Books by Hare Krishna Historian Henry Doktorski
200+ Readers’ Letters and Reviews
Henry has completed twelve books on Hare Krishna history (photo: August 5, 2022).
February 7, 2017: Killing for Krishna—The Danger of Deranged Devotion will go a long way to reconcile ISKCON’s most notorious crime, the murder of Sulochan dasa (Steven Bryant). Henry Doktorski bases his treatise on years of research. In the spirit of the biblical quote, “The truth will set you free,” Killing for Krishna offers ISKCON followers the truth about their organization’s dark history.
Nori J. Muster (formerly Nandini devi dasi), former disciple of Ramesvara Maharaja, executive secretary to Mukunda Goswami in the ISKCON Public Affairs Office, associate editor for ISKCON World Review, and author of Betrayal of the Spirit (University of Illinois Press), Phoenix, Arizona
January 14, 2018: 5 stars. Want the truth about perhaps the most pivotal event in the latter day history of the Hare Krishna movement? Researched to a degree that defies the imagination and painfully objective, as well as completely free from mudslinging and sectarian agenda! This account goes miles beyond Monkey On a Stick in regard to the facts and strenuously avoids its sensationalism. Equally interesting to Krishna devotees and non-devotees. Despite the grisly subject matter, the book presents Krishna consciousness as it is. The book is as independent as anyone could want—it was not filtered through any institutional leadership and represents no one’s vested interest. All my respects to all the devotees who contributed. Srila Prabhupada said that brahmanas adhere to truth. This book cannot, therefore, be displeasing to him.
Bhakta Eric Johanson (formerly Vrindaban-Chandra Swami), former ISKCON member and former disciple of Hansadutta Maharaja, Moab, Utah, from a Customer Review at Amazon
January 15, 2018: 5 stars. Excellent, important, timely. This book is an incredibly well researched, nuanced and intelligent treatise on one of the more notorious chapters of ISKCON’s history. In contrast to earlier accounts (such as Monkey on a Stick), this book offers an insider’s view on ISKCON, New Vrindavan and Swami Bhaktipada. Indeed, Doktorski references sources only an insider can have access to (he had access to the Keith Gordon Ham/Swami Bhaktipada Archives), and the story he tells is a story to be heard. All of this, and the lucid style of the author, adds up to a highly recommended book—for both devotees, former devotees, anyone ever touched by, or interested in ISKCON, and, above all, for researchers. A new standard work on ISKCON and its history. Perhaps, just perhaps, this book will ignite the open dialogue the movement so sorely needs. Let’s hope.
Zinnober, from a Customer Review at Amazon Germany
January 18, 2018: Killing for Krishna—The Danger of Deranged Devotion by Henry Doktorski is a nuanced, intelligent, and impeccably researched work on events and developments which continue to haunt ISKCON to this very day. The author writes from a unique perspective: he has methodically studied the Keith Gordon Ham/Swami Bhaktipada Archive for fifteen years, and as a former inhabitant of the New Vrindaban Community, he is both personal witness and chronologist of most of the events described in this book. Additionally, and in contrast to former accounts of the decline of the New Vrindaban Community, Doktorski refrains from oversimplifying an inherently complex narrative. Rather, he acknowledges ambiguity where appropriate and clarity where it is possible. The outcome, then, is an extremely well written, and important and timely work—and while it is foreseeable that its publication may not be welcome by everyone within ISKCON, one would hope that it nonetheless will be instrumental in opening an honest and unbiased reflection within a movement which so far has been somewhat reluctant to meet up to its past and responsibility.
Professor Dr. Alexander Batthyany, the Viktor Frankl Chair for Philosophy and Psychology at the International Academy of Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein
January 28, 2018: 5 stars. The missing years of Radhanath Swami in [his autobiography] The Journey Home exposed. Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. Superbly researched and well documented sequel to Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness, and the Hare Krishnas, by Henry Doktorski (Hrishikesh dasa). The involvement of insidious Radhanath Swami, the author of semi-fictional The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami in Sulochan dasa’s murder laid threadbare. Turns out that the Swami is well and truly a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and should prepare for his “Journey to the Penitentiary” (preferably in a cell next to killer Thomas Drescher’s) in this lifetime and to purgatory in the next. Count on Radhanath Swami’s brain-dead bots (not unlike Kirtanananda’s) to swamp this page with 1 stars without even procuring or reading this book.
G, from a Customer Review at Amazon
(1) Is this book relevant? (2) Should ISKCON devotees read this book? (3) Are the conclusions presented in this book truth or reality?
(1) Although the events described in the book happened thirty years ago, the book is very relevant because it talks about a current leader of ISKCON, one of the most popular gurus in ISKCON. I heard about this murder many years ago. I knew there was a devotee, Sulochan, who was killed. I knew he was killed by Tirtha dasa, who is currently in jail. This information is available on the Internet. What makes this book different? This book describes the whole background, the whole arena, in which this murder happened. It describes the people who were involved. It describes the way of thinking of devotees at that time. It describes the arguments presented by the conspirators of this murder. It’s a very detailed account of one very important event in the history of the Krishna consciousness movement. . . . I think this book is very relevant.
(2) Is this book good to read? Should we read it? Is there anything we can learn from it? Sure. There is one very prominent deviation that is currently still present in ISKCON and that deviation is called [the] “Guru-List” theory. . . . The origins of this “Guru-List” theory—which is currently still present in ISKCON—and the consequences that you can have with this kind of crazy blind following; these consequences are described in this book. . . . The same principles are present even today in ISKCON. So it’s a very good book to read.
(3) Now, let’s talk about the conclusions of the book. Basically, in a subtle way, [the] author of the book claims that Radhanath Swami was actively involved in Sulochan’s murder, and that he’s criminally implicated up to his neck. . . . You should read this book and get yourself educated.
Hanuman dasa (Hrvoje Marjanovic), Zagreb, Croatia, from Review of book Killing for Krishna by Henry Doktorski on YouTube
February 11, 2018: 5 stars. Fair, balanced and very thorough.
You would think this is a screenplay for a murder mystery or mafia movie, but sadly it is all real-life. There is so much on the Internet describing this time in the Hare Krishna movement that it is nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction. This book does the best job so far. All sides are covered; no one is short-changed. Everyone’s story is heard and the reader is left to make up their own mind. As far as criticisms, some aspects should have more details given, such as the murders prior to the main character, but the author did a very good job nonetheless. Really eye-opening stuff about the people who inherited and almost squandered the legacy of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
KingSonal, from a Customer Review at Amazon
February 13, 2018: 5 stars. Informative, accurate, well written, and powerful book! Beware of false gurus! And false book reviews too!
Informative, accurate, well written, and powerful book! Many accolades to Henry Doktorski for the courage to do this work. Definitely worth reading, especially if you have anything to do with the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON). Unfortunately one high level Krishna leader will likely spend upwards of $250,000 to slander this book in various ways (on Amazon and Google) as he has thousands of disciples who will leave poor reviews. This same person launched a similar campaign to boost sales of his own book(s) so that they would reach the best sellers lists. That being said, take each single 5 star review to count for about 500, just to level the playing field to some degree.
What’s even more interesting is that I’ve heard this man in question lecture and he states, “I have no money.” This is further dishonesty, to add to what is in the book. He has millions but the rationalization of institution gurus alongside him is that the money is Krishna’s (God’s) money. Therefore they can claim that they have no money. Meanwhile some of them have well over a million in the bank, which is against many scriptural injunctions for sannyasis (renounced monks).
Anyway, this is a wonderful book accounting the details of the famous New Vrindavan murder. I hope it will lead to a further level of institutional integrity and honesty among the leaders of ISKCON. When it comes to ‘preaching’ or education, Srila Prabhupada, the guru of the Hare Krishnas once explained that “preaching is like throwing a brick into a pack of dogs. The one who gets hit yelps the loudest.” What this analogy means is that the person whom truth hurts the most is most likely the one to go on a campaign against it.
Vaishnava Dasa, from a Customer Review at Amazon
February 21, 2018: 5 stars. Primarily Killing for Krishna—The Danger of Deranged Devotion is based upon meticulous observation, research, and reporting. Henry Doktorski has kept his eyes on the evildoers for just what they were (and probably still are), and he exposes them by hitting his targets smack dab on the sweet spot. As formerly an insider within that cult, he knew all of those good fellas. He thus makes such deranged practitioners of pseudo-bhakti uncomfortable in his book, a discomfort they all most fully deserve. The manuscript is cross-referenced and presents different possible explanations for many secondary but related events from different perspectives, but without losing sight of the chief thread, viz., the ruthless assassination of a dissident who was ultimately proven right. This voluminous work is a real page-turner, as there is enough tension created in each sub-header (of each chapter) to keep the reader interested and intrigued. How could it be otherwise? The whole account is loaded with deadly accurate descriptions of a peculiar cult combination of intrigue, treachery, and betrayal—the worse variety of the triad. This great book has multi-episode television series written all over it.
Kailasa Candra dasa, ACBSP (Mark Goodwin), Jasper, Arkansas, Vaishnava intellectual, thinker, sidereal astrologer, author and cofounder of The Vaishnava Foundation, from a Customer Review at Amazon
February 27, 2018: 5 Stars. Detailed Journey to the Past.
Killing for Krishna tells the story of the most notorious crime in the history of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON): the murder of Steven Bryant, aka Sulochan, on May 22, 1986. The murder conspiracy grew out of a culture of violence in New Vrindaban, the largest ISKCON center in America, located in the back hills of West Virginia. The guru and king of New Vrindaban was Kirtanananda Swami, also known as Bhaktipada, and whose real name was Keith Ham. Over the twenty-six years of Kirtanananda’s reign, none of the ISKCON leaders anywhere in the world could stand up to him.
ISKCON has had a half-dozen murders and other crimes, but the Sulochan murder stands out because it was a carefully planned crime, for which the gunman, the guru Kirtanananda, and others served time in prison. The gunman is still serving a life sentence.
Doktorski traces every thread of the murder conspiracy, beginning when Sulochan joined ISKCON, to when he is murdered, on to how the conspirators fared in court, and ending with the aftermath up to the present day. Much of the later history, as cited in e-mails and other online exchanges, describes the internal bickering over who was the most to blame for the murder.
