name withheld on request

Regarding the "conspiracy" disclosure on VNN, some observations:

1) Incredible Misogyny.

The group of "GHQ" men and woman who had been hiding behind a veil of "Prabhupada said" and "Vedic culture" and "women's dharma" have had their veil blown off. They in fact are using these terms for another agenda — one of misogyny. There is much evidence of this in their communications, most unmistakably in the fact that Syamasundara das, the astrologer, posted a number of highly bigoted, general statements about nondevotee women from other nondevotees, like the Earl of Chesterfield, and not one of the members of the conference objected.

2) Blatant Hypocrisy

Basu Ghosh severely criticized Srila dasa for referring to mlecchas such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates. To view such people as authorities would lead to atheism, said Basu Ghosh. Yet there was nary a murmur from Basu Ghosh to quotations from the Earl of Chesterfield and Samuel Johnson who both deprecated all women in an alarming manner. In addition, after the conspiracy was disclosed, Basu Ghosh attempted to clear his name by pointing out that he did not blaspheme Vaisnavis on the closed conference. The fact is that he is arm-in-arm with men who regularly do blasheme Vaisnavis. By not correcting them he shares their guilt. Now, days later, Basu Ghosh has spoken out in defense of Kusha Devi. Another strategic tactic most likely discussed on their new private conference. The words of these people do not contain sincerity or real knowledge, although they may be carefully cloaked in such.

3) Grossly Unethical Practices

Bhakta Ivar, a cogent, articulate, Krishna conscious devotee, who had been systematically dismantling arguments put forth by Basu Ghosh and others on the various conferences, was given unsolicited advice by Syamasundara das, the astrologer, to stop. This advice served to promote Syamasundara's misogynistic agenda. This is not only unprofessional, it reeks of the lowest sort of materialistic politics. Here is Bhakta Ivar's statement of November 18th:

"Earlier this day I received a letter from Syamasundara Prabhu, who advised me to withdraw myself from all controversial conferences, saying that, by arguing with Basu Gosh Prabhu, who is in all respects my senior, I, a junior, was breaking Vaisnava etiquette and committing Vaisnava aparadha. He advised me to stop my discussions, so as not to cut myself on this razorblade of spiritual life. . . "

"This advice he gave on the basis of my astrological chart. Three years ago I had sent him my birth data to become a member of his conference called Vedic Astrology, and now he used that information to stop me from discussing social and philosophical issues on certain conferences, namely Grhastha Culture Dialogue, Varnasrama Development and (ISKCON) Social and Economic Development Conference . . . I now realize that Syamasundara Prabhu has misused my birth data, the science of astrology and his position as an older Vaisnava. . . Actually he [Syamasundara dasa] simply 'wished' that I would stop challenging his friends and political campaign on these conferences. Thus he misused astrology in his nefarious scheme. This I consider a serious transgression."

4) Shamelessness

Despite all the above, the more outspoken members of "GHQ" continue their postings on COM, as if nothing had happened. Either they are so blind, arrogant, and self-righteous due to their own deep hatred that they don't realize that their cover is off — that we've seen them naked— or they think that we're brainless, that although the emperors are stark naked, we think they still have the royal dresses of "Prabhupada said" and "Vedic culture" and "women's dharma."

In conclusion, these poor, lost souls have drifted far, far away from chanting Hare Krishna and making their lives sublime. So far away that one wonders about them returning to that place any time soon.

© CHAKRA 28-Nov-98