6^TH JULY 2000

1. BBT Admits Books Changed To Fit GBC Philosophy 
2. Calcutta Ratha Yatra - The Biggest Yet 
3. Media Campaign Intensifies 
 

We highlighted previously in newsletter No. 20, how Bhakti Caru Swami's Bengali translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam had omitted a very key verse from Srila Prabhupada's original version. The omitted verse in question would itself have destroyed the GBC's position that they were duly authorised to be Diksa Gurus in ISKCON. This of course was shocking, since it showed that Srila Prabhupada's books were being 'edited' not to bring them closer to the originals as claimed, but rather doctored to prop up the GBC's bogus Guru philosophy.

Though we had also been aware of many other controversial changes made to Srila Prabhupada's books, the BBT had always claimed that they were made to actually correct 'errors' made by Srila Prabhupada's 'hippie' editors. 
Thus they were not actually changing Srila Prabhupada's books, but Hayagriva's 'incorrect version' of the books, and thereby actually RESTORING the books BACK to how Srila Prabhupada actually wanted them. However, thanks to the diligent efforts of His Grace Dhira Govinda Prabhu, the Chairman of the ISKCON Office of Child Protection, we now have evidence that the current BBT, which is controlled by GBC supporters, are making changes motivated slowly by the desire to doctor Srila Prabhupada's books so that they fit in with whatever happens to be the prevailing view instituted in ISKCON by the GBC.

Some time back many devotees had noticed that the new 9 Volume edition of the Caitanya Caritamrta had made a deliberate change from Srila Prabhupada's original version, not unlike the one made by Bhakti Caru Swami mentioned earlier. Srila Prabhupada's Caitanya Caritamrta states the following:

"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who *initiated* Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji" (C:C, Chapter 1)

In the new BBT doctored 9-volume edition, the same passage reads:

"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn accepted Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji"

In other words it has been decided that contrary to what Srila Prabhupada states, Jagannatha Das Babaji did not really INITIATE Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura after all. Now the reason for the BBT changing Srila Prabhupada's teaching here is very significant since the GBC maintain that the relationship between Jagannatha Das Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was based not on 'formal initiation' but rather only on the transmission of transcendental knowledge'. Once it is accepted that the transmission of divine transcendental knowledge ALONE constitutes INITIATION - then the objections made by the GBC to the Ritvik system of initiation crumble, since Srila Prabhupada could also *initiate* us with transcendental knowledge.

Thus the BBT could not allow Srila Prabhupada to teach that Jagannatha Dasa Babaji actually *initiated* Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, for that would indirectly sanction Srila Prabhupada *initiating* for many generations to come simply via his transcendental knowledge, with the 'formal initiation' administered via the Ritvik system that he set up. In any case the teaching given by Srila Prabhupada above is totally consistent with what Srila Prabhupada has taught about Diksa and initiation in the Caitanya Caritamrta itself:

"Diksa actually means *initiating* a disciple *with transcendental knowledge* by which he becomes freed from all material contamination."  
(Madhya-lila, 4:112, Purport)

Of course just the very fact that the BBT is deliberately changing the main legacy left by Srila Prabhupada - his teachings - is horrendous enough.
However the fact that it was done specifically to keep the positions of the GBC within the crumbling Guru system intact, is totally shameful.

But just when you though it could not get any worse, it does. For the BBT have now become so arrogant in their campaign against Srila Prabhuada's teachings, that they have even tried to JUSTIFY this change. Dravida Das, the BBT editor, upon being asked by Dhira Govinda Prabhu to justify the change, first sums up the reason for NOT changing Srila Prabhupada's teachings as follows:

Please note that Dravida clearly ADMITS that Srila Prabhupada "DID indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji initiated Bhaktivinode".

To any sane person, this would be the ONLY reason required to NOT tamper with Srila Prabhupada's teachings in any manner whatsoever. But hold on.
Dravida Das has a reason that far outweighs a mere detail such as what Srila Prabhupada himself actually taught. Rather he states we must change Srila Prabhupada's teachings to ensure they conform with what is currently understood within ISKCON in regards to initiation:

Dravida then adds that this reason was paramount in justifying the change:

Thus to summarise, what Dravida is saying is this:

That whenever Srila Prabhupada's teachings differ from the way 'we know it in ISKCON', then they must be changed to conform with the way we DO 'know it in ISKCON'. And of course the way 'we know it in ISKCON' is dictated by whatever ridiculous philosophy the GBC happens to be preaching at the time.

