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What Can Repression Accomplish?

59 S Main St suite 108
Moab UT 84532
URL http://www.gj.net/~vaishnav/

By Riktaharsan
Krishna consciousness is God consciousness: the ultimate science, the summum bonum, and the
highest knowledge. Although God must be beyond everything--and therefore inconceivable--all Vedic
literature is meticulous science with plenty of logic and argument. As such, an obvious conclusion
would be that all of the people who take to Krishna consciousness should be very enlightened and
intelligent. Virtually all Westerners who come to the temples of the Hare Krishna movement come
with this initial impression.
Yet, in her book Betrayal of The Spirit Nandini devi dasi (Nori Muster) quotes from a psychological
study that was performed on Hare Krishna devotees in the mid-eighties by Dr. Arnie Weiss. Muster
notes,
"Weiss (was) the psychologist who had earned his Ph.D. studying Hare Krishna devotees. (He) said,
My study had some interesting results. The most prominent was that on the Comrey Personality
Scales, both male and female devotees showed a hallmark personality trait. On the average, devotees
scored way above the normal range in compulsivity. I dont know of any other group . . . that has
been studied, that has such a pronounced measure of compulsivity. Devotees were close to the norm
on all other measures, he added"
Some other quotes from the study not cited in Nandinis book are:
"The most prominent and surprising finding was the hallmark characteristic of the Hare Krishna
personality, a strong compulsivity trait common to both genders." (p722)
"Hare Krishna males have more high S scores (which). . .indicate. . . the ability to absorb a great deal
of stress without breakdown or . . . a tendency to deny or repress negative emotions." (p729)
Compulsion is defined in the dictionary as: " Pertaining to or describing acts or behavior independent
of volition, . . . drive irresistibly; constrain. . . . force to yield; subdue, . . .obtain by force, . . . drive
together; gather in a company; herd.
Conversely, the devotional processof ultimate liberation and spiritual knowledge aims at freeing its
adherents from compulsive activity of all sorts. Paraphrasing the statements of Prahlada Maharaja:
"I have very bitter experience of the materialistic way of life. In whichever species of life I have taken
birth, compelled by the force of my own activities, I have very painfully experienced two things: . . .
separation from my beloved and meeting with what is not wanted. And to counteract them, the
remedies which I undertook were more dangerous than the disease itself."(Purport SB 1.19.20)
In material life, it becomes clear to devotees that we are engaged in all sorts of activities which have
very little to do with our real spiritual identity. We are forced to take birth, eat, evacuate, have sex,
become diseased, experience old age, and finally die. All of this has been set into motion by our
karma, the result of our past activities. Throughout all of this, we have practically no awareness of
who we really are as spirit soul and are trapped by karma just like the locking bar in an amusement

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park ride restrains a rider. We are forced, or compelled, to go through all of the events that have
been charted or destined for us by our past activities.
Someone who understands the misery and entrapment of this so-called amusement ride decides to
get out of the vicious cycle. He therefore becomes determined to obtain knowledge or
AbsoluteTruth--which will set him free. Krishna consciousness, the science of devotional service to
the Supreme Lord, is that Truth. It is the means to obtain complete freedom from these cycles of
compulsion.
Why then did Hare Krishna devotees break the meter in the Comrey Personality Scales? According
to the dictionary definitions, it is very difficult to associate compulsion with knowledge,
enlightenment, intelligence, liberation, free will, and God consciousness. According to Srila
Prabhupada, compulsive behavior is a reaction brought on by past materialistic actions. Krishna says
in the Bhagavad-gita:
sadrsam cestate svasyah prakrter jnanavan api
prakrtim yanti bhutani nigrahah kim karisyati
"Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has
acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?" (Bg 3.33)
Genuine spiritual consciousness is the product of proper use of our free will. It has nothing to do
with oppression or coercion--either the self-inflicted variety or compulsion dealt by the hands of
others. In the material world, everyone has to labor in order to supply the necessities of the body. In
order to survive, most people have to be trained to do something. They have to work. Children are
compelled by their parents to become self-supporting. Such superficial compulsion is a part of
material like and is common to everyone.
