Jagat

We appear to still be on the Gurukula issue here in 2016. I am rather pleased with that reflection. Weather snippets -- exhaustion from the hot season. A discussion on the connection of yoga to the bhakti-yoga path: pravartaka - sādhaka - siddha , a major subject of discussion in the early period of this blog and very important matter indeed for my way of understanding the spiritual path. A lot of articles. FB Memories May 24.

There are three articles in this series, based on a Facebook discussion. Check the labels. ================== I was told by a friend that "it is not about you, but about the children." I accept that as a true critique. I would probably have ignored this film if I had not been accused personally of being responsible for Bhavananda's actions, of all things. And if there were no residual guilt, I would not have felt it necessary to open my heart publicly. The fact is that my putting my admission of guilt in the public eye is precisely I want it to be known, by those who may think me wise, my lack of wisdom. More than that, it is an appeal to those who were affected by my actions to know that I am deeply sorry and that I pray for them. Even so many years later. However, I am not going to jettison my philosophical principles, based on my belief in the great mercy of Guru, by which I can spend even a second's time in Vrindavan. That is my own experience and I b...

Yesterday, someone who knows my past asked me about events  related to my "guru." He was referring to Bhavananda Maharaj, from whom I did indeed take sannyas in 1979. Prior to that I had worked under Bhavananda for nearly four years as the headmaster of the Mayapur Gurukula, so I had a fairly good experience of his way of being and managing. Management is a difficult task, but it is attractive to some who have the requisite personality. It is no small wonder that CEOs and other successful managers, including politicians, have a tendency to the sociopathic personality : extraverted, narcissistic, authoritarian, non-empathetic, ambitious, ruthless in competition. This describes Bhavananda rather well. It was no surprise that many people were exhilarated by the news that he had to run to save himself when resentment against his and his cronies' behavior bubbled over. Like old times in Mayapur, he surrounds himself with others who share his style of management. I re...

There are many examples of the kind of Prabhupadanuga closed-mindedness and fanaticism that make me despair for the future of the Krishna consciousness movement. One especially good and consistent source of examples is provided by the Sampradaya Sun website, which never fails to find an opportunity to make a great display of its devotion to Srila Prabhupada at the cost of sensible rational thought. They can spend endless hours and spill countless gallons of ink discussing the flaws of the ISKCON gurus and the doctrine of the "Sampradaya acharya," but the territory no one dares to enter is that where Srila Prabhupada and his teachings are called into question. In this respect I have two particular examples I would like to bring up; one is recent, the other two years old. I will discuss the recent on first, the second one afterwards, even though in terms of writing, the latter issue came to my attention first and was in the process of inspiring comment when the more recent in...