23^RD JULY 2000

1. Bangalore Tops World Book Distribution
2. Would Be 'Gopi' Receives Instant Karma
3. Classic Quotes

 

We are pleased to announce that for the Month of May, Bangalore temple distributed more of Srila Prabhupada's books than any other temple in the world. They distributed 23,204 books, with the movement as a whole distributing 169,035 books. This means that 1 in every 7 books distributed in the whole of ISKCON was distributed by Bangalore temple alone. 

Actually these results would have been even better, since the temple to date has only been submitting the books distributed by the temple brahmacaris. 
It does not include the many sales of Srimad Bhagavatam sets made by the temple's Life membership department. This preaching activity is as a result of the amazing transformation the temple has undergone since the it cast off the shackles of the illusion of being part of HH Jayapataka Swami's empire, and returned it back to Srila Prabhupada. This formally occurred 2 years ago, and since then the results have been amazing. 

Book distribution since that time has exploded. The devotees in the temple have explained that the main reason for this resurgence in the preaching has been due to their realising that Srila Prabhupada is their Diksa Guru, and that they do not need to accept any cheap substitutes. For instance they explain how during the early years when they were still in the illusion of being disciples of HH Jayapataka Swami they found it hard to get enthusiasm for distributing Srila Prabhuada's books, when they were also supposed to be hearing from the teachings of HH Jayapataka Swami. Now that they are surrendered directly only to Srila Prabhupada, the path has been cleared and they are able to distribute the books of Srila Prabhupada with amazing enthusiasm, since they know now that he is their own Guru. As we reported in our previous newsletter No. 22 about how our small preaching center in New York is beginning to rival the large official ISKCON center there in terms of book distribution, the IRM is committed to reviving book distribution throughout the movement. Unfortunately the movement has seen a huge decline in this activity:

For the whole of 1999, only 2 million books were distributed throughout the whole world. There are no more than 50 temples that regularly distribute more than 50 books a day. 50% of all books are now distributed in India, and 50% of all books are now distributed by just 10 temples.

Of course we would like to congratulate those brave souls who continue to soldier on. Please compare this to when Srila Prabhupada was here, when the movement was able to distribute in a MONTH what is now being distributed in a whole year. In 1977 we had a successful formula in place, the key ingredient of which was the position of Srila Prabhupada as the supreme authority and Guru of ISKCON. We changed that formula and the results also changed. Obviously if we put the formula back in place, we will also resurrect the results, as the efforts of the IRM are demonstrating.

Some other evidence of the expansion in preaching activity which has taken place since the Bangalore temple re-instituted Srila Prabhupada as the Diksa Guru, is that many more devotees have joined, with all of them graduates from the country's premier educational institutions. And as well as the massive increase in book distribution, prasadam distribution has also more than doubled. Plus they have instituted a very innovative preaching program that will ensure that the holy names of Rama and Krishna will be chanted over 1 Billion times by the tens of thousands of visitors that come every week to the temple.

In fact this would also be a good opportunity to give a brief description of the temple and its activities.

Spread over 8 acres of land atop a hill, in the heart of Bangalore is ISKCON's largest temple complex in the world. Also known as the Hare Krishna Hill, this is home to 5 temples of various forms of Lord Krishna:

Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra, 
Sri Krishna Balarama, 
Sri Nitai Gauranga, 
Sri Prahlad Narasimha and 
Sri Srinivasa Govinda. 

The temple complex which was inaugurated in May 1997 by the President of India, His Excellency Sri Shaker Deal Sharma, has been visited by over 5.1 million visitors since inception, including various dignitaries of the country.
Mr. Ramakrishna Hedge, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Former Cabinet Minister, and a frequent visitor to Hare Krishna Hill since 
1987, commented:

"Every time I visit this incredible edifice, the abode of Sri Krishna, I experience a unique divine feeling. This temple represents the essence of all religions."

Dr. Mural Menorah Joshi, Mrs. Rama Devi, Governor of Karnataka, Mr. 
HE.DO. Devegowda, former Prime Minister of India, Mr. I.H. Patel, Former CM of Karnataka, Mr. Rajinder Singh, Chief of the RSS and Mr. Ashok Singhal, President of the VHP are amongst the other dignitaries who have visited Hare Krishna Hill, seeking the blessings of the Lord. 

