Faith Killer?

“The Great Garloo,” a nearly-two-feet-tall remote-controlled robotic toy by Marx Toys, first released in 1961. For more, see The Great Garloo.

One of my more-recently-acquired Facebook friends, Dominick Koss of East Hampton, New York, tells me, “My beef with you is that you are a faith killer.” He had just read my December 30th 2024 post about Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada instructing a senior disciple, “We may take money for Krishna using any method of beg, borrow or steal, but . . . . not for ANY reason shall we decrease the book sales and collection monthly over some small lying about Bangladesh or other things.”

I find Dominick’s comment interesting. Some others have claimed the opposite:

“Regarding the book Eleven Naked Emperors, Doktorski has done an outstanding job putting the entire drama into a very well documented and highly readable account. His tone is remarkably non-partisan, non-polemical and he has tried sincerely to be fair and impartial. I might add, for those who feel that dirty laundry should not be displayed in public, that there is nothing in Doktorski’s work that seeks to undermine the faith of the devotees in Krishna or, for that matter, in the institution of ISKCON.”—Edwin Bryant, Professor of Hindu Philosophy and Religion, Rutgers University (January 20, 2020)

Another wrote, “In regards to the doubt that was expressed in the last portion of the book, Eleven Naked Emperors, namely whether Srila Prabhupada was not to blame for the fiasco of his disciples after his departure, I think every genuine disciple must encounter doubts of such calibre. We must know the knowledge side by side with the nescience. If one is to shy away from such discussion, it does not speak well of his faith in Srila Prabhupada either. It does not help if we ignore such doubts, suppress them, or demonize those who genuinely discover them. Quite the opposite, all doubts should be discussed and if they are ignored, they devour us.”—Purujit dasa, La Linea, Spain (February 19, 2020)

But on the other hand, Dominick’s observation may be correct; perhaps frighteningly correct. Actually now that I think about it, I suppose I’ve been a faith killer for over 60 years. It seems to me that Krishna selected me to battle against what I call “deranged devotion.” The subtitle for my first book about Hare Krishna history is, after all, called, The Danger of Deranged Devotion.

How did I become a faith killer 60 years ago? At the age of six or seven, I attended a Christmas Eve party at my grandparents’ home in Milltown, New Jersey, along with my parents, brother and sisters and several aunts and uncles and cousins. At one point, a jolly, somewhat portly man with a white beard, red cap, black boots and red coat entered the living room through the back door, carrying a large sack made from a white bed sheet and greeting us with a boisterous “Ho, ho, ho!” It was Santa Claus himself, come from the North Pole!

All of us seven children screamed joyfully as Santa began reaching in his sack and pulling out gaily wrapped gifts for each of us! Everyone was ecstatic.

Suddenly, I—who happened to be the eldest of the seven children—noticed that Santa resembled my grandfather to a remarkable degree. I looked around the room and spied my grandmother, parents, aunts and uncles, but not my grandfather. I had a sudden realization, and after all these years, I still remember the scene in detail: That was not Santa, that was my grandfather dressed as Santa!

I began shouting to my siblings and cousins, “That’s not Santa! That’s Dziadzi!” (a Polish word for grandfather). Within seconds, my father’s sister, Aunt Joan, gently pulled me aside, and whispered in my ear, “Yes, Henry, you are very bright and quite right to discover the deception. However, please refrain from further outbursts because the other children believe that Dziadzi is Santa, and you will shake their faith.”

So I kept my mouth shut, and enjoyed playing with my present: a remote-controlled toy robot, the nearly two-feet tall green giant called “The Great Garloo.”

Fast forward thirty years, and I found myself in a similar predicament: after serving my ISKCON-approved “spiritual master” for fifteen years, I discovered from reliable sources that he was not what he appeared to be; he had been regularly giving fellatio to teenage boys for many years, an activity prohibited for one in the renounced order of life. After speaking with him in private about this, I rejected him as my spiritual master, as he was not qualified to serve in that post, at least according to Prabhupada’s definition.

However, I was in a quandary. Should I just quietly stop my service at New Vrindaban and keep my mouth shut or should I warn my godbrothers and sisters of the danger to their spiritual lives if they continued to worship him as a pure devotee uttama-adhikari self-realized divine and infallible soul? Some godbrothers and sisters recommended I just keep my mouth shut. After all, Bhaktipada was still inspiring thousands to chant Hare Krishna and give up sinful activities. “You shouldn’t criticize such a great soul. Your godbrothers and sisters believe Bhaktipada is a self-realized soul, a pure devotee, a divine and infallible being. You will shake their faith.”

After reflection, I chose the latter path, and although my conclusions were rejected by many—one godbrother threatened I would be “dead meat” if I didn’t stop my blasphemy—some agreed with me and rejected Bhaktipada as their spiritual master.