Perversely, certain classes of human beings are more motivated by compulsion than others.
Compulsion is of two origins: self-created and imposed. A businessman trying to work his way to the
top of his profession is clearly compelling himself, at least for the most part. Soldiers in the army are
generally being compelled by their commanding officers through dutiful necessity.
On the other hand, in order to understand why Western Hare Krishna devotees tested so high in
compulsion we must become familiar with the day-to-day proceedings within what appears to be the
Hare Krishna movement--and with the actual philosophy of Krishna consciousness. In the
Bhagavad-gita Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the real Hare Krishna
movement, gives this translation and purport:
mayi sarvani karmani sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa
nirasir nirmamo bhutva yudhyasva vigata-jvarah
"Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me,
without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight." (Bg
3.30)
PURPORT
"This verse clearly indicates the purpose of the Bhagavad-gita. The Lord instructs that one has to
become fully Krsna conscious to discharge duties, as if in military discipline. Such an injunction may
make things a little difficult; nevertheless duties must be carried out, with dependence on Krsna,
because that is the constitutional position of the living entity. The living entity cannot be happy
independent of the cooperation of the Supreme Lord, because the eternal constitutional position of
the living entity is to become subordinate to the desires of the Lord. Arjuna was therefore ordered by
Sri Krsna to fight as if the Lord were his military commander. One has to sacrifice everything for the

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good will of the Supreme Lord, and at the same time discharge prescribed duties without claiming
proprietorship. Arjuna did not have to consider the order of the Lord; he had only to execute His
order. . . . And if there is any reluctance to execute such a stern order, which is without consideration
of so-called kinsmen in the bodily relationship, that reluctance should be thrown off; in this way one
may become vigata-jvara, or without feverish mentality or lethargy. Everyone, according to his
quality and position, has a particular type of work to discharge, and all such duties may be
discharged in Krsna consciousness, as described above. That will lead one to the path of liberation."
Srila Prabhupada enjoins his followers to act "as if in military discipline." The devotee is also
enjoined to give up all sense of proprietorship over the results of his activities.
Superficially, these injunctions seem to indicate why devotees would be compulsive. An extremely
compulsive group is the military. Still, they are usually paid and receive other benefits, such as free
college tuition. They also get to go on leave and do whatever they please until it is time for them to
return to their posts. As the Gita purport makes clear, however, pay is out of the question in pure
Krishna consciousness. Those more familiar with the practice of Krishna consciousness also
understand that serious devotees mold their lives in such a way that all sorts of whimsical actions are
also out of the question.
The capper--as if Krishnas injunctions are not daunting enough--is that the devotees eternal duty is
to subordinate his own personal desires until they are identical with those of the Lord ("And if there
is any reluctance to execute such a stern order. . . .that reluctance should be thrown off."). Not only
are the devotees actions completely regulated, but a serious devotee is not even given license to
desire anything which is outside of the Lords interest.
Materialistic people see this as slave mentality. They may speak of it as compulsion. For them the
case is closed. In their minds, there is little room for anything besides compulsion in the Hare Krishna
movement. All the talk about knowledge, intelligence, liberation, and enlightenment is just a sugar
coating over total subordination. They think, "How can I become free by subordinating myself like
this?" They believe that people who want to avoid the negativities of life are trying to "escape
reality." Such materialists remain driven by their ongoing hope to achieve happiness by adopting
plans for wealth, status, and sexual fulfillment.
