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| This is the pamphlet by AP through which it promotes of counteracting the household problems through chanting of holy name |
Friday, 5 September 2014
"Hari-Naam Sankirtan for counteracting the household problems"
Monday, 1 September 2014
Srila Prabhupada on Education
Prabhupada:No they say, they simply give primary education (indistinct) they can read, that's all. And (indistinct). They don't send because everyone knows that sending boys to the school means spoil them. That's all. I have seen intelligent boys, they go to school and he is spoiled. Yes, spoiled. He learns how to smoke, how to have sex, how to talk nonsense, how to use knife, how to fight, these things. At least at the present moment. Yes. Simply slaughterhouse, this so-called school is called slaughterhouse. Yes, slaughterhouse.
Room Conversation -- July 9, 1973, London
Prabhupada:Why should the parents not feel attachment for their children, that is natural. But our affection is not simply sentimental, we offer our children the highest opportunity to become trained up in Krsna consciousness very early so as to assure their success in this life to go back to Godhead for sure. That is real affection, to make sure my child gets back to Godhead, that is my real responsibility as a parent. And I have seen that Gurukula offers this opportunity more than any other place anywhere.
Letter to: Satyabhama,Hyderabad 23 Mar, 1973
Prabhupada: contd… So these big,big universities, allowing everyone to come and join school, college – simply wasting time and unemployment.
Contd… M.A., Ph D. (Bengali) “To kill a mosquito, bring a gun.” (laughter) Nonsense education. I don’t like that education. All right.
Gurukula Inspection, June 29, 1977, Vrindavana
Prabhupada:
Yes. Gurukula. Gurukula education.
contd…
Ramesvara : Material science as well as spiritual science?
Prabhupada: No.No,no. There is no need of so-called material science – how to kill children in the womb. These things will be kicked out. Nonsense.
contd…
Ramesvara : Material science as well as spiritual science?
Prabhupada: No.No,no. There is no need of so-called material science – how to kill children in the womb. These things will be kicked out. Nonsense.
Room Conversation, January 21, 1977, Bhuvaneshwar
Srila Prabhupada on Modernization and Skyscraper in Vrindavana
So this Krishna consciousness movement is trying to revive the original, constitutional position. So one of them, in Krishna consciousness movement, is village organization, as you are trying here. Krishna, in His natural life, is a village boy in Vrindāvana. VRINDĀVANA IS A VILLAGE. THERE IS NO FACTORY, THERE IS NO MOTORCAR, THERE IS NO BIG, BIG SKYSCRAPER BUILDINGS; IT IS VILLAGE. That Krishna likes. In the śāstra it is said, vrindāvanaṁ parityajya sa kvacin naiva gacchati [Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta 1.5.461]. Krishna is so fond of that Vrindāvana village life, with His cowherd boys and cowherd girls, gopīs, mother Yaśodā, father Nanda, and Upananda, uncles, and big family, the cows and the calves, the trees, the Yamunā River. He is satisfied in that life. SO AT LEAST THOSE WHO ARE KRISHNA CONSCIOUS, THEY SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH SIMPLE LIFE IN THE VILLAGE. That is part of Krishna consciousness.
(Srila Prabhupada at Evening Lecture at Gītā-Nagarī Farm – July 16, 1976, Port Royal)
(Srila Prabhupada at Evening Lecture at Gītā-Nagarī Farm – July 16, 1976, Port Royal)
THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OUR LIFE IN VRINDABAN WILL BE COW KEEPING. If we can keep cows sufficiently and grow our necessary foodstuffs, then we shall show a new way of life to your countrymen . . . completely spiritual life in healthy atmosphere in divine consciousness. And you will have ample opportunity to educate children and write books for them because there is sufficient matter for publishing such books from the Puranas, Mahabharata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many other allied literatures. There are thousands of ideal historical events, which if we can put with suitable pictures, it will be a great idea and people will like to have such literature.(Letter to Satyabhama, 30th March, 1969)
VRINDABAN DOES NOT REQUIRE TO BE MODERNIZED BECAUSE KRISHNA'S VRINDABAN IS TRANSCENDENTAL VILLAGE. They completely depend on nature's beauty and nature's protection. The community in which Krishna preferred to belong was Vaisya community, because Nanda Maharaja happened to be a Vaisya king, or landholder, and his main business was cow protection. It is understood that he had 900,000 cows and Krishna and Balarama used to take charge of them, along with His many cowherd boy friends, and every day, in the morning He used to go out with His friends and cows into the pasturing grounds. SO, IF YOU SERIOUSLY WANT TO CONVERT THIS NEW SPOT AS NEW VRINDABAN, I SHALL ADVISE YOU NOT TO MAKE IT VERY MUCH MODERNIZED. But as you are American boys, you must make it just suitable to your minimum needs. NOT TO MAKE IT TOO MUCH LUXURIOUS AS GENERALLY EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS ARE ACCUSTOMED. BETTER TO LIVE THERE WITHOUT MODERN AMENITIES. But to live a natural healthy life for executing Krishna Consciousness. It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking. For plain living we must have sufficient land for raising crops and pasturing grounds for the cows. If there is sufficient grains and production of milk, then the whole economic problem is solved.
(Letter to: Hayagriva -- Montreal 14 June, 1968)
Friday, 15 August 2014
Deviations of ISKCON Bangalore group of temples from the original teachings of Srila Prabhupada
Posted on the auspicious day of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance (19th
August 2014).
We are writing this article with all respect to Madhu Pandit Prabhu and other
devotees of Iskcon Bangalore group of temples but we are trying to follow the
following principle for everyone’s benefit -
“So there is no harm if these facts are discussed in the society of
devotees. Devotees always humbly offer respect to everyone, but when there is a discussion on a
point of sastra, they do not observe the usual etiquette, satyam
bruyat priyam bruyat. They speak only the satyam, although it may not
necessarily be priyam.
Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Sumati Morarjee
-- Valencay, France, 7 August,
1976
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In all future references we will use HKC
for Hare Krishna Community, IB
for Iskcon Bangalore, A.P for
Akshay Patra, FOLK for
Friends of Lord Krishna (a program of IB group to provide hostel facilities to
students) and MPP for Madhu
Pandit Prabhu.
Note: We have reproduced some mails written by MPP to Dayalu Nitai
Prabhu in this article. These mails were uploaded by A.P, Jaipur devotees on
Facebook in January 2014.
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The purpose of writing this article
is twofold:
1. To protect the faith of many
innocent devotees around the world who are taking shelter of ISKCON Bangalore
(IB) group thinking that they are the alternative to the current ISKCON which
has deviated from so many original teachings of Srila Prabhupada. But the fact
is that IB group is also becoming another version of the current ISKCON since
they are also deviating from many original teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
"A devotee
should have intelligence to know who is deviating. Surrender by your
intelligence but don't surrender your intelligence."
Srila Prabhupada letter to Bali Mardana,1974
2. To appeal to IB
group of devotees so that they can correct themselves and align themselves
again in the line of Srila Prabhupada’s original teachings for everyone’s
benefit.
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Somebody may question at this point that to achieve purpose no. 2 one could
have simply had a meeting with devotees of IB group and conveyed them these
points instead of coming in an open forum like this. The answer to this is that
many devotees have tried several times to point out these deviations so that
things can be set right but in response to that devotees have been blocked on
the facebook, branded as bogus, threatened about facing the consequences, false
propaganda has been done to malign the devotees who are raising these questions
etc. etc. A typical deviant ISKCON GBC response. So finally for the benefit and
purification of everyone we have decided to raise these issues in public forum.
