 23, 1966

Sin and ignorance go hand in hand. In ignorance, we commit sins, and the effects of sin increase our ignorance. We thus become more and more covered over and extend our duration in the cycle of birth and death.

What are the indications that it was ignorance (and not knowledge) that prompted service to the zonal acaryas? In Part One, we have presented quotations from Srila Prabhupada that deal with the subjects of bogus gurus, cheating in Krishna consciousness, and warnings regarding the future of his movement. Yet we find a consistent tendency, on the part of those that have or had submitted to the post-samadhi GBC, to think that these statements do not apply to them. There is an ongoing misconception that corporate ISKCON is somehow special, as if Srila Prabhupada could have put the movement on an undeviating course of Providence. Faith that one should have in Srila Prabhupada has been transferred to the institution by all of the people who are bamboozled by it.

Theirs is not the vision of an unbiased transcendentalist; authority in Krishna consciousness does not rest in institutions. It descends from the scriptures and those saintly persons and spiritual masters who live their lives strictly according to those teachings:

"One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the words of saintly people, the spiritual master and sastra. The actual center is sastra, the revealed scripture. If a spiritual master does not speak according to revealed scripture, he is not to be accepted. Similarly, if a saintly person does not speak according to the sastra, he is not a saintly person. Sastra is the center for all." Purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 20.352, purport (emphasis added)

In other words, an institution is Krishna conscious only if it is run according to this standard. Instead, when the leaders manufacture policies which further their own self-interest, the “special“ institution becomes something far different. Buddhi, spiritual intelligence, is the result of replacing one’s deluded deliberative process with the wisdom of guru, sadhu, and sastra. The aspiring devotee is advised to see everything through the eyes of sastra:

“Your eyes should be sastra, not your so-called imagination. sastra-caksusa. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama... [Bg. 16.23]. If you give up the direction of the sastra and manufacture your own way, yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, as you like, then na sa siddhim avapnoti: you will never get siddhi, perfection, never get. Na sa siddhim avap..., na sukham, neither happiness. And what to speak of param gatim, going back to home, back to Godhead.” Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25 -- London, July 20, 1973

The leaders of corporate ISKCON, both past and present, have encouraged this kind of imaginative special vision of their movement, and their followers have foolishly imbibed it. This, however, does not make any of them exempt from the laws of material nature. The leaders of mundane corporations and governments all promote similar mystiques. The failure to properly apply the statements of sastra and Srila Prabhupada to the institution is clear indication that the intelligence of devotees is influenced by ignorance and has now become covered.

However, you should not think that this malady does not also extend to those outside the institution. One prevalent misconception there is that the zonal acaryas and other corporate ISKCON “gurus” fell down only when their sexual and homosexual activity, drugs, Christian monk’s robes, etc. became exposed. Implicit in this kind of analysis is the conclusion that they were real gurus previous to such egregious falldowns. Such thinking does not indicate a very good understanding of what is guru. Instead, one is led to conclude that such people have previously drunk too deeply from the institutional Kool-aid that the GBC has been serving up for more than a generation now.

Unfortunately, this delusion is taken for granted by many people; it only indicates the extent to which illusion or maya has captured virtually every post-modern devotee. So, what is the thing that virtually all of these deluded people have in common? Why, it’s none other than service to the zonal acaryas, along with other permutations of the post-samadhi GBC.

A genuine guru does not engage in offensive and dishonest actions; he must at least be honest and free from offense. He cannot be operating under the anartha that he is “guru” by virtue of his selection or non-veto by the GBC. He cannot prop up or turn a blind eye to the ill-gotten positions and disciples of powerful, mundane men. He must apply sastra to these scoundrels. Every one of the more recent so-called gurus had been advising new people to approach these cheaters for decades. They are all worthless, and such advisory dis-service was and is just as worthless.

Which Bija?

