> You're probably right; the questions may certainly seem rude. They reflect
> my exasperation at the way these forums are used. If they smart, I
> apologize. I have to admit, though, that I'm bewildered by devotees who go
> on these self-righteous campaigns to drive out "heretics." My 32+ years of
> experience in ISKCON indicate that these are usually personal conflicts,
> regardless of how we dress them up. The things you say about them are
> gossip no less than the things they say about you. You and Jahnu were
> earlier exhorting us to just think about Krishna and not get so worked up
> about Manihar. The fact is that and Ananata Rupa are among the worst
> abusers in the gurukulas, and now they're doing the same with other kids
> (no, not devotees, but Krishna's children no less). Some devotees think
> there's something that we may be able to do to stop the abuse by
> "devotees." If they have a plan that some think may help, and you're not
> interested, why not just say so and let it go at that? Why get on a
> self-righteous jag about how so many of us are less Krishna conscious than
> you?

Because we didn't do that. We said, "Why aren't we allowed to say this,
because it's Krishna consciousness". It didn't say "I'm more advanced than
you so you all should listen". Nothing of the sort.

Look, Babhru, no one is more tired of this than me. Drive out the heretics?
Hardly likely, don't you agree? But why should I back down when all I want
to hear is a philosophical viewpoint as opposed to Madhusudani radha's
grandstanding that she is more pure due to her unalloyed devotion to the
abused? Please! "We don't want Prabhupada and ISKCON to be seen in a bad
light", she wrote. Why would he be because of this situation? And where was
her unalloyed devotion when Prabhupada was being blatantly abused on another
forum? Nowhere. What does it have to do with ISKCON? For your information,
I've been in touch with Child Protection authorities in ISKCON, and frankly
it's nothing to do with us. Another point was - leave it to the real
authorities, not someone who is interested in grandstanding.

Yes, Ananta Rupa is the worst kind of person, and yes he's doing it to
Krishna's children. So are a lot of people in the entire universe! Are we
not all children of Krishna? This soapboxing about who is better and who is
not came not from my desire to hear Krishna conscious perspective, but a
request for a "maintaining of perspective". Where is the offensiveness in
that, please? And with all due respect, very early in the piece I said that
this topic is not really something that belongs on a forum where some
disagree, and perhaps a forum dedicated solely to this is the answer, but
that was met with more derision.
>
> Look, I haven't met you folks except here. I don't know whether any of the
> stories (of which I have unfortunately heard some) are true or not.

See what I mean about a whole campaign going on in a private forum? How
would you hear anything if there were not some impetus behind one
individual's desire to discredit everything we do or say to promote
themselves? Think about it....

> I'm
> saddened if there's anything to them, but it's not my business.

Rest assured it's not - it's the extended politicking of an extremely
frustrated individual. "Hell hath no fury" and all that.....

> I'm 54 and have little time for such things.

I'm 38 and already with you.....

> I do, however, resent my In Box being
> clogged with all your missives that, however you dress them as
> "philosophy," don't advance the discussion at hand. And I'm convinced that
> vaishnava aparadha is responsible for most--if not all--of ISKCON's
> problems.

And I agree - especially aparadha against Srila Prabhupada, denouncing his
philosphy as irrelevant or heartless. Sorry. Some of us can't afford to back
down.

Your servant
Braja Sevaki devi dasi