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"The Hare Krishna Mantra by George Harrison and London Radha-Krishna Temple devotees was featured four times on England's most popular television program, Top of the Pops, after rising to the Top 10 throughout England, Europe, and parts of Asia
You can hear it Here
For information on this visit Krishna.orgAt the Home Page of this AllFaith.com section you will find writings and links about the Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism. Here I will be focusing on Vaisnavism, especially as presented by my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and ISKCON, the Movement he introduced to the West.
While I am now an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaja, acarya and spiritual master of the Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, I am not actively involved in any form of Vaisnavism at the present time. Srila Bodhayan Maharaja is the disciple and successor of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaja, the foremost disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada and senior godbrother of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Although I am no longer involved with the International Society for KRSNA Consciousness (ISKCON), I still long for a return to those wondrous days when we danced Sri KRSNA's glory in the streets with the certainty that Lord Caitanya's Golden Age was imminent.
Go to: My Time With The Hare Krsna Movement
A brief overview of my experiences with the Movement.
My response to an accusation of Vaishnava aparadha
As well as an overview of what went wrong with Prabhupada's Movement
On Chanting With Beads
My Hinduism home page for links to other Hindu groups.
As time passes we all change. The same is true for political and religious movements; and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is both. Had the widespread scandals and apostasies that shook the Hare Krishna Movement to its foundations not taken place, had Srila Prabhupada's "Final Order" been honored and implemented by his disciples -- he left specific instructions about how the Movement was to be run after his bodily absence but the ISKCON GBC violated his clear instructions -- had not an era of spiritual and physical abuse and deception taken place, it is quite likely that today I would still be in the Movement.
Perhaps not; who can say? But the fact remains that the ISKCON of today continues in direct rebellion against its founder and that the vast majority of Srila Prabhupada's are no longer associated with it due in large part to its countless abuses. 
In any case, under Srila Prabhupada's direction his disciples ecstatically shared the glories of the Maha Mantra around the globe:
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hareToday there are few people on earth who have not heard this wondrous mantra.
You can hear it HereToday there are various devotees, teachers and gurus spreading the Gaudiya Vaisnava faith throughout the world through the auspices of various organizations, paramparas and personal proclivities. Most accept the authority of Srila Prabhupada's books while relying on various gurus for guidance. Others seek to follow Srila Prabhupada on their own or with support from the various E-groups and lists. Many devotees call upon Srila Prabhupada in prayer and declare themselves his disciples. As the ISKCON GBC continues to disobey Prabhupada's organizational instructions, these devotees feel this is in keeping with his Final Order. For more on this, consider my piece A Note of Accusation From a "long time friend".
ISKCON remains an active advocate of Lord Caitainya's Movement but without the respect they would like. There are many other Gaudiya groups active in the west as well. Often the disciples of the ISKCON gurus reject those of all other gurus, believing ISKCON to be the sole authorized representatives of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's teachings despite its continuing disobedience. Generally speaking, the other devotees accept the disciples of all Gaudiya based mathas, although ISKCON itself is generally held in derision.
Despite the many problems that continue to plague ISKCON and its gurus. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada remains one of the greatest spiritual masters I've ever had the honor of meeting. Had he not been betrayed by his key followers, he would probably have become one of the most influential religious figures in modern history.
Over the years various people and groups have risen trying to restore the Movement Prabhupada established. To date none of these attempts have been successful. One such group is the ISKCON Revival Movement (IRM). This group seems to be honestly trying to restore Srila Prabhupada to his rightful position as Founder-Acharya of the Movement he began, but I confess I have no direct experience with this group. I have however received a couple of e-mails from people saying this group is no better than ISKCON. I really can't say, other than being impressed by their publication The Final Order
Why Change Srila Prabhupada's Books?
...Many other commentators due to poor fund of knowledge tamper with the lines of Bhagavad-gita and twist the meaning for their personal motives, but we do not do like that. We present it exactly as it is; without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and therefore it is actually having a tremendous effect all over the world. The original words of Lord Krishna have unrivaled potency and anyone who is fortunate enough to hear those words and tries to apply them to his life becomes perfect." (letter 14Mar75) Srila Prabhupada said he would live forever through his books and through them would teach his future disciples. ISKCON and its 80 plus gurus are now rewriting many of these works! They are changes the teachings of the founder/acarya of ISKCON and hence are, in effect murdering the spiritual master. How will Srila Prabhupada lead his Movement of his books are changed?
Not surprisingly those who seek to restore Srila Prabhupada's Movement and who share their experiences about what really happened face stiff opposition and condemnation from the heretics who assumed control of the Movement and those who accept them. I've received a fair amount of hate mail for what I've posted. Those who are actively trying to follow Srila Prabhupada's teachings receive a lot of abuse.
This of course doesn't mean that everyone who stands up is speaking the truth or has right motivations. As I've said, I can't speak for IRM but it is worth noting that they have has won several important court cases allowing them to use the name ISKCON and distribute Srila Prabhupada's original books and other writings. Several temples and groups have now left the GBC and joined groups like IRM. For more information on IRM visit the ISKCON Revival Movement website.
My exit from ISKCON was gradual. I would leave one temple, go to another, leave it and try another. My friend Solocana's murder by the devotees of two of the bogi-yogis (see the book Monkey on a Stick for information about his murder) didn't help my faith or opinion of ISKCON's GBC a bit! In time I became convinced that Prabhupada's Movement was indeed dead, having become a den of thieves and religious hypocrisy. Eventually like many many others I gave up hope and left Movement for, I expect, good.
After leaving I studied under many other Hindu masters and traditions (as well as those of other religious systems as I describe elsewhere on this site). My understandings of Hinduism were broadened considerably thereby and my appreciation of its depths and rich history grew. There's a LOT more to Hindu dharma!
I still hold a deep and abiding respect and sense of indebtedness to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. The sadness I continue to feel due to the on-going apostasy of ISKCON is therefore heartfelt and sincere. It is my sincere hope that Gaudiya Vaisnavism will survive and advance. It has a tremendous amount of spiritual light to offer our darkened world.
While most of the mail this section of Allfaith.com generates is positive, from time to time I also receive what can only be described as hate mail from ISKCON devotees due to what I have posted here. I invite your letters and will -- positive or otherwise -- in most cases reply ASAP. If you want a response from me, be sure to include your correct e-mail address. Hateful entries made in my guest book however will be deleted. You can contact me through my Contact Page or my Blog.
Again, I am no longer a Hare Krishna devotee. My teachings and beliefs are my own and do not reflect those of ISKCON or anyone else, including Srila Prabhupada or Srila Bodhayan Maharaja. Similarly, the purpose of these writings are not to attack Srila Prabhupada's legacy but add my voice to those wishing to see it expand.
Om Santi,
Radhe Shyam
Jagannatha Prakasa
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