The consequences of following a bogus guru are serious. Sastra caksusa (above quote) warns us that misapplying sastra disqualifies one from going back to home, back to Godhead. Those with a casual understanding of the philosophy may say that they are chanting, reading, following the principles, and so on. One can, however, make a very strong argument that they are not free from mental speculation.

In any case, they will point to verses like api cet su-duracaro (Bg 9.30), saying that, even if there has been some wrong, they should be considered saintly and quickly becoming righteous. They will point out that just once chanting the holy name destroys the results of thousands of lifetimes of sinful activity, what to speak of misdirected actions performed while under the zonal acaryas. Those now outside the institution may say that they have sincerely understood the folly of serving the leaders of corporate ISKCON and that their subsequent chanting has easily freed them of anything inappropriate they have previously done. They will say that we should not be too harsh or underestimate the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and the holy name. They may say we should have more faith in the Krishna conscious process.

This thinking overlooks very stern warnings by the spiritual master, some of which have already been cited. To get a better idea of the disease that has taken over virtually everyone who submitted to the zonal acaryas (or their successors), let us try to understand the concept of bija:

“Bhakti-lata-bija means ‘the seed of devotional service.’ Everything has an original cause, or seed. For any idea, program, plan or device, there is first of all the contemplation of the plan, and that is called bija, or the seed. The methods, rules and regulations by which one is perfectly trained in devotional service constitute the bhakti-lata-bija , or seed of devotional service. This bhakti-lata-bija is received from the spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. Other seeds are called anyabhilasa-bija, karma-bija and jnana-bija. If one is not fortunate enough to receive the bhakti-lata-bija from the spiritual master, he instead cultivates the seeds of karma-bija, jnana-bija, or political and social or philanthropic bija. However, bhakti-lata-bija is different from these other bijas. Bhakti-lata-bija can be received only through the mercy of the spiritual master. Therefore one has to satisfy the spiritual master to get bhakti-lata-bija (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadau). Bhakti-lata-bija is the origin of devotional service. Unless one satisfies the spiritual master, he gets the bija, or root cause, of karma, jnana and yoga without the benefit of devotional service. However, one who is faithful to his spiritual master gets the bhakti-lata-bija . This bhakti-lata-bija is received when one is initiated by the bona fide spiritual master.” - Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila 19.152, Purport (emphases added)

In this quotation, the first requirement for receiving the bhakti lata bija is that there must be a real spiritual master. This has been missing since the zonal acaryas, what to speak of the subsequent corporate ISKCON stand-ins. Another point here is that, if the disciple does not apply himself seriously to following the spiritual master, he will get some other kind of bija--even from the genuine guru. The concept of bija should be clear: It is “the contemplation of the plan.”

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, many devotees were genuinely initiated and had the bhakti lata bija implanted in their hearts. As long as they continued under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada, that seed sprouted and grew towards the lotus feet of Krishna. This growth, however, became dormant or even strangled when those devotees accepted the service of the zonal acaryas or their successors. The longer they acted under that unauthorized direction, the more the likelihood that they received some other bija. It did not necessarily kill the bhakti lata, but it did, at minimum, cover it. At some point, virtually all those who submitted to the zonals or their successors allowed entrance of a wrong vision into the core of their hearts.

Because these so-called gurus were “outside of the sampradaya,” they could not transfer spiritual plans. They actuated the material plans we have witnessed for the last thirty some years. Srila Prabhupada mentions karma-bija, jnana-bija, or political and social or philanthropic bija. There are also sahajiya bijas, criminal bijas, money bijas, hippie bijas, corporate bijas, and personal ambition bijas. Every lifestyle has a subtle plan or bija that the willing apprentice gladly takes into his heart of hearts.