The transcendentalist, on the other hand, understands pursuing that sort of happiness is not very
intelligent. If you rent a motel room, you do not think of changing the carpet color or the furniture
motif. You know that you will not be there for a very long time. The transcendentalist understands
that this body is much like a motel room occupied by the spirit soul and sees no point in doting upon
it. He uses it for the purpose of achieving higher realization, knowing full well that the time will
come when he will be forced to move on. The devotee of the Lord sees that endeavoring to achieve
the sort of pleasure desired by the materialist is a colossal waste of time and energy. It is much like
investing hard-earned money in a company which is certain to go bankrupt.
The truly intelligent person realizes that his or her position in this material world is not very good.
Everyone is going to die--after a life of struggle and conflict, characterized by disease, old age and
hypocrisy. Lifes a beachand then you die. The sensitive and intelligent person understands that
there is a controller behind all of this and approaches Him to make a permanent solution. That is the
reason the devotee approaches the Vedic tradition--or the bona fide Krishna consciousness
movement.
The injunctions given in the Gita purport are meant for newcomers to spiritual life who have become
convinced that trying to become happy in this world is counterproductive. They still have
countervailing attractions for worldly life and, as such, are advised to act in a rigorous manner. In
Krishna conscious terms, it is called the vaidhi-bhakti stage. This practice makes the follower
detached from the external world and its temporary, illusory goals. Living in such a manner seem

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quite stark to the materialistic person. When a sincere spiritual aspirant begins the practice of vaidhibhakti, much of what he hears about genuine spiritual philosophy is incomprehensible, but he acts
according to the discipline of Prabhupadas purport and genuine knowledge becomes revealed.
Vaidhi bhakti is genuine devotional service and produces tangible results:
vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
"By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one immediately
acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world." (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.7)
When a devotee achieves that knowledge and detachment, he progresses beyond the neophyte stage
to the level of firm faith. This is the second class or madhyama platform of Krishna consciousness.
Firm conviction and knowledge of the scriptures characterize this level. He may also make progress
within this position, to the higher levels of this stage, where attachment and taste for spiritual
activities increase. (Cf. Error! Bookmark not defined.)
Beyond madhyama-adhikari, at the highest stage is the uttama level. This is the condition of pure,
eternal, unmotivated and uninterrupted love of God. This stage is unlimitedly pleasing, both to the
devotee and to the Lord. In this position, there is no question of doing anything against Gods will.
Even at the madhyama stage, there are sometimes still thoughts of material desires present, but the
fixed up aspirant is not moved by them--much like the teenager who, by dint of his newfound
pleasures, is no longer interested in the nonsensical activities of childhood.
During the neophyte stage of vaidhi-bhakti, there will be some need for limited discipline. The
sincere devotee remembers the overriding considerations and decisions that brought him to
undertake this path to enlightenment and eternal liberation from birth and death. He has faith that, by
undergoing the initial austerities, he will attain the higher taste of detachment and revealed spiritual
knowledge. He knows that whatever austerities he may have to perform in order to come to the
madhyam and higher levels of Krishna consciousness are worth it.
Any devotee who has achieved the second class platform of devotional service is very happy. Such a
devotee has already been blessed by Brahman realization and understands--in a very real way--that
he is a spiritual being. The wisdom possessed at this level is many times greater than that of the most
intelligent person in mundane consciousness. The madhyam adhikari is naturally compassionate
toward all people who are suffering in material existence and who are destined for death and rebirth.
He is a genuine spiritual master. Such a guru yearns to see that conditioned souls understand the
perils of material life and the super-excellence of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Krishna.
When he moves among the people of this world, he does so with the aim of giving this Absolute
knowledge. This enables people to use their free will and take up the science of Krishna
consciousness. He wants everyone to come to this state of happiness and enlightenmentwhich he
has achieved.
Such a devotee is naturally very kind, humble, and tolerant. Because he knows that no one can
become convinced of something against that persons own will, he sees no point in coercing,
cajoling, or otherwise compelling others to become Krishna conscious. He is in firm knowledge that
no one can become truly Krishna conscious as a result of force or threats. The genuine guru wants to
attract the conditioned souls away from coercion and a compulsive environment. He is offering them
something infinitely more positive than compulsion.
