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Each of us has to take responsibility for his or her own life. As our guru, he can give us the facility for making advancement, but it is up to us to take advantage of it.

When Prabhupada flew from New York to London in July, Srutadeva prabhu and his family from Baltimore accompanied our party to take up a new service in England. On Jayatirtha prabhu's request, he has taken up the post of temple president at Bury Place. Srutadeva used to compile the weekly Sankirtana Newsletter, which, along with the official BBT monthly newsletter sent out by Ramesvara Swami, keeps the temples around the world (and Srila Prabhupada) up-to-date with temple book distribution scores. Whereas the BBT newsletter bases the temple rankings in the monthly competition on the amount of laxmi they send in to the BBT each month, Srutadeva's Sankirtana Newsletter lists individual book distributors' scores as well as all of the books sold by category-small, medium, large, and maha-large-in each temple per week. Since he started it in 1974, his newsletter has helped fuel the competitive book distribution spirit amongst the temples and devotees and is read and appreciated by Srila Prabhupada. Now, with his move to England, he has stopped this service and handed it on to another devotee in Los Angeles. Today, Prabhupada heard a letter from him containing five interesting questions that he still had even after asking other senior devotees. He also enclosed a picture of the London Deities nicely framed in a travel kit so that Prabhupada can keep it on his desk wherever he goes. Srila Prabhupada answered his questions one by one as he took his massage in the sun in the back garden. Q1) What is the correct name of the Deities - Radha London Iswara (Radharani and Krishna, the controller of London), or Radha London Iswari (Radharani, the controller of London). A: The Deities in London are named Radha London Isvara. Krishna is the proprietor everywhere, but especially London. Q2) Do we have your permission to sing: Radha London Iswara Radhe - Prabhupada prana dhana he? A: Yes, you have my permission to sing as you have requested. Q3) In the Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya lila Vol. 9, p. 195 [Mad. 24.205] you say that "Those who claim to be devotees but do not engage in Krishna's service to elevate all living creatures to Krishna consciousness are to be considered kanishtha adhikaris (people in the lowest stage of devotional service). 

When one rises to the second platform of devotional service, his business is to propagate Krishna consciousness all over the world. Those who are active in the Krishna consciousness movement should not remain in the neophyte stage but should rise to the platform of preachers, the second platform of devotional service." Does this mean that those devotees in ISKCON who are not directly preaching should aspire to preach? Are book distributors and preachers able to reach a higher platform than others? Should pujaris and others who are not directly preaching aspire to personally preach or should they just try to perfect their service as part of Lord Caitanya's movement? Should everyone go out on Sankirtana at least once a week even if they are pujaris? A: One has to be qualified to preach. It is a gradual process that one becomes sense controlled and a personal example. Preaching is not an easy thing. In the beginning one should worship the Deity and follow the basic practices. When one becomes advanced he can preach. The kanistha adhikari is not condemned. It is a comparative study. The kanistha adhikari can also achieve perfection. If one does not preach, it does not mean that he is fallen, condemned. It is not artificial; one gradually becomes perfect by association. Q4) There are some sannyasins and temple presidents who say that in the ultimate issue there is no impersonal energy. They say that the brahma-jyotir is in actuality innumerable living entities and that the material energy, being a transformation of the brahma-jyotir, is also ultimately living souls. In other words, there is no impersonal brahma-jyoti or dead matter, only living entities. However, in the Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi lila 2.96 you refer to Jiva Goswami's Bhagavat sandarbha " . . . the Supreme Transcendence, the summum bonum, eternally and simultaneously exists in four transcendental features: His personality, His impersonal effulgence, His potential parts and parcels (the living beings), and the principle cause of all causes.' And in Adi 4.62 you state 'Therefore the Absolute Truth includes these four principles - the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, His internal energy, His marginal energy, and His external energy." My understanding is that there is a difference between the spirit souls and the impersonal brahman and material energy or dead matter. They are one in the sense that they are all Krishna's energy. They are personal in the sense that they all emanate from Krishna. But they are not one and personal in the sense that the three different energies are all ultimately spirit souls. Which is the proper conclusion? A: It is correct that the brahma-jyotir is comprised of spiritual souls and that ultimately nothing is impersonal. Dead matter means forgetfulness of Krishna. Srutadeva's fifth question was an honest revelation of his own condition, alluding to problems he?as well as other senior devotees?is experiencing. "In the past few years many older devotees, sannyasins, and even GBC members have left the movement. These are devotees who had been respected as fixed up or advanced. I also have been in the movement for what is considered a long time, 6 years. Although I have fallen down numerous times I have never left your service. Not once. But now, even though I am a temple president, I feel weaker than ever before. Maya seems to be attacking me very fiercely. At times I feel very discouraged and feel like leaving. Although I have attained a certain position in the Society my heart is still hard and cold. I feel very lonely and unhappy. Sometimes my mind seeks female companionship because I can't seem to make contact with you or Krishna. Even though I am married I am full of illicit desires. "Please tell me why so many older devotees are leaving the movement? Please instruct me how I can stay in your eternal service and become free from this maya." 