We have taken some case studies to substantiate our claim of devotees being
ostracized by IB group whenever these devotees raised some questions/issues. Click
on the following link to see the details – Case Studies of ill-treatment by A.P “devotees”.
Any other devotees who have had similar experiences can write to us on hkc.jaipur@hotmail.com and we will
include their experiences also in the current list of case studies after
confirming their authenticity.
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Another question which can be raised is that why we have noticed these
deviations suddenly. Where were we from all these years? The answer to this is
that we have been preaching in Jaipur since last 15 years but since last 5-6
years after Akshay Patra also started preaching in Jaipur their devotees have
been doing negative propaganda against us just because we are not part of their
group. Please see the article “Jaipur Struggle for truth part I and II”
published on prabhupadanuga.eu on 29th April 2014 for details.
We were ignoring, tolerating and requesting the senior devotees to intervene
and correct the situation but mostly we were concentrating on our preaching
services and never went into the details of the working of IB group and A.P.
and what Srila Prabhupada has said about the activities of IB group. We were
thinking that although the A.P devotees are behaving like neophytes but at least
they are following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
But in the last few months since the news about ill treatment of Hare Krishna
Community (HKC) devotees by Akshay Patra (A.P) “devotees” has come out in the
public forum, lots of devotees who were there with A.P earlier and many
devotees who are still visiting A.P centers have been asking us lots of
questions/doubts and telling us about their observations with regard to the working
of IB group and A.P. They have been asking us whether all this is approved by
Srila Prabhupada or not.
So we have done some research in this matter in the last few months and the findings
of this research are shocking which we are publishing in this article for
everyone’s benefit. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in
this connection:
“So many mental
speculators and word jugglers who have misled so many people. Now it is your
task to find them out and expose them, so that the people may appreciate the
real philosophy. We must become now very serious to save the people of the
world from this very dangerous situation.”
Letter to Locana, Delhi, 24 November, 1971
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Firstly we are reproducing below some of the observations/questions/doubts
being raised repeatedly by many devotees about the working of IB group and A.P :
1) Is Akshay Patra secular? If
Akshay Patra is secular then how are they distributing Prasadam and having
temples in Akshay Patra campus? What does Srila Prabhupada say about
secularism?
2) Most of the employees who cook
food in the A.P kitchens take intoxication in the form of bidi, cigarette or
gutkha, many of them eat either meat, fish, eggs etc. then how can we call it
prasadam? What does Srila Prabhupada say about it?
3) Why this so called prasadam is
distributed by employees and there is no sankirtan, preaching or book
distribution done along with this ‘prasadam’ distribution? What does Srila
Prabhupada say about it?
4) A.P devotes get all the grains
from the Govt. to cook this so called prasadam and also they are getting big
money from big corporate houses then why do they collect money from the public
in the name of feeding hungry children? Why do they give the receipt of ‘Hare
Krishna Movement’ to most of their donors while the money is collected in the
name of A.P for feeding children? What does Srila Prabhupada say about
utilizing money collected in the name of food distribution?
5) Why A.P is engaged in philanthropic
activities like selling customized food to patients in the hospitals (like
sugar free food to diabetes patients etc.), organizing medical camps,
participating in polio vaccination drives, giving money to poor children in the
name of scholarship to pursue material education, organizing programs under the
banner of WAHTS (We are here to serve) where girls are being trained in self-defense,
drives for clean and green city etc.? What does Srila Prabhupada say about it?
6) Why does IB group of temples
organize programs where it is advertised that for counteracting bodily diseases
and material pains, in-fighting between family members and mental disturbances
devotees will come and conduct sankirtana in the house? What does Srila
Prabhupada say about the purpose of doing sankirtana?
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Note: The above 6 questions
are covered by us with proofs and solid evidences backed by the teachings of
Srila Prabhupada under the heading Deviation 1 – “Engaging in philanthropic
activities to get land and money from the Government and the public.” Please click
on the tab “Deviation 1” given at the end of this page to know the details.
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7) Why IB group is building
luxurious villas and apartments with gymnasium, spa etc. in Vrindavan, for
making money? What is the result of providing
facilities for doing sense gratification in Vrindavan Dham?
8) Why IB group is claiming to make
a skyscraper temple in Vrindavan Dham instead of establishing farm communities
centered around cows and agriculture, opening gurukulas and establishing daivi
varnasrma dharma? What does Srila Prabhupada say about life in Vrindavana?
9)Even after earning huge amount of
money from real estate businesses, selling flats and properties, selling food
items etc., why IB group is not building any temples on the huge pieces of land
acquired from the govt. in the name of A.P? Bhoomi Poojan is done on most of
these lands and some little construction is started and then they are just
lying as 3-D drawings since so many years and these drawings are being utilized
to collect money? Where all this money is going? What does Srila Prabhupada say
about building costly temples?
10) Why FOLK hostels of A.P (which is the major source
of all the young boys joining A.P) practice the following cut throat professional
approach -
à Giving reduced
or free food and accommodation to the students who can later on join A.P full
time and collect money for them.
à If someone is showing signs of joining then he is given
extra facilities, name, fame and all the brahamcharis treat him very nicely but
if the same boy somehow decides not to join A.P but practice K.C while working
outside then he is condemned, ostracized and made to feel miserable. Some boys
have even committed suicide and many have developed psychiatric problems due to
the pressure of guilt, obligation and “surrendering” everything to
Krishna.
àA.P brahamcharis go to the extent of preaching in their
closed circles that whatever money we are putting in to get some boy ready for
joining will be recovered within a month when he goes to collect funds for A.P
and if after putting in so much money he refuses to join then these ‘devotees’
openly say that we have invested so much money on you, given you free Prasadam
and accommodation on reduced rates in our hostels for so many years, how can you
refuse to join and collect money for A.P!!!
Where is Krishna Consciousness? Why somebody should be inspired to join the Hare
Krishna Movement? What is purpose of dedicating one’s life for Srila
Prabhupada’s mission? What is the actual mission of Srila Prabhupada – to make
devotees of the Lord with all good qualities of the demigods so that they can
escape this cycle of birth and death and go back to Godhead or something else? What
is the quality of ‘devotees’ we are going to create if we follow the above
mentioned philosophy of “preaching”? What does Srila Prabhupada say about it?
11) Why A.P devotees force the FOLK
boys to join the temple full time by even giving them material allurements of
sending money to their homes, paying off their loans, giving them commissions
and salaries etc.? Why all the devotees who join IB group have only one service
i.e collecting money which they call as LLP (Laxmi Liberation Program)? Why
none of the full time devotees go for Street Sankirtan or Book distribution?
Why IB group keeps paid employees for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books in
order to show some figures?
12) Why the FOLK boys and other full
time devotees of IB group taught different tactics from mundane management
books about how to extract maximum money from the public?
13) Why most of the devotees of IB
group do not attend evening sadhana? Why the devotees who are collecting money
allowed to come late in the night if they are able to collect more money? What
does Srila Prabhupada say about the daily routine of an initiated disciple?
14) Why does IB group of temples use
Orchesta, rock band etc. to perform sankirtana to attract people? Why
professional singers sing in front of the deities even on important festivals
like Janmashtmi while full time devotees are busy receiving their big donors?
What does Srila Prabhupada say about it?
15) Why IB group of temples is introducing
demigod worship and worship of other Vaisanava Sampradayas like observing
‘pausha bara’ on Hanuman Jayanti, installing and worshipping sudarshan chakra etc?
What does Srila Prabhupada say about it?
16) Why IB group disrespects the
deities by using them to collect money from public in the following manner -
àDoing Abhishek of the deity 5-6 times in a day on
Janmashtmi to satisfy the large number of donors who have given a big amount
for Abhishek Seva.