In the bona fide Krishna conscious environment, sincere devotees act under the guidance of such a
realized soul. Devotees who are training newcomers in the vaidhi-bhakti practices will--except in
emergencies--always invoke philosophical truth to help newcomers overcome their doubts. Because
genuine spiritual life is an ever-unfolding process of knowledge, when doubts and anxiety become

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prominent, knowledge, applied by the realized soul is the appropriate balm, or medicine.
Illegitimate representations of Krishna consciousness are another thing. Their leaders are not as
advanced as advertised. Despite claims to the contrary, they are still on the neophyte platform. They
have much the same consciousness as their followers. Such "leaders" misuse the purport of
Bhagavad-gita 3.30. They place themselves as the means by which the desires of the Lord are
supposedly fulfilled. They equate their self-serving dictates with the Lords personal guidance.
Discretion, discrimination, and real knowledge are not qualities that are encouraged by such bogus
gurus. Threadbare discussion of issues based upon logic and the Absolute Truth are non-existent
amongst their groups
Such manager gurus are adept at bringing political pressure to bear via some kind of institutional
governing body. This is how they generally achieve their status. They do not compare with a truly
realized guru on either the first or second class platform of devotional service. They are simply
bluffing and are not actually recognized by Lord Krishna. They cannot deliver the goods in terms of
spiritual advancement and enlightenment to their followers. Bogus representations of Krishna
consciousness instead substitute some unqualified person and watered down philosophy. Only the
liberated person can deliver others. Such a devotee must have come to at least the second class
platform of devotional service and have actually achieved Brahman realization.
Arrogant people interested in capitalizing on the absence of genuine authority (in the person of a
genuine guru) inevitably concoct some means of "initiation"--which is unauthorized. They initially
place themselves upon big seats, pretending to be as pure as great mahatmas. Later, they post
themselves through some institutional selection process. Wishing to disguise their ambition they may
even create an arrangement where the departed guru is supposed to still be the means of initiation-despite his no longer being physically manifest. Those who push this sham do the de-facto dictating
to those who foolishly accept it.
All of these unauthorized persons are interested in adulation and results. They are not interested in
elevating their followers from the neophyte stage to the stage of realized knowledge. Ambitious, selfinterested persons can only faun interest in others elevation. In actuality, they dread the possibility of
their followers coming to the position of knowledge. If the followers become truly intelligent (and
able to genuinely discriminate) they will be able to recognize the contradictions inherent within the
behavior and philosophy of their so-called leaders.
False representations of Krishna consciousness make frequent use of compulsion. Pretenders cite the
scriptures and present very rudimentary arguments--but to keep the wheels rolling on the railroad,
they resort to compulsion.
Compulsive types are attracted to this sort of supposed spirituality. It emphasizes the negatives. Such
followers are not attracted by knowledge, bliss, and liberation; they are afraid of the reactions of
their past sins. They can very easily be manipulated by negative impetus, such as guilt and fear. For
the most part, those who become entangled in groups dominated by herd like activity are "true
believer" types who have come to accept the futility and failure of their own decisions. They confuse
this failure-ridden mindset with "seeing the futility of material existence." In reality, what they really
come to "the movement" for is someone who or something which will replace their failure ridden
mentality with a fresh and unified planone which makes them part of a faceless (but hopeful)
group. They are tired of confronting the failure that they have made of their own lives. Bogus gurus
thrive on such people. These followers require a compulsive environment.
People in search of tangible elevation or realization can never find satisfaction in such groups. Such
groups equate acting under compulsion with "surrender to Krishna." Actually, to the genuine
transcendentalist, surrender has nothing to do with the handing over of ones discrimination and free
will to some powerfully pretentious--and persuasive--person. Real surrender is a manifestation of

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understanding and love. Surrender involves the knowledge of giving up all concocted processes of
spiritual life and accepting the real one. It has nothing to do with compulsive activity.