Doktorski concludes the book with a warning about deranged devotion, citing tape-recorded conversations and published statements, where the ISKCON founder explained why it was okay to kill for Krishna. He never advocated killing anyone, but in his teachings, he compared it to soldiers killing for a country’s military. If killing is authorized, it’s okay. That leaves the question, who can authorize a murder for Krishna? Fundamentalist religious cults often adopt twisted understandings of their own dogma, and given a deranged leader like Kirtanananda, and blindly devoted followers like he had up to the end of his life, the Sulochan murder makes perfect sense.
Doktorski concludes: “the tragic yet heroic saga of Sulochan serves to enlighten us as to why we should not encourage nor participate in those charismatic cults. Instead, to whatever extent possible, we can work to curtail those cults from ever again gaining the momentum they did in the nineteen-eighties.”
Killing for Krishna is just a slice of the ISKCON history Doktorski plans to document. He published this story first, since it answers a lot of questions about ISKCON’s controversial past. Unfortunately, the murder, and the culture behind it, remain taboo subjects within the ISKCON organization. By maintaining silence, they risk their reputation because the truth has its way of coming out. For one thing, books like Doktorski’s will not let ISKCON completely forget.
Killing for Krishna relies on court records, media accounts, interviews, and the author’s own memory, since he lived through that era as a Kirtanananda disciple in New Vrindaban. The book includes a sixteen-page, detailed New Vrindaban timeline that covers the years 1974 to 2018. People who grew up in New Vrindaban or lived there during the seventies and eighties would gain new insights into their own experience from reading this book, and studying the timeline.
Nori J. Muster, Phoenix, Arizona, former associate editor of ISKCON World Review and author of Betrayal of the Spirit, from a Customer Review at Amazon
March 3, 2018: I have a feeling Henry will end up as Sulochan Jr. [dead].
from a Customer Review at Amazon
March 4, 2018: 5 Stars. Filled in many gaps!
Well researched, written and better than most fictional crime thrillers. Authenticated testimonies leave no doubts. Filled in many gaps and exposes just how many were aware of, or were actually involved with this and other crimes. The irony is that now many of these criminals are controlling the Hare Krishna society.
Bala, from a Customer Review at Amazon
April 5, 2018: 5 Stars. An insider’s view into a strange place and time.
Extremely well researched and well paced, this book offers an insider’s view of one of the more bizarre chapters in the story of the Hare Krishnas. The author maintains a “professional distance,” so this is no lurid hit piece nor common true crime thriller. Rather, it’s a focused, yet engaging history of the Hare Krishna’s New Vrindaban community that tells the full story of what was covered in the more sensational Monkey on a Stick of the late-1980s. Even if your only recollection of the Krishnas is their omnipresence in airports decades back, this book is worth diving into as the story is representative of the fallout of the social and religious commune experimentation that began in the 1960s, flourished in the 1970s, and largely came to an end in the 1980s.
HonestJoe, from a Customer Review at Amazon
5 stars. Thanks for writing this book! I look forward to reading your next books on the Zonal Acharya System and the full biography of Kirtanananda Swami. Actually, despite the difficult truths, Killing For Krishna increased my love for Krishna, ISKCON, Prabhupada, even Sulochan dasa, Tirtha Swami, Radhanath Swami and Kirtanananda Swami.
As Prabhupada said most of his initiates were 3rd & 4th class people, this book glorifies Prabhupada’s ability to take all sorts of people, bring us together and try to make devotees out of us. This process of Bhakti Yoga is the hidden theme all throughout this book.
Much blessings, and certainly there are many people more interested in the other forthcoming books, than the unfortunately events in this book, but possibly by separating these unfortunate events into a separate book, the other two books can focus on more positive aspects, without seeming fake and ignoring the truth, and we can remember Kirtanananda as Prahbupada’s top disciple.
As an American I never believed the “Pure Devotee” theory, but did not let that get in my way from the amazing accomplishments of devotees, and considering the state of consciousness of the world, we should try to objectively look at the facts, the good and bad. For those who believe in the process of Harinam Sankirtan and the teachings of Lord Chaitanya and will still see the overwhelming greatness of these fallen people who committed great crimes, but at the same time were able to accomplish spiritual miracles through the belief in Krishna and the teachings of Lord Chaitanya! Hare Krishna!
David A. Carlton, Detroit, Michigan, from a review at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
May 19, 2018: As a former devotee I found this book to be a well researched and well written page turner. I cant wait for Doktorski’s next book to come out.
Waldwinthir Elphias Hiedelphuns Gilliwater
5 Stars.
This book reveals some of the personality cult dynamics within the Hare Krishna movement and how these dynamics lead to the murder of the Hare Krishna dissident, Steven Byrant. The book recounts how Byrant’s death leads to the fall of Bhaktipada (Keith Ham) who was a leading superstar and charismatic leader within the Hare Krishna cult. Bhaktipada, a paedophile, is a fascinating and clearly deranged character. However, more fascinating are the descriptions of his followers’ insane devotion to him. The level of fundamentalism described in this book are frightening. Even after it is revealed that the emperor has no clothes, the level of devotion given to Bhaktipada and his associates is staggering.
Bhaktipada’s associate Radhanath Swami, currently a leader within the cult, is possibly the most intriguing character in this story. His Machiavellian ascent to power is remarkable. . . . Bhaktipada clearly uses A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s teaching to con his deluded followers. Bhaktipada’s power and abuse stem from A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s endorsement. . . . I hope the people behind the incredible Netflix series Wild Wild Country, about the Rajaneeshi cult, read this book and make a series about the characters and events in this book. The betrayals, lies, delusion, fundamentalism and cover ups are laid to bear in this book.
Noddy, from a Customer Review at Amazon.UK
5 Stars.
I would seriously recommend everyone to read this book. Packed full of factual references. Mr. Doktorski has put a heck of a lot of research, time and effort. A real eye opener.
Michael Kieth Powell, from a Customer Review at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
5 Stars.
I’m a former devotee myself and couldn’t put this book down. I hope I hear about your next book when it comes out. I would like to preorder it.
Joshualee Guillim, from a Customer Review at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
5 Stars.
The book was well-written and engaging throughout. More than just reporting on the conspiracy to murder Sulocana, this book describes the culture of Kirtanananda’s New Vrindavan during the 1980s. It is eye-opening and clarifying to get a clear account of the dysfunction in that corner of space and time. It is a must-read for ISKCON members who want to learn from the past so there is no repetition of the deranged devotion under Kirtanananda and the Zonal Acharya system.
Makhana Cora Das, from a Customer Review at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
June 25, 2018: The somewhat recent publication of the book . . . [Killing For Krishna], has both sides talking. And boy can they talk!
Priitaa devi dasi, from a review at Bhakti Yoga at Home.
July 10, 2018: Until I read the book by Henry, I wasn’t sure that Radhanath had a hand in it [the murder of Sulochan]. I trust Henry. I have communicated with Henry. I trust his sincerity. I trust his research. He is a very brave soul. He was a member of the New Vrindaban Community from 1978 to 1993. He gave fifteen years of his life. He has absolutely no interest in lying or deceiving people. As far as I can see, he is telling the truth. And as he mentioned in the Introduction to his book, the most important [factor] is the truth. . . .
One of the most interesting parts of the book Killing For Krishna, is when Henry, in 1993, finally went and asked Kirtanananda if it was true that he was molesting boys at New Vrindaban. Was it true that he was a pedophile? And Kirtanananda said he had never broken any principle of being a monk since he had joined the Krishna movement in 1966. But Henry had done his research, and he knew for sure that his guru was lying. So that was the end of accepting Kirtanananda as his guru.
Henri Jolicoeur (formerly Hanuman Swami—ACBSP), Montreal, Quebec, from a review (part 2) at YouTube.
July 11, 2018: Do not follow anyone because someone is telling you that this guy, or this lady, is a very spiritually-advanced person. You have to use your heart; you have to use your brain. You have to investigate. You have to ask questions. Otherwise, it is easier than you think to be brainwashed by a cult. . . .
I really recommend people to read the book by Henry, Killing For Krishna. Henry was in the Hare Krishna New Vrindaban Community for fifteen years, and I sincerely believe that writing this book, researching this book, has been a great therapy for him. It might be a deep therapy and a deprogramming process [for others also], if you feel that you are following some sort of spiritual authority, some sort of a guru, that is telling you that you should obey because he knows better than you do.
So pick up the book and get informed. There’s no better way to learn about brainwashing than from someone who admits that he was brainwashed for fifteen years.
Henri Jolicoeur (formerly Hanuman Swami—ACBSP), Montreal, Quebec, from a review (part 4) at YouTube.
Hrish, I have finished your remarkable book and I have to say it is a job well done, sir. It appears you have left no stone unturned. For someone such as myself who not only indirectly lived through those times but has heard much of the information before, it really puts the pieces of the puzzle together effectively. I found it to be thorough, objective, and compelling. It was no doubt difficult trying to extract information from persons who had to avoid veracity for various reasons, including maintaining their standing in secular or Vaisnava society. The only term I can think of for your effort to compile 108 chapters of this sort of info in your forthcoming biography of Kirtanananda Swami and history of New Vrindaban is MONUMENTAL. Keep up the good work. I think many people will very much enjoy your book as I did.
New Vrindaban resident and godbrother
Dear Henry, Your book speaks for itself. It is a cleansing mechanism for anyone who has been associated with Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Because you have been so strenuously objective, it is completely non-sectarian. I see this as perhaps its greatest strength. It is very hard to associate it with one camp or another, although I can think of some who will seize on it for their self-interest. Anyway, devotees need to again become cleansed of the misapplications of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings that lead them to consider such bare truths as offensive. Many are so blind or ignorantly attached to some misplaced idea of anything hinting of criticism as blasphemy that they will be fearful of the book. Truth thus becomes the enemy of such people. How they can consider themselves fixed up devotees is a great feat of mental gymnastics. Unfortunately deviant leaders of so-called Krishna consciousness have driven many into such a ‘spiritual’ cul-de-sac. Srila Prabhupada used to use the example of the owl being afraid of the sunshine. Those who would fear the book thus practice an owl-like form of something that is only so-called Krishna consciousness.
adharmam dharmam iti ya
manyate tamasavrta
sarvarthan viparitams ca
buddhih sa partha tamasi
That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion,
under the spell of illusion and darkness,
and strives always in the wrong direction,
O Partha, is in the mode of ignorance. (Bhagavad-gita 18.32)
Bhakta Eric Johanson (formerly Vrindaban-Chandra Swami), Moab, Utah, former ISKCON member and former disciple of Hansadutta Maharaja, Moab, Utah
Respected pranams from ex-ISKCON member.
