Self-Identity, Conflict and Commonwealth within ISKCON
In this essay by Krishna Kirti Dasa, he makes several comments about how the structure of ISKCON leads inexorably to conflict and that a loose affiliate would serve the devotees better:
“Separate communities with their own internal, spiritual authority structures and loose affiliations with each other fostered within a commonwealth would allow communities of devotees that have deep differences to pursue their own solutions in tandem and with far less risk of committing Vaishnava aparadha.
"ISKCON as a commonwealth would help alleviate dissension among devotees in two ways: it would help keep far enough apart devotees whose differences inevitably bring them into conflict, and it would give an opportunity to each community to develop their own way of life in pursuance of the Krishna conscious ideal.
"I see that devotees have deep disagreements about non-trivial matters and that the differences in some cases are so stark that it has become all but impossible to discuss them. Thus over the years I have advised many devotees that it is better to keep themselves at a distance, if not leave entirely, in order to peacefully build the kind of Krishna conscious society that is more according to their realization and liking.
"Separate communities with their own internal, spiritual authority structures and loose affiliations with each other fostered within a commonwealth would allow communities of devotees that have deep differences to pursue their own solutions in tandem and with far less risk of committing Vaishnava aparadha."
We agree with this perspective entirely and this is just one of the reasons that we are creating a "non-organization" type of organization. We believe it will serve the purpose of the Godhead and the devotees much better. For more information please see the links for "Daiva Varnashrama Sangam."
Krishna Kirti's essay is from <http://www.dandavats.com/?p=10413>