The distinct neo-classical architecture of the temple has attracted the interest of designers and artists from around the world. The design, which was developed by ISKCON devotees Madhu Pandit Dasa (President and Project director) and Jagatchandra Dasa, both graduates from the IIT Mumbai, combines elements of traditional South-Indian as well as modern styles of architecture in a harmonious blend, to provide a gorgeous residence for the Supreme Lord.

The temple complex is equipped with various facilities for the purpose of promoting the spiritual and cultural message of Lord Krishna and His pure devotee His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya and spiritual master of the entire ISKCON movement:

All activities on Hare Krishna Hill are centred around the principal Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra. Beginning with the mangala-arati at 4:15 am, a typical day is filled with spiritually inspiring programmes of aratis and kirtanas. The morning's programme includes a procession where devotees performing sankirtana, accompany the Deity of Srila Prabhupada on a palanquin to the various temples. The day ends with the festive shayana utsava, when the Lord tours His temple room on an ornamental palanquin before entering His sleeping quarters for rest. 
This daily utsava offered to the Lord is a unique feature of ISKCON Bangalore.

Free Prasadam for All Every visitor to the temple receives a cup of free kichiri prasadam, made of rice and dahl. This is a humble attempt to fulfill the vision of our guru Srila Prabhupada, who, expressing utmost compassion, said in 1974:

"God is the father; wherever there is the father, there cannot be hunger... No one within a ten-mile radius of our temples should go hungry." 

The temple's Pilgrims' Prasadam Kitchen is provided with modern equipment to prepare large quantities of prasadam in a short time and can feed upto two thousand visitors per hour. Since May 1997, about 750 tonnes of prasadam have been prepared and distributed to the visiting pilgrims.
In addition to the free prasadam, this kitchen is also used to prepare varieties of sweet and salty items, which are offered to the Lord and made available as prasadam to the visiting pilgrims for a nominal price.
ISKCON's Bakery, which began operations only 2 years ago, is well-known in Bangalore for its eggless cakes and biscuits.

The temple was erected with donations received from nearly 25,000 donors in and around Bangalore city. These donors receive an invitation on their birthday to visit the temple along with their family and a special puja is offered to the Lord in their names.

To promote world peace and harmony, a programme to chant 1 Billion holy names of Rama and Krishna in the year 2000, on Hare Krishna Hill, was begun on January 1st this year. The venue for this programme is the temple's harinama mantapa, located just before one enters the first temple of Prahlada Narasimha. This mantapa is fitted with two sets of granite steps (each containing 108 steps) and on each step a pilgrim can chant the full Hare Krishna mantra once. To guide the pilgrim to chant properly, recorded chanting of Srila Prabhupada is constantly played from a CD player in the mantapa. After chanting on the 108 steps (which means after chanting the maha-mantra 108 times), the pilgrim enters the Narasimha temple through an exclusive entrance where he receives a free packet of a prasadam sweet. It has been observed that about 60% of the visitors choose to enter this mantapa and chant, before having darshan.

The "Friends of Lord Krishna" (FOLK) programme for bachelors between 19 and 29, has created a lot of enthusiasm for understanding the Vedic culture amongst the youth of Bangalore. This programme is held on Saturdays and Sundays and consists of classes, discussions and practical sessions on Vedic philosophy and lifestyle. Meditation sessions are also held during these programmes. Each programme ends with a free prasadam feast.

Vedic wisdom advocates cow protection as one of the primary elements necessary for a prosperous and healthy society. ISKCON Bangalore goshalla maintains 40 cows in its goshalla on Hare Krishna Hill. Milk from these cows is used to make various products for the service of the Deities.

ISKCON encourages organic farming, in which grains, vegetables and fruits are grown naturally without the use of chemicals and fertilizers. 
ISKCON Bangalore's 100-acre farm near Mysore, on the bank of the River Kaveri provides an active model of such farming. The farm's products are made available in the temple's natural foods shop on Hare Krishna Hill known as "Dharani".

ISKCON Bangalore has a scheme to promote and protect the traditional art and craft of South India. This project encourages and supports talented craftsmen by providing them an outlet for their work. It gives them an opportunity to sustain themselves through the creations of their artistic expression. Through this service, ISKCON Bangalore is bringing into focus the richness of Indian tradition and the need to recognize its importance in preserving our culture and heritage. The products made under this scheme are available at "Dakshinakriti", the temple's sculpture showroom.