Sir, I received diksa from Bhagavan’s “Prince,” Brian Tibbits (Indradyumna Swami). Was personal secretary to Indradyumna Swami. Left in 2000. I’m half-way through your amazing book, Killing for Krishna. I have to honestly tell you that I’m on page 242; in 10 hours almost straight reading. You sir, do certainly have cojones. I really appreciate your work and already feeling like it’s healing; not only my wounds but many, many more souls across our planet.
Perhaps I could assist with your upcoming work in any way. I can help your mission by distributing your book in Europe. I was very good sankirtan devotee. We need to cover Poland first, Germany since I’m here presently and then Russia. I speak fluent Russian. It’s my great honour to be at your side on this quest. I have no wife or children. Single warrior, on your side. You have awoken your sleeping soldiers, prabhu. Again, I’m by your side. Will recruit more sincere soldiers soon. Already spread message to ex-ISKCON members in Poland. However, on a serious matter, please take care of yourself. You are most welcome to come here to North Germany. I’m surrounded by very few good friends. Deep regards and please kindly keep in touch. Om shanti.
Former disciple of Indradyumna Swami living in Germany
Hello Henry, I just got to Chapter 2 in your book, and it is an interesting read so far. It’s pretty well explained even for people who never were in the Hare Krishna movement, so I don’t have any major questions right now. I keep a bookmark in the back too so I can check each footnote. Anyhow, I like what I’ve read so far, and I’ll eventually get through the whole book and likely have more to discuss with you about it as well.
Pretty well explained, and neither Sulochan nor Kirtanananda really look like the “good guy” here, and even though I can understand why Sulochan was upset and wanted to take down the corrupt Swami Kirtanananda, the violent threats on the Swami’s life seem a bit extreme and over-the-top, though Sulochan obviously knew he would be in danger by making such accusations anyway, though I can also understand why people at New Vrindaban thought their Swami was in peril because of the threats and, not knowing the extent of the Swami’s corruption, they were interested in protecting him and dealing with the threats that Sulochan had made against their Swami.
So far, your book does a good job of highlighting the obvious problems of blind faith and, as you said, “deranged devotion.” I’m looking forward to eventually reading through the rest of your large and detailed book, and when I do, I’m sure I’ll have more to comment on and discuss with you then.
Gene Isner, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
I have not been able to read your entire book yet, but I’m working on it. So far, so gripping and insightful! You have done an amazing job at presenting a complex time and place in all of our lives. You have done such a wonderful job. It’s inspiring.
Former New Vrindaban resident living in Long Beach, California
Hare Krishna! I feel privileged to write to you and hope we can keep in touch. I pray to Lord Krishna to keep you safe, not that I’m a paranoic person but the miscreants within our movement are capable of anything in order to keep and fulfill their crooked agenda. I wish all of us in the movement were sincere and had an affinity towards truthfulness. You are an asset and you are setting the bar quite high. I guess sincere devotees are looking up to you and will follow your example. I am, to a certain extent. I convey my best wishes to you, dear Prabhu. I am your humble servant.
ISKCON devotee in Sweden
Hello Henry,
I wrote to you years ago when I had just graduated from university and was very puffed up thinking I was some kind of scholar! You sent me your manuscript about New Vrindaban that you were working on at the time and I read it and commented and sent it back to you.
Anyway, many years later I came across your new book Killing for Krishna on Amazon and immediately purchased it for my Kindle. Having recently finished it, I just want to thank you immensely for your hard work in writing and publishing this fantastic book. The style of writing and the balanced approach to the subject is so good and perfect for what you are trying to achieve. It makes me sad that so many of those involved are still high up in ISKCON and unable to admit to their roles in the Sulochan murder (Radhanath in particular) and the other unsavoury activities of New Vrindaban. To think that so much of the place was built with drug money and illegal merchandising is completely mind blowing.
I would love to pass the book on to the devotees of Wellington who are totally under the spell of one Devamrita Swami but I know there would be no point as they would refuse to either read it or discount all the information contained therein, as you are obviously a huge “demon.” (Hahahaha.)
All these so-called “renounced” men, flying around the world in business class, with iPads, apartments around the world, Apple watches, credit cards, property investments and who knows what else are an absolute joke and a complete mockery of what a Sannyasa/Sadhu is meant to be. I can only hope that many read your book before they get sucked into that world.
So once again, thank you so much for writing the book, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the full New Vrindaban history!
Yours sincerely,
Rory Nelson Moores, Wellington, New Zealand
April 7, 2018: Correspondence with a former New Vrindaban resident:
August 18, 2010: Hare Krishna, Hrishikesh prabhu. Regarding your recent Sampradaya Sun article, Radhanath Swami's Alleged Involvement in Sulochan's Murder, it appears to be 100% on. I was there, on the fringes of management and all the details you so meticulously corroborate fit into my memories like a glove. Ever since the murder happened we all knew Kuladri & Radhanath were involved. I remember the following morning well. I was shocked that they finally did it.
When I was back at New Vrindaban for those few years around 2004, Tapahpunja cornered me & for some reason chose to recount his involvement in the whole sordid mess in detail. I did not prompt him. His account does not fit the evidence, but it certainly protects Radhanath Swami. I was confused about his account because it didn’t fit in with what I knew. I implicitly trust Dharmatma and think Janmastami is probably being honest too. Their accounts line up with each other’s and with what we do know. TP’s account is contradictory, I do not believe him.
And last, not that it really matters, but I remember you & I having a conversation in front of Prabhupada’s Palace some years ago and you asked me why I left New Vrindaban. I answered that I really didn’t know; I just kind of drifted away. Well I can tell you that when the drain got plugged and all the sewage started coming to the surface, I was praying to Krishna to take me away from New Vrindaban. When the accusations of child molestation and other criminal activity started surfacing I just wanted out, but I could not give up my service. Very soon after that, Srila Bhaktipada sent me out on the traveling sankirtan “pick” with Ramachandra and I ended up at the Minneapolis center with Krishna Katha (Carl Carlson). I never moved back after that.
Over the years, I have had one lingering, unanswered question that nagged me even when I knew the murder was in the planning stage, and during the stalking of Sulochan. WHAT IF Bhaktipada was really Jagat Guru? You see, I was and am a Prabhupada disciple first, I never bought into the Bhaktipada Jagat-Guru propaganda. But what if? Would the murder then be justifiable? Would Radhanath’s involvement have been justified?
I suppose this talk won’t go away as long as Radhanath is a leader in ISKCON; but personally, I am neutral in the whole finger-pointing, hate-mongering, envy-filled arguing. I am simply trying to chant Hare Krishna. If we just sincerely try to serve Srila Prabhupada, everything will take care of itself. If we can just get back to that simple goal, trying to satisfy Srila Prabhupada, then our lives would be perfect. When death comes our devotional service will be all that matters.
March 27, 2018: Hare Krishna Hrshikesh prabhu, I just downloaded Killing for Krishna for my Kindle Fire and started reading it. It’s OK so far, I’ll let you know as I progress reading it; just wanted to let you know that as long as it is accurate I do not have a problem with it. I heard some negative speech about you and the book while I was visiting New Vrindaban recently, but so far I do not share the opinion.
April 7, 2018: Haribol Hrishikesh! So I’m about halfway through the book. So far I find it brutally honest and accurate (as far as I can tell). I can see why some don’t like it and some are calling it an exposé. To me, if nothing inappropriate happened then there would be nothing to expose. Personally I think it is a wonderful service to tell the entire story. It is sometimes painful and embarrassing to remember that I was there. As I read, scores of forgotten memories and feelings gush from my being. I would like to share some of my feelings with you because I as everybody else, had my own experiences with events. If you are inclined hear them, do you have an email address that I can send some written memories to? I can understand how difficult it was for you to push on with this project. I never really did understand it all, when I first left I was obsessed with finding out what happened but as the years went on, I gave up and put it away in my archival memories. Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Jyotirdhama dasa, ACBSP (Joe Pollock, Jr.)
Richland, Washington, Former New Vrindaban resident
Author’s comment: Jyotirdhama went on to write a 15-page essay about his involvement in the Sulochan murder conspiracy which I included as an Addendum to Killing For Krishna.
September 6, 2018: Eleven Naked Emeperors is super interesting, And very well written, the events are shocking and enlightening, I highly recommend it so you know that there are many cheating Gurus, only Srila Prabhupada is reliable!!
Emilio Rafael Ituarte Baca
I just received your book in today’s mail. Your writing is spectacular, erudite, balanced, and above all else: couth! I sat down to glance through it, and found that in a remarkably short period of time I had read almost 100 pages! One thing I like is your narrative which weaves the story together. Your consummately sane and balanced viewpoint further offsets the essential horror that builds as the deluded murder plot develops in the restricted narrow minds of the perpetrators who start off with the incredibly flawed “credo” of the perfection of Kirtanananda Swami.
Naranarayan dasa Visvakarma (Nathan Zakheim) (ACBSP), Los Angeles, California, initiated in San Francisco in 1968
Best book I have ever read from a devotee who lived amongst the fanatics of New Vrindaban. I have been reading the letters to Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and he (Srila Prabhupada) repeated countless times that his devotees must strictly follow all the regulative principles, chant 16 rounds without fail and avoid the ten offenses to the Holy Names. Seems like these fools in the garb of Vaishnavas forgot to adhere to these instructions. Don’t be a fool. Always look deeper, don’t accept the external form of so-called devotees.
Martin Davidson, from a post at Killing For Krishna on YouTube.