à Conducing Photography competitions of the deities and
then given prizes to those photographs which are best while rejecting the other
ones which are “not good”.
à Why the devotees are made to stand close to the deities
during the festivals who are given the ‘service’ of forcing the public to give
money to the deities?
17) Why IB group of temples have
paid cooks to cook for the deities in spite of having first and second
initiated full time devotees who are sent out for collecting money?
18) Why the brahamcharis in their
temple allowed to ‘preach’ to matajis if some donation can be raised? Why the
matajis allowed to cook with the brahmcharis wearing saffron in the kitchen?
Why the brahamcharis who are found involved in acts of illicit relationship
with women given protection if they are collecting good money? What does Srila
Prabhupada say about it?
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Note: The above 12 questions
are covered by us with proofs and solid evidences backed by the teachings of
Srila Prabhupada under the heading Deviation 2 – “Creating an illusion of
building costly temples to collect money while ignoring the real sankirtan
movement of Srila Prabhupada.”Please click on the tab “Deviation 2” ” given at
the end of this page to know the details.
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19) Why GBC of IB group of temples
does not have any senior devotees from other Prabhupadanuga groups of other
countries? Why IB group never invites other Prabhupadanuga devotees where these
things can be discussed? Why there is centralized way of working? Why some of
the GBC’s of IB group of temples have not even been Temple Presidents what to
speak of opening new centers which is the main duty of GBC as per Direction of
Management (DOM)? What is DOM as given by Srila Prabhupada?
20) Why the devotees (specially the
new bhaktas) allowed to read only selected small books of Srila Prabhupada? Why
the new bhaktas trained not to ask questions or quote from Srila Prabhupada’s
teachings about anything happening around them and taught to simply surrender
to the temple authorities unconditionally since they cannot understand Srila
Prabhupada directly?
21) Why IB group of temples do not
have the culture of hearing from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures? Why lectures of
MPP are recorded and made available to the devotees for hearing when thousands
of recorded lectures of Srila Prabhupada are available?
22) Why MPP has created so many
trusts like A.P, HKM, SST, Touchstone, Basic Foundation etc. etc. ? Why he is the main trustee and
chairman of all these trusts?
23) Why IB group of temples is
adopting the following material principles from corporate sectors for
management -
à keeping female receptionists and secretaries,
à men and women employees working together even late in the
night
à targets for brahamcharis for collecting money, analysis -
appraisals -incentives and promotions even to the full time devotees based on
how much money they are collecting, automatic punch machines for recording
attendance in Mangal Arti and collection amounts of each devotee and then
deducting from the salaries and commissions of the devotees based on their
performance.
àkeeping the important devotees who are collecting good
money satisfied by giving them extra material facilities like posts, car, air
conditioners , luxurious offices, opulent ‘prasadam’ while the other devotees
who are not able to collect money are treated as not very important even though
they have been in the movement for a long time.
What does Srila Prabhupada say about all this?
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Note: The above 5 questions
are covered by us with proofs and solid evidences backed by the teachings of
Srila Prabhupada under the heading Deviation 3 – “Centralization and Fancy Management.”
Please click on the tab “Deviation 3” given at the end of this page to know the
details.
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24) Why the High Court of Karnataka, India has given the following order in para 70 of the judgement against Madhu Pandit Prabhu (MPP) -
24) Why the High Court of Karnataka, India has given the following order in para 70 of the judgement against Madhu Pandit Prabhu (MPP) -
“Further,
Madhupandit Das, his wife Bhakti Lata Devi Dasi, his co-brother Chanchalapati
Das, his wife’s sister Chamari Devi Dasi and other close associates cooked up
reports specifying the names of these persons as elected office bearers of
plaintiff society and filed the same in the office of Registrar of Societies
for the first time on 21.08.2001 for the entire period of 12 years from 1989 to
2001. As already stated these reports are cooked up for the purpose of giving
life to the defunct plaintiff society.” “
Why has MPP forged the papers for getting hold of the temple of Bangalore? What
does Srila Prabhupada say about following the law of the land?
25) Why MPP is drifting from his
ritvik stand in his meetings with the Iskcon GBC members? Why MPP has proposed
to Iskcon GBC that he would consider the possibility of implementing first
initiation by Srila Prabhupada and second initiation by the regular pancaratrika
gurus appointed by the GBC? Where does Srila Prabhupada talk about such an
initiation system?
26) Why Iskcon Bangalore pays money
to some “devotees” to write articles and falsely malign the character of anyone
on the Internet who speaks against them even if he is talking the truth
directly from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada?
27) Why IB group is installing
mostly Krishna Balaram deities while Srila Prabhpada installed Sri Radha
Krishna and Gaur Nitai? Why IB group of temples take Krishna Balaram on Ratha
Yatra rather than Jagannatha, Baladev and Subhadra? What does Srila Prabhupada
say about it?
28) Why in all the temples of IB
group Srila Prabhupada’s deity is in a mudra which is normally shown as a sign
of devil? Did Srila Prabhupada ever show such a mudra of his fingers during his
manifested lila on this planet?
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Note: The above 5 questions
are covered by us with proofs and solid evidences backed by the teachings of
Srila Prabhupada under the heading Deviation 4 – “In the name of serving Srila
Prabhupada.” Please click on “Deviation
4” given at the end of this page to know the details
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So in the past few months we have been spending some time trying to confirm
whether the IB group is working in this deviated way or not. To our surprise we
have found that almost all the observations/questions raised above are true to
the letter and is completely opposed to the teachings and desires of Srila
Prabhupada. Finally we decided to bring the result of all this research in
public forum for everyone’s benefit. We will be discussing each of the above 28
questions/observations with solid proofs and evidences backed by Srila
Prabhupada’s teachings.
Please refer to the following quotes of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
A person who knows
things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful
activities."Cc. Madhya 5.90
We have listed the findings of our
research under the headings Deviation1, Deviaton2 etc. Right now the readers
have to be satisfied by reading Devation1 only which is also partially
completed. The rest of the portions of Deviation 1 and other deviations are
being prepared. Very shortly we will upload them also.
Posted on the auspicious day of Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day – 19th
Augsut, 2014 for the information of all the devotees who have a desire to
preserve and propogate the original teachings of Srila Prabhupada since this is
the only hope for the suffering
humanity.
________________________________________________________________
Click on the
following links to read the details
DEVIATION 2 : Creating an
illusion of building costly temples to collect money while ignoring the real sankirtan
movement of Srila Prabhupada.
DEVIATION 3: Centralization and Fancy
Management.
DEVIATION 4: In the name of serving
Srila Prabhupada.
________________________________________________________________
Engaging in philanthrophic activities to get money and public/Government support.
Deviation 1.
Engaging in Philanthropic activities to get land and money from the Government and the public.
First let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about performing philanthropic activities -
“Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. […] The acarya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acarya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.48, purport)
_______________________________________________________________
I. Engaging in Bhoga Distribution program
The whole Akshay Patra (A.P) program of IB group of temples is engaged in distributing food which is cooked and distributed by paid employees. Most of these employees take intoxication (in the form of chewing tobacco, smoking bidi or cigarettes or taking alcohol) and many of them eat meat, fish or eggs. Most of these employees specially those who are directly involved in cooking and distributing food are given very less salaries, they come from very poor backgrounds and have unclean habits*
* the above statements are based on the findings of a research done by one devotee who is also an accredited journalist by profession. We will be publishing the detailed statistics very soon.
The food is cooked and distributed by these non-devotees who are paid salary for distributing this bhoga. The Akshay Patra devotees publically say that they are secular and the food they are distributing is not prasadam because the government is helping them only under this condition.
