Dear CHAKRA Editors,

Thank you for publishing the letter from Jagannatha Dasa, entitled “Narrator of Poison CD Declares Hoax.” Unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers. First of all, why did Jagannatha Dasa participate in this fraud? Why should we accept his stern rebuke of the other alleged fraud conspirators, when it appears that he himself was a willing participant? Why did he wait so long, after so much damage has been done, to say anything?

I hope that Jagannatha dasa gives more details about the activities of the ‘Poison CD’ people. If this poisoning story is revealed as an utter fraud - a position that I have taken all along - then we might well benefit from recognizing how a few mischievous persons managed to poison the hearts of many devotees.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, contrary to the statements of Jagannatha Dasa, some of the devotees behind this poison theory sincerely believe it to be true. Perhaps they’ve had some run-ins with initiating gurus, GBC members or temple leaders. One thing leads to another and they wake up one morning thinking that the whole movement has been hijacked. From then on, 90 percent of their personal energy is invested in ‘getting the truth out,’ however improbable or circumstantial it might be. The theory that Srila Prabhupada was poisoned is one of the magnetized issues for these people. The ritvik scam is another. Funny how the two seem to go hand-in-hand for those who are deluded.

Your servant,

Pancha Tattva dasa

© CHAKRA 26-Aug-1999

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