Just received your new book, Killing For Krishna, yesterday and have started to read and look through it today. I was a good friend of Chakradhari. I knew him in California in 1972 before moving to New Vrindavana with my family in 1973. . . . Chakradhari and I were friends. He followed me after a year or so from California to New Vrindavana. . . . Then disappeared. He would have said goodbye [if he had left on his own accord]. . . . I moved away from New Vrindavana in 1981. . . . I remember seeing Kirtanananda Swami with his crew of about five men at The Higher Taste restaurant in San Francisco in 198[5], after I had been gone from New Vrindavana for a [couple] year[s]. I only spoke with them for five minutes. It was awkward and I left. At that time I was working with Atreya Rsi. . . . You’re a fine, talented writer and you’ve successfully put down a parcel of rascals. Good for you. . . . You’ve done a very nice job of exposing the rascals and destroying their credibility.
Janahlada dasa (ACBSP) (Gene Braeger), former New Vrindaban resident (1973-1981)
Thank you for writing this [book: Killing For Krishna]! I’m over halfway done and can’t put it down. I lived in New Vrindaban and the Cincinnati temple when they were outside of ISKCON. This is such a compelling read and the story needs to be told. You avoid the sensationalism of Monkey On a Stick and let the facts speak for themselves. Your endnotes are phenomenal. Again, thank you, Henry. Your years of research has turned out a stellar work for the annals of history. God bless you!
Giuseppe Gingricharoni, from a Visitor Post at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
Killing for Krishna is amazing in its detail and documentation. In my opinion it treats all characters fairly. The 1,300+ endnotes make it a credible history. Paid $7 on Kindle for Smart Phone which makes searches simple.
Hamsagati Das, from a comment at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
I bought Killing for Krishna. Wow. What an eye opener.
John Gennaro, from a comment at Killing For Krishna on Facebook
Hey Henry, I really appreciate your book, Killing for Krishna. The subject matter is simply interesting from my days associating with ISKCON. However, it was very unexpected to read in the Introduction your premise of revisiting this unfortunate incident to help heal. I’ve spent a great deal of time (last 7 years) doing the same thing for my own healing within my own family and related to past events. I’ve often felt alone and misunderstood in my attempts to discover facts surrounding so many facts of my history or family history. It’s plain for me to see that most people want to forget a painful past. But I’ve found so much comfort and peace in knowing the facts, the truth, and the issues surrounding my painful past that I felt an immediate connection to your book. This with no relation whatsoever between the book contents and my story. So, I’m so grateful to have read this premise for the book as confronting these difficulties head on has been so significantly life changing for me. I sincerely hope that it has helped you even more as I believe your pain runs deep after living these experiences in New Vrindavan. Best wishes always.
Pedro Ramos, Atlanta, Georgia, from a Facebook message to the author.
Dear Henry,
I just finished reading in its entirety your book Killing for Krishna. I do appreciate all your research and as you said in the Introduction, this book for you is also a healing process, having served Keith Ham for so many years and then realizing what a cheat he was, and how much time and energy you had invested in believing that KEITH was your spiritual master: your guide to go back to Godhead. Then finding out that this guy was a sex addict before coming to the Hare Krishna movement (even having sex with strangers in the New York subway), on top of having Howard Wheeler as his primary lover and then having all kinds of hush hush sex even as a sanyasin, with men and boys. He was not only a homosexual, but also a prolific pedophile. This was supposed to be a BHAKTI YOGA path to God: a love path, a heart path, and it was twisted to the maximum by a psychopath full of LUST and hungry for powers and money.
The Hare Krishna movement was until 1977 a ONE MAN SHOW. Swami Bhaktivedanta was the supreme authority; his words were as good as God (he even said so himself) and as you rightly noted he did affirm that KEITH HAM was a pure devotee; that he was pleased when people were serving KEITH HAM. The regular simple devotee had to rely on the words and visions of Swami Bhaktivedanta, and OBVIOUSLY he made a big mistake in assessing the qualifications of KEITH HAM, and he is partly to blame, in my view, for misleading hundreds of devotees to believe that serving KEITH HAM was what he wanted. Your book is very well-researched, but all this knowledge should, in my view, be warning to all the little gurus of now ISKCON and the multitude of Hare Krishna sects that are now working on the planet. If you do not learn by theses experiences, the same mistakes might repeat themselves.
Number one: to have blind faith in a guru because he just says “HEY, I AM A PURE DEVOTEE!” is extremely dangerous, as we have seen in all the blind followers of the so called 11 Ritviks that took over ISKCON after Swami Bhaktivedanta left the planet. May your book be a warning that absolute demands of blind following should be avoided at all cost. Every guru and all that he says and do must be questioned at all time. Bhakti Yoga must also be Jnana Yoga, as you said in your Introduction. THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, devoid of BULLSHIT, LIES AND DECEITS.
I am looking forward to your next book.
Henri Jolicoeur (ACBSP) (formerly Hanuman Swami), Montreal, Quebec, from an e-mail to the author.
Hare Krishna. Wow, just received your book in the mail today. Started reading it this afternoon and it’s honestly been really hard to put down! The storytelling is so riveting, exciting and palpable. I really appreciate your voice as a writer and your amazing ability to write from a place of such objectivity, which I would imagine took a long time and lots of healing due to your intimate and direct involvement with Kirtanananda & all the other New Vrindaban residents and concomitant dramas. Congrats on this big achievement and I look forward to your subsequent publications.
Hoping to get through all or most of it on my upcoming road trip. I think it’s of utmost importance for devotees to know the factual history of the ISKCON movement in general, including the “dark stuff,” otherwise we’re simply living in a grand lie and completely wasting this ephemeral & precious life on dead end “spirituality.” Unfortunately the majority will not be interested in knowing or hearing about the facts because of the heavy indoctrination into the cult of personality, that Srila Prabhupada’s precious mission has now become. However, there are many others who desire truth and transparency. I have friends and acquaintances on both sides of that spectrum, I will most definitely share this book with the level-headed sincere ones.
Name withheld by request, Southern California.
Hare Krishna, Dear Prabhu! I’ve finished reading Killing For Krishna, your masterpiece. It’s a mind blowing book. I’m not so good with words to express fully my appreciation. I saw the interviews on YouTube as well. I really like that some devotees gathered and had a Sulochan memorial service. I guess things slowly but surely go in the right direction. If you write the other books I would like to order them as well. Thank you kindly!
Best regards & my humble pranams! Your Servant.
Ananta das (Edward Contis), Vällingby, Sweden
Hare Krishna, Hrisikesa Prabhu! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Dandavats.
Mahatma Prabhu (Mario Pineda) visited me recently and I acquired your recent book. I’m enjoying slowly reading it. I’m amazed at the detail you provide. Surely, you are empowered by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to produce such a masterpiece. Thank you very much. I was thoroughly estranged from ISKCON during 1980s so much of the facts that many devotees probably knew were unknown to me.
My last visit to New Vrindaban was in 1978 when K swami asked me to leave. I had been stealing un-offered honey and asking unmarried women if they wanted “go for a walk.” Seems pretty funny to me now.
Thank again for your truly wonderful book. I am continuously astounded by your attention to detail. I love detail as you obviuosly do. As they say, “The Devil is in the details.” Don’t let the critics bother your mind, even one tiny bit. You are doing a very valuable service. If Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada went through your book and just counted all the various names of Krishna, it would be astounding.
Gadai dasa (David Shenk, ACBSP 1973), Angelica, New York
First of all I want to congratulate and thank you for your excellent book, Killing for Krishna. I read it very carefully and today I listened to your interview on YouTube. I’m also a firm believer that the truth shall make us free. . . . I know your book is gonna shake ISKCON and some leaders in particular. The time has come for everyone to face their dark side, both individually and collectively. This purification was much needed since a long time. Thank you again for your hard work.
Your subtitle was very appropriate as it pointed to the big problem of deranged devotion, idolizing an ordinary devotee, considering any guru absolute in everything he says or does, choosing—more or less unconsciously, to be blind to his mistakes, weaknesses, or even abuses in the name that “the guru is absolute” and “don’t criticize and commit offenses.” A lot to say on that topic of absolutism and blind followers, features we can find in all the infamous dictators, Stalin, Mao, etc. Even Prabhupada did not pretend that everything he did was absolute; he asked advice from his disciples for practical matters and if something did not work he tried another strategy. As Hridayananda Goswami says, “Thinking is a sin in ISKCON. Just Serve and Shut up!”
I’m sure that Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya are pleased with you.
Gaurangi dasi (Genevois Josette)
Former disciple of Ramesvara Maharaja, current disciple of Lokanath Swami
Dijon, France
I lived there [at New Vrindaban] August 1972 - September 1977 and was there about two weeks in 1979 for the Palace opening. . . . Henry Doktorski has bravely exposed the truth. I hope this will continue.
Ellie Krishna Jaya Singer-Clark (Vajresvari dasi), from a comment on a Facebook post by Chaitanya-Mangala dasa.
Dear Hrishikesa Prabhu,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I recently visited a temple where I talked about your book, Killing for Krishna to a few devotees, only the ones I knew well. I got several reactions:
—The majority of devotees: listening attentively to what I said about the book without protesting, but showing no interest to read it
—One Vaisnavi: not wanting to hear about the book at all, so I did not insist
—Another Vaisnavi was more appreciative of the contents (the dangers of deranged devotion), especially of the fact that you were presenting what really happened, even if it is not very pleasant or glorious for some devotees involved. She was the most receptive.
I also asked the devotee in charge of the book stall there if he had read your book. He said he had read some of your articles on Sampradaya Sun some years ago and could imagine those were the basis for your book. He did not want to be selling it at his venue as it might be a bit too much controversial for him, even though he never saw the book. He concluded by saying that those who are interested can always buy it on Amazon, where you are advertising it so he doesn’t need to get involved in it.
Not an easy book to sell, for sure, all the more because of its size. Maybe the subtitle The Danger of Deranged Devotion could have been the main title as Killing For Krishna scares many devotees. Anyway, those who want to read this book might not be numerous, but they can talk positively to others about it. At least they will have a good impression, that it is a serious book, very well researched and documented, meant to make people think and not to attack or destroy ISKCON.
