Complaint about "Narayan M. Read This" Article
By Pancha Tattva Dasa

Dear prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I read with consternation the article entitled "Important Breaking News... Narayan M. Read This..." Could someone please explain why it was posted in this manner? Wouldn't it have been sufficient to mention that obscenities were present in the graffiti, rather than showing a picture and spelling them out?

From time to time CHAKRA takes a nose-dive when it comes to journalistic integrity. Believe me, I do understand how that can happen. The act of posting email content on a Website is barely a few mouse clicks more involved than the sending of the email itself. Still, I wish someone there would exercise a little more discretion. Is it really that difficult to prevent the 'f' word from appearing not once, but twice, in an article? Good grief!

There is another issue that disturbs me. Why allow that title for the article? Would you really want His Holiness Narayana Maharaja to read this on the World Wide Web?

I am not a follower of His Holiness Narayana Maharaja, although I remain respectful, as I would be toward any Vaishnava, what to speak of a senior Vaishnava sannyasi. I do see some apparent differences between Narayana Maharaja's preaching and that of Srila Prabhupada, and for that reason I maintain some distance from His Holiness. However, I must vehemently protest against CHAKRA's printing of this article, at least in its current form. The title suggests that Narayana Maharaja is somehow responsible for the criminal acts of these idiots. This can only produce more conflict and misunderstanding, and it is an offense to His Holiness Narayana Maharaja.

The criminals that wrote the graffiti are not Vaishnavas, and can hardly be considered followers of Narayana Maharaja. We have also seen some so-called disciples of Srila Prabhupada behave in ghastly ways, but most of us would not imply or conclude that Srila Prabhupada was responsible for their deluded actions. And, if the matter needed to be communicated to Srila Prabhupada, I feel certain that it wouldn't be broadcast on the World Wide Web, but would be sent to him as private correspondence.

Please either rewrite or remove this article from CHAKRA, and please get some editors on board who think before they post.

Your servant,

Pancha Tattva Dasa

© CHAKRA 28 February 2001

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