Since India is a secular country they cannot distribute prasadam in government schools which is attended by the students of different religious faiths. And doing sankirtan, giving spiritual instruction or distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books along with this so called prasadam distribution is obviously out of question.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about distributing food:
“If we open a branch in Madras, actually there are so many poor children there. Spiritual education and food, that is proper. Simply supplying food is nonsense. Spiritual education means just to inject in their ears about our philosophy, externally they chant beads, wear tilak, without any discrimination of Hindu or Muslim or anything.”
(Letter to: Gurudasa, Honolulu,13 May, 1972)
Let us see some more quotes of Srila Prabhupada which will throw more light as to what is the actual desire of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada with regard to prasadam distribution program -
We can organize for distribution of prasadam all over India, in factories, schools, and so on. If we simply have kirtana and distribute nice prasadam, everywhere there will be good respect for us. So I hope you will stick very closely to this matter of acquiring surplus foodstuffs from your government and seeing to it that the food is distributed widely throughout India by our Krishna Consciousness devotees.
(Letter to: Gurudasa—Los Angeles, 12 June, 1972)
Engaging in Philanthropic activities to get land and money from the Government and the public.
First let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about performing philanthropic activities -
“Unfortunately, when the acarya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svamis, yogis, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. […] The acarya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the acarya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.48, purport)
_______________________________________________________________
I. Engaging in Bhoga Distribution program
The whole Akshay Patra (A.P) program of IB group of temples is engaged in distributing food which is cooked and distributed by paid employees. Most of these employees take intoxication (in the form of chewing tobacco, smoking bidi or cigarettes or taking alcohol) and many of them eat meat, fish or eggs. Most of these employees specially those who are directly involved in cooking and distributing food are given very less salaries, they come from very poor backgrounds and have unclean habits*
* the above statements are based on the findings of a research done by one devotee who is also an accredited journalist by profession. We will be publishing the detailed statistics very soon.
The food is cooked and distributed by these non-devotees who are paid salary for distributing this bhoga. The Akshay Patra devotees publically say that they are secular and the food they are distributing is not prasadam because the government is helping them only under this condition.
Since India is a secular country they cannot distribute prasadam in government schools which is attended by the students of different religious faiths. And doing sankirtan, giving spiritual instruction or distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books along with this so called prasadam distribution is obviously out of question.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about distributing food:
“If we open a branch in Madras, actually there are so many poor children there. Spiritual education and food, that is proper. Simply supplying food is nonsense. Spiritual education means just to inject in their ears about our philosophy, externally they chant beads, wear tilak, without any discrimination of Hindu or Muslim or anything.”
(Letter to: Gurudasa, Honolulu,13 May, 1972)
Let us see some more quotes of Srila Prabhupada which will throw more light as to what is the actual desire of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada with regard to prasadam distribution program -
We can organize for distribution of prasadam all over India, in factories, schools, and so on. If we simply have kirtana and distribute nice prasadam, everywhere there will be good respect for us. So I hope you will stick very closely to this matter of acquiring surplus foodstuffs from your government and seeing to it that the food is distributed widely throughout India by our Krishna Consciousness devotees.
(Letter to: Gurudasa—Los Angeles, 12 June, 1972)
Sometimes the IB group of
devotees justify their “bhoga
distribution program” by stating the following quote of Srila Prabhupada:
“Now I am especially concerned to distribute grains, rice, wheat in the form of dahl and rice prasadam to hungry people all over India. The people here are very disturbed because, partly due to the punishment of Nature, and partly due to the mismanagement of the demon class of men, food is not available. If the people do not even have sufficient food they will not even be able to receive spiritual instructions. So I am hopeful that if we can widely distribute free foodstuffs to the people of India, by giving it out at our centers as well as by travelling parties to villages, we will win over the whole country and the whole world by this activity on Krsna's behalf.
(Letter to: Satyahit—Vrindaban, 16 March, 1974)
“Now I am especially concerned to distribute grains, rice, wheat in the form of dahl and rice prasadam to hungry people all over India. The people here are very disturbed because, partly due to the punishment of Nature, and partly due to the mismanagement of the demon class of men, food is not available. If the people do not even have sufficient food they will not even be able to receive spiritual instructions. So I am hopeful that if we can widely distribute free foodstuffs to the people of India, by giving it out at our centers as well as by travelling parties to villages, we will win over the whole country and the whole world by this activity on Krsna's behalf.
(Letter to: Satyahit—Vrindaban, 16 March, 1974)
Please note, here also Srila Prabhupada is again saying that the main
idea to distribute sufficient food is to give them facility to receive
spiritual instructions.He has already stated previously “Spiritual
education and food, that is proper. Simply supplying food is nonsense.” On the contrary
A.P’s food is cooked and distributed by mostly karmis and vikarmis. Moreover to
get land and money from the Government A.P
has compromised that they will not use the word “KRISHNA” or anything to do
with religion anywhere in their whole program what to speak of giving spiritual
instructions.
Sometimes the IB group of devotees justify their employing of professionals who are karmis and vikarmis for cooking and distributing Prasadam by stating the following quote of Srila Prabhupada:
“In the Sankirtana festival pandal if a very big kitchen arrangement can be made, then we shall distribute prasadam daily. Try to make this arrangement. Puri, halava, kitri—whatever can be arranged as much as possible. Tamala Krishna and Giriraja have all the ideas. Some professional men should be engaged 24 hours preparing prasadam. There are many volunteer organizations in Calcutta. They should come forward and help us distribute prasadam.”
Letter to Jayapatka Maharaj, Bombay,24 April, 1971
Sometimes the IB group of devotees justify their employing of professionals who are karmis and vikarmis for cooking and distributing Prasadam by stating the following quote of Srila Prabhupada:
“In the Sankirtana festival pandal if a very big kitchen arrangement can be made, then we shall distribute prasadam daily. Try to make this arrangement. Puri, halava, kitri—whatever can be arranged as much as possible. Tamala Krishna and Giriraja have all the ideas. Some professional men should be engaged 24 hours preparing prasadam. There are many volunteer organizations in Calcutta. They should come forward and help us distribute prasadam.”
Letter to Jayapatka Maharaj, Bombay,24 April, 1971
But there are other quotes of Srila Prabhupada where he is specifying
the standard of these professional cooks and the conditions in which this
Prasadam is to be distributed -
“So far your hired Brahmin cook, since we have our prasadam distribution program this may be necessary, but he must be clean, no smoking, and he must wear kunti beads. As far as possible he must follow our principles.”
Letter to: Giriraja—Tokyo, 23 April, 1972
“So far your hired Brahmin cook, since we have our prasadam distribution program this may be necessary, but he must be clean, no smoking, and he must wear kunti beads. As far as possible he must follow our principles.”
Letter to: Giriraja—Tokyo, 23 April, 1972
Mahäàça:
Some people I know, they said that yesterday the prasädam was not nice
Prabhupäda: Not nice, it is not eatable even by the dogs. But you are less than the dogs if you (prepare) such thing. I was surprised. You allowed a sweeper to cook. I was surprised. We have distribution prasädam, not dog's food. Such rascals as here. You do not know. I do not wish to discuss anymore on this point. You have murdered the whole thing in two days.
Room Conversation on Farm Management, December 10, 1976, Hyderabad
We cannot eat anything not offered to Krishna, and we cannot offer anything to Krishna which is not cooked by a devotee.