The Multivision Cinema at ISKCON Bangalore was conceived by devotees and produced in the United States. This is India's first show combining visual projection and animatronics. The 14 projectors, Laser Disc players, the surround sound processors and the animatronics mechanisms are controlled by a special purpose computer which operates through electronic control units and software developed in Sweden. The 40-minute Cinema conveys a simple yet significant spiritual message and is priced nominally. 
Nearly 50% of the visitors to the temple choose to watch the cinema, which operates at specific times in the morning and evening.

The temple complex also houses "Dwarakapuri", a marriage hall with ultra-modern finishing and "Mathura", a hall for seminars and conferences.
These halls help generate revenue for the temple's maintenance and preaching activities.

The Bangalore branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is housed on Hare Krishna Hill and is involved in translating and publishing Srila Prabhupada's voluminous works in the Kannada language. Eminent Kannada writers Prof. L.S. Seshagiri Rao, Prof. N.S. Laxminarayana Bhat, Dr. Shivarudrappa, Dr. A.R. Mitra and several others are involved in translating the books. Since 1985, 123,000 Kannada copies of the Bhagavad-gita alone have been printed and distributed by the BBT. In all, 430,000 pieces of literature have been distributed since May 1997. 
At present, 39 titles of Srila Prabhupada's works are available in Kannada.

The Goloka Seva Trust promotes and maintains the valuable art of incense (agarbatti) making, using purely natural ingredients. At present theGoloka Seva Trust produces 73 varieties of incense that is meant for worship.
The trust also conducts in-house research to develop varieties of non-toxic user-friendly incense and related products. These products are also made available at the temple's counters for the visitors.

Srila Prabhupada Museum The construction of the Srila Prabhupada Museum is scheduled to begin shortly. This museum will also be an architectural marvel in itself and will be dedicated to creating awareness amongst the general public about the glorious contributions of ISKCON's Founder-Acharya and spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

HH Siva-Rama Maharaja, ISKCON's appointed 'Guru' and GBC for Great Britain and Hungary, recently got an apt reaction for having deviated from Srila Prabhupada's instructions. HH Sivarama Swami was one of the founding members of the infamous 'Gopi Bhava' club, which for many years in the early to mid-90's went to seek 'higher guidance' from HH Narayana Maharaja, on the topics of 'Rasika' and Gopi Bhava. They were very eager to hear about the intimate pastimes of Krishna and the Gopis and find out from their new Rasika Guru about their spiritual identities as Gopis. So bogus was this outbreak of Sahajiyism from ISKCON's senior leaders, that even the GBC, not usually known for their adherence to Srila Prabhupada's instructions, acted and passed the following resolution:

"The recent proliferation in ISKCON of literature focusing on "rasika-bhakti," intimate Radha-Krishna lila, and other subject matters suitable only for highly advanced souls, represents a departure from Srila Prabhupada's orders and obstructs the smooth spiritual progress of ISKCON devotees. ISKCON members should therefore avoid collecting, reading, discussing, or distributing such literature."
(Resolution 73, GBC Resolutions 1995)

Siva-Rama and company were also banned temporarily from initiating and visiting Vrindavana as a punishment.

However, having engaged in these activities of promoting Narayana Maharaja and 'Gopi Bhava' studies generally, his yatra immediately started to feel the effects. Over the last few years many of Siva-Rama's disciples as well as a very high proportion of the British Yatra generally, have followed in Siva-Rama's footsteps and joined Narayana Maharaja's camp, with the defections continuing to grow every year. It has become so bad that he has had to hold special seminars for his own disciples as well as the Life Members, explaining why they should not be joining Narayana Maharaja's camp. This situation is not helped by the common perception amongst Siva-Rama's disciples that Siva-Rama is only speaking out against Narayana Maharaja publicly to placate the GBC, but that in private and in his heart, he secretly still follows Narayana Maharaja.

