Message from Adridharana Dasa, Temple President ISKCON Calcutta 

1. Big Breakthrough For Krishna In Singapore 
2. Bhakti Caru Swami Contradicts GBC
3. Singapore Blessed By Lord Jagannatha

The history of Krishna Consciousness in Singapore has been fraught with immense difficulty. Even whilst Srila Prabhupada was on the planet, the authorities were very hostile. They refused to register the society, and Singapore was the only country to have refused Srila Prabhupada entry into the country. Even communist Russia did not refuse Srila Prabhupada entry.

This extremely difficult back-drop was not helped by the fiasco that ensued after Srila Prabhupada's departure. A huge mess developed due to all the different warring Guru factions that developed such as the Indian Maha-Visnu Swami's group, Tamal Krishna Goswami's group, Hamsaduta's group, Lokanatha Swami's group etc. The local Indians who are wealthy and pious, however got fed up with different groups all coming to collect. Thus to make progress has been very difficult. However in the last 3 years, an amazing turnaround started to happen. This began with the Singapore temple becoming the first temple to join the IRM way back in 1997, well before the more famous temples such as Bangalore or even Calcutta. The temple store even began selling copies of the Final Order. Under the leadership of Sundar Gopal prabhu, the yatra is now benefiting from the unity and spiritual mercy that flows from having re-instated Srila Prabhupada as the sole Diksa Guru. This has culminated in the devotees in Singapore being recently given the never-before obtained opportunity of presenting Lord Krishna to the public.

The Asian Civilisation Museum which is famous throughout South East Asia, and which presents periodic showcases portraying Asian culture, most recently embarked on a 4-month exhibition on Lord Krishna entitled "Krishna - The Blue God"Organised by the museum and the National Heritage Board of Singapore, a subsidiary government body established to enhance cultural activities within the island, the exhibition has become a popular hit amongst cultural enthusiasts. Most notably, the devotees were invited to perform a 15-minute kirtan in front of an estimated audience of 200 people as part of the opening of the Krishna exhibition on 21 June 2000. It was the devotees' ecstatic Harinama which officially opened the exhibition. The exhibition features the various pastimes of Lord Krishna. The local Hare Krishna Temple and Srila Prabhupada are prominently featured in the exhibition. The Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan are also featured. And that's not all! Devotees have been invited to present lectures on Lord Krishna to the Singaporean public over the 4-month period. Plays, story-telling for children, etc. are also to be conducted upon the invitation of the organisers. We have already been confirmed for presentations at the Museum on 13 and 17 August. This would expose children from over 200 schools, both primary and secondary, to the philosophy and pastimes of the Lord. No bigger opportunity has been presented for the preaching of Bhagavata Dharma in Singapore in the last 23 years.

More amazing surprises have followed. Just recently, the principal local Chinese Newspaper, the Lianhe Zhaobao which has a readership of over 1 million, featured a ¾ page article on the local Hare Krishna temple and mentioned the contribution of Srila Prabhupada to the flowering of Krishna Consciousness all over the world. This was the first time ever that a Chinese newspaper in Singapore has covered the activities of Krishna Consciousness in such a positive way. Very favourable publicity has therefore been gained on a scale never before envisaged in Singapore.

What is most amazing is that the greatest preaching opportunity has come about at exactly the same time as the society has suffered the worst publicity in its history, and Singapore was very badly hit, being one of the first countries in the world to carry news of the Turley child abuse law-suit. This is just another example of what we have been highlighting in our newsletters of how while many parts of ISKCON are now reeling, the IRM is actually flourishing under the most adverse of circumstances. All these events have come about purely due to Srila Prabhupada's mercy, with success resulting due to a very basic and simple formula - strict obedience to Srila Prabhupada's will and the placing of His Divine Grace at the centre of our devotional lives. Had this been strictly followed, ISKCON would have saved itself from the pandemonium of the last 23 years. The situation however can still be rectified. All success would follow as a result. Our improved position in Singapore is a classic case in point. For so many years, nothing substantial had been achieved in the public propagation of Krishna Consciousness within Singapore. Yet, out of nowhere, a potent opportunity has emerged.

