leaving ISKCON??
Well it must be true I’ve had several initiated devotees say the some thing it’s time I left ISKCON and may be get initiated by someone like Narayana Maharaja after all there is less hindrances and regulations they will meet you at the stage you are at.
HUM! Is this an advisory?
Another statement that surprises me is the number of devotees that I know who have discussed which if any of the regulative principles they would follow if they left ISKCON and devotional life.
HUM! Am I missing something?
Although at times the relationship between me and my own spiritual master has been turbulent I have carried in my heart and mind a small challenge he gave me on the second time we meet, “why as a nurse are you more concerned about saving life, what about the eternal spirit soul? Why don’t you use your work to safe the soul and end long term suffering rather than worrying about the material soul that will eventually die!”
To the best of my capability I have tried to follow and enact this in my life, this has given great meaning to my work and on two occasions I have been able to sit with and encourage those in my care to chant HARE KRISHNA as they took their final breaths this because of my desire to fulfil my Guru Maharaja’s request and Krishna’s special mercy and reciprocation.
But more puzzling is this of which principle if any I will follow if I leave devotee life, surely it’s more productive to think, how can I grow in devotional life, how can I fix my mind on following the instruction of my spiritual master and follow the regulative principles that are their to help me progress in spiritual life.
And more important who is best to help me achieve this help me progress and remain fixed, we are not an island but also by our association will hinder of help us progress.
And if theirs hindrances or problems then this is simply part of the purification process the question am I fixed in determination, Krishna consciousness is for eternity not a fashion accessory to be changed when the feeling takes.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:45 am
I totally agree with you. My Guru Maharaj has described to me that in the past if devotees would come wanting to leave a particular temple or ISKCON as total he would ask what the difficulty was and then encourage them to work to rectify it rather than leave the association of devotees or ISKCON.
Like you said I agree problems/difficulties are part of the purificatory process. In this regard my Godbrother one time instructed me that it’s very easy for one to remain Krishna conscious when everything is ok on all levels but, when difficulties come this is what will be the real test of our Krishna consciousness.
Besides that if Prabhupada did give these books which will be the lawbooks for the next 10,000 years how is it that any lessening of the process of bhakti yoga outlined by Srila Prabhupada is bonafide? (i.e 2 regulative principles and 8 rounds) Prabhupada specifically said that 16 rounds is just enough to keep one’s head above water (spiritually speaking). I don’t really see the merit in spiritual master’s coming down to the disciples level (i.e” oh it’s ok if you only chant 4 rounds and still have illicit sex, I’ll initiate you and it’ll be easier). To me its like trying to teach a 4th grader calculus. It’s just counterproductive and doesn’t make much sense as the pre-requisite training/discipline must be there for the student to be successful.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hare Krishna
Many thanks for your very thoughtful and insightful comment a lot of thought has gone into it and has given me something to think about
January 26th, 2009 at 8:55 am
[...] had a bit of an exchange with Bhakta Dave about the idea of “leaving ISKCON”. In his post he was describing how he was advised to leave ISKCON and take shelter elsewhere as there are plenty [...]