Letter to: Jayapataka—Los Angeles,12 August, 1969
Please note that Srila Prabhupada wants that if we hire professional cooks they should be following our principles as far as possible, wear tilak, kanthi mala, food distribution should be accompanied by sankirtan and giving spiritual instructions, distribution should be done by Krishna Conscious devotees etc etc. – A.P is violating all these rules and still they are claiming that this program is approved by Srila Prabhupada.
Please click here to see the latest advertisement of Akshay Patra which is being shown on the television to raise money.
__________________________________________________________________
II. Supporting the cause of eradicating hunger
Please refer to the following words of MPP given on facebook one month back on July 17th 2014 -
“Glad to meet the former US President Bill Clinton. He had visited our Akshaya Patra kitchen at Jagatpura. Fruitfully discussed on various topics like how we can eradicate hunger, impart education to every child, etc.”
Sometimes A.P devotees also say that A.P is distributing food to the hungry who may later on become devotees. At least the hunger problem is being taken care of. They say “Something is better than nothing”.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says in this connection -
Prabhupada: God consciousness does not depend on distribution of food. It requires cultural education. It does not mean that one who has got enough food, he is God conscious. The food distribution is not one of the conditions for becoming God conscious. That is wrong project. "If people are given sufficient food, they will become God conscious" -- that is not the fact. But people advance this theory, that "We are now economically distressed. We cannot turn our attention to God consciousness." That is a wrong plea. God consciousness does not depend on any material condition.
Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach
So far prasāda distribution, it is not a question of rich or poor. That will be Karma Kānda. Our program therefore is that we offer prasāda to everyone. Make our temple so nice that everyone who comes is offered some prasāda. Not that we are after poor men. It is nice that we are feeding 200 daily, but gradually try to increase. But do not advertise, we shall be self-advertising. And do not go to poor areas, this is not our philosophy. Our philosophy is prasāda distribution, without discrimination rich or poor.
(Letter to Girirāja: Honolulu 15 May 1972)
Readers can also refer to the article posted by Madhudvisa Prabhu 2 years back http://krishna.org/the-best-welfare-work/ which will throw more light on this subject matter.
___________________________________________________________________
III. Supporting mundane education system
All the vans of Akshay Patra which are running around the different cities of India cannot use the word Krishna or anything to do with religion anywhere. Maximum they have managed is to put Srila Prabhupada’s photograph on each van and in that also they are promoting His Divine Grace as a mundane philanthrophist whose desire was to distribute food to the poor so that they are not deprived of the so-called education given by the government!!!
Please see the following lines which are put beneath Srila Prabhupada’s photo on each van of A.P -
“Program for distributing free food to support education.”
In another place following lines are mentioned :
“To fulfill the great desire of Srila Prabhupada to distribute food to the hungry”.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about the mundane education system :
“Government curriculum is useless”.
Conversation: "How to Secure Brahmacärés"—June 24, 1977, Våndävana
“Prabhupäda: No they say, they simply give primary education (indistinct) they can read, that's all. And (indistinct). They don't send because everyone knows that sending boys to the school means spoil them. That's all. I have seen intelligent boys, they go to school and he is spoiled. Yes, spoiled. He learns how to smoke, how to have sex, how to talk nonsense, how to use knife, how to fight, these things. At least at the present moment. Yes. Simply slaughterhouse, this so-called school is called slaughterhouse. Yes, slaughterhouse.”
Room Conversation—July 9, 1973, London
Just imagine AP is distributing bhoga to the children so that they can go to the slaughter houses and A.P is saying that they are fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s heartfelt desire by doing this activity. This is cheating and misrepresenting our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. All sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada should protest to protect the real fame of Srila Prabhupada as a pure devotee of Krishna.
In fact A.P is promoting this mundane education system. Please refer to the following words of MPP given on facebook one month back on July 17th 2014 -
“Glad to meet the former US President Bill Clinton. He had visited our Akshaya Patra kitchen at Jagatpura. Fruitfully discussed on various topics like how we can eradicate hunger, impart education to every child, etc.”
Click the below links to see some photos and videos where MPP and CPP (Chanchal Pati Prabhu) are praising this slaughterhouse education system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmswP1HmJVM (see at 1:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaPj46P6vr8 (see at 4:30)
See the result of this philantrophic activity, just see what the children are chanting at 3:35 in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMjrVxTQv44
This mundane education system which is being praised and supported by senior IB leaders like MPP has been highly criticized by Srila Prabhupada in not only his conversations but also his Srimad Bhagavatam purports.
Please refer to the following purport of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 1 , Verse No. 22 -
The whole system of education is geared to sense gratification, and if a learned man thinks it over, he sees that the children of this age are being intentionally sent to the slaughterhouses of so-called education. Learned men, therefore, must be cautious of this age, and if they at all want to cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali, they must follow the footsteps of the sages of Naimiñäraëya and accept Çré Süta Gosvämé or his bona fide representative as the captain of the ship. The ship is the message of Lord Çré Kåñëa in the shape of Bhagavad-gétä or the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
Another purport of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 1, Verse 10 -
“The people of this age are also very lazy, not only materially but in the matter of self-realization. The human life is especially meant for self-realization. That is to say, man should come to know what he is, what the world is, and what the supreme truth is. Human life is a means by which the living entity can end all the miseries of the hard struggle for life in material existence and by which he can return to Godhead, his eternal home. But, due to a bad system of education, men have no desire for self-realization. Even if they come to know about it, they unfortunately become victims of misguided teachers.”
__________________________________________________________________
Prabhupäda: Not nice, it is not eatable even by the dogs. But you are less than the dogs if you (prepare) such thing. I was surprised. You allowed a sweeper to cook. I was surprised. We have distribution prasädam, not dog's food. Such rascals as here. You do not know. I do not wish to discuss anymore on this point. You have murdered the whole thing in two days.
Room Conversation on Farm Management, December 10, 1976, Hyderabad
We cannot eat anything not offered to Krishna, and we cannot offer anything to Krishna which is not cooked by a devotee.
Letter to: Jayapataka—Los Angeles,12 August, 1969
Please note that Srila Prabhupada wants that if we hire professional cooks they should be following our principles as far as possible, wear tilak, kanthi mala, food distribution should be accompanied by sankirtan and giving spiritual instructions, distribution should be done by Krishna Conscious devotees etc etc. – A.P is violating all these rules and still they are claiming that this program is approved by Srila Prabhupada.
Please click here to see the latest advertisement of Akshay Patra which is being shown on the television to raise money.
__________________________________________________________________
II. Supporting the cause of eradicating hunger
Please refer to the following words of MPP given on facebook one month back on July 17th 2014 -
“Glad to meet the former US President Bill Clinton. He had visited our Akshaya Patra kitchen at Jagatpura. Fruitfully discussed on various topics like how we can eradicate hunger, impart education to every child, etc.”
Sometimes A.P devotees also say that A.P is distributing food to the hungry who may later on become devotees. At least the hunger problem is being taken care of. They say “Something is better than nothing”.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says in this connection -
Prabhupada: God consciousness does not depend on distribution of food. It requires cultural education. It does not mean that one who has got enough food, he is God conscious. The food distribution is not one of the conditions for becoming God conscious. That is wrong project. "If people are given sufficient food, they will become God conscious" -- that is not the fact. But people advance this theory, that "We are now economically distressed. We cannot turn our attention to God consciousness." That is a wrong plea. God consciousness does not depend on any material condition.
Room Conversations -- July 26, 1975, Laguna Beach
So far prasāda distribution, it is not a question of rich or poor. That will be Karma Kānda. Our program therefore is that we offer prasāda to everyone. Make our temple so nice that everyone who comes is offered some prasāda. Not that we are after poor men. It is nice that we are feeding 200 daily, but gradually try to increase. But do not advertise, we shall be self-advertising. And do not go to poor areas, this is not our philosophy. Our philosophy is prasāda distribution, without discrimination rich or poor.