ISKCON devotee currently in India, Name deleted by request, e-mail to the author
Killing For Krishna tells the story of the monumental saga of the killing of Sulochan dasa, which delves deep into each participant’s segment of the story. It has the makings of a movie. With the religious and cult aspect, it would make for a compelling presentation.
Elizabeth Heather Cagle, Los Angeles
Yesterday, I was with someone who bought your book, Killing For Krishna, here in England. It had a powerful effect on him. He was impressed with the amount of research you’d done for it.
ISKCON devotee (ACBSP), England
December 13, 2018: Killing For Krishna by Henry Doktorski is scholarly, and extremely well-researched.
Steven Hassan, the Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, from a review at YouTube.
January 5, 2019
Hare Krishna. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga! I just recently saw an interview with you on YouTube. I felt that your responses and explanation on your writing this book were balanced and free from envy. There was no offensive dialogue or vindictiveness in your words. Therefore I felt compelled to order a copy. Apparently you placed much energy and research into this endeavor with no ill will. Enclosed is a money order for your book.
G. B. dasa, Dallas, Texas
January 9, 2019: Hare Krishna, Hrishikesh prabhu.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
I come to you with a straw between my teeth begging your forgiveness for the abrupt break in communications. [I haven’t responded to your messages in almost a year.] I will tell you why I quit communicating and I think you can feel confident to publish any communications we have and use my name. What I have to tell you is simply: the problem is with me. I got to a point in reading your book, Killing For Krishna, that it became too painful for me to continue. The thing is, I visited Gaura-Shakti [Greg Carlson] prabhu at New Vrindaban in 1993 (I had left New Vrindaban in 1990). He was preparing to go to India and recited to me the history of Kirtanananda Swami’s legal problems since I had left. When I got to 1993 in your book I couldn’t read any further. It was the same exact story Gaura had told me in 1993. Something hit a nerve with me and I became emotionally distraught. I haven’t read another word of your book since. But as I said, it is because of me; not what you wrote. It took me a long time to figure out what upset me so badly.
How to verbalize what I was upset about after reading your book? Was it because I was cheated by my guru? I guess in one sense, but I took first initiation from Srila Prabhupada and don’t think I ever gave my heart to Kirtanananda the same way. I don’t feel that Srila Prabhupada ever cheated me, but Kirtanananda did. Anyway, to me it’s just splitting hairs; the fact is we let ourselves be cheated.
What upsets me most is that I was involved in the murder of a Vaishnava. For years I was in denial about my involvement, but after making it through your book all the way to the year 1993, the weight of what we did came down on me. I didn’t pull a trigger and I wasn’t involved in the conspiracy or stalking Sulochan. I was just the Telecom Manager at New Vrindaban, maintaining the community telephone system and whatever primitive computer network we had back then. But I was a willing participant in aiding and abetting the murder in whatever way I could. I helped coordinate communications between conspirators when they were stalking Sulochan in Ohio and West Virginia in February 1986, and I knew they planned to kill him. That was my most active part. There were no cell phones in those days. So some of the communications went through the main New Vrindaban telephone switchboard of which I was supervisor. Numerous times I had specific instructions from Kuladri where to direct specific incoming calls. Very important, not to be missed.
For years afterward I rationalized that, well I wasn’t really a Bhaktipada disciple and I didn’t have any first hand involvement. But as I read your book I more and more realized that I WAS involved. Factually, how much blame lies with whom? Only Krishna knows for certain.
The interesting thing about my position in the community is that I dealt with everybody there in one way or another. At the time I heard some of the inner workings of the plot. What you write, what Dharmatma, Janmastami, Hari-Venu; what they all say are the same things I remember. As far as Dharmatma, I had frequent personal interactions with him starting in 1976 and I always found him to be honest and straightforward, even brutally so. I doubt very much he suddenly started lying. Besides he had already taken the fall and done jail time by the time the question of who he gave the hush money to became an issue.
By the time Sulochan was murdered, as I said before, we all knew that Radhanath and Kuladri were involved in the planning. I knew of others too, but I didn’t know about all the players and how it went down until I read your book. After Bhaktipada was assaulted, the buck stopped with Kuladri and Radhanath. It’s just how it was, no speculation necessary. Personally, I have no qualification to comment on Radhanath’s position as guru, nor do I have any ax to grind. I only know that you have brought to light the details of the murder; you put the many jigsaw puzzle pieces together which, in your book, reveal the big picture. I had (others too) some of the pieces of the puzzle—we knew some of the story; but you hunted down the missing pieces and put everything together. Thank you for this valuable service.
Your servant,
Jyotirdhama dasa, ACBSP (Joe Pollock, Jr.)
Richland, Washington, former Telecom Manager at New Vrindaban
January 23, 2019
Dear Hrishikesh—Hare Krishna!
I have finished reading your book Killing For Krishna. Once I started to read it, it was difficult to put down. The book is an exhaustive, comprehensive and very objective analysis of the unfortunate murder of Sulochan. You definitely are a writer and you are a “writer” with a purpose: to shed light on things which are usually “beyond the veil.”
As I read your book, this is what I constantly felt on a more subtle level: your deeply felt disappointment and frustration with the way that things transpired. I did not detect resentment but rather a profound “wound” left by Kirtanananda’s actions.
I do not feel that you are on a “crusade” to pull down anyone or an organization. Your personal feelings about ISKCON have some merit; I just hope that things will be better—for everyone involved.
Once again, thank you for your diligent and resourceful book. Yes, I felt a deep frustration and pain within its pages.
G. B. dasa,
Dallas, Texas
January 26, 2019
Hare Krishna, Hrshikesh prabhu,
So I’m once again struggling emotionally with this entire sordid affair, and having been a part of it. I’m still struggling with the fact that I went to New Vrindaban to serve Srila Prabhupada and ended up involved in criminal activity, including murder. I have unplugged from social media to avoid dealing with it. But I stand by what I said in a previous message to you.
I will just tell you that when Sulochan was being stalked much of the communications went through my telecom systems. At some point I was told directly that “they are going to kill him.” I don’t want to go into any more details, you’ve got all the players right as far as I know and you know more details than I at this point. Besides it was so long ago that details are getting harder for me to remember.
I was surprised to hear that you didn’t know beforehand, about the murder conspiracy; to me it seemed common knowledge at that time, but thinking back, this may be blurred memory. But just like the morning after the murder at mangal-aroti there was like this electricity in the air and a buzz of whisper, “The demon was killed!” This was only hours after the murder. Who told whom?
Anyway, the thing is that you have put it all together, and as I have said numerous times, that the accounts in your book are as I remember them. I haven’t started reading it again but I may soon. And as far as why I am saying this now there is no specific reason. Maybe because I need to get this off my chest before death. Mostly I want to defend my fellow devotees who have spoken the truth about this and have been discredited as liars.
Your servant,
Jyotirdhama dasa, ACBSP (Joe Pollock, Jr.)
Richland, Washington, former Telecom Manager at New Vrindaban
February 3, 2019
I’ve just finished your book Killing For Krishna. Having been at the scene of many of the events you depicted I found your book fascinating. Excellent job of research and analysis.
I interviewed Sulochan shortly before he was shot in his van at the end of Watseka Avenue. I was also there at the emergency New Vrindaban GBC meetings, not so much for the meetings but to catch as many Prabhupada disciples as I could and get their remembrances of Prabhupada. Apart from my service in doing interviews for the Lilamrta, I was also production manager for Gita-Nagari Press a number of years and worked closely with Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. I can’t wait for your next book, Eleven Naked Emperors. I’ve read the timeline you have given, that timeline alone is an eye opener.
I’ve no axe to grind. I’m not in any camp one way of the other. I’m just interested in seeing that whatever went down in our history is open for all to see.
I’m looking forward to the next book. You’re on a roll. Keep it up. Hare Krishna.
Vidura dasa (Brendan Greene)
February 16, 2019
Hare Krsna, Henry Prabhu! I have not been able to read your book as of yet, but you are very brave for telling about the dark side of ISKCON. There are many demons in the dress of Vaisnavas in this Hare Krsna movement. By reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and following his instructions we can develop the discriminatory powers to avoid them. You are always welcome to visit our Prabhupada-based community in Spain.
Purujit dasa, Fuengirola, Spain
March 15, 2019
Hello! Just wanted to send word to you about how much I enjoy your book and how much it has helped me on my path to true Krsna Consciousness. I came upon Krsna Consciousness back in 1994, when I’d talked with a devotee on Venice Beach, California. He gave me the Krsna Book and advised me to follow my family’s religion (which was Christianity) until I found I needed more, then seek outside that realm. Little did I realize at the time how important that advice was. I put the book he gave me on the shelf and forgot it was even there. I did exactly as he suggested. My husband and I converted to Catholicism. I got deeply involved with the church until 2002 when I hit the wall in my faith with the revelation of the priest scandal. (Yes, rascals are everywhere!) I floated around for 13 years looking for the true path of faith and explored many paths with nothing really catching my interest. Judaism, New Age, other Christian faiths did nothing for me. I was ready to throw in the towel and declare that God was dead. For me, anyways...
Finally in 2015, while sitting in our home library, gazing at the books there on the shelf, my eyes landed on the Krsna Book. I took it down and opened it. And the rest, as they say, is history. After my experience with other faiths, and closing in on 60 at that time, I was very much aware that there are phonies and pretenders in every faith. Upon discovering what had happened to Srila Prabhupada, you can imagine how heartbroken I was to find out that his own devotees had killed him. But I was not deterred. I believe in Srila Prabhupada and I believe in God, Lord Krsna. I realized that in order to follow Prabhupada's true path, I would have to figure out who were the rascals and who I could trust in the movement as it stands today. It would be an over simplification to say combing though all of the information out there has been as tedious and harrowing as searching for a needle in a haystack! Your book has been invaluable to me and a great boon in helping me to find my way through the labyrinth of information.