Recently HH Bhakti Caru Swami has been saying some very strange things, which makes us anxious for the state of his mental health. We will show that Maharaja:

a) Bhakti Caru Swami Contradicts the GBC 

Firstly in regards to Srila Prabhupada's orders for how initiations should continue in ISKCON after his departure, Bhakti Caru Swami recently stated:

This is a most bizarre statement. Please note Maharaja states that Srila Prabhupada did not say ANYTHING very clearly on the subject of initiations after his departure. Thus Maharaja is accusing Srila Prabhupada of effectively not giving ANY guidance to the society on this most important of subjects, or if he did he did not do it 'very clearly'. One can appreciate just how outrageous this statement is by noting that even though the GBC and the IRM may differ as to WHAT Srila Prabhupada's instructions may have been, neither of us would dare to say that Srila Prabhupada was unclear or that he simply forgot to say anything. Thus Maharaja's position is in opposition to practically everyone on this planet. At least this is one thing in which Maharaja can claim some uniqueness for himself.  The GBC, in complete opposition to Maharaja, state that Srila Prabhupada's instructions in ordering Gurus to initiate after he left are very clear:

The actual reality as everyone knows is that Srila Prabhupada was very clear in what he wanted. He sent out a written and signed directive to the whole movement. This may not be how the GBC state that Srila Prabhupada was 'very clear', but at least they agree Srila Prabhupada was clear.

b) Bhakti Caru Swami Contradicts Himself 

What makes this state of affairs even more bizarre is that as well contradicting the GBC, Bhakti Caru Swami is also contradicting himself. For less than 5 years ago, Maharaja was also emphatic that Srila Prabhupada did clearly appoint his disciples to become Gurus after his departure:

NOW Maharaja tells us that Srila Prabhupada did not say anything very clearly on the subject. Thus Maharaja is guilty of not only contradicting the GBC and contradicting himself, but also of mis-leading his disciples by giving them contradictory advice. The Guru is supposed to lead the disciple out of darkness. But if he simply leads him into more darkness with contradictory and confusing instructions, what is the value of such a Guru?

We would humbly submit therefore that the only person who is unclear is not Srila Prabhupada, but Maharaja himself - who can not even agree with the GBC, whilst also telling his disciples to follow the GBC; and who can not even agree with himself, first telling his disciples one thing, and then telling them the complete opposite later.

c) Bhakti Caru Swami Acts Without Integrity

Maharaja makes an admission that the ritviks do have good points:

Now please note that as well as conceding that the Ritviks have 'good points', Maharaja has also admitted that Srila Prabhupada did not even say 'anything very clearly' on the subject of how initiations would go on. 
So he is conceding that not only does the IRM position have merit, but that also there is NOTHING VERY CLEAR from Srila Prabhupada to support the argument that the IRM is wrong. Yet even after having conceded all this, he voted with the GBC to expel us from ISKCON!

At least the GBC in general do not claim that we have any good points, and they also say that Srila Prabhupada very clearly set his disciples up as Gurus. Thus one can at least understand how they were misguided to expel us.
But what is Maharaja's excuse for such harsh behaviour? Thus to still expel us whilst thinking in his own mind that we had good points and that Srila Prabhupada did not in any case say anything very clearly on the subject, shows that Maharaja has acted not only harshly, but also without a shred of decency.

d) Bhakti Caru Swami Offends Srila Prabhupada

Maharaja next makes a most offensive comment against Srila Prabhupada. He states:

Maharaja clearly states that the mentality that "Now Srila Prabhupada is dead and gone; now I am the Guru. So what Srila Prabhupada was to his disciples, to my disciples I am just that" would be FINE - if we were not part of a world institution. Such a mentality is NOT FINE under ANY circumstances! Even if ISKCON was to collapse tomorrow for any reason, does Maharaja think that any sincere disciple of Srila Prabhupada's could even ENTERTAIN the possibility that 'Srila Prabhupada is dead and gone'. 
This is a most offensive mentality, and we are shocked that Maharaja is preaching that this mentality is only to be kept in check because we happen to belong to a word-wide institution. Please compare these remarks of Maharaja with what Srila Prabhupada teaches:

Please note how Srila Prabhupada used the exact same phrase - "Dead and Gone". Srila Prabhupada does not state that to have the understanding that the Guru is 'dead and gone' is FINE except when one just happens to be in a world institution. Rather he states that to have such an understanding at all would not be a 'spiritual understanding'. It is bad enough that Maharaja does not have this spiritual understanding himself, but to teach it in a 'seminar' to his 'disciples' is shameful.

e) Bhakti Caru Swami Glorifies A Fallen Guru

Having offended Srila Prabhupada, Bhakti Caru Swami however is more than happy to glorify fallen devotees. Recently Suhotra Swami asked to be given a leave of absence from his duties as a Guru, because amongst other things, by his own admission, over a long period of time he has:

However Bhakti Caru Swami's assessment of Suhotra Swami is that he is to be glorified, for as he said recently in North Carolina, USA, before giving class

Please note whilst Maharaja thinks it is "fine" to think that Srila Prabhupada is "dead and gone" if one is outside a world institution, Suhotra meanwhile is "very, very exalted", and "very learned and exalted" in his "realisations". All this makes us wonder how one will ever be able to trust Maharaja's judgement ever again, when he is not even able to detect such deep maya in his godbrothers? We expect gullible disciples to make such mistakes, but not supposedly 'self-realised' Gurus.

When one adds the above to Maharaja having been recently exposed doctoring the translation of Srila Prabhupada's books to support his Guru position, (please see newsletter No. 20) we have a catalogue of behaviour that is not at all consistent with one who is supposed to be acting as a self-realised Guru full of love and obedience to Srila Prabhupada. We present the above information not to humiliate or embarrass Maharaja, but as a public service to his disciples and well-wishers, who need to be made aware of Maharaja's state of consciousness.

On the 9th July 2000, more than 500 devotees gathered to celebrate Lord Jagannatha's Palanquin Festival (Palki Yatra) in Singapore. In conjunction with the Ratha Yatra Festival period, devotees brought Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra on a beautiful palanquin around the large goshala (cow farm) of a devotee and well-wisher, Mr Kodi. The festival cum retreat saw many devotees from Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, India and Bangladesh participate in an ecstatic kirtan for the pleasure of Their Lordships. A grand arati was performed and sumptuous prasadam distributed.
The celebrations also involved devotees gathering at a festival site to perform dramas depicting the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

*STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS**STOP PRESS*

Just as we were about to send this newsletter out, the devotees in Singapore received a call from the Government's National Heritage Board that the country's biggest Television Station, TCS, Television Corporation of Singapore, would be coming to our temple this coming Saturday on 22/7/2000 to do a show on what a Krishna temple is like. This has been sparked by the exhibit at the Asian Civilisation Museum. The aim of the show is to expose the Chinese people to 'Krsna - The Blue God'. As well as being huge publicity for our Society, this is also another massive breakthrough, since never before in the history of Singapore have we received such television exposure.

The news about the burgeoning success of the Singapore yatra simply reiterates the fact that only by Srila Prabhupada's mercy is anything and everything great possible within the Krishna Consciousness Movement. And this mercy will flow in abundance providing we faithfully execute Srila Prabhupada's instructions and keep him in the centre as the Guru for the movement.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please keep your letters, and e-mail addresses of other devotees who should be added to our list, flowing in. A hard copy of our main position paper 'The Final Order' is available on request. 
All other IRM papers can be accessed through the EDITORIAL SECTION of the IRM website at http://come.to/irm 

If you would like to receive any of the back issues of the Newsletter please let me know.

No 1. Invitation to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja
No 2. GBC Lose First Round of Court Case 
No 3. The Story VNN Refused to Publish 
No 4. Poison Theorists Accuse Adri of Complicity 
No 5. Iskcon Continues to Promote Child Abusers 
No 6. Invitation to Malaysia 
No 7. United World Body Formed 
No 8. Does Srila Prabhupada Support Poisoning Theory?
No 9. PADA Attacks IRM Position 
No 10. PADA Continues to Present False Evidence 
No 11. GBC Funded Video says Ritvik Spiritual 
No 12. Child Rapist Selected by Gurus to Defend their Legitimacy 
No 13. GBC Facing Perjury Charge in Calcutta High Court 
No 14. Sahajiyism Makes a Comeback in Iskcon.
No 15. Govt. Minister Inaugurates Bangalore Rathayatra 
No 16. Iskcon Calcutta Triumphs Following Arson Attack 
No 17. Fighting Lies with Truth Not More Lies
No 18. GBC Resolutions Continue to Provide Laughter
No 19. Indian Leaders Endorse IRM Position That GBC Confused 
No 20. Convicted Child Abuser Officially 'Returns' To Parampara
No 21. GBC Chairman Admits ISKCON 'Disintegrating' 
No 22. Krishna Confirms ISKCON Re-Birth
No 23. Hare Krishna Explosion Begins In New York as IRM Temple Opens 
No 24. IRM Launches Media Campaign to Defend Srila Prabhupada
No 25. GBC Teaches That 'Living Gurus' NOT Required 
No 26. BBT Admits Books Changed To Fit GBC Philosophy 

Your comments, questions and feedback are appreciated. Please write to me at adri@cwcom.net

Your Servant, Adridharan das