“Apologizing directly towards his victims, bowing in humility before them, would most certainly be very helpful...”

— LOKAMATA DASI
     Former Gurukuli

CHAKRA (France) - August 21, 1999:

Dear devotees,

Please accept my sincere sympathy. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who initiated me in 1976 in New Mayapur, France. Although I am not at all very saintly, I always kept a spot for my beloved spiritual father. I have sons who went to Gurukula. Thank Krsna they were saved from the worse of this mess, but the oldest one has many Gurukuli friends and some of them were actually victims. I myself had memories of sexual childabuse stuck away somewhere in my subconscious for many years, which I released just a few years ago through regression. Therefore I can easily sympathize with these children and I send all my love to them and wish them the spiritual strength to forgive and overcome.

Of course it seems quite noble of some people to be concerned about Bhavananda's spiritual well-being, but I think that in fact the only one who can truly help him is only Bhavananda himself humbly facing his victims and begging for their forgiveness. Apologizing directly towards his victims, bowing in humility before them, would most certainly be very helpful in their healing process and for him the only appropriate thing to do in order to save his own spiritual skin. Although we should never think that this will get it all over with for the victims... The affect of abuse, especially while being an innocent child, is usually one of a lifetime, if not lifetimes. All the following choices in life are colored by this dreadful experience, conscious or subconscious, not to speak of the reactions it will even have on their offspring. Abuse, be it physically or sexually is a drastic violation of the integrity; it penetrates the very core of ones being. It takes a lot of courage to overcome the rage, the fear, the doubt, the unjustified feelings of guilt, and the nightmare. It becomes very hard to trust people ever again. Anyway, to keep things short...be concerned about the Gurukulis who are going through this hell! The criminal who did this to them, does not need anyone's mercy, except the mercy of his victims and then consequently the mercy of Krsna.

And I would like to add: If Bhavananda and any one else who polluted the lives of these children, is not willing to do just that, begging forgiveness from his victims, it would in fact be better to lock him up, for he is then not behaving like a (fallen) devotee, as far as I understand and should be treated as any other criminal of his sort: having a trial and get convicted by the state of law. This is my humble opinion in this matter and I just could not resist reacting.

One more thing I have to get off my chest. I am very happy to see, that there is such a place like Chakra, where things can be discussed as they do. I think it can truly contribute to the healing process of many wounds from the past. Let us all become alert and honest, so these things are will not happen ever again in an environment which is supposed to be save and pure.

Love and spiritual understanding to us all, sincerely,
deLight, aka Lokamata devi dasi.

© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

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