We also highlighted in Newsletter No.14, how Sivarama recently sent a note of appreciation for Tripurari's Sanga newsletter where such intimate topics regarding rasa-lila are discussed. It seems that maybe the attraction is still there. This classic case of instant karma continued even closer to home, when very recently some of his disciples began to expound the virtues of Narayana Maharaja to members of the Pandava Sena, which is a Hindu Youth group associated with the Manor. Siva-Rama was force to hold a meeting for the Panadava Sena to try and explain to them why they should not go and hear from Narayana Maharaja. Many of Narayana Maharaja's followers, mainly ladies, attempted to force their way into the meeting but were kept out. At which point they immediately began performing Bhajans and preaching profusely about the glories of Narayana Maharaja around the Manor, and calling for Narayana Maharaja to be installed as the acarya of ISKCON! These activities began to cause quite a stir and the authorities tried to force them out of the grounds of the Manor. The situation then turned into a full-scale incident with eventually the Police having to be called to remove them! 

A very interesting aside to these activities, and in keeping with the Siva-Rama connection, is that Dhrstyadumna Das (ex swami and right hand man of Bhagavan, and also Siva-Rama's ex-boss) was amongst the group which invaded the Manor. He has now joined the Narayana camp full-time. Also Siva-Rama's and his ex-mentor, Bhagavan Das, has also now joined up as a full card carrying member of the Narayana camp.

The moral of the story, to paraphrase the words of a former Beatle is that the GBC had "better watch out, otherwise Instant Karma's Gonna Get You", if they continue to deviate from the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. 
The growth of Narayana Maharaja's camp is also an example of instant karma for ISKCON in another way, in that it is the natural consequence of the GBC having tried to replace Srila Prabhupada by preaching that you must have a 'living Guru'. Well people are accepting these 'living Gurus' only they are not picking them from the pack of Jokers that ISKCON has to offer - but going for the 'Indian Sadhus' of the Gaudiya Matha - who of course can easily 'out-renounce', out-quote', and 'out-shastra' the weak Srila Prabhupada substitutes that ISKCON currently offers. Plus of course they are not continually falling down and taking 'sabbaticals' to break their attachment from such highly powerful temptations as boring novels and films (as in the case of Suhotra Swami - please see newsletter No. 27) 
Plus the entry of Naryana Maharaja into prominence in ISKCON was facilitated directly by the GBC Chairman Ravindra Svarupa prabhu when he promoted Narayana Maharaja's wisdom as the chief reason why Ritvik must be wrong, in their ISKCON Journal magazine in 1990. This was the beginning of the rise of Narayana Maharaja in ISKCON. Since then he has never looked back. Before the ISKCON Journal article, Narayana Maharaja had virtually zero influence in ISKCON. This again is yet another example of the 'Great Vision of Our GBC Chairman'! For more examples of the GBC Chairman's great comedy of errors, please see newsletter no. 25, and also newsletter 20 & newsletter 21.

In this regular column we shall be highlighting the bizzare and contradictory world of our GBC and 'Gurus', who have occupied Srila Prabhupada's position on the pretext of being able to guide us out of darkness and back to Godhead. However as this column will show over the coming weeks, these personalities would be better advised coming into the light themselves, and to move out of the way from blocking the clear and transcendental light which is emanating directly from Srila Prabhupada.
Physician heal thyself!

Bhakti Caru Swami Supports Srila Prabhupada As The Only Diksa Guru for ISKCON Ever. 

"Therefore, when people ask 'what do you mean by Srila Prabhupada's having the position of Founder-Acarya", my reply is, "What Jesus is to Christianity and what Muhammed is to Islam, Srila Prabhupada should be that to ISKCON"
(Day 3, LA Seminar, 'Questions and Answers', Published on June 11, 
2000)

But Bhakti Caru Swami had earlier told us what Jesus is to Christianity 
- the one and only Diksa Guru:

"Christianity does not accept the system of a present guru. They think Jesus is the only one and no one is coming to give initiation, or no one is coming as acarya"
(Recorded September, 1995, in Malaga, Spain, and Printed in 'Spiritual Connections' Vol 13 Jan-April '96)

Therefore Bhakti Caru Swami is stating quite categorically that the position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON should be the same as the Christian conception of Christ - which is that he should be the one and only Diksa Guru. Jai! It would help if he would now kindly step out of the way and return his disciples back to Srila Prabhupada.

SRILA PRABHUPADA - ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES 

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 
No 26. BBT Admits Books Changed To Fit GBC Philosophy 
No 27. Big Breakthrough For Krishna In Singapore