According to Krishna conscious philosophy, the material senses control or "enjoy" dull matter. The
mind in material consciousness accepts and rejects in order to satisfy the senses. It is pulled by the
senses as if they were horses in front of a chariot. The problem in material life is that the intelligence,
which is supposed to be the driver of the chariot, is actually engaged in determining the best means
for the senses to satisfy themselves. Therefore, in material consciousness, the intelligence is more like
the prisoner, or servant, of the senses.
The science of Krishna consciousness is given to the conditioned souls by the Lord to free, or purify,
the intelligence. When the materially-minded person understands that allowing the senses to want
only act will cause him to remain perpetually in the cycle of birth and death, he applies himself to his
eternal relationship with Krishna. The process of purifying the intelligence is the practice of vaidhibhakti, as mentioned hereinbefore. By knowing that the purpose of life is to develop an attitude of
loving service to Krishna, rather than simply satisfy ones senses (or those of an immediate family,
nation, etc.), the devotee links his intelligence to something beyond the material world.
When the devotee has completely freed his intelligence from the thralldom of the material world, he
comes to the stage of buddhi-yoga. Buddhi means "intelligence" and yoga means "to link." Srila
Prabhupada described this position in this way:
"With faith and love, if one is engaged in the service of the Lord, then Krsna says, buddhi-yogam
dadami tam. There are two things; buddhi and buddhi-yogam. Buddhi--ordinary buddhi,
intelligence--that is dirty. But when it is yogam--yogam means connected with Krsna--it is called
buddhi-yogam. So we require buddhi-yogam, not buddhi. If we simply use our buddhi, intelligence,
then we continue to become duskrtinah (rascal). Buddhis there, but it is utilized in a misdirected
way. That is called duskrtinah. Therefore we must engage our buddhi... (as) the immediate step
before we realize self. First our conception is indriyani, these senses. Indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah. We give very much importance to the senses. The bodily concept of
life means to give importance to sense enjoyment. Thats all. This is bodily concept of life. So
indriyani parany ahuh. They are very important. Those who are bodily, in bodily concept of life, they
are addicted to sense gratification. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah. And those who
are little advanced more, they are addicted to the mental speculation. The so-called jnanis, mental
speculation. Manasas tu para buddhih. Then again you come to the platform of intelligence. . . and
when the intelligence is purified, hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani, purified, SIMPLY BY HEARING
ABOUT KRISHNA, then immediately you are raised to the platform of spiritual life. This is the
process." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.17,Vrndavana, India, October 28, 1972)
When the intelligence is purified, it determines what is conducive to self-realization or the
satisfaction of Krishna. Therefore, instead of being dragged around the material world by the senses,
the intelligence, on the basis of God consciousness, provides the criteria to engage the mind and
senses in the service of the Lord. This is the only way that the chariot of the mind and its sense
"horses" can become truly controlled and peaceful. This is not a process dependent upon repression
or compulsion.
This is why it is so important to inspire and motivate newcomers to Krishna consciousness with
philosophical persuasion and personal attention, instead of compulsion. Unless the newcomers come
to understand how they can best utilize their individual propensities (and overcome their unique
weaknesses), they will remain only superficial devotees. Their intelligence will never be able to link
with the Supreme, because they are discouraged from exercising it. In the name of so-called
advancements they are instead engaged in little more than building up the reputations of their
masters.

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Such masters use the so-called evidence of material results to authenticate their actions. The bogus
guru is more interested in achieving results than in giving real knowledge and he employs all sorts of
external means to keep his disciples loyal.
For instance, those "gurus" emphasize their link to the institution and its divine origins. They allude
to "the big movement" and how many books or devotees it has distributed or initiated.