Fast forward another twenty or so years: during my research about the history of New Vrindaban, I discovered, much to my surprise and chagrin, that many, if not all, of the anomalies at New Vrindaban which generated much controversy and pain, were in fact recommended by the ISKCON Founder/Acharya years earlier: cheating and lying to people on sankirtan to sell more books and make more money (letter December 30, 1972), husbands beating their wives (room conversation, April 12, 1969), marrying off young girls to older men (Back to Godhead, November 20, 1958), allowing male disciples to take more than one wife (Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi lila 14.58), etc.

And I had been taught that Prabhupada was an infallible and divine being, just as I had been taught that Bhaktipada was also an infallible and divine being. The New Vrindaban elders told me. Prabhupada explained:

Yes, I admit both Bhaktipada and Prabhupada, in their own unique ways, were great preachers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and accomplished great wonders, but neither were infallible or perfect divine beings, in my opinion.

I have no problem with people worshiping Prabhupada (or Bhaktipada) as a great preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, but don’t they see that he sometimes made mistakes and cheated others? Worship all you want, just don’t call him infallible and divine. So some will say, as my aunt said to me 60 years ago, and my godbrothers said 30 years ago, “Keep your mouth shut; thousands believe Prabhupada is a self-realized pure devotee, a divine and infallible being. You will shake the faith of his followers.”

Henry Doktorski
January 1, 2025

Father Henry Doktorski II, sister Cindy, brother John, cousin Frankie Chadwick, cousin Roseanne Chadwick, Grandfather “Dziadzi” Henry H. Doktorski, sister Eileen, Yours Truly, uncle John and cousin Kathleen Chadwick celebrate Dziadzi’s 62nd birthday (December 29, 1967).

Readers Respond

“I’d steal for Krsna if I could get away with it.” Srila Prabhupada but of course since he was afraid he’d get caught, this modern day Fagin had his street urchins pickpocket for him. Why? Because Krsna or God, the all powerful was strapped for cash and needed money so bad that He gave his ‘divinely appointed representives’ or so they claimed to be, the OK to have their own slaves steal it. Whats wrong with this picture?

George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas

The Moonies had "Heavenly Deception." ISKCON had "transcendental trickery." What is the difference? Someone kindly explain.

Steven Gelberg (formerly Subhananada dasa)
Richmond, California

All isms have a concept of greater good. Even enlightment movements in 19th century, had to force children into schools, by creating compulsory education. There are many accounts of poverty stricken families being fined, children rounded up in the streets and dependents losing their only incomes by forcing children out of work and into schools. The family would lose the farm as the sons were at school. Indigenous and agrarian societies obliterated. May seem irrelevant, however that's how Prabhupada thought - that people themselves are not intelligent enough for their own good. Prabhupada was simply applying what he was seeing around him - but in a different context. He called this new context Krishna Consciousness.

Guruttama Das (Varis Lux)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Meh, it just affirms your position Mr. Doctorsky . You are a sore materialistic looser in so many ways. Never experienced real transcendental plane. Once one have that taste, experience, never to be forgotten. That one mystical experience gives one light to existence no matter how dark. You never got that, looser. Then never have the common sense to professionally process the trauma of pathetic life of dedication to a pathetic creature posing as a Guru. Still relishing those yucky feelings, over and over, ey Mate ? Writing books was not enough, everyday posts have to feed that trauma, otherwise something is missing, right ? That familiar stench of wasted life …in reverse. Being old and trying to enjoy drink and women. How sad. Oh, well, what to expect from illiterate hippies, that never dived deep into Gaudia Vaishnava world, just been frozen with their hippie society consciousness, pretending it was “ real thing” of Krishna spirituality.

Dominick Koss
East Hampton, Long Island

Lying - when the only leg of Dharma supposedly still standing in this age is Truthfulness.

Oskar Varghjärta (Carisnuman Dugdhapan das)
Kläppen, Västerbottens Län, Sweden

No wonder so many of his disciples and grand-disciples are grifters.

Christopher Fici
New York, New York

Prabhupada would in many ways agree with Henry's Auntie. The Noble Lie, is useful - like giving a child medicine by saying it is very yummy and sweet while placing the medicine in the child's mouth. If with the assistance of a white lie a person behaves in a saintly manner, even if temporarily - then what is the harm? Proponents of stopping deranged devotion cite how a person was murdered as a result. An extreme case. But do we know how many people were prevented from murdering by Bhaktipada's message of universal love of God?

Guruttama Das (Varis Lux)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The sexual abuse of young boys by Catholic priests was kept quiet because it might damage the faith. The sexual abuse of young boys in scouting was kept quiet because it might damage the program Far better to bring it light, deal with the injustice and trauma and work towards a better program than hide the corruption and allow it to continue.