Prabhupada was very sympathetic to Srutadeva's difficulties, but his reply made it clear that each of us has to take responsibility for his or her own life. As our guru, he can give us the facility for making advancement, but it is up to us to take advantage of it. "If you want to stay in Krishna Consciousness," he replied, "you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Sastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don't take this movement as something cheap." Srila Prabhupada ended with a thank you for the photo of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. Along with his letter to Prabhupada, Srutadeva had enclosed a letter to Jagadisa with two samples of small leaves. He explained that the devotees have been worshiping the plant from which the leaves were taken, thinking it to be Tulasi-devi. However, now that it is growing bigger, there is some doubt as to whether it is in fact tulasi or not. The devotees can't tell, and even when they inquired from some botanists, they were told they would have to wait until the plant matures before its identity could be positively ascertained. Once before, the London devotees worshiped a plant that was not tulasi and were strongly chastised by Srila Prabhupada, so being fearful of another mistake, Srutadeva sent the leaf samples with a request that Srila Prabhupada verify them. Jagadisa showed the samples to Srila Prabhupada and then added a postscript to his reply: "N.B. The tulasi or whatever leaves you sent were too old and dried out when they got here. Srila Prabhupada said the test is by smelling and tasting." Srila Prabhupada has finally received a full account of the court case in New York. There are some major developments, and it is clear that our movement is under serious attack. In a special report, Tamal Krishna Maharaja detailed recent events centering around two devotees, Vasu Gopala dasa and Murtivanya dasi. Both of them were kidnapped by thugs?now advertised as "deprogrammers"?hired by their parents in an attempt to break their faith in Krishna consciousness. As a result, Vasu Gopala left for some time but then came back. Murtivanya, on the other hand, could not be broken by their tactics and once free of their clutches decided to file a criminal suit against both her parents and the deprogrammers. This was about two months ago. Her irate parents, frustrated in their attempts to take her out of the movement, then contacted a group known as "Rescue," a national group composed mainly of parents of people who have joined various religious groups, with connections to professional deprogrammers. They decided to use the opportunity as a test case to attack us, and in the process, the fundamental right of any person to practice the religion of their choice. Tamal Krishna described what seems to be an outrageous abrogation of the process of law. "The District Attorney called a private meeting grand jury hearing and many parents of children who have left our or other movements testified that our Movement was controlling people by mind-control (also known as 'brainwashing'). 

