Hariboll

The GBC’s Mad-elephant Offence

 

BY: JAGANNATHA VALLABHA DAS

 

Jun 20, 2016 — USA (SUN) —

 

Judging from the usual results of the persecutions we’ve already seen, I get the impression that certain ISKCON socio-political activists are trying to drive out of ISKCON whatever devotees remain somewhat orthodox after decades of quasi-secular initiatives by Anuttama prabhu, etc. They seem hellbent on making ISKCON appear to be consistent with the modern, antithetical, and essentially godless lifestyle that Srila Prabhupada and his predecessors ordered them to replace.

 

Women: Masters or Mothers? has acted as a catalyst for those behind the current persecution because it is simultaneously very clear, and very authoritative. Ostensibly on philosophical grounds, the NA GBC has already attacked WMM and its respected author (without provocation), which naturally demands either a reasonable explanation justifying the ban — or an explicit and public apology.

 

Of course, politicians rarely respond adequately like that.

 

But it seems to me that if this request for any substantial response is unrelenting, it can only highlight the fact that the GBC has clearly erred in favor of offending some of ISKCON’s best members. I suppose this is where publicizing the history comes in; politicians do respond to public pressure.

 

And in this case, it certainly does look like the GBC acted indefensibly.

 

So a substantial response is certainly in order — but only after making the offense that precipitated it unmistakably clear to all. That can be effected by educating the general public about what the perpetrators factually did. This may also better edify ISKCON’s devotees, such that they see why it would be wrong to enable another such GBC blunder.

 

The GBC committed a mad-elephant offence, and no one should try to sweep that fact under the rug.

#SunEdit

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