At its core – this case – like all other aspects of ISKCON post 1977 – stems from the principle issue: WHOSE MISSION IS IT? WHO IS ACTUALLY the ACTUAL ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY UNDER THE BANNER OF ISKCON?

The Authority of Srila Prabhupada and the Dictation of Lord Krishna

Dear Mother Dasi, Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Though I had in fact seen this letter prior – I very very much appreciated it again – and what is more – it has inpired me to offer further comment.

It appears – after discussing this case with different individuals – that we basically have two sides – assuming that their actions and the motives for those actions – are in fact – all rooted in their subsequent desire to "do right by HDG Srila Prabhupada."

I realize that both sides wish to demonize the other.

The BBTI men concluded long ago that WHAT they do – and HOW they do it – takes second place at best to WHY they do it. This is in fact – the very seed of criminal action. Criminals generally do not acknowledge THE LAW as being superior to their GOOD INTENTIONS; thus the enduring allure of the "Robin Hoods" of the world.

"But for us – and our willingness to ignore or circumvent the law – the world would be in the grip of 'lesser men'!"

I am certain that THIS is the very heart of the BBTI "ego", their very own self image, and it is reinforced by the mass of devotees who are likewise nearly completely ignorant of THE LAW and even more stymied as to WHY it is important in this case.

At its core – this case – like all other aspects of ISKCON post 1977 – stems from the principle issue: WHOSE MISSION IS IT? WHO IS ACTUALLY the ACTUAL ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY UNDER THE BANNER OF ISKCON?

All the legal wrangling – along with ALLLLLLLLLL THEIR COSTS – would never have manifested – had THIS PRINCIPLE ISSUE been concretely established from November 14th, 1977 to this day.

However, once Srila Prabhupada's Position was CHALLENGED and then RE-DEFINED by what were once HIS MOST TRUSTED MEN – upon their DARING TO TAKE THE OPINION OF THE VERY GODBROTHER WHO DISMISSED THE POSITION AND AUTHORITY OF Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur – Both the Vysasana of Srila Prabhupada and His Books that proved HIS AUTHORITY were removed from their actual place and became PROPS ONLY in the "service" of the NEW OCCUPANTS of the Vysasana.

THIS AND THIS ONLY IS THE ISSUE.

THUS BEFORE THE "LEGAL ISSUE" CAN BE GRASPED AT ALL – ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND – THE ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL ISSUE INVOLVED HERE.

Just like recently there has been some dispute manifested over whether or not some of Srila Prabhupada's more "brutally honest" comments about certain aspects of this world – need to be "explained" or "sanitized" – or worse – removed – from his purports etc – due to the inability of rank neophytes to fully "get them" and/or perhaps produce their "disaffection" for Krishna on account of what some now contest are "less than adorable" commentary by Srila Prabhupada.

The Truth is, though, that ANYTHING given us by Srila Prabhupada – if NOT accepted as the DIRECT DICTATION OF LORD KRISHNA – would necessarily HAVE to be categorized as information or comment – whose acceptance is OPTIONAL!

The DICTATION OF KRISHNA – COMING TO US VIA HIS ACHARYA – IF REJECTED AS ETERNAL ABSOLUTE TRUTH – CAN ONLY BE "REJECTED" BY ONE WHO IS LIKEWISE "REJECTING" LORD KRISHNA ENTIRELY. FOR IN THE ACT OF ASSIGNING ABSOLUTE VALUE TO THIS – AND WITHHOLDING SUCH ASSIGNMENT TO THAT – WHERE IT CONCERNS THE TEACHINGS OF KRISHNA AND HIS ACHARYA – WE RETAIN OUR SELF-DELUDED CONCEPTION OF OURSELVES AS THE SUPREME CONTROLLER AND ENJOYER!

NOW – in the same way – the ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENTS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA – REPRESENT HIS ACTUAL INTENTION – AND – THEY LIKEWISE REPRESENT THE ABSOLUTE DICTATION BY LORD KRISHNA "DO IT THIS WAY, MY DEARMOST DEVOTEE".

ANYONE – and I emphasize ANYONE – who advocates that now in the aftermath of Srila Prabhupada's manifest Lila – "I or WE" have concluded that the ACTIONS AND THE MOTIVES OF SRILA PRABHUPADA – though they were in fact THE DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF THE DIRECT GUIDANCE OF LORD SRI KRISHNA, THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND SUPREME CONTROLLER AND ENJOYER – must now submit themselves to OUR CONSIDERATION to determine THEIR VALIDITY and/or THEIR USEFULLNESS – IN SPREADING THE ISKCON MISSION.

THE VERY MISSION – THAT STATES AS ITS PURPOSE INTER ALIA:

2. "To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam."

The first purpose (1) and the last (7) are intitmately linked. #1 states the ultimate "end", and #7 asserts the "means" Srila Prabhupada asserts is clearly the "wanted" or desired method Lord Krishna has invested with the power and authority to both pursue and attain the "end". Here are the others. Srila Prabhupada gave a clear mission statement for ISKCON which is outlined in the following seven points:

The Seven Purposes of ISKCON

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4. To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.

7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

That we are now forced to "settle" this issue IN A COURT OF LAW – within the material atmosphere – allowing UNINITIATED and most sinful of men – to adjudicate the ABSOLUTE VALUE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA'S ACTIONS AND THEIR INTENTIONS – SIMPLY MEANS – THAT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IN THE ISSUE – HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE COMPLETE AND UNREPENTENT – ATHEISTS.

THIS IS A FACT.

ONLY ONE WHO SEES THE GURU AS ORDINARY – WOULD CHALLENGE – AS OPPOSED TO RE-ASSERT – THE SIMPLE ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENTS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA THAT JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE THE DIRECT ORDERS OF GOD HIMSELF.

SRILA PRABHUPADA'S SIMPLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BBT – WERE THE EQUAL TO ANY INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO SRI ARJUNA – BY LORD KRISHNA – WHILE HE PURSUED VICTORY ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF KURUKSETRA! "NOW KILL KARNA! NOW KILL BHISMADEVA! DRIVE OVER THERE!" etc etc – and "FORM AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST AND PLACE THE COPYRIGHTS OF MY BOOKS – WHICH I HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY DICTATED TO YOU – AND FOR WHICH YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE CREDIT LIKE ARJUNA WAS CREDITED WITH WINNING THE BATTLE THAT I HAD ALREADY DECIDED!" – ARE THE ABSOLUTE EQUIVALENT!

THEY ARE NON-DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!

THIS ISSUE – CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED BY MEN AND WOMEN – WHO CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND – WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH HERE. ONLY A MAN TRAINED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NUCLEAR WASTE – CAN PROPERLY HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL.

THIS CASE – IS MORE VOLATILE THAN NUCLEAR MATERIAL.

ANYONE WHO EVEN SLIGHTLY APPROACHES IT – WITHOUT REALIZING WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH – STANDS TO COMMIT THE GRAVEST OFFENSES IMAGINABLE!!

Even to approach this case – even to hear of it – without understanding and accepting the TRUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SRILA PRABHUPADA AND LORD KRISHNA – THAT OF SIMPLE SCRIBE WHO WROTE THE BOOKS UPON RECEIVING THEIR DICTATION FROM GOD HIMSELF, LORD KRISHNA – and THEN PRESERVED THEM IN AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST – BEING ORDERED TO DO SO – BY GOD HIMSELF – IS DANGEROUS BEYOND ONE'S INFINITE IMAGINATION!

Respectfully,

Praghosa Das