The amazing thing about the jury is that the District Attorney got over one half of the members of the jury to consist of parents whose children left various cults and who were therefore very antagonistic towards our Society. After hearing so many one-sided testimonies (never was our side ever called into the hearing or informed of it) the jury dropped the charges against the parents and deprogrammer and instead the State indicted our Society, our temple president Adi Kesava Swami and another devotee, Trai dasa, on charges of unlawful detainment of Vasu Gopal and Murtivanya dasi by threat of violence (by 'brainwashing') and also a second criminal charge of grand larceny was placed on our Society and the temple president Adi Kesava Swami, for supposedly trying to extort $20,000 from Vasu Gopal's father for which we supposedly agreed to hand him over his son. "Trai das and Adi Kesava Swami were immediately arrested and Vasu Gopal and Murtivanya dasi were put under arrest as material witnesses and held on $50,000 bail each. Eventually Adi Kesava Swami and Trai das were allowed to go on their own recognizance but despite all efforts Vasu Gopal has now been placed in a mental institution in Mass. for surveillance to determine his competency to testify and the District Attorney is attempting the same thing with Murtivanya dasi. The actual trial will not come up for 6-8 weeks. In the meantime the District Attorney will attempt in every way possible to destroy Vasu Gopal and Murtivanya's Krishna consciousness and thus have them testify as witnesses against our Society and Adi Kesava Maharaj." Tamal Krishna Maharaja listed five issues that the District Attorney is pursuing under a demand to investigate the internal affairs of our Society: 1)The right of our Movement to exist as a bona fide religion. 2)The right of adult individual devotees (Vasu Gopal and Murtivanya dasi are each over 21 years of age) to belong to the Krishna consciousness Movement and not be taken out by their parents against their will. 3)Whether our devotees are participating in Krishna consciousness due to faith in God or are they kept in our Movement by psychological manipulation ('brainwashing')? 4)Do we as a minority religious group have the right of due process of the law? 5)Do we have the right to collect donations and distribute books as a non-profit religious organization or are we a commercial enterprise whose accounts can be investigated and eventually taxed? He commented that the court's decisions so far have been "strange" considering that the US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. "The future of our Movement is being severely tested," he continued. "There is a nationwide feeling that the various cults, Guru Maharaji, The Moonies and others are cheating and dangerous and should be driven out of America. Unfortunately we have been lumped in with this group. This case is of major significance because it will determine in the future whether at any moment devotees can be taken right out of the Movement against their will by misunderstanding relatives and the officers of our Movement jailed. This court case has been planned for months by our opponents and they have numerous influential persons to testify against us as well as substantial funds to finance the legal proceedings. At the arraignment for us there were not less than seven lawyers representing the parents." Noting that the mass media has "taken up the case with full relish," he enclosed a number of newspaper clippings, both local and international. He said that in our favor we have very qualified and sympathetic lawyers; beyond that, "the Constitution of the U.S. and the whole legal system is our greatest defense." Noting that "brainwashing" has already been rejected by the courts because it cannot be defined medically, he said that the issue is still very tricky. Devotees on both the east and west coasts have taken the offensive and already called a major press conference to good effect, and he enclosed some statements by prominent sympathetic professors. With Balavanta prabhu heading up our public relations work and with Armarendra prabhu as his chief assistant, a major publicity campaign is being launched to counteract the bad publicity. In addition, he added, Satsvarupa Maharaja is now contacting favorable professors to garner their support in the courtroom. Despite these many difficulties, however, Tamal Krishna Maharaja's tone was upbeat, and he is not daunted by the challenge. On the contrary, he sees that the whole affair is advancing Srila Prabhupada's Movement. "In the long run I would have to say that this is all the arrangement of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, Who wished for His Movement to become prominent and established. This whole affair is forcing us to become most serious and conscientious to secure our Movement permanently as an established fact in Society. Furthermore this affair is encouraging influential men of distinction, especially professors, doctors, and other others to raise up their voices and declare our Krishna conscious Movement is bona fide and good for humanity. Therefore we have to see it as the will of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that all of this is happening and because it is His desire we are certain of victory. This does not mean that we shall sit idly by waiting for the Lord to protect us. Rather, we shall fight on His behalf and defend our Movement from all demoniac attacks. Krishna has declared it in Bhagavad-gita: ksipram bhavati dharmatma sasvac chantim nigacchati, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg 9.31]. "Please Srila Prabhupada keep us in your mind and heart and thus give us all strength to emerge victorious." Srila Prabhupada reacted enthusiastically. He is fired with determination and resolute conviction. It is going to be a fight, and he relishes the opportunity to stand for Krishna against the demons. Seeing all the news clippings saying "Krishna this" and "Krishna that," he takes it as very good that Krishna's name is being advertised so much and dictated a long reply to Tamal Krishna Maharaja, first giving pointers that his men can use in our defense. "Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated 22/10/76, along with pictures, newsclippings, etc. "Regarding the point about whether our movement is bonafide, you can use the following arguments. Bhagavad-gita has got so many editions. Our books are older than the Bible. In India there are millions of Krishna temples. Let the judges and juries read our books and take the opinion of learned scholars and professors. Regarding the second point about the parents' jurisdiction over their children here are some suggestions. Do the parents like that their children become hippies? Why don't they stop it? Do the parents like their children to become involved in prostitution and intoxication? Why don't they stop this? When the government takes the children for the draft neither the parents nor the children like it. This question should be raised. "There are so many men over 30. Are they brainwashed? It may be a minority in your country, but in other places it is the majority. The diamond seller caters to a minority. Why are they allowed to sell? Always when there is something valuable only a minority will be able to purchase. Our books are not commercial, they are religion and philosophy." Srila Prabhupada stated his defiance against any attempt to stop his Movement. Strongly affirming his disciples' intentions to fight any attempts to limit our preaching, he declared boldly, "They are now feeling the weight of this movement. Formerly they thought these people come and go, but now they see we are staying. Now we have set fire. It will go on; it cannot be stopped. You can bring big, big fire brigades, but the fire will act. The brainwash books are already there. Even if they stop externally, internally it will go on. Our first-class campaign is book distribution. Go house to house. The real fighting is now. Krishna will give you all protection. So chant Hare Krishna and fight. 