So the fact that we have had a bogus Guru system imposed on us in ISKCON by the GBC means that even though we may find that Srila Prabhupada teaches something else, we must modify Srila Prabhupada's teachings to agree with the way things are understood in ISKCON. Instead of changing the practices and understanding of ISKCON to conform with Srila Prabhupada's teachings - which of course is what a spiritual society based on following Srila Prabhupada would do. Not only is it bad enough that ISKCON is NOT run according to Srila Prabhupada's teachings, but now Srila Prabhupada's teachings must also be changed to fit in with the way we happen to be doing things in ISKCON.
What makes this shocking state of affairs even more ludicrous is that the way things are 'known in ISKCON' are themselves constantly changing anyway.

1. Thus from 1978-onwards, in ISKCON we 'knew' one thing in regards to the process of initiation - that you could ONLY take it from 11 people, and then ONLY whichever of the 11 people 'owned' your geographical area.
2. Then from 1986 we 'knew' something else about initiation - that you could take it from many others providing they had received the necessary number of votes.
3. Now we 'know' something else - that whoever you get initiated from, do not forget that you must not worship him too much and that Srila Prabhupada is also doing some important things, and indeed maybe even more important than the person who does initiate us.
4. And what's the betting that this 'understanding' will also change in the next year or so?
5. And just because we happen to 'know' at the moment that initiation must mean the 'formal ceremony', therefore any teaching in Srila Prabhupada's books that imply otherwise must be doctored.

And this is a very sinister development for yet another reason. For this justification is laying the ground for making ANY further change to Srila Prabhupada's teachings that the GBC deems fit. Thus in the future if it is 'known in ISKCON' that 'women are as intelligent as men' say, then we will be able to alter all of Srila Prabhupada's statements where he says that women are less intelligent, since then it would not conform with the way things are 'known in ISKCON'. Or if in the future we begin to 'know in ISKCON' that Lord Siva is just as worshipable as Krishna say, then whenever we encounter the word 'Demi-God' in Srila Prabhupada's books, then all those instances must be changed. And so on.

Of course someone may argue that the philosophy as 'we know it in ISKCON' will never change and will always be faithful to Srila Prabhupada's teachings, and the above fear is unfounded. (Of course Pigs May Also Fly).

If the last 23 years is anything to go by, the only thing we can say with certainty is that the GBC will ALWAYS be deviating from Srila Prabhupada's teachings, and the ONLY SAFEGUARD WE HAVE IS SRILA PRABHUPADA'S TEACHINGS.

And once we change Srila Prabhupada's teachings to fit in with whatever nonsense we happen to believe, then all will be lost - as seems to be happening now.

How much longer must we put up this with this madness that is leading to the destruction of Srila Prabhupada's movement. No wonder devotees, life members and members of the public, are turning to support the IRM in their droves.
 

The world famous annual Calcutta Ratha-Yatra was held on July 3rd on a bigger and better scale than ever before. The preparations for this mammoth affair actually began in March since it takes a full three and a half months to prepare for the biggest ISKCON festival. In the run up to the preparations we were worried that the bad publicity about the Gurukula abuse law-suit would hurt us badly since in West Bengal it was in the papers every day for almost 2 weeks. However due to Lord Jaganntha's mercy as well as the intensive media campaign we had undertaken to protect Srila Prabhupada's reputation, the public turned out in huge numbers, to make this Ratha Yatra the biggest yet. Further evidence that we had managed to combat the negative publicity was the fact that we managed to collect 20% more in donations than the previous year to stage the festival. In the run up to the festival huge Billboards had been put up and a 70 page coloured souvenir had been sent out to over 15000 members.

On the parade itself the Raths were preceded by beautifully designed floats, sponsored by the leading industrial houses of Calcutta. Sattvik prabhu had meanwhile prepared the three huge 50 foot Raths with telescopic canopies. 