We previously cited a quote about the danger of following sahajiyas:

“In order to follow strictly the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one should not associate with these apa-sampradaya communities.” Purport to Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 7.48

The reason that neophytes are warned not to associate with sahajiyas or Mayavadis is that there is real danger that one will become attracted to them and allow their bijas to enter the heart. In this way, the previously undeviated Krishna consciousness of the devotee becomes covered and contaminated. Such devotees then operate under very different plans. Although non-devotees are generally those whose talks about Krishna are compared to poison, in the following remarks Srila Prabhupada extends the same warning to “cheap gurus.”  You are not discouraged to think of the zonal acaryas and their subsequent corporate ISKCON derivatives when it comes to contemplation as to the meaning of cheap guru.

“One must be..., behavior in Vaisnava. Sadacara-sampannah. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has warned that ‘Don't mix it with Vaisnava who is not well trained up, well behaved.’ You can offer him respect. A Vaisnava offers respect even to the ant. That is another thing. But he has warned, ‘Don't mix with them, these professional, so-called Vaisnava, sahajiyas.’ This is warned. Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam puta-hari-kathamrtam, sravanam na kartavyam: ‘You should not hear.’ ‘Eh? Huh? What is the wrong there? The Krsna-katha is there.’ No, Krsna-katha is there just like milk is there, but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is no more to be taken. It has become poison. Unless one is situated as pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective, neither one should hear from such person. But people in general, they can not understand, but those who are preaching, they must be very sincere, the same way. Rupa-raghunatha pade, haibe akuti. They should read the literatures, the instruction, just like Upadesamrta, The Nectar of Instruction. We should follow, strictly follow. Then prthivim sa sisyat. Then you'll be able to preach and make disciples all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called gosvami. Don't be cheap preacher, cheap guru. No, no. That is not good. It is not possible.” Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.28 -- Mayapur, March 6, 1976

The poison being described here is one that kills a devotee’s sincere desire to render real devotional service. It is a type of covering. Knowledge becomes covered by illusion, and one thinks that apa-sampradayic engagements are non-different from genuine devotional service.

“Mayayapahrta-jnana. These terms are there. maya is working in two ways: praksepatmika-sakti, avaranatmika-sakti. Avaranatmika-sakti means she is covering. Avaranatmika-sakti, she is covering. Real fact is covered by maya. Just like the cloud covers the sunshine. We cannot see. Now a few days it is going on; there is cloud always. We do not see the sun. That does not mean there is no sun in the sky. So maya does not allow us to see Krsna. That is one sakti. Avaranatmika-sakti.” Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 13.3 -- Bombay, September 26, 1973

Such are the results of sahajiya training and philosophical warping inculcated by the pretenders like the zonal acaryas and their successors. Irreligion becomes religion and vice-versa. As long as we do not get correction from those who are solidly linked up to the previous acarya, we will remain under the avaranatmika sakti.

The Real Hardening Agent

The campaign of offense that was previously inflicted on the sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada has been described. It is in the results of these actions by the servants of the zonal acaryas that we will find the real cement that hardens their current delusions. This is why their subsequent devotional practices are completely insufficient to purify them.

“The conclusion is that if Krsna consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, but if one pollutes his Krsna consciousness by offending a brahmana or a Vaisnava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaisnava or brahmana. This was the course that Durvasa Muni had to follow, for he surrendered unto Maharaja Ambarisa. A vaisnava-aparadha cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava.” Purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.24

Dismissing the effects of one’s participation in corporate ISKCON’s ongoing defamation of its justified critics is unwise.  Time has shown that virtually all of those driven from the movement by the zealous and ambitious zonal acaryas were blameless. Yet we find that it is still the zonals’ conception of “offense” that rules the day in corporate ISKCON. Accepting that view of the institution’s justified critics is to partake of a deadly cocktail of offence.