One movie expert has opined there are so many ideas in our movement. Try to get our ideas into movies. "Get some Indian professors' opinions. Get a list of standing orders from Indian universities. Take this opportunity for being well advertised. They are afraid. So many young men are being affected. They have rightly said that it is an epidemic. Let all the Indians say that this is bona fide. Have profuse testimony. Collect testimony in London and Toronto. Ask Subhavilasa to collect opinions that this is bona fide Indian culture. This same attack came in Germany. By propaganda you cannot suppress the truth. You cannot suppress fire by propaganda. Now we have to become strong to defend. The fighting has become acute, but if you stick to the regulative principles, Krishna will give all strength. Whatever is done is by Krishna's mercy. They are afraid that a different culture is conquering over their culture. Param drstva nivartate. That is natural. If someone finds something better he'll give up the old, how can he stop? It is a fight, do not be afraid." Tamal Krishna also raised two other matters. One was the revival of The New World Harmonist, a newspaper-style publication put out a couple of years ago based on the original published by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in the 1920s. Because BTG has to be planned months in advance and is quite expensive to produce, he pointed out, we have no literature with which to comment on current events such as the court case. Nor do we have anything we can give out to people who contribute less than one dollar to the sankirtana collectors. A newspaper is an ideal medium to compensate for these two deficiencies. His idea is to resume production of the paper in New York; he has already ordered 50,000 copies for the Radha Damodar TSKP. However, two days before writing this letter, he had gotten a call from Gopala Krishna Prabhu saying that Srila Prabhupada had heard about it and was not enthusiastic about the idea. Since no explanation was given, Tamal now asked what was Srila Prabhupada's desire. Prabhupada confirmed that he is not much in favor, although he did not kill the idea dead. "I am not very enthusiastic about the Harmonist idea," he replied, "but if you have to sell Back To Godhead for minimum $1.00 then do it, what can be done?" Tamal Krishna's final topic concerned a letter he had received from Hansaduta Maharaja written when he was Prabhupada's secretary last month, that Subhavilasa prabhu be considered for appointment as the GBC for the whole of Canada. Hansaduta had said that this would depend on the agreement of all the temple presidents. Accordingly, Tamal Krishna said that he had rung all of the presidents and that there was a unanimous agreement that Subhavilasa not be made GBC; they were all happy with the current GBCs (Canada is a split zone). Subhavilasa prabhu had visited Srila Prabhupada on September 20th and pushed himself for consideration as the GBC. Srila Prabhupada had discreetly declined to get involved, telling him that if the GBC body agreed, then he had no objection. Hansaduta had championed his cause and thus sent the letter. Tamal Krishna noted that Subhavilasa himself has been suggesting that he is going to be the GBC. So Maharaja asked Srila Prabhupada for his clarification. And Prabhupada gave it: "Regarding Subhavilas as Canadian GBC, if the presidents are satisfied with things the way they are and do not want Subhavilas that is alright. It was just a suggestion of Hansadutta." * * * Prabhupada's preaching fire has been stoked on the deprogramming issue. He is energized by the prospect of a battle and talked about it all through his massage, fully endorsing Tamal Krishna Maharaja's view of events. He told us, "Now I have set the fire and no one can stop it. This is our opportunity to fight for Krishna and firmly establish Krishna consciousness in the West. Arjuna did not sit back and let Krishna do everything. No, he fought, and by Krishna's grace he won." Gopala Krishna has been asked to help by soliciting support from the Hindus here in India, and Prabhupada discussed with him at length who could be approached. He wants to rouse as much support as possible, and Gopala is eager to do it.


Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 5 by Hari Sauri Dasa