I just wanted to let you know how much I value your book, your writing and what you are doing to aid in the healing of not only yourself, but all true followers of Krsna as well as Prabhupada in this modern age. Even though I was not formally initiated by Srila Prabhupada, I have accepted him as my spiritual master and follow only him, not some show bottle person who claims he’s this and that. By sharing your research, your experiences and the truth, I feel you have done a great service for Prabhupada, for Krsna and for all true followers of the movement that Prabhupada has envisioned. For that I wish to thank you and let you know that at least one person appreciates everything you have done. I will continue to sing the praises of your book far and wide! Thank you for writing it! Thank you! God bless you! Hare Krishna!
Sincerely,
Leslie Kiang, Daytona Beach, Florida
March 15, 2019
I just finished reading the book Killing for Krishna, by Henry Doktorski. This in depth book exposes the intricate, yet haphazardly executed assassination of Steve Bryant, a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in 1986. . . . I managed to read this 662 page book in just four days, it was quite honestly that intriguing.
Doktorski himself is a former member of ISKCON, and indeed a former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada (Keith Ham), the rebellious and perhaps quite insane ruler over New Vrindaban, an ISKCON farming community/ashrama Kirtanananda helped to found.
Doktorski is able to tell this story in a way that no other author possibly could. Why? Well Doktorski has first hand knowledge of the goings on at the community during the period, and he possessed thousands upon thousands of pages of personal letters, official documents, and even secret materials that were taken from New Vrindaban after its collapse, and subsequently given to the author. These unique conditions put him in a position to give invaluable insight into the group think that prevailed during those years in ISKCON, and may continue even to today.
Kirtanananda Swami was anything but the advanced spiritual master his disciples believed him to be. In fact, as Doktorski proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was a child molester and active homosexual who craved cocaine and indulged in gay orgies in his private quarters at the ashram. Steve Bryant, who had a grudge against Kirtanananda regarding his having initiated Bryant’s wife without his permission, as was the custom, and for then marrying off his wife to another man and helping to obstruct his access to his children, began to expose the various rumors he collected regarding Kirtanananda’s very un-guru-like behavior. As Doktorski explains, ISKCON’s theology renders any criticism of a guru as a major offense, as it is viewed as insulting a person who is considered to be “as good as God.” As one might imagine, to those living in such a fanatical cult of personality atmosphere, Bryant’s actions were taken as the gravest of grave offenses. In fact, they launched what became a systematic surveillance of his movements which finally resulted in his murder by Kirtanananda’s “enforcer” at New Vrindaban, Tirtha dasa (Thomas Drescher), who is today serving a life sentence for the murder of Bryant and one other follower of Kirtanananda who crossed the line.
In reading this book I found several things of interest. First, the cult dynamic that grew around Kirtanananda Swami to such an extent that he could literally do nothing wrong in the eyes of most of his disciples. Doktorski accurately calls this “deranged devotion.” It would be very easy for me, as a Christian, to sit back and point the finger at such groups as ISKCON for being infected with such deranged devotion, but we’ve seen it in Christian circles as well. There are many popular evangelists, etc. who have significant followings which will defend their chosen one with all the fervor of any Hare Krishna devotee. I myself was personally the target of one such charismatic “apologist” who posted lies about my education, my personal life, and even at one point claimed my name was fake. He personally engaged in harassing me online, sending me multiple threatening messages on a daily basis, sometimes four and five times a day. His faithful followers, who obviously believed anything he said to be absolute truth, also harassed me and re-posted his calumny on other websites at his request. I had to literally threaten litigation to get him to stop sending me threatening emails. All of this anger and hate directed at me simply because I dared to disagree with him on a theological topic in a forum. It was revealed upon his death that he had been arrested numerous times for public intoxication and domestic violence. Some of his followers, still loyal to him no matter what, actually claimed he was “taken out” by some secret nefarious forces due to his prophetic insight. No, deranged devotion isn't limited to groups on the fringes of western culture like ISKCON.
Another thing that struck me about the details of the plot to murder Bryant was the lack of clear, definitive connections to Kirtanananda Swami himself. While it is abundantly clear that Kirtanananda was anything but what he professed to be, the murderer, who at first implicated the Swami directly in the plot, later said he really had no firsthand confirmation of any such directive coming from Kirtanananda. One is left with a tiny hint of doubt as to whether Kirtanananda was actually directing it or not, as he is reported by multiple sources as having made statements defiantly against the crime. Whatever the case, the Swami’s closest confidant, and lifetime homosexual lover, made it clear to the members of the murder plot that Kirtanananda wanted Bryant dead. Add to this confusing mix of finger pointing what appears to be an underlying plot-within-a-plot, possibly engineered by local law enforcement officials to take the Swami and the entire community out, and you have a truly intriguing web of lies and conspiracy. Let me be clear though, Doktorski leaves very little doubt that Kirtanananda Swami was aware of the plot and did nothing to stop it, even if he didn’t openly encourage it. He was reportedly a very tricky, manipulative personality who would have been careful to make it seem he wasn’t at all supporting it just to save his own skin if things went wrong.
And they did.
In 1996, though indicted on conspiracy to murder, six counts of mail fraud, and five counts of racketeering, the Swami went to prison with a sentence of only 20 years, but not for conspiracy to murder. You'll have to read the book to find out what sent him there. Almost all of his disciples had by that time finally realized he was not what he seemed and had abandoned him (again, read the book to find out what finally broke the spell. Hint: It wasn't his conviction). A small enclave of the most ardent supporters relocated to New York, starting a tiny center known as the Sanctuary/Interfaith League of Devotees. He was paroled on June 16, 2004, and joined his disciples in New York. Not long after arriving there he was accused of fondling a boy’s genitals and was evicted by his own disciples who had believed in him all this time, but now had finally seen the light. He then flew to India, where he still had a significant following comprised of people far removed and ignorant of his criminal activities in the U.S., where he died several years later.
All in all, this book is a fantastic glimpse into the world of ISKCON, the theology of Gaudiya Vaishavism, and the dangers of deranged devotion. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in comparative religion, psychology, theology, world religion, or just true crime. This book is, in my opinion, a must have in any apologists library.
J. Davila Ashcraft, from a review at Paleo-Orthodoxy
March 26, 2019
I just wanted to thank to you for writing this book, Killing For Krishna. I read it all. I also think that the topic of deranged devotion has to be addressed in a very urgent way. You did this as a service to Prabhupada’s Movement. Thank you. Your sincerity for Truth touched my heart. Nothing should be hidden.
I also joined more than 30 years ago and served as Bhakta Leader and also as Temple President in ISKCON for many years. After a time, I started to address these kind of dysfunctional dynamics, and then they asked me to leave. (They do not kill anymore).
I spent two years alone in the forest only reflecting and chanting, and then opened a contemplative Vaishnava community in the Swiss mountains. One has to walk 3 hours to get there and there is no street at all to go there. We live very simple there and produce our food ourselves.
I just wanted to give you an echo on your book. Thank you.
Your Krishna Chandra
Ananda-Dham
Golino, Switzerland.
May 12, 2019
Subject: Iron Law of Oligarchy
Dear Hrishikesh dasa,
Thank you for all of your thorough research. Your book titled, Killing for Krishna: The Danger of Deranged Devotion is a valuable reference. Also, I like how well-rounded and balanced you are!
ISKCON is basically a case study of the Iron Law of Oligarchy, articulated by Robert Michels. Organizations must create bureaucracy in order to maintain efficiency as it expands. Every group contains individuals that are more committed, motivated, and skilled, both technically and/or politically. This “inner circle” functions as paid administrators, executives, spokespersons or political strategists for the organization. Centralization inevitably occurs. A relatively small number of individuals become highly influential.
The objective of this ruling class is to preserve and increase their power by controlling bureaucratic procedures and decision-making processes. It is unlikely that the rank and file members of the organization would have the ability to hold their leaders accountable—the ruling class controls access to information while creating an incentive structure aimed at rewarding loyalty. In fact to obtain accountability, members would be obligated to appeal to a judicial and prosecutorial system that is external to the organization.
Moreover, it is unlikely that members would even be aware that the inner circle is abusive of its power. Charismatic leaders are often skilled at uprooting their followers’ sense of right and wrong to create a compliant set of disciples, while creating a group mind within their organization. Groups are capable of rationalizing far more heinous crimes than any single individual, were he in a state of isolation.
The behavior of the crowd is emotionally determined, not logically or philosophically determined, allowing a leader such as Bhaktipada to convince his followers that even the most improbable statements are true, or that the most egregious deviations from Srila Prabhupada’s principles are bona fide.
Although ISKCON was not organized as a democratic entity, it is my understanding that ISKCON was intended to be decentralized with local temples wielding considerable autonomy. And strictly speaking, the words “decentralized” and “democratic” are not interchangeable. Nevertheless, the factors that drive an initially democratic organization towards oligarchy are the same factors that transform an initially decentralized organization into a concentrated power structure dominated by a ruling class that becomes increasingly corrupt.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope this letter finds you well.
Yours in the Service of Krishna,
Suresh Persaud (Chand Prasad) Maryland, United States www.biodynamictheology.com
May 19, 2019
Dear Hrishikesh Prabhu,
Hare Krishna! Please accept my respectful obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
Thanks for sharing the message of Chand Prasada on the iron law of oligarchy. Prabhupada was warning us of the dangers of bureaucracy, bureaucratic procedures and decision-making processes. Yes, ISKCON was intended to be decentralized with local temples wielding considerable autonomy, but the GBCs misinterpreted the mandate to be the “ultimate managing authority” to become the collective acarya, as Hridayananda Goswami pointed out in his long GBC essay. In at least one country in Europe I hear we are still under the rule of 2 authoritarian GBCs. One of them recently admitted “having done some mistakes” but the meeting when this was spoken was coming to an end, and there was no time for anyone to ask him what were these mistakes, and how he planned to rectify them.
One of the merits of your book, KIlling For Krishna, is to warn disciples and followers, especially those of a charismatic leader, to be observant and careful, not blind followers, in other words to think for themselves, a thing which is not encouraged too much in ISKCON. One problem is the guru seen as absolute in all areas and the other, as Chand Prasada, noted, the fact that the behavior of the crowd is emotionally determined, not logically or philosophically determined.
