In what ways does ISKCON protects itself against the mission drift or between honouring the Founder-Acharya and evolving with changing times?
Hridaya Chaitanya Dasa : In ISKCON, it’s important for all devotees to honour their guru. Some disciples may think that their ISKCON guru should be honoured as much as Srila Prabhupada, this should be discouraged and checked, and unless the GBC body recognises such a highly exceptional and pure devotee, all these trends and vacillations should be discouraged and stopped if they become a disturbance.
How do you address any potential or actual challenges or controversies surrounding the position of Founder Acharya within the organization?
HCD: Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee, empowered by Lord Krishna, who always spoke guided by the Supersoul in everything he did and said. Even when Srila Prabhupada spoke about the most sensitive subjects, he always spoke with the absolute truth as the basis. He did everything with a compassionate heart, with the aim of helping and uplifting others. He never did or said anything to judge or put down another person. It may seem to some that he was sometimes discriminatory with regard to gender, race or creed, but on the other hand he realised better than anyone else that we are not the body and that we are eternal spiritual souls with an eternal spiritual relationship with Krsna that has been temporarily forgotten. The solution is to study Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and behaviour more and deeper and then it will be understood that Srila Prabhupada was the most compassionate well-wisher of all living beings.
Hrdaya Caitanya das’s zonal assignments are Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Spain; and is co-zonal secretary with Madhu Sevita Dasa for Paris, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands; and is GBC for New Mayapur.