(Letter to Girirāja: Honolulu 15 May 1972)
Readers can also refer to the article posted by Madhudvisa Prabhu 2 years back http://krishna.org/the-best-welfare-work/ which will throw more light on this subject matter.
___________________________________________________________________
III. Supporting mundane education system
All the vans of Akshay Patra which are running around the different cities of India cannot use the word Krishna or anything to do with religion anywhere. Maximum they have managed is to put Srila Prabhupada’s photograph on each van and in that also they are promoting His Divine Grace as a mundane philanthrophist whose desire was to distribute food to the poor so that they are not deprived of the so-called education given by the government!!!
Please see the following lines which are put beneath Srila Prabhupada’s photo on each van of A.P -
“Program for distributing free food to support education.”
In another place following lines are mentioned :
“To fulfill the great desire of Srila Prabhupada to distribute food to the hungry”.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about the mundane education system :
“Government curriculum is useless”.
Conversation: "How to Secure Brahmacärés"—June 24, 1977, Våndävana
“Prabhupäda: No they say, they simply give primary education (indistinct) they can read, that's all. And (indistinct). They don't send because everyone knows that sending boys to the school means spoil them. That's all. I have seen intelligent boys, they go to school and he is spoiled. Yes, spoiled. He learns how to smoke, how to have sex, how to talk nonsense, how to use knife, how to fight, these things. At least at the present moment. Yes. Simply slaughterhouse, this so-called school is called slaughterhouse. Yes, slaughterhouse.”
Room Conversation—July 9, 1973, London
Just imagine AP is distributing bhoga to the children so that they can go to the slaughter houses and A.P is saying that they are fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s heartfelt desire by doing this activity. This is cheating and misrepresenting our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. All sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada should protest to protect the real fame of Srila Prabhupada as a pure devotee of Krishna.
In fact A.P is promoting this mundane education system. Please refer to the following words of MPP given on facebook one month back on July 17th 2014 -
“Glad to meet the former US President Bill Clinton. He had visited our Akshaya Patra kitchen at Jagatpura. Fruitfully discussed on various topics like how we can eradicate hunger, impart education to every child, etc.”
Click the below links to see some photos and videos where MPP and CPP (Chanchal Pati Prabhu) are praising this slaughterhouse education system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmswP1HmJVM (see at 1:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaPj46P6vr8 (see at 4:30)
See the result of this philantrophic activity, just see what the children are chanting at 3:35 in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMjrVxTQv44
This mundane education system which is being praised and supported by senior IB leaders like MPP has been highly criticized by Srila Prabhupada in not only his conversations but also his Srimad Bhagavatam purports.
Please refer to the following purport of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 1 , Verse No. 22 -
The whole system of education is geared to sense gratification, and if a learned man thinks it over, he sees that the children of this age are being intentionally sent to the slaughterhouses of so-called education. Learned men, therefore, must be cautious of this age, and if they at all want to cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali, they must follow the footsteps of the sages of Naimiñäraëya and accept Çré Süta Gosvämé or his bona fide representative as the captain of the ship. The ship is the message of Lord Çré Kåñëa in the shape of Bhagavad-gétä or the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
Another purport of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 1, Verse 10 -
“The people of this age are also very lazy, not only materially but in the matter of self-realization. The human life is especially meant for self-realization. That is to say, man should come to know what he is, what the world is, and what the supreme truth is. Human life is a means by which the living entity can end all the miseries of the hard struggle for life in material existence and by which he can return to Godhead, his eternal home. But, due to a bad system of education, men have no desire for self-realization. Even if they come to know about it, they unfortunately become victims of misguided teachers.”
__________________________________________________________________
IV. Supporting Secularism
In Madhu Pandit Prabhu’s (MPP’s) own words in his letter to Dayalu Nitai Prabhu on Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 10:46 PM–
“Akshay Patra trustees want the organization to be secular. It cannot associate publicly with religious mission. And it has nothing to do with vision of the kind of your vedic village.”
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about this:
“You cannot give up religion. Dharmena hénäù paçubhiù samänäù. If people become irreligious in the name of secularism, then they are simply animals. So it is the government's duty to see that the citizens are not becoming animals. He may profess a type of religion. That doesn't matter. But he must be religious. That is secular state. Not that secular state means government is callous, "Let the people become cats and dogs, without religion. Government doesn't care." That is not good government. What do you think?”
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador—September 5, 1973, Stockholm
In Madhu Pandit Prabhu’s (MPP’s) own words in his letter to Dayalu Nitai Prabhu on Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 10:46 PM–
“Akshay Patra trustees want the organization to be secular. It cannot associate publicly with religious mission. And it has nothing to do with vision of the kind of your vedic village.”
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about this:
“You cannot give up religion. Dharmena hénäù paçubhiù samänäù. If people become irreligious in the name of secularism, then they are simply animals. So it is the government's duty to see that the citizens are not becoming animals. He may profess a type of religion. That doesn't matter. But he must be religious. That is secular state. Not that secular state means government is callous, "Let the people become cats and dogs, without religion. Government doesn't care." That is not good government. What do you think?”
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador—September 5, 1973, Stockholm
Prabhupäda: No, even if we approach higher authorities... Our men in
New Delhi saw Indira Gandhi.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. She said that "This is the position, that we are secular. We cannot support." Of course, we want simply Kåñëa's support. And we are increasing. We are not decreasing. The movement was started in 1966.
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador, September 5, 1973, Stockholm
“Our Vedic idea of secular state is the government must be responsible of proper execution of religious system. It doesn't matter whether one is Hindu or one is Christian, one is Mohammedan or Buddhist”
Room Conversation—February 26, 1973, Jakarta.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. She said that "This is the position, that we are secular. We cannot support." Of course, we want simply Kåñëa's support. And we are increasing. We are not decreasing. The movement was started in 1966.
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador, September 5, 1973, Stockholm
“Our Vedic idea of secular state is the government must be responsible of proper execution of religious system. It doesn't matter whether one is Hindu or one is Christian, one is Mohammedan or Buddhist”
Room Conversation—February 26, 1973, Jakarta.
“It is the duty of government
to see that people are religious. Not that "Because government is secular,
let the people go to hell."
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador—September 5, 1973, Stockholm
Please see the below link to see the views of senior leaders of IB group like Chanchalpati prabhu (CPP) about the current leaders of the Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXcP9L6bWsA
Room Conversation with Indian Ambassador—September 5, 1973, Stockholm
Please see the below link to see the views of senior leaders of IB group like Chanchalpati prabhu (CPP) about the current leaders of the Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXcP9L6bWsA
Just imagine here Srila Prabhupada is talking to an ambassador who is a
highly placed Indian government official, directly criticizing the government
for their so called secular approach and here MPP is ready to become secular in
order to get land and money from the government in the name of serving Srila
Prabhupada’s mission.
__________________________________________________
V. Engaging in other philanthropic activites.
Akshay Patra is also involved in many other philanthropic activities like organizing polio camps (a camp for giving some vaccination), distributing drinking water (this is done under Akshay Jal Dhara), selling customized food to the diseased people according to their diseases like giving sugar free food to diabetes patients, salt free food to B.P patients etc. in the hospitals. This they do under the name of another trust called “Touch Stone” which is one of the 40 trusts created by MPP. There is another trust by the name of “WAHTS” which organizes self-defense camps for teaching martial arts to girls, organizing medical camps etc. Incidently MPP is directly or indirectly associated with all these trusts.