Simultaneously, each of them will deprecate critics--regardless of the validity of their points--by
saying that they (their critics) have not produced big results. Charismatic leaders also emphasize
some attractive quality like singing or sense of humor. In their talks, they "love bomb" followers with
all sorts of highly-charged sentiment.
This sort of attention is materially productive, of course. With a few remarks, many people can be
affected. This should not be confused with what is really needed by each and every disciple, namely
care and personal attention. When do bogus gurus give this? It is only given when there is some
threat to the disciples bringing in results (Picking the bone and bringing it home). When a fund-raiser
becomes sexually attracted to someone, there may be a decrease in collections. Then, all sorts of
damage control ("kindness") is poured on. The main criteria for acceptance in such cults is always
how much the follower can bring in, either in terms of money or new recruits. Its a compulsive
criteria indeed.
All superficial devices cannot take the place of the real advancement and compassion possessed by a
genuine guru--and his sincere followers. When the genuine guru gives personal direction to a
follower, that instruction is coming from the Supersoul within everyones heart. It is sure to dissolve
the doubts of the follower. Because he is completely free from personal vanity, the genuine gurus
instructions are non-different from the Lords. Such instructions are empowered to deliver others in
any number of subtle ways. By following the instructions of such a person, one is assured of
causeless knowledge and detachment. This cannot be given by the pretender guru; because he is only
engaging followers in the service of his own schemes and delusions, not the service of the Supreme.
The bogus guru cannot give the real nectar of Krishna consciousness. He MUST resort to
something besides Krishna conscious philosophy, because without compulsion his movement will
disintegrate. Compulsion is something which is really only appropriate in an emergency, not in the
normal course of events. The members of a community may say that, "In our movement there are
three modes of action: emergency, extreme emergency, and ultra-extreme emergency." Various other
expressions also devolve in such organizations, and these measure the ability of leaders to compel the
mass of followers to produce results. For instance, someone in charge of fund raising is considered
valuable only if he can keep his pickers "jacked up" for the Christmas marathon.
Compulsion, by its very nature, is predominated by the modes of passion and ignorance. It should
only to be used in a bona fide Krishna conscious environment during a real emergency--not a
manufactured one. The reason that it is extensively utilized by the leaders of bogus Krishna
consciousness is that they are also predominantly in the modes of passion and ignorance.
Nevertheless, the prolonged use of compulsion to motivate people produces a vicious cycle. When
there is an emergency, normal codes and ethical considerations must sometimes be disregarded in
order to survive. God may condone such things in a genuine emergency. However, when bogus
leaders manufacture an emergency, there is no umbrella of protection from the Lord. The
unauthorized actions, dishonest fund raising techniques, intimidations, etc.--utilized most often by
the henchmen of pseudo gurusproduce sorts of vikarmic reactions. These reactions in their turn
create another conceived emergency, which affords more unauthorized actions, vikarmic reactions,
and so on.
The community was pretty much undone by this. Leaders who resort to unneeded utilizations of the
modes of passion and ignorance--regularly employing compulsionactivate this above-mentioned

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cycle. Such groups and their leaders are all unauthorized. They are under the influence of kala, or
time. They cannot preach the real message of Bhagavad-gita.
Without personal attention and compassionate application of the Absolute Truths of Krishna
consciousness to each and every devotee, what is called the Hare Krishna movement eventually
becomes nothing more than a congregation of fools (cheated persons) who accept a placebo of socalled Krishna consciousness. Instead of becoming cleared of materialistic illusions and doubts (by
hearing the real Krishna conscious philosophy), they allow themselves to be herded around by
intimidating, gangster-like caricatures of gurus. All of these sheep allow themselves to be cowed by
threats of ostracization to the outside culture.
When Srila Prabhupada was present, there was tangible spiritual elevation going on. He was a real
guru on the highest platform of devotional service. All of his instructions were empowered by
Krishna. The excessive use of compulsion to motivate devotees was checked--at least in the circles
directly around His Divine Grace. Now, without his personal attention, compulsion quickly became
the modus operandi. What passes for the Hare Krishna movement has become, in some places, a
reservoir for dysfunctional types convinced that repressing their own will is an essential part of the
process.
