Preachers of Virtue vs Truth-sayer and Sweet Tone: PART 6 - The devotees in ISKCON have a serious problem.

The devotees in ISKCON have a serious problem.  The thing to do is make a stark assessment of it, ascertain the solution, and then apply it.  What does “sweet tone” have to do with the issues  Some believe divine intervention will save them.  Others simply accept the situation with, “Prabhu (a term of respect meaning 'master', there’s always problems in the material world,” which is neither a brilliant insight nor was it Prabhupada’s formula for problem solving.  Some even think it does not matter what dynamics ISKCON practices, as long as they distribute books and chant Hare Krishna.  Some say that the mission of Srila Prabhupada is a thoroughgoing success as it now stand.

All these types are living ostrich philosophy.

Therefore, the books, essays, and treatises on this website are intended to alert concerned ISKCON members of the horrid effects of authoritarianism, blind following, bureaucracy, and alienation from self—in short, cult dynamics.  These writings are meant to inspire them to take responsibility for the legacy of Srila Prabhupada and to apply the principles of problem-solving: Delaying gratification, responsibility, dedication to the truth, and openness to challenge, which are discussed in these writings. The first step would be an unflinching look at the institution to define the problem.

There are numerous details, but the long and short of it all is that ISKCON has deviated from the parampara (the disciplic succession through which spiritual knowledge is transmitted by bona-fide spiritual masters; Literally, one after the other. It refers to the disciplic succession of spiritual masters and their disciples who became spiritual masters, beginning with Krishna and Brahma , the first created being in this universe and the designer and Creator all things in this universe, His disciple at the dawn of creation.) 

Our duty to the parampara is not just a matter of faithfulness to the teachings of Lord Caitanya—we must also preserve the right dynamic or atmosphere in which sadhakas (practicing devotees) can make authentic progress in spiritual life by becoming thoughtful and wise, and free from doubt and delusion.  Parampara also means passing on the true spirit and intent of our acaryas. The experience of Krishna consciousness is the goal, not the mere having of a religious institution. The world already abounds with useless boil-blowing religious institutions.

The true experience Krishna consciousness has been neglected by assuming that it is automatically present if one attends to institutional goals—opening temples and distributing books and initiating newcomers—and maintain the external spiritual standards.  These literatures on this website prove that there naive assumption is a mistake—that in the resultant authoritarian scheme, the perpetrators nor the victims thrive spiritually.  Hence, they have only the illusion of progress out of illusion. After more than 40 years, this cannot be sweet news no matter how it is packaged.  And anyone ought to consider that the news is especially bitter to those directly or indirectly responsible for the problem.  Unless one refrains from speaking the rude truth by silence or by watering it down, whoever has massive resistance to hearing the truth, will find it bitter, sharp, harsh, unpalatable. Preaching virtue alone, or watering things down, or being silent, may raise one’s popularity, but neither of these will bring a solution.

How, for example, does one yell “FIRE!” sweetly?  Of course, it is possible to grab a violin and between the bars of a serenade and with a twinkle in one eye, try to announce melodiously “The building is burning, do something, do something,” but that is not very convincing, is it?  Who will believe the urgency of the situation and be galvanized into action by such a “sweet” presentation?

Just as one does not put on a white dinner jacket to crawl under one’s car, so a message should be dressed in appropriate language.  The more urgent the situation, the less latitude there’ll be for sweet tone.  And when there is rampant denial of the central cause of the problem—too much rajas (mode of passion) and tamas (mode of goodness), in the ISKCON society—then sweet tone becomes an even more remote possibility as the situation becomes more urgent.  Indeed those who insist on sweet tone become suspect. 

Continued in Part 7.  Conventional wisdom says that “sweet tone” means that people will be more receptive.