Eugene Rodek
West Chester, Pennsylvania

I believe that pointing out the shortcomings and "humanness" of spiritual teachers is necessary. It reminds all of us to look deeper into the meaning of "faith" and to look beyond the fallible messengers to an infallible and universal message. Unfortunately some(many) leave their spiritual path upon discovering the "humanity", the human frailty, of humans whom they treated as divine and infallible. Unfortunately the discovery that their "guru" or teacher is fallible causes many to cease all spiritual life . I value the writings of those who courageously seek truth, even when that pursuit risks damaging the unfounded faith in mere mortals which many are captive to. Acknowledging the humanity of our spiritual teachers does not detract from the underlying TRUTH of the message they teach. It can lead us to seek the deeper TRUTH, the TRUTH which is beyond repute, scandal, rumor, beyond the failings and fallings, which all humans are prone to.

Don Talley
Black Mountain, North Carolina

My faith in Srila Prabhupada has never wavered. Honestly, I don't believe all this stuff about women being less intelligent or lusty or the worst women can't be trusted. Srila Prabhupada has given me a process to develop my love for Krsna and so that makes it worthwhile to stay with him

Beverly Newman
Forest Lake, California

Point well taken. Grateful to you, your books Henry. I remember as a RDTSP ‘field’ player, we would sometimes pay our dandavats, fall to the ground, just hearing Kirtanananda’s name. Eeeeek poor human vulnerability!

Mukti Michael Buck
Delray Beach, Florida

Very important post. My personal conclusion: don't idolize any human. While we are, in our pure essence, Divine, we all make mistakes when occupying these finite imperfect human bodies. We must protect ourselves from dangerous human bodies even if we can learn from their words.

Chris Keane
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pure devotees - like Srila Prabhupada - have no propensity to cheat others for their own account but will do so to serve Krishna (the Supreme Cheater) according to time and circumstance. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada used the term pure devotee to describe Kirtanananda - and many other of his disciples - when they were following their devotional vows, not speaking/acting nonsensically, and not disobeying his instructions. Otherwise, they were "contaminated devotees", "separatists" - or even "demons in the guise of devotees" as described in his letters... In the case of Kirtanananda, Srila Prabhupada wrote (in '67) that he had "lost his link" due to disobedience and would need to "rectify his mistake" before again assuming any important role in the Krishna Consciousness movement - which he evidently did (and was widely considered a "pure devotee") until his various contaminations again became manifest... Srila Prabhupada, by contrast, never deviated from pure devotion by spiritual - not mundane - standards...

Ron Jermakian (Raghunatha Puri dasa)
Amherst, Massachusetts

Some minds have an emotional need for certitude—which even blind faith acceptance of a belief can satisfy—but only when the fact that one’s blind faith belief is mistaken for established fact. That the so called “fact” remains unchallenged aids us in repressing any doubts or uncertainties that may threaten our blind faith acceptance—and consequently our emotional equipoise—and threaten to call up demons from the deep, those long buried uncertainties that threaten to raise up screaming, terrorizing us in our sleep in the lap of Maya or illusion. For Maya (or illusion) is exactly what belief becomes, when through blind faith acceptance, it is mistaken for an established truth or self-realized knowledge. Learning from Henry’s books the things that he’s just mentioned may indeed kill the faith of some true believers, but more than likely they will just damn the truth teller and throw rocks at his head, comforting themselves as they dance upon his bloodied corpse that the blasphemer of the pure devotee, purer than the snow, is dead. Then they can simply go back into their eternal slumbering in the Witch Queen’s lap of illusion. It is always difficult to counteract the spell of a witch once it has been cast, once one is slumbering in the lap of the illusion that their beliefs are founded. In fact, it is practically hopeless to try to wake them from their ensorcelled sleep, for they are happy in their dreams. Your books, Henry, are hard hitting to the blind faith of many. You are stripping away blind faith, a loss of lives and decades in the service of illusion and leaving us with a question as to whether or not there is even such a thing as a faith that is seeing.

In answer to my question as to whether or not that there is “seeing” faith as well as blind faith, the only thing we can be sure of from the quotes provided by Henry in which A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada praised Kirtanananda as “fully Krishna conscious” and as a “pure devotee of Krishna” is that if there is seeing faith then A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada didn’t have it, because the only one thing that such comments by Srila Prabhupada indicate is that spiritually he was as blind as a bat. "Oh no. You musn’t say that.” No, I shouldn’t have to because to anyone not blinded by deranged devotion it should be obvious, but somehow or other it isn’t. I suspect that the reason is that observing the obvious requires balls and devotees do not have them. I do, which was why blind faith acceptance of Krsna consciousness was never an option for me. I required proof, actual evidence of not only Krsna's existence and identity as God but of also Prabhupada's being a transparent via-medium between myself and what could only be God by definition before I entered the movement.

George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas

The great 19th-century American author, Henry David Thoreau, claimed, “The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.” And most people do not understand that in his desperate attempt at being world acharya (“My godbrothers suck; karmis, jnanis, yogis: all rubbish; even my disciples—all mlecchas. Guess what? That leaves only me.”). And yet his attitude caused a couple thousand women and children to be molested, beaten and raped. Go figure. As one of the more astute writers on the current scene described, “Of all the New Age religious movements ISKCON is the sickest.”

Anonymous ISKCON devotee
West Virginia

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