The Government minister of communication, Thapan Sikdar, was honoured to inaugurate the Rathayatra festival. He gave a very moving speech where he said that Srila Prabhupada is the most important spiritual leader that India has ever seen, and that what he has done no one else has been able to achieve! To get some idea of how huge the festival was, the main parade itself stretched for over 1.5 kilometers. The other dignitaries present were Aditya Kashyap, International Marwadi Federation president S.N.Bajaj, former chief justice of Gujarat G.N. Roy and Gordhanbhai Jerambhai.

Trinamul Congress mayoral candidate Subrata Mukherjee performed the last arati at 7 pm.

The huge parade was just about to begin moving when something amazing happened. A white dove immediately descended from nowhere and landed on the main float which had a deity of Srila Prabhupada, and suddenly perched itself at Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet. The dove was pure white with sparkling eyes, and the crowd immediately saw this as an auspicious sign and they immediately began to converge on the float. I was therefore forced to hold up the parade. This dove however was no ordinary dove. Unlike normal birds which will flee if approached by even one human, this dove stayed fearless as the whole mass of humanity thronged around it in their thousands.

Rather it appeared to simply glance at them mercifully, as the crowd stared at it. This went on for a full 12 minutes!! It was a never before seen spectacle. A pure white dove descended from nowhere, sitting at Srila Prabhuada's lotus feet, bringing everything to a stand-still as it became surrounded by thousands of people. And it did not flinch at all. 

Finally the dove flew up onto another part of the float, and turned around and bowed its head as if paying obeisance's to Srila Prabhupada and then flew away as the crowds in their hundreds who had gathered around the float gasped at this outstanding sight. Chaitanya das, a leading Bhakti Caru Maharaja disciple remarked that "this is incredible - Srila Prabhupada is pleased", whilst the crowd immediately began to offer all sorts of reasons behind this good omen such as "some great devotee had come to get the blessings of Srila Prabhupada" or "this marks a new era for ISKCON" etc. etc.

After giving out 350,000 packets of prasadam, the carts finally reached the festival site where we had built a 5000 thousand square foot 70 foot high temple modelled along the lines of the Jaganatha Temple at Purim, to house Lord Jaganatha for the nine day festival during which we expect to host almost a million people who will come from all over Bengal and India. 

Spread over a 150,000 square foot area, the festival site boasts a yajnashala, a float exhibition, book stalls and also free prasad sponsored by Life Members.
Finally we will have the ulta (or return) Ratha Yatra at the end of the nine days which will be even bigger than the first day of Rathayatra. Thus the festival is still in full-swing, and we hope to have some more news and pictures, so please watch this space. The parade had specifically been boycotted by the Mayapur authorities, who normally sent many devotees to help. (Though Dayarama Das, the Director of Mayapur, was unable to stay away and was caught hiding from a high-rise building, taking a peep!) 

However this had no effect since over 80 devotees came from Banglore to assist and participated in a huge kirtan that enlivened the whole festival.

Srila Prabhupada instructed in 1977 to make the Rathayatra in Calcutta the biggest in the world and disliked it when devotees went to Puri and would say 
" why are they going to Puri when my Rathyathra is in Calcutta". 
By his mercy we have somehow managed to make this Rathayatra the largest in the world, and the devotees no longer go away to Puri, but participate in Srila Prabhupada's Ratha Yatra. Srila Prabhupada may apparently not be physically here, but as far as we are concerned, he is still here pulling the Ratha, just as he did in the same city when he was 5 years old, when he inaugurated the first Calcutta Ratha Yatra.

To manage to hold any sort of festival at all right in the midst of the worst publicity in ISKCON's history was in itself an achievement. But to do so with increased pomp, splendour and participation from all the public as well as all the local political leaders clearly demonstrates that no one and nothing can stop Srila Prabhupada's mission as long as we adhere strongly to his divine instructions.
 

We have already reported in newsletters No. 24 & No.25 the mass of favourable publicity we have already achieved in protection of Srila Prabhupada, which dis-enagages him from the horrific mistakes and mess that his so-called followers have created in ISKCON. We are now escalating these efforts at protecting and promoting Srila Prabhupada's reputation. Just a few days ago, Zee TV, the largest TV station in the world, which has 200 million regular viewers in South Asia alone, broadcast a live 'Question and Answer' interview with myself. Here are some excerpts:

This was supplemented with a huge advertising campaign, whereby we simultaneously placed $10,000 worth of full-page advertisements in all the newspapers of West Bengal, and in all languages. This is a considerable amount to spend anywhere, but by Indian standards its a huge advertising spend. Part of the advertisement is reproduced below, and speaks for itself.
We are determined in our campaign to ensure that Srila Prabhupada's image is not tarnished in anyway possible:

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION.

