*Note: The title of this article was not supplied by the author and was supplied by CHAKRA.

CHAKRA (Detroit, MI, USA) - Dear prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would first like to say a great big THANK YOU for your fine work, I click on daily and really appreciate the open forum, interesting info and of course the nectar. Keep up the good work!

Secondly, I would like to address the letter submitted by Bhusaya prabhu as well as the "correction" submitted by Urmila prabhu.

I am a 28-year-old female; my husband and I are members of Detroit temple. We have been living in the community since June 1994. I have been coming to this temple since February 7, 1991. I do part time service as we are raising 2 small children. My husband works outside and does service too. HH Bhaktitirtha Maharaja initiated us both in 1996.

We have been around through the whole "child abuse" issue that Pratyatosa alleges, we know the children involved personally, we also knew the accused brahmacari personally. We also know the mother and stepfather of the two children.

I can personally attest to the statements made in Bhusaya prabhu's letter that they are correct. (I am one of the deity cooks who went to Bhusaya complaining about Pratyatosa and Company coming to take an ENTIRE offering that I had just cooked for Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari, all the meanwhile posting such nonsense on here.) I also feel compelled to protect Detroit temple's name. Just as you may find in any other temple, or place in this material world for that matter, things don't always run smoothly. I admit I myself have had difficulties here. Who hasn't? But that does not mean that Detroit temple is the wacko place that Pratyatosha is trying to imply. It is a very beautiful place, where there is ALWAYS maha-prasada available, the deities are taken care of first class, and there are some very sincere, hard working devotees here trying to keep things going, and improving as well.

I wonder exactly what intentions Pratyatosha has in participating in legal action. Is it the welfare of the two children he writes about so frequently? If he is so concerned, and if he is the "babysitter" as Urmila prabhu has written, can he explain why those two children can't possibly be getting an education since they flop at another young devotee's apartment (which happens to be next to our house) all hours of the day and night. Can he or the mother of those children, perhaps explain why those children hang out on our street (which is 4 blocks from theirs) smoking and drinking until the wee hours of the morning--on a regular basis? Where is the concern for these activities? Where is the concern for the fact that under Srila Prabhupada's standards (what to speak of any decent person's standards) it is not exactly high class for Pratyatosha and "the woman" he is living with to be shacking up...Both Pratyatosha and the "other woman" are still married to other people. The issue(s) are not what hours whoever is working, where they are working and who does or doesn't approve. There are some horrible accusations flying, horrible actions going on and some supposedly senior devotees who have their priorities all mixed up. If we are so concerned with the welfare of the children, we must act as though that is our main concern. We cannot talk or write so much blah blah blah when the actions are not there to back up our words. I do not claim to be a great devotee, or even a great parent. I just happen to have some common sense. Although I was not raised a devotee, I had strict parents, although they are karmis even they would be shocked to see the behavior that I witness regularly by the two children/victims that Pratyatosha writes about. I also feel I must address the fact that Urmila prabhu writes a "correction" yet I don't recall seeing her in Detroit for at least 5 years. What is the basis for her "correction?" One would have to guess that her statement is based on whatever her husband tells her. How can she, from North Carolina know what is going on here in Detroit?

Prabhus, I don't know what you will do with my letter, perhaps read it, perhaps edit and print it. Perhaps not. I probably haven't written this in the best way, so please forgive my offenses and try to see that I am just trying to do my part. As a struggling devotee, as a spouse, and especially as a mother I felt I had to sit down and write exactly what I feel. I am frustrated at clicking on here and reading such things that practically make my blood boil. Detroit temple deserves to have some positive things written, it is awful to see that the only way "your" temple is mentioned is through accusations and criticisms. Where is the mention of our preaching, of all the sincere devotees who continue their service-day in and day out? I am sorry that Pratyatosha and Company feel that their experiences have been quite different, but no matter how many offenses I have made, no matter how many times I have had to suffer because of another devotee, whatever the issues are, whatever the struggles are ---trying to destroy the only spiritual oasis that we have in this material world is going to bring no peace, no healing, no nothing. I, personally cannot sit back and watch that happen. As long as there is someone or some people around to destroy our oasis, there will be those like myself who won't allow it. I owe it to my own children to leave them that same nectar that I was allowed, only more of it. I owe it to them to raise them in such a way that they will remain steadfast in their spiritual pursuit, so that they can remain strong and continue on in ISKCON as Srila Prabhupada has allowed us. Our children are precious gifts from Krishna. They are not object to be used whenever we desire, dropped off at the temple for hours and hours without any supervision, or to be used as pawns in a lawsuit. Until each of us stand up for what is right, for what Srila Prabhupada gave us , stand up for it in the proper way we will see no end to all of the nonsense surrounding us. Hare Krishna, and thank you very much for allowing me to submit this. I look forward to hearing from you, and hope that you will be able to use my submission in some way.

  © CHAKRA 18-Aug-99

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