The survey by Dr. Weiss was made in the mid-eighties, eight years after Srila Prabhupadas
departure. The average time in the movement for devotees studied was seven years. This would
indicate that most of the devotees studied had joined the movement after Srila Prabhupada physically
left this world.
It is kali yuga: the iron age of quarrel and hypocrisy. In this age, it is said that everyone is born a
sudra, or a low class, unintelligent person prone to lament and avoid truth. Although a great soul,
such as Srila Prabhupada, is capable of elevating such people to higher levels of spiritual realization,
sudras are always prone to devolve to their original condition.
When Lord Balarama entered the arena of sacrifice at Naimisaranya, He noticed that
Romaharshan Suta did not stand up to acknowledge the presence of a more exalted personality.
Although Romaharshan had achieved the position of a brahmana by the mercy of his spiritual
master--and had been elected by the sages present to sit in the most honored seat--his mixed
parentage and lower birth were immediately recalled by Balarama when he refused to acknowledge
the Lord.
By Prabhupadas mercy, the leaders of his institution were raised from the level of untouchables to
the exalted positions of brahmanas and sannyasisAS LONG AS THEY ACTED UNDER HIS
GUIDANCE.
Persons misleading and offending thousands of innocent people can never be considered
representatives of truth. Dishonest men who push compulsion can never be accepted as gurus by any
genuine transcendentalist. Those who condone (or otherwise tacitly acknowledge) any current
misuse of the position of guru must be bewildered--and also implicated in unmeritorious activities.
Compulsion is not a quality that is used to motivate people in the higher orders of human society.
Only a sudra (or lower) will allow himself to be herded about by men whose primary motivation is to
be the head of some wing of an institution that is only in name not part of this material world.
Srila Prabhupada regularly exhorted his followers to "read my books." When there was a
philosophical point of contention among devotees--and for all matters of personal guidance--Srila
Prabhupada would invariably say that the answers were in his books. All of the problems faced by the
Hare Krishna movement since the departure of His Divine Grace can be traced to either minimizing
this instruction--or ignoring it. The only real shelter in the manifest absence of a realized soul remains
his books. (cf., Error! Bookmark not defined.)

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It is much easier to sentimentally repose faith in some institution and conclude that, because the
leaders of this faction control the temples and governing body--and have a big (but dwindling)
following--they must be authorized. Conversely, according to this fanatical view, devotees who
empathize the philosophy (as opposed to emphasizing the institution or "movement") are misguided.
That is the way of Kali, wherein it is said that religion will be considered irreligion and visa-versa.
The Bhagavatam says that, in kali yuga people will be manda or slow, not really capable of
intelligence or fine discrimination with good memory. This is a very lamentable situation.
Unscrupulous leaders tend to take full advantage of it. Rather than elevating the unfortunate people
of this age to the level of buddhi-yoga, such leaders water down the philosophy to suit their own
purposes. They play on the followers bad qualities to further bewilder them. This is a great sin. Sri
Isopanisad says that the fate awaiting such people is dark. Their crime is all that much greater,
because they have taken the means (or movement) given by the Lord as their own instrument to
perpetrate these injustices. Diverting the Hare Krishna movement into an instrument of compulsion is
comparable to discarding the real thing for showbottle medicine.
OM TAT SAT

Error! Bookmark not defined.

Error! Bookmark not defined.
Error! Bookmark not defined.
Error! Bookmark not defined.
According to the instructions of our spirtual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, we are obligated to reply to all favorable and progressive correspondence. To contact
the authors or The Vaishnava Foundation please address your mail to:
Metamorphosis League: The Vaishnava Foundation
59 S Main suite 108
Moab UT 84532
Quotes from the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are copyright by
the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust