The Biggest Single Cause of the Decline of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Movement (12/16/10)
The question is: at what point does institutional, methodological, sociocultural, valuational and/or philosophical “accommodation” (regardless of the motive) become “adulteration”–a changing, adding to or deleting that fundamentally alters the ontology of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the process of devotional service, the nature of devotional life and/or the basic characteristics of a Kṛṣṇa-centered devotional milieu, thus displaying a type of faithlessness, risking the displeasure of our predecessors and perhaps forestalling our progressive march as Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas or Rūpānugas.
_____ prabhu,
I had to re-read your email several times and I just have to make a short comment on the above. I say this in jest, but I am totally serious at the same time.
The ‘point’ as in “at what point does” is when the gbc opens their meeting every year at Māyāpura. I cannot remember even one year when the gbc decisions have amounted to anything more than a philosophical aberration, a miscarriage of justice, an alteration of the ontology of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a disturbance to the process of pure devotional service, a disappointment in the devotional lives of thousands of devotees, a process of changing, adding and deleting that ends in resolution after resolution that have led to no solution, revolution and dissolution! The biggest single cause of the decline of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s movement falls squarely on the shoulders of the gbc.
I my opinion the gbc should disband for at least 10 years and make ‘voting’ on any topic at any level in the movement a ‘sin’. “Democracy means demon crazy!”
There is no substitute for Kṛṣṇa consciousness… not the gbc and not democracy. No amount of darkness produces light and no amount of ignorance produces knowledge!
That said… I really liked your email and I am looking forward to our talks in _____.
Gaura Haribol,
Swami Narasingha