Click the links given below to see some videos and images in this connection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73jIjMkHqbU
https://www.dropbox.com/s/usog0h7a5pnag4m/philanthropic%20work%20by%20AP.jpg
__________________________________________________
V. Engaging in other philanthropic activites.
Akshay Patra is also involved in many other philanthropic activities like organizing polio camps (a camp for giving some vaccination), distributing drinking water (this is done under Akshay Jal Dhara), selling customized food to the diseased people according to their diseases like giving sugar free food to diabetes patients, salt free food to B.P patients etc. in the hospitals. This they do under the name of another trust called “Touch Stone” which is one of the 40 trusts created by MPP. There is another trust by the name of “WAHTS” which organizes self-defense camps for teaching martial arts to girls, organizing medical camps etc. Incidently MPP is directly or indirectly associated with all these trusts.
Click the links given below to see some videos and images in this connection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73jIjMkHqbU
https://www.dropbox.com/s/usog0h7a5pnag4m/philanthropic%20work%20by%20AP.jpg
I.B group of temples are also seen advertising that they will hold house programs and do sankirtan which will counteract bodily diseases, infighting in the house between family members etc. etc. Please clickhere to see the brochure which is being promoted by A.P, Jaipur.
Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says about it -
So Ajämila did not do that. He was sinful, but he never utilized Kåñëa to counteract his sinful life. Aparädha-çünya, without any offense—that was his qualification. He did not know what is the value of chanting the holy name. He... Fallen down, he became a rogue, rascal. That's all right. But he never utilized the chanting of name for counteracting his sinful activities. No, he never did.
Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on Canto 6, Chapter 2, Verse 3
Note: Very soon we will be uploading many more videos and photographs which will confirm the above claims.
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VI. Engaging in complicated businesses on a very large scale like real estate, selling customized food to hospitals etc. etc. etc. to make money in the name of preaching.
Sometimes the A.P leaders say that this A.P is our business for getting land and making money and Temple.President can do business to support his preaching activities.
In the beginning days of ISKCON movement, Srila Prabhupada did approve the devotees to engage in various businesses to raise money to establish his movement but even at that time it was always with a word of caution so that the devotees may not get deviated from the real purpose of self realization for which they have come. Please refer to the following instructions which were given in 1968 -
Money making schemes should be easy; we cannot divert our attention for money making activities. We require some money for prosecuting our activities, and if we get that money by contribution that is best, otherwise, we can sell our literature and books, etc. But if we direct our attention like others, then it becomes karma. And karma is very dangerous for persons who want to go back to Godhead - Letter to: Hamsaduta, Montreal, 21 June, 1968
Anyway, the best source of our income should be by accepting contributions from the sympathetic public, and selling our own books and literature. That is also a sort of business, but it doesn't matter. And if we do business we must do it independently, without any assistance from outsiders. We can take help from outside in the matter of monetary help, either by contribution or by loan, but not to enter into transactions with outsiders. Because their aim of life is different from ours.
Letter to Brahmananda, Montreal,28 June, 1968
But later on when devotees started becoming too much money minded, Srila Prabhupada gave many instructions discouraging them from engaging in these businesses. Some of these instructions are being reproduced below which were given in late 1970’s -
“I am seeing now that the business activities in our society, they are increasing. Originally I allowed that Gargamuni could start the incense business. I thought that the Ramakrishna Mission, they are doing and the incense we are using, so if we make some and sell it, then what is the harm. But now I see that Spiritual Sky, they have so many products. And now there is jewelry business going on. So why should the business increase? Nanda Kumar, he came here to India simply for doing business. This is not required. So I have given him sannyasa and now he is finished with all business, and he will go to Africa to preach. So this business should be discouraged, otherwise, if they do it, our men will again become karmis. Our business is simply book distribution.”
Letter to Jagadisa Das, Bombay,20 November, 1975
Srila Prabhupada at some places did approve and even encourage some devotees to do business, earn money and spend for Krishna. But generally he discouraged the devotees (specially the brahamcharis and sanyasis who are supposed to be seriously engaged in the business of self-realization) from engaging in complicated money making businesses. Opposed to these instructions of Srila Prabhupada, today even many of the Temple Presidents of IB group of temples have become commission agents for selling flats, houses, villas and land to the karmis and vikarmis.
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VII. Compromising in the name of preaching
When Akshay Patra devotees are confronted with these questions they say that in the background of these activities they are able to get land and money from the government and big corporate houses to do the real preaching activities of building temples and making devotees. Let us see what Srila Prabhupada says in a similar situation regarding introducing mundane education in the gurukulas which will help to win large scale government and public support -
Prabhupäda: Keep this institution pure, not that we have to make it impure. Fighting, we want fighting. If we don't get, it will remain vacant, but we don't want to introduce impure. That should be a principle.
(Conversation:"How to Secure Brahmacärés"—June 24, 1977, Våndävana)
Indian lady: But the parents want certificate.
Prabhupäda: Therefore, if you want to satisfy the parents, the government, then it is not possible. You have to satisfy Kåñëa.
Indian lady: They have to go in colleges.
Prabhupäda: I know that. Therefore I said that if you have to satisfy so many masters, it is not possible.
(Roof Conversation—January 5, 1977, Bombay)
More over the dangers of running these philanthropic programs even with an intention of doing ‘real preaching’ behind this curtain are as follows:
1. Gradually the focus shifting to these philanthropic activities with the real preaching diminishing because these activities are associated with mass scale money, reputation, public and government support etc.. This is what is already happening in IB group of temples which is known as an organization which distributes food to the poor so that they can attend schools to get this mundane education
2. Devotees representing this secular organization cannot talk of Krishna directly whenever they are wearing the hat of A.P which is choking their spiritual growth.
In MPP’s own words in his letter to Dayalu Nitai Prabhu on Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 10:46 PM
“We are very careful and sensitive to the Akshayaptra board's decision not to mix up the two as they are two different organization especially in public eye . When we mix we loose very big corporate donors for the cause. Missionaries have two independent hats. One of Akshayaptra and other of Iskcon. Due to our extreme care on all these points we are attracting donations from corporates in millions. Even recently Ratan Tata sanctioned 55 crores to Akshayapatra. You think they would have given corporate funds if we had mixed up our functioning under two independent hats?”
Since most of the time the devotees are working under the hat of A.P they have to be extremely careful not to talk of Krishna so that they can get big donations for their philanthropic activities which are generally liked by the people as opposed to pure devotional service to the Lord.
3. Pressure of targets, collection and complying with demands of Govt. and other big industrialists who are supporting this program. MPP and other devotees of A.P/HKM have to do a big balancing game to maintain these two hats, one of A.P which has nothing to do with religion and another of HKM which is preaching about religion.
Why not be straight forward and preach boldly without compromising as Srila Prabhupada has shown by his own example.
Prabhupada: No. Why compromise? My Guru Mahäräja never made any compromise.
Atreya Rsi: Compromise means you have some material attachment.
Prabhupada: Yes, compromise means you don't want real business but you want some money by cheating and by bluffing. That's all. That is compromise.
(Conv. San Diego 29/06/72)
Prabhupada: I don’t make any compromise with these rascals. No words. No, no. I never made that. Even if I don’t get any disciples, I’ll be satisfied. But I can’t make any compromise like these rascals. I cannot make. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. If I create one moon, that is sufficient. I don’t want many stars. That was my Guru Maharaja’s principle, and that is my principle. What is the use of having number of fools and rascals? If one man understands rightly, he can deliver the whole world.
(MW Bombay 12/03/74)
Indian man: There was some trouble with your movement in America recently.
