“Ksamabhuddi claims this lawsuit may destroy and dismantle ISKCON. First of all it is the abuse that went on that would dismantle ISKCON not the victims of the abuse.”

Srila Prabhupada's Reputation Will Shine On His Own Merit
By Subhadra dasi

In Ksamabuddhi's article he mentioned that despite severe differences with ISKCON administration, he (and others) never attempted to exact vengence in the form of a lawsuit. Was he abused? What did he do? Did he take any action in relation to the administration to insure they would not treat others in the future as he was treated?

I have also experienced "differences" with ISKCON administration. A few years ago a man broke my ribs, and the temple appointed him as temple treasurer the next month. He was a well-known woman beater, and although I'm not sure that the whole temple board knew that I had been the latest attack, some of them did know.

But I was told it was my karma. I didn't do anything. I can't help but wonder, though, if the women he had abused in the past had done something to exact vengeance by the law, would he have beat me also? Or even have had the opportunity? If, instead of being a dutiful victim of karma, if I had taken some action- could I have helped prevent that person from hurting others in the future?

Ksamabuddhi mentions that it is the Gurukulis' karma from past lives that they were abused. He mentions that many people donated money and worked hard for ISKCON, who don't want it all squandered on a lawsuit. I guess then, that is those people's karma too! It also seems that ISKCON's present misfortune is a direct and obvious reaction to its visible past.

Or perhaps it isn't misfortune at all!

Ksamabhuddi claims this lawsuit may destroy and dismantle ISKCON. First of all it is the abuse that went on that would dismantle ISKCON not the victims of the abuse. Second, maybe it would destroy the deeply entrenched good “ol’ boy's” attitudes which has made it possible for so much abuse to take place, and which also made them (the good “ol’ boys”) ignore and negate these Gurukulis until they felt right filing this suit.

Remember, these are the same children whom Srila Prabhupada stated were our future. They now seem to be fulfilling his words in a very ironic way.

Maybe the lawsuit will not destroy, but help ISKCON and it's devotees. Maybe we will start putting people in charge who have not just sincerity and managerial intelligence, but who have compassionate and encouraging natures, and who don't have elitist or punitive attitudes. Krishna is so kind. Who knows how He'll help us?

While many of these abuses took place, Srila Prabhupada was not even on the planet, and the zonal acharya system was firmly in place. The gurus were overseeing every aspect of their zone fastidiously. They judged and dealt with devotees as they saw fit. So how is it that now these same people who wielded such control are claiming to be innocent of responsibility? Even ignorance is no excuse. We know from the Vedas that a president or king will have to pay a heavy karmic debt for sins incurred in their kingdoms. These are Krishna's karmic laws. Karmic laws are for the good of everyone. Why are kings responsible for regulating their kingdom? It is in order to protect people.

Now, the American civil court system is attempting to regulate ISKCON and punish it for things that happened under its purview that shouldn't have happened, and to make sure nothing similar happens again. This government punishes institutions by penalizing them financially. That is all that is happening.

Understandably, ISKCON is cringing like every other religion does in a bad legal situation. Do they feel they are above mundane laws and don't want their dirty laundry aired in public or for people to see they were not as pure as they are trying to be? Is it only the little devotees who should be punished by the government?

Take, for example, the Mahamantra case. That was bad P.R. but still we know it had to be taken care of legally.

Can't we rise above the maturity level of a child who says "Tattletale!" or "Please don't punish me, I promise I won't do it again".... or a homeboy who says you aren't cool if you tell- you're a "snitch"; or an alcoholic who admonishes his/her kids not to tell shameful family secrets, or like a religious leader who says "If you don't like the way things are, you are free to go, but if you do go, you're in Maya- and if you don't go- you have to accept whatever we do, or be ostracized for speaking against us"...?

Don't we have faith that ISKCON will not only survive, but flourish, in a more viable way than ever? Don't we have faith that Srila Prabhupada's reputation will shine on his own merit? Well, now I have to go figure out what to tell my six year old son and baby girl...that their Pita is so depressed that he takes medicine and sleeps instead of playing with them/ and that they get yelled at by him when they were only behaving like innocent children... because Pita spent five years in Gurukula getting beaten.

© CHAKRA 7-August-2000

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