Please note that the recent $400 million child abuse lawsuit filed in the USA only occurred as a result of some of ISKCON'S self-appointed Gurus and devotees disobeying the instructions of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, the Founder and Supreme Authority of ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON, Calcutta are in no way implicated or involved in any of these activities.

Srila Prabhupada's instructions in regards to dealing with children were very clear:

"Encourage them to chant as much as possible but there is no question of force or punishment. If there is need, you may shake a finger at them but physical punishment is never allowed."

"Children should not be beaten at all so if one cannot manage in that way, then he is not fit as a teacher."

Unfortunately, these instructions were disobeyed by his disciples and problems ensued. These same deviant disciples also disobeyed Srila Prabhupada's instructions that he would remain the sole initiating Guru of ISKCON. As soon as he physically departed, they removed him as the Guru for ISKCON and instead installed themselves in his seat, so that now there are over 70 Gurus in ISKCON. It is this pattern of disobedience of the Acharya's instructions that has resulted in the above-mentioned and also following court case:

Suit No.4151 of 1999, 747 of 1999, 187 of 1999 pending currently before Hon'ble High Court at Calcutta, filed by Adridharan Das of the ISKCON Revival Movement and President of ISKCON Calcutta, against said disobedient Gurus/devotees in order to establish Srila Prabhupada as the one Guru of ISKCON and remove the disobedient Gurus/devotees who have caused the problems.

Thus ISKCON, Calcutta is not in any way responsible for the problems, but is actually providing the solution. Thus ISKCON and Srila Prabhupad are still pure, but the rogue elements must be removed. We solicit the support and assistance from the public at large in our campaign to achieve this, and request them not to misunderstand the situation and bear with us while The ISKCON Revival Movement, a worldwide movement of ISKCON Temples, members and devotees, headquartered at ISKCON, Calcutta cleans up the mess and restores ISKCON to its original glory with Srila Prabhupada as the Sole Guru.

Unfortunately, unauthorized Gurus and their followers from Mayapur have and will retaliate with false allegations against ISKCON Revival Movement. 
So please bear with us while the revival goes on.

CALCUTTA RATHA YATRA KI JAI! LORD JAGANATH KI JAI! SRILA PRABHUPAD KI JAI!

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please keep your letters, and e-mail addresses of other devotees who should be added to our list, flowing in. 
A hard copy of our main position paper 'The Final Order' is available on request. 
If you would like to receive any of the back issues of the Newsletter please let me know.

No 1. Invitation to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja
No 2. GBC Lose First Round of Court Case 
No 3. The Story VNN Refused to Publish 
No 4. Poison Theorists Accuse Adri of Complicity 
No 5. Iskcon Continues to Promote Child Abusers 
No 6. Invitation to Malaysia 
No 7. United World Body Formed 
No 8. Does Srila Prabhupada Support Poisoning Theory?
No 9. PADA Attacks IRM Position 
No 10. PADA Continues to Present False Evidence 
No 11. GBC Funded Video says Ritvik Spiritual 
No 12. Child Rapist Selected by Gurus to Defend their Legitimacy 
No 13. GBC Facing Perjury Charge in Calcutta High Court 
No 14. Sahajiyaism Makes a Comeback in Iskcon.
No 15. Govt. Minister Inaugurates Bangalore Rathayatra 
No 16. Iskcon Calcutta Triumphs Following Arson Attack 
No 17. Fighting Lies with Truth Not More Lies
No 18. GBC Resolutions Continue to Provide Laughter
No 19. Indian Leaders Endorse IRM Position That GBC Confused 
No 20. Convicted Child Abuser Officially 'Returns' To Parampara
No 21. GBC Chairman Admits ISKCON 'Disintegrating' 
No 22. Krishna Confirms ISKCON Re-Birth
No 23. Hare Krishna Explosion Begins In New York as IRM Temple Opens 
No 24. IRM Launches Media Campaign to Defend Srila Prabhupada
No 25. GBC Teaches That 'Living Gurus' NOT Required