Management Solutions

What else has been inherited from the zonal acaryas? The GBC of 1978 did not take the time to go over all of Srila Prabhupada’s statements and writings concerning disciplic succession. With temerity, they faithlessly plunged ahead with a “solution” that best satisfied the ambitions of their own clique. Something a bit similar to this was attempted before, in 1972:

YOUR MATERIAL LEGAL FORMULA WILL NOT HELP US
ONLY OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE CAN HELP US Cable message to Karandhara, Rupanuga, and Hamsaduta --  Melbourne 6 April, 1972

Spiritual life means acting under the authority of the representatives of the Lord: Guru, sadhu, and sastra. For most, the zonal acarya show lasted only eight years, but, for the less fortunate, it is still continuing. When the zonals were seen for what they really were--absolute pretenders--their followers suffered well-deserved, big letdowns. Previously, these devotees were programmed to see the bluffers as spotless personalities, who imposed such a misdirected mentality as widely as possible.  And let us not forget that this was all done in the name of spreading Krishna consciousness.

“However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or maha-bhagavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded..... The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform.” - Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, purport (emphasis added)

“One who tries to imitate the mahajanas just to become an imitative spiritual master is certainly far away from following in the footsteps of the mahajanas. Sometimes people cannot actually understand how a mahajana follows other mahajanas. In this way people are inclined to fall from devotional service.” - Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 17.185 purport

The follower’s absolute faith in their zonal acarya of choice was only apparently authorized, but when he was revealed as far less than ideal, a different type of group-think resulted. This was not limited to the new disciples of the zonals, however, as it also included many of that pretender’s godbrothers and godsisters.

Seen from the perspective of those who never accepted the zonal charade, the equation was and is not at all difficult to grasp: Faithlessness creates more faithlessness. The initial faithlessness of the zonal acaryas in discerning Srila Prabhupada’s wishes concerning disciplic succession was the cause for the later losses their followers experienced en-masse. Those people got the result of their having previously boarded a stone boat representing delusion. Something that is not authorized in absolute terms must result in disappointment, and that disillusionment is best realized before the time of an individual’s death.

Krishna consciousness is always a process of being situated under Lord Krishna’s lotus feet. Applied literally, this means being in the “physical” association, as far as possible, of someone rightly situated in the chain of disciplic succession. It means hearing and serving such a devotee. The more advanced the devotee with superior realization and knowledge, the more one is enjoined to accept training and offer some useful service. He may not be qualified to act as initiating guru, but his spiritual master has requested that he train those who would submit to the basic standards of the absolute philosophy and the parampara.

Understanding of this principle has become muddled for those who saw their zonal or other corporate ISKCON “guru” fall from institutional stardom. Even during the manifest presence of Srila Prabhupada, the zonals and a few others had very effectively convinced practically everyone that the most advanced devotees were those who had received the most letters and spent the most time with His Divine Grace. These were the “pet” disciples. After their takeover, the zonals acted ruthlessly and effectively to minimize and denigrate the influence of those pets who were not “appointed” like they said they were (more offenses to be added to their earlier total). The consequence was that, when the zonals later fell from their pedestals, there was no one left who had not been effectively castigated, vilified, and/or minimized.

What has resulted is a kind of group cynicism, where no one is regarded as authority. This is especially prevalent amongst those “outside the walls” of corporate ISKCON. Devotees sometimes point out to a doubter that, because some jewels turn out to be broken glass, it doesn’t mean that they all are. However, here we have an instance where there is great difficulty in applying the same wisdom when they look in the mirror.

Within the institution, the Kool-Aid served up by the zonals has now been re-branded as something “reformed,” and one still finds the self-serving slogan that “advanced devotees are assuming the responsibility of becoming spiritual masters.” However, as stated earlier, the main element of that so-called responsibility is that the new non-vetoed, rubber-stamped appointee completely overlooks the hypocrisy, offenses, and pretence of the remaining zonal acaryas in good standing. A more recent guru must agree that his (that zonal’s) disciples are still bona fide. In this way, one of the key requirements for becoming guru in corporate ISKCON is being trained to ignore obvious contradictions. He must also accept that the GBC is still authorized to select, in one way or another, who will be “acarya.”

The fact that the institution continues to, quite audaciously, put forward something so obviously flawed only serves to confirm the cynicism of those who have left it.  Amongst that section, it is a standing joke as to how many “gurus” have come and gone, especially in terms of what they are doing now.