Prabhupada: We don’t care for this trouble. If you are sincere it is all right. We are facing so many difficulties. We don’t care for it. We never compromise. All my students, they will never compromise. Why shall I compromise? If I am confident that I am speaking the truth, why shall I make compromise? Those who are not confident of his position, they will make compromise. One who does not know where he stands, he will make compromise. And if I know where I am standing, why shall I make compromise? Let others do whatever he likes. This is our position.
(Press Int. Bombay 31/12/76)
The IB devotees may say that even if there are some deviations in this food distribution program of A.P but we are able to get so much land, money, making big big temples and so many devotees are joining us which is all very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. To know the whole truth behind this making of big big temples and so many devotees joining please read deviation number 2,3 and 4 which will be published very soon.
Lastly we would like to draw the attention of all the innocent devotees (who are supporting A.P program by giving money or services thinking they are participating in pure devotional service which will help them to become free from reactionary work of Karma and go back to Godhead) to the following quotes of Srila Prabhupada:
So far prasāda distribution, it is not a question of rich or poor. That will be Karma Kānd. Our program therefore is that we offer prasāda to everyone.
(Letter to Girirāja: Honolulu 15 May 1972)
Money making schemes should be easy; we cannot divert our attention for money making activities. We require some money for prosecuting our activities, and if we get that money by contribution that is best, otherwise, we can sell our literature and books, etc. But if we direct our attention like others, then it becomes karma. And karma is very dangerous for persons who want to go back to Godhead - Letter to: Hamsaduta, Montreal, 21 June, 1968
____________________________________________________________________
IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we can see that Srila Prabhupada wants the food to be cooked and distributed by devotees. For mass scale cooking Srila Prabhupada is telling at some places that we can hire professional cooks but they should be clean, wear kunthi mala and they should be following the regulative principles as far as possible. Moreover Srila Prabhupada is stressing the point that ‘Simply food distribution is nonsense”, it should be accompanied with kirtana and giving spiritual instructions.
A.P is violating all the above instructions of Srila Prabhupada. Food is being cooked and distributed by karmis and vikarmis. A.P cannot do kirtan or give spiritual instruction as they have to abide by Govt. regulations of being secular i.e not supporting any religious system and still they are calling it prasadam.
In purport of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse No. 13, Srila Prabhupada
writes as follows -
Others, who prepare food for self or sense gratification, are not only thieves, but are also the eaters of all kinds of sins. How can a person be happy if he is both a thief and sinful? It is not possible. Therefore, in order for people to become happy in all respects, they must be taught to perform the easy process of saìkértana-yajïa, in full Kåñëa consciousness. Otherwise, there can be no peace or happiness in the world. “
So we can judge for ourselves as to what is being distributed by A.P in the name of prasadam distribution. We should also note the conditions in which this distribution is taking place. Unfortunately ISKCON has also copied this deviation and they have also dived in this bhoga distribution program because this is giving them lot of money, name, fame and public and Govt. support. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
Prabhupäda: (laughs) Yes. Did you understand the words, "The blind leading the blind"? Do you agree? [break] ...culture, the basic principle is mistaken, bodily concept of life. How it can be perfect? [break] ... world's present so-called culture based on misconception. Therefore it cannot be perfect. Whatever they are doing, it is failure.
Morning Walk,October 4, 1975, Mauritius
We appeal to MPP who is head of IB group of devotees to at least have a philosophical debate with us otherwise they should accept their defeat and surrender to Srila Prabhupada’s original teachings. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
Prabhupäda: That's all. Andhä yathändhair upanéyamänäù [SB 7.5.31]. Anyway he has admitted, "I do not know." That is sufficient defeat for him. But they are shameless. In spite of being defeated, they won't admit that "I am defeated." Not gentlemen. Formerly between two learned scholars there will be argument. If one is defeated... Just like Sarvabhauma Bhaööäcärya. As soon as he became defeated, he became His disciple. That's all. That was the system. Not that we go on arguing for hours, and one is defeated; still, he remains the same. No. If you are defeated, then you must accept the other party as your master. That was the system. As soon as he said that I do not know, he should have become your disciple. That is the system. "If you do not know why you have come to teach me."
Morning Walk, May 2, 1973, Los Angeles
Still if MPP does not come forward to discuss these issues than also we will keep speaking loudly for everyone’s benefit. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection:
Even he remains silent, we shall speak very loudly and expose these bogus men. Let our philosophy be challenged by anyone and we shall defeat them. I want that you distribute our books very widely, as many as possible, then people will get the right information.
Letter to Hiranyagarbha das,22 November, 1971,Delhi.
So we have to expose them. They are not leader; they are jackals. So jackals cannot anymore rule over. That should be our propaganda. Not only scientific, all political things, social things, everything. They should be all kicked out. They should be replaced by Kåñëa consciousness. Then people will be happy. This should be our program. Our, this propaganda means to make people happy. It is not a business, to make business and take some money.
Morning Walk, May 3, 1973, Los Angeles
We invite all the devotees around the world for their comments.
Others, who prepare food for self or sense gratification, are not only thieves, but are also the eaters of all kinds of sins. How can a person be happy if he is both a thief and sinful? It is not possible. Therefore, in order for people to become happy in all respects, they must be taught to perform the easy process of saìkértana-yajïa, in full Kåñëa consciousness. Otherwise, there can be no peace or happiness in the world. “
So we can judge for ourselves as to what is being distributed by A.P in the name of prasadam distribution. We should also note the conditions in which this distribution is taking place. Unfortunately ISKCON has also copied this deviation and they have also dived in this bhoga distribution program because this is giving them lot of money, name, fame and public and Govt. support. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
Prabhupäda: (laughs) Yes. Did you understand the words, "The blind leading the blind"? Do you agree? [break] ...culture, the basic principle is mistaken, bodily concept of life. How it can be perfect? [break] ... world's present so-called culture based on misconception. Therefore it cannot be perfect. Whatever they are doing, it is failure.
Morning Walk,October 4, 1975, Mauritius
We appeal to MPP who is head of IB group of devotees to at least have a philosophical debate with us otherwise they should accept their defeat and surrender to Srila Prabhupada’s original teachings. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection -
Prabhupäda: That's all. Andhä yathändhair upanéyamänäù [SB 7.5.31]. Anyway he has admitted, "I do not know." That is sufficient defeat for him. But they are shameless. In spite of being defeated, they won't admit that "I am defeated." Not gentlemen. Formerly between two learned scholars there will be argument. If one is defeated... Just like Sarvabhauma Bhaööäcärya. As soon as he became defeated, he became His disciple. That's all. That was the system. Not that we go on arguing for hours, and one is defeated; still, he remains the same. No. If you are defeated, then you must accept the other party as your master. That was the system. As soon as he said that I do not know, he should have become your disciple. That is the system. "If you do not know why you have come to teach me."
Morning Walk, May 2, 1973, Los Angeles
Still if MPP does not come forward to discuss these issues than also we will keep speaking loudly for everyone’s benefit. Please refer to the following quote of Srila Prabhupada in this connection:
Even he remains silent, we shall speak very loudly and expose these bogus men. Let our philosophy be challenged by anyone and we shall defeat them. I want that you distribute our books very widely, as many as possible, then people will get the right information.
Letter to Hiranyagarbha das,22 November, 1971,Delhi.
So we have to expose them. They are not leader; they are jackals. So jackals cannot anymore rule over. That should be our propaganda. Not only scientific, all political things, social things, everything. They should be all kicked out. They should be replaced by Kåñëa consciousness. Then people will be happy. This should be our program. Our, this propaganda means to make people happy. It is not a business, to make business and take some money.
Morning Walk, May 3, 1973, Los Angeles
We invite all the devotees around the world for their comments.
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