“The question in my mind is this: Where are some of those perpetrators and have they no shame for what they have done?”

— ANANTA PURUSOTTAMA DAS
     Serving ISKCON in the UK

Thoughts on the Gurukula Lawsuit
By Ananta Purusottama das

Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Sadly though, we have not done enough to really glorify Srila Prabhupada, I include myself without hesitation, I can't imagine how Srila Prabhupada would feel right now over these recent events.

I just read Jada Bharat’s article, although from last December, the main point he made really hit me, that many of us have done very little about the abuse which has affected these poor young children, although I know some have been doing something. I first heard about it a few years ago, but was I outraged, not enough, I was certainly very disturbed, but I assumed the leaders were obviously going to do something about it, plus I did hear of certain cases being investigated, and expected some tangible results to come from those investigations.

I woke up today and tried to remind myself that what I have heard really happened, it was not a dream or something imagined, and how shameful it is, who were those "people" who did these things, and I still wonder why they were allowed to get away with it for so long. I have three young children although I know I can improve my role as a father in all aspects, and sometimes I get a little irritated and shout at my kids, I can hardly imagine beating them, or anything worse. Somebody told me how their daughter was only five when she was beaten. I have a beautiful young daughter called Kalindi, who some devotees know, she is so small and frail, and I find it so upsetting that somebody could do what they did to such a small child, such a person is obviously so sick, and should be sent to the Himalayas or worse, just like Asvatthama was after killing the young children of the Pandavas.

The question in my mind is this: Where are some of those perpetrators and have they no shame for what they have done? 

I can just about conceive of somebody committing an awful act once, but if they sincerely repent and make all efforts to beg forgiveness from the victim, and really change, then they can perhaps be forgiven.

I don't know who all the children are who have been abused, but I feel very sorry for them, and I too wish I could have done more, although many of us only found out a few years ago. I can understand their strong actions at this time, as I know from reliable sources that those children have tried the internal process for three or four years now, and have become desperate, so I see what they are doing as a last resort, and I can imagine how they feel because they have been let down so badly by so many. They should naturally expect proper protection, like any child and that has not happened.

I have been reading some of Srila Prabhupada’s letters recently about Gurukula and about discipline in particular, again and again he stresses that NO force can be used, but only love, and affection, and he even mentioned how it is easy to trick a child into getting what you want them to do, never should any punishment or stick be used, NEVER.

Srila Prabhupada’s father was so kind and gentle with him, and Srila Prabhupada mentioned how his father never chastised him, I wish I could be like that, I even feel bad about shouting at my kids at times and think that perhaps I could have dealt with a situation in a better way. So for those children who have any doubt about Srila Prabhupada’s feeling towards children and how they should be treated, please try and read some of those letters I mentioned.

Finally, I want to reiterate how ashamed I feel for not having tried in any small way to do something as soon as I heard of such abuse going on, even if it was a long time ago, and how I feel at times somewhat bewildered having heard all this. To me it does take some strength to remain a part of ISKCON after hearing so many difficulties are still around. The famous quote which Srila Prabhupada often used, by some famous writer, "England with all thy faults I love thee", using that in the context of a devotee within ISKCON who sees so many discrepancies, I now find much harder to say with full conviction, but I hope in time I can learn from these recent revelations and do all I can to make sure such a thing could never happen again, even if not personally, but make sure the systems set in place are working properly and that future generations of children can look back and say what a nice experience that had being brought up in ISKCON.

I forgot to mention that I know at least one of those children (who is now grown up) having gone through that awful situation personally, but nevertheless is still a devotee and has full faith in Lord Krsna, what a wonderful saintly person they must be. Imagine, Prahlada Maharaja was mistreated by a demon that was expected, but to mistreated by a "devotee", must be the most discouraging and bewildering thing to happened to anyone, what to speak of a child, I think of those devotees in Russia during the 1980's, how they suffered at the hands of those demons, who knew no better, but the devotees who were put in charge and were entrusted by Srila Prabhupada, quite often directly, how they have shamed their Guru, the society and betrayed that trust to those under their care. I hope they meet sufficient punishment for their own purification.

Your servant

Ananta Purusottama das Chant the Holy name and your life will be sublime!

© CHAKRA 4-July-2000

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