This cynicism is most palpable in the rittvik movement, practically it is the cornerstone of their philosophy. Depending upon the “hardness” of your rittvik variety, you either allow for the possibility of another guru after Srila Prabhupada or you don’t.  The general consensus amongst them, however, is that no direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada is ever going to become a bona fide spiritual master. This conviction is another manifestation of the faithlessness they inherited from their previous masters. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly said that anyone can become a pure devotee. On the whole, rittvik is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Faith in the process--and, therefore, real sincerity--has been abandoned by this group. Lord Krishna has no obligation to send a pure devotee to a group of people whose common belief is the denial of a possibility always inherent in His process.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, the best friend is the spiritual master because he saves from the blazing fire of confusion. That is best friend.
O'Grady: The problem is to find this friend. The problem is to find this spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada: No, there is no problem. The problem is if you are sincere. Yes. That is stated. Because actually you have got problems, but God is within your heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrid-dese arjuna tistahati. God is not far away. God is within your heart. So if you are sincere, then God will give you spiritual master. If He knows that now you are sincere, then He will give you a spiritual master.
O'Grady: O.K. Thank you. That I know.
Srila Prabhupada: Therefore God is called caittya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart. And the PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL MASTER is God's mercy. If God sees that you are sincere, He will give you a spiritual master who can give you protection. He will help you from within and without, without in the physical form of spiritual master, and within as the spiritual master within the heart. - Room Conversation with Irish Poet, Desmond O'Grady--May 23, 1974, Rome (emphases added)

Cynicism is not at all unique to the rittvik movement, however. There are many who have left corporate ISKCON but do not count themselves amongst either the rittviks or neo-Gaudiya matha. One of the more noticeable characteristics of these outsiders is that they don’t recognize anyone amongst them as being spiritually superior. Certainly, there are perfunctory respects and courtesies offered, but there is no compelling need understood by these people to approach any other disciple of Srila Prabhupada, one who might be capable of clearing them of the illusions under which they are operating.

This vacuum amongst “the fringies” is why the heads of corporate ISKCON regularly lump all those on the outside into the rittvik movement. It is also why corporate ISKCON, the rittviks, and the neo-Gaudiya matha--the institutional factions--fail to see any real threat from this group. It is often considered nothing more than a possible recruiting ground for them.

The sincere devotee never fails to understand his or her fallen nature and the dire necessity of hearing from someone who is more advanced. This is fundamental to the process and should always remain a part of our humility. Reason will tell us that, amongst devotees, there are different degrees of realization. It should be our business to seek out those devotees who best present the philosophy, so that they can clear us of our misconceptions.

This is why Srila Prabhupada began his society – the real ISKCON. Taking to this process with renewed enthusiasm is especially necessary if we have followed, served, and have been misled by offensive charlatans like the zonal acaryas or other corporate ISKCON post-holders. We should understand that, like someone who has been traumatized by the abrupt end of a mundane love affair, we are now damaged goods. Unfortunately, for reasons described previously, this type of introspection is now exceptional. On the whole, it has been replaced by atmavat manyate jagat: Everyone is as fallen as me. Such mass cynicism is another manifestation of the hardening of consciousness that has resulted from service to the zonal acaryas and similarly contaminated down-line rascals:

Bahulasva: They also say that no one can ever be pure, that everyone is doomed to be a sinner.

Prabhupada: Well, that is... Atmavat manyate jagat. That is the conditioned soul's qualification that if he is a fool, he thinks other, fools. Everyone, he thinks, "He is like me." That is nature. Atmavat manyate jagat. "Everyone thinks others like himself." If he is a fool, he thinks all are. Morning Walk -- June 25, 1975, Los Angeles (emphasis added)

End of part Two of Three

Smorgasbord Part 1

Smorgasbord Part 3

Quotes from the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyright by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust