Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

You kindly wrote to me:

“So much of what ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON—not the shadow ISKCON—is, is pioneering.”

If I may ask, could you please elaborate on what you mean by shadow ISKCON? I would be grateful to understand what that refers to, both in theory and in how it might be recognized in practice.

Also, regarding pioneering spirit in Krishna bhakti—through my years trying to serve and grow as a bhakta, I’ve often felt that attempts at pioneering or fresh sharing of Krishna consciousness were met more with caution or opposition, rather than encouragement—especially from some persons in positions of authority.

Of course, I could be wrong in my perception, but I’m trying to reconcile this with the idea of Srila Prabhupada’s movement being so pioneering by nature. If you feel it is appropriate, I would deeply value your thoughts on this tension and how to navigate it in a sincere and constructive spirit.

Your servant, Namacarya Das

HpS - AgtSP. I don't exactly remember by 'shadow' iskcon. it is not a term that srila prabhupada uses, no?

in general it is just a simple concept, no?

srila prabhupada required with great vigor that he be listed on all of his books as the founder acharya of iskcon.

not at only diksa guru etc. etc.

other positions as they are mentioned in his books are certainly wonderful and practical.

yet as a fundamental title, this is the one he put on the cover of all of this books before he left his body.

in the NoI we looked at how he defined iskcon, this movement, and it started with non-envious, following four principles, rounds, up early, associating with discrimination with three different kinds of devotees in the society.

then we have others who claim to accept srila prabhupada as their acharya but don't follow his standards.

we see physical institutions, people in institutional positions, pretending to represent srila prabhupada, but using his good name and institutions good name for little or big deviations to strive for personal illusory fruits.

nothing new, no?

have to learn to distinguish mother yasoda from putana.

-then KRSNA will take care of Putana.

-0-0-0-

we take text three of noi as basis for pioneering in iskcon. utsahan is more important than patience, but without patience, enthusiasm turns into passion.

in one food fight between lord nityananda and adwaita acharya, srila prabhupada comments that LN is avadhuta and AA is smarta. Revolutionaries and Conservatives.

He says that they have never understood each other and they never will.

Left and Right Wing Gopis.

Yet, in spiritual life they love each other like anything. Radha LOVES Candravali, but She loves to fight with Her!

Maya is coming up with newer and newer ways to tempt the conditioned souls, and Krsna and Balarama et al are coming up with newer and newer ways to get them out of Maya.

After each incarnation K/B et al, pause to review this incarnation.

I think when Maya, Vaisnavi, made Agha asura, it was the first time. Krsna was amazed. "Wow💥!.."

Letter on Management, Srila Prabhupada established the GBC and said that he had also established Sannyasa and they had their duties also. one of which was to report to the gbc on possibilities of places for establishing new center.

report new communities.

new blog spots.

mangal ananda das was composing new songs in english.

they were tasteful and philosophically correct and very inspiring.

he asked SP if it was O.K. and commented that some of the senior men in iskcon said that he should not do it.

SP is reported to have said, "the cows will moo, but the caravan will pass".

hope this is useful! 🐵