I was also reading again the 420-page book, The Guru and the Disciple, by Kripamoya dasa. In a very open, honest and tactful way, he discusses many important issues, many of which still largely unresolved in the circles of the Krishna Consciousness movement: the mistakes made by ISKCON leaders and gurus, guru and disciple in therapy, testing the guru, when to leave a guru, etc. I attended the seminar he gave in Mayapur a couple of years ago, and was happily surprised that he was allowed to openly speak on such “sensitive” topics.
I see your book as a healing agent for ISKCON, forcing it to look at its dark side, both collectively and individually. Painful, but necessary. Your hard work did not go in vain, even if it will take much time for its contents to filter through layers of fears, misconceptions, untruths, lies, conditionings and deranged devotion.
Anonymous ISKCON devotee in India.
May 22, 2019
Hare Krishna, Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I have been reading your book, Killing For Krishna, and following your Killing For Krishna page on Facebook. It is one of the best written and honest piece of ISKCON history.
I’m from India but have spent most of ISKCON days in the U.S. I came in contact with ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada’s books while I was in U.S. I’m back in India now and find that most Indian-bodied devotees are being misled by corrupt GBC and false GBC-approved gurus. Some of them have interest in reading but they don’t have access to Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and conversations because of language problems. The same goes to the history of bad things happened in ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada left this planet. Most of it is on the Internet but the problem is, it is all scattered here and there. And it is in English. I admire your effort to consolidate the information along with providing genuine references.
I recently saw your post about Killing for Krishna being translated in Spanish. India is where these bogus gurus have made their hub and looting innocent Indian-bodied devotees. Your books need to be translated in Indian languages; especially Killing For Krishna. I have experience in translating books from English to Hindi. I translate and a scholar friend reviews it for me. He has Ph.D in Hindi. I would like to offer my services to translate KFK and other related media to Hindi. Attached is my translation of your Dedication.
Thank you for your valuable service to Srila Prabhupada.
An aspiring servant,
Name withheld by request
India.
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April 12, 2019: Henry, I just came across your Hare Krishna book, Killing For Krishna. Looks wonderful. I was involved with ISKCON for twelve hears. Went directly from graduating high school to moving into a temple. Glad you’ve gotten all of this information.
April 13, 2019: I ordered your book at Amazon. Sounds great. About time someone exposed what was actually going on there and it sounds like you’ve done a wonderful job at it. The bit I read last night, online, was absolutely intriguing. . . . Anxiously waiting for your book. Talking about ISKCON opens a valve. I could keep writing and writing.
April 18, 2019: I’ve read 199 pages at first sit. Interesting. I never really thought of “behind the scenes” at ISKCON. This gives a view of the movement that I never suspected.
April 21, 2019: Have read to the Addendum. Absolutely outstanding. Many, many things come to mind reading the book. I, too, have spent years getting over ISKCON. I quit years ago but, hey, it was a big deal in my life.
May 17, 2019: I mentioned to you that I’d completed the book. Exceeded any expectations. . . . Overall, I found the group practices the very things it preaches against. But, in the end, I’ve suffered years of that group nagging me internally, in my mind. Your book helps me get over that hump.
May 29, 2019: Every three to four weeks I go and see a counselor. During the last three weeks I’ve had some wonderful realizations regarding my life. I’ve had much pain in my life. Luckily, I’ve made it through. I told her that reading your book was a liberating experience for me. I feel so much lighter now. Again, I thank you for the book. It played a large part in freeing me from the horrendous pain of my past.
Mark Middaugh
Mesilla, New Mexico
June 1, 2019: Dear Henry Prabhu,
I had heard about your book, Killing For Krishna, a year ago and finally got it. Reading it shakes the very foundation of having any good feelings towards ISKCON. Thankfully, I am a Prabhupada disciple. Otherwise, I doubt that I would be practicing Krishna consciousness. Trivikrama Swami was in Chico, California, for a year in 2000-2001, so I could see he’s no more a guru than I am.
I fear for your life, because ISKCON can play dirty. Watch your back.
You have done a great service by your efforts in publishing this book. The truth will always set us free.
Bhakti Lila dasi (Beverly Newman)
Forest Ranch, California
June 10, 2019: Namaste, Dear Prabhu.
I hope that more devotees will understand the serious defects some of these ISKCON gurus have. Your eye-opening book can be another torch light, guiding us away from deranged devotion and back to Krishna consciousness. Prabhupada said that Krishna consciousness is 80% common sense and the rest is devotion.
Before reading your book I had a general understanding about what had happened to Sulochan, but by reading it, more details and unknown facts were revealed. One German devotee told me she wasn’t going to buy K4K, because she already knew all those things. I am convinced that she would get some new insights, too. But what can I do? For some strange reason conversations between devotees, at least in my experience, don’t last very long in Germany. And there seems to be little time for clearing up important issues. I hope this will improve in the future.
Name withheld by request
Germany
June 19, 2019: Hi Henry.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your book, Killing for Krishna and the insight on ISKCON it has brought me. I’m from Vancouver and a older friend of mine was unfortunately abused during his time at ISKCON as well back in the day. Physically and mentally it has taken a toll on him. I very much appreciate your work and exposing the truth for what it is.
I have a background in Hindu practice myself, that is in the lineage of Shiva/Divine Goddess which of course is pretty different than Hare Krishna, but I never imagined things as crazy as the stuff in your book were possible. Very eye opening and I’m looking forward to your next book, Eleven Naked Emperors.
Alix Mochi
Vancouver, British Columbia
December 23, 2019: Dear Henry Doktorski,
I have recently finished reading your book, Killing for Krishna, and wish to thank you for your amazingly well researched and even-keeled account. I can only faintly imagine the amount of work it represents, and even that thin reflection boggles my mind. Imagining all your effort over so long a period of time, and imagining too some of the reasons for inhibition you may have felt, I can only marvel and offer you my heart felt gratitude and deepest admiration. In my humble opinion, you have rendered the Vaishnava community—and all of us—an important, if challenging, service—for to have any real value, faith must be able to digest the truth.
I am looking forward to reading your forthcoming book on the zonal acharyas. (I know it’s already available on Kindle, but wish to read the physical copy.)
Lastly, I was happily surprised to find you play the accordion! I have just this year begun to learn the accordion, and now play simple melodies well enough for the occasional harinam. Perhaps as I develop I’ll explore some of your books on this topic too :-)
Wishing you the very best.
Sincerely,
Thomas Desouches
Hong Kong
P. S.
You are welcome to put my email on your website if you think it will help. I will tell some of my friends here about the book, but already imagine the friction I’ll encounter. Understandably—and as I am sure you know all too well—many devotees feel cautiously protective of the faith they’re hoping to develop and are already struggling to manage their proximity with Iskcon, looking for that sweet-spot between what attracts them to the temple and what repulses them. I shared Nori Muster’s book with one friend who later admitted that he kept it on the bed-stand for months before finally gathering up the courage to read it. This was despite my having told him there was a touching sweetness to her account, and that she didn’t seem out to bash but simply to share the truth of her experience, and that I felt genuinely grateful to her as a devotee. Later, after having read it, he was happy he did and agreed with my assessment. But his initial hesitation is telling.
I suppose the proponents of secrecy and denial would say that such open reveal as you have undertaken is potentially destructive as it may prematurely stress the fragile faith of many new devotees. And I think there’s some truth to that. But as a position, it is ironically not the ‘safe one’ it might at first appear. Rather, it is the more dangerously precarious option. Denial inevitably births that fecund mother of all lies: “I did not lie...” And as the truth seeps out—which it nearly always does—fledgling devotees find themselves in the most unfortunate (and ultimately more destructive) position of feeling they have to choose between their desire for faith and their desire for truth. This, of course is the underlying theme of your book, Killing for Krishna.
I can only see this as extremely unhealthy. It hobbles the all-important function of devotee association, making it lopsidedly formal and superficial. And it cannot help but subtilely bend the interpretation of shastra by those somehow obliged to maintain denial. How can such skirting around the truth encourage the development of robust faith?
You mentioned that your work on Killing For Krishna has been a labour of love; rest assured this was abundantly clear to me while reading your book—and the primary reason I wanted to write to you with my thanks. At a certain stage in the illness, intrusive surgery is required, and that takes courage—which means “heart.” So once again, let me express my thanks to you for your work.
January 20, 2020: Eleven Naked Emperors is quite masterful, and extremely important. The story is a long and complicated one, but 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. Those assuming the role of gurus, most especially, should read this book carefully. And this is also a book for the tens of thousands of devotees driven away from ISKCON with their spiritual ideals in tatters; this is their story too. The author has risen to the dharma of the historian in documenting a defining period in the history of the Hare Krishna movement.
Edwin Bryant
Professor of Hindu Philosophy and Religion
Rutgers University
February 3, 2020: “If the succession is contaminated then there is no purity. Prabhupada says purity is the force that penetrates, so Henry’s flashing lights will help thousands to reconnect by the arrangement and mercy of God. Let all thank Henry for this great masterpiece.”
Kanta dasa
Five Stars: Long-awaited book
February 4, 2020: I must admit I’ve had great interest and anticipation regarding Mr. Henry Doktorski’s new book Eleven Naked Emperors for several years now. A detailed, accurate and unapologetic history of the zonal acharya era of ISKCON is long, long overdue.
I’m not a stranger to the Hare Krishnas. My family became involved with ISKCON in 1976 and continued until 1988. We were one of the first, if not the first, Life-Members in Dallas, Texas. During that period, we contributed tens of thousands of dollars, in one form or another, to the Dallas temple. We were fervent supporters, but when we heard of child abuse, we discontinued any and all participation.
Eleven Naked Emperors describes in detail the events preceding and following the death of the Founder/Acharya of ISKCON and the GBC’s appointment of eleven high-ranking GBC members who Prabhupada had earlier appointed as Ritvik priests. Unfortunately, the eleven pretended to be self-realized, uttama-adhikari successor acharyas, something like the naked emperor in Hans Christian Anderson’s The Emperor’s New Clothes who pretended to wear clothes which were invisible to the stupid. Henry’s writing is well documented and includes dozens and dozens of quotations from the zonal acharyas and those few brave souls who recognized that something was wrong and who tried to stop the zonal acharyas. The battles Henry describes between the zonal acharyas (bad guys) and the reformers (good guys) clearly show how ISKCON had degraded into a political cult, not a spiritual cult based on guru, sadhu and shastra.
I recall at one point towards the end of the book, ISKCON offered a one-liner apology—several decades after the damage done during the zonal-acharya era of ISKCON—to all those hurt by the horribly mismanaged organization. And, that sums up the effort ISKCON has put into apology to the thousands of lives they negatively affected during this horrendous period of ISKCON history.
In conclusion, if you want to better understand what went wrong in ISKCON after the death of the Founder/Acharya, read Henry’s book. That is my humble opinion, from a person who lived through those terrible times.
Most Sincerely,
Mark Middaugh M.L.I.S.
New Mexico, from a review at Amazon.
February 9, 2020: “The book arrived yesterday Henry prabhu. I am already on the 100th page. I especially appreciate how lovingly you are portraying Srila Prabhupada. Very appreciated. Also I like your neutral tone. Thank you for this nice service to Srila Prabhupada. Rest assured Srila Prabhupada appreciates your sincerity and your dedication.”
Purujit dasa
La Linea, Spain
February 10, 2020: A Remarkable Book
One reviewer below described Eleven Naked Emperors as “a detailed, accurate and unapologetic history of the zonal acharya era of ISKCON” and he was not bluffing. I had always hoped that there would be a book written about this period in ISKCON history, and I was delighted to discover that the gentleman who wrote the gripping and well researched Killing For Krishna would be stepping up to the plate.
Despite the provocative title, the author, Henry Doktorski, avoids the sensational route. You don’t get long character studies of the various zonal acharyas and you don’t get a litany of their salacious and scandalous past times (though you get some). Monkey On A Stick, this is not. What you do get are facts and witness accounts that construct a historical narrative of the period. It’s evident that Doktorski is sincere, as he thoughtfully explores many of the complicated facets of post 1977 ISKCON—the relationship between the institution and the Gaudiya Math, and the development of splinter groups that arose after Srila Prabhupada’s passing. There’s a lot to unpack and Doktorski does a great job of breaking everything down and presenting it in a way that’s both readable and easy to follow.
It would have been interesting to have gotten a deeper dive into the “poisoning conspiracy,” though it was mentioned briefly in a few chapters. I presume Doktorski intentionally avoided subjects that were deemed “too speculative” as there was interest from an Academic Press to publish this book. Perhaps he thought the evidence was not strong enough to warrant a more detailed look. I don’t know. He certainly left no stone unturned in his previous book Killing For Krishna. I would have also liked to have seen the scope of damage the zonal system caused to the greater ISKCON society and to the rank and file explored a bit deeper. (If you’re looking to delve into the human interest side, I recommend you read Nori Muster’s fantastic Betrayal Of The Spirit). Of course, it would have been fascinating to hear from more of the zonal acharyas themselves, but I knew securing interviews would be unlikely. Nevertheless, Doktorski should be lauded for his mostly successful attempts at getting perspectives from all sides.
I figured I’d write something because I expect to see some negative reviews, mostly due to the fact that the author dares to question aloud Srila Prabhupada’s responsibility in these matters—his reluctance to discipline his more ambitious and disruptive leaders, and his seeming inability to clearly articulate his instructions for initiation before his passing. To even entertain the notion that Prabhupada was fallible is still a big no-no for a lot of devotees.
A compelling read, I must say, but I don’t see this book garnering much interest outside the world of Hare Krishnas and the scholars who study them. It’s unfortunate because Eleven Naked Emperors is brilliant and Henry Doktorski and the others involved in the making of this book deserve recognition for this stunning accomplishment. Well done!
TriangleArmbar, review at Amazon.
February 10, 2020: Yet another important book that reveals the history of the ISKCON Gestapo movement.
Notice to ISKCON members aka retards: You should never read this book. This book is very “offensive.” And you should stop reading this article right away if you want to keep your stupidity lata-bija.
I was very happy to buy Henry Doktorski’s new book Eleven Naked Emperors. I was thinking that if this book as half as good as Killing for Krishna, it would be worth the money.
To be honest, I am at chapter 7, so that means I read 25% of the book, but I already feel the true value of this book.
Rare members of the Hare Krishna movement are able to rise above the ISKCON’s mental jail. The majority of people who join ISKCON are retarded and they never question the society they live in. Some rare people start “seeing things” only after being in the movement of many years. For example, in ISKCON, you can not discuss proper behavior and deviant behavior, you can not discuss what is truth, and what is a fallacy. As soon as you start asking questions and express a desire to discuss things, you will be immediately marked as “offender.” And all discussion stops here. However, Srila Prabhupada never exhibited such behavior, so if you are wondering how this heinous mentality developed within ISKCON, you will find answers in this book. For example, Tanumadhya dasa asked a question about eleven pretender “Maha bhagavatas,” and look at the reply from the management:
I was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973. I was fortunate to have some association with Srila Prabhupada and some personal service. [After] Srila Prabhupada departed . . . I was the only one [at Bhaktivedanta Manor] who questioned the declaration of these demons when (immediately after the 1978 Mayapur GBC meetings) Vipramukhya dasa (the Bhakta Leader) announced to the assembled disciples of Srila Prabhupada [that the eleven had become acharyas]. He said that Srila Prabhupada had recognized these eleven as his eternal associates, and had appointed them as the new acharyas of ISKCON. He said that we all had to give our full support to them so that the new devotees would have faith in them. I knew this was bogus as I had been privy to what had transpired in Srila Prabhupada’s room during the selection of these as representatives of the acharya and given authority to initiate on Srila Prabhupada’s behalf. . . . I was acutely aware of the fact that none of these eleven were qualified, despite the claims of Vipramukhya that they were uttama-adhikaris and pure devotees, and so I asked him, “What if one of them falls down?” He immediately started screaming that I was an offender and had no faith in Srila Prabhupada. No one else, no matter what doubts they had, said anything, and that was the beginning of the end. (Chapter 6)
This conversation took place in 1978, more than 40 years ago, and even to this very day, ISKCON corporate elite has kept the same mentality. I find this amazing. Cruel, arrogant corporately licensed “gurus” with their blind, retarded followers are always looking for a way to give trouble to intelligent people who are questioning them. Nothing really changed in the last 40 years, except 11 zonal “acharyas” were replaced with a greater number of spineless puppy gurus whose main teaching is that you should not be “offensive.” You should believe in mushroom eating gurus, sannyasis with young, unmarried female secretaries, gurus who play ping pong in shorts, sahajiyas who parade girls throughout cities to make them chaste and shy, all these acts are acts of pure devotional service, and if you don’t believe that, or you desire to discuss these deviations, you are an “offender.” How stupid you have to be to live in such a movement?
Another important feature of this book is that it provides many details on the ISKCON corrupt guru approval process. Right after Srila Prabhupada left, ISKCON started corporate oversight over gurus, who were falling down left and right, and at the same time requiring big worship on the equal level with Srila Prabhupada.
In this way, the real truth remains to be forever forgotten, suppressed by ISKCON’s corporate bureaucrats, aka “rubber-stamped gurus.”
And real truth is that every Srila Prabhupada’s disciple has the natural born right to initiate disciples, and he doesn’t need anybody’s “approval.” The relationship between guru and disciple is a private relationship and involved parties are exclusively responsible for entering into this relationship. Any disciple of Srila Prabhupada who initiates disciples naturally falls under public scrutiny, and if he is doing nonsense, Gestapo methods of silencing his opposition are actually against society’s interest. The only way for a society to purge itself of fake gurus in open journalism, honesty, and public discussion. There will be no success as long as ISKCON is doing exactly the opposite, “rubberstamping” corporate gurus who have good connections with corrupt elites, punishing journalists and anybody who says one word against the “chosen ones.” Retarded followers are disciples who are trained to reject any discussion about deviations and mark it as “offensive” and thus their discrimination remains on the level of four-year-old.
And this book reveals the history of the ISKCON Gestapo guru scam in great detail opening the doors for a brighter future.
Until ISKCON removes all Gestapo mentality from its teachings and Lawbooks, until it stops persecuting individuals who are exposing deviants, until it stops “approving gurus” and suppressing the discriminatory power of its members by turning them into retards, brighter future will not come.
Hanuman dasa (Hrvoje Marjanovic)
Zagreb, Croatia
To see the original review, go to: My Review of Book Eleven Naked Emperors.
February 6, 2020: This book is an excellently researched piece of work, and includes a wide variety of sources (both eye witnesses and documents) hardly accessible to other researchers or the interested public. If one reviewer (Hari) claims that this a biased account ... uhm no, because the sources are all there, with references, and now that they’ve been gathered, it will be difficult to deny them.
Zinnober, from a review at Amazon Germany.
February 11, 2020: “Hi Henry, The book was delivered several days ago. Please forgive my delayed confirmation email as I’ve been very busy with parish work. I’m digging in just as I did with Killing for Krishna. I can’t put it down. Your copious endnotes combined with writing skills are of great service to posterity and make for easy and informative reading. May our Lord reward your efforts! Thank you for having the courage and fortitude to see this through. I greatly anticipate the final work in your historical trilogy on ISKCON. God Bless,”
Fr. Joseph Gingrich
Dayton, Ohio
February 14, 2020: “This book is awesome Henry, I’m up to page 312 and I can’t believe the work you put in. This is incredibly important for the history of ISKCON. I’m impressed! It’s turned out way more in depth that I could have imagined.”
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
February 14, 2020: “Thank you Henry for writing the book Eleven Naked Emperors. I began reading it in interest as soon as I picked it up from my post box, and had to pull myself away to drive my car home from the post office.”
Christopher Colm (Sri-Krsna dasa)
former disciple of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Belmont, Vermont
February 17, 2020: “Reading some of the footnotes I am quite amazed and impressed at your erudite scholarly detective work you have done for this book.”
Christopher Colm (Sri-Krsna dasa)
former disciple of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Belmont, Vermont
February 18, 2020: “By the way your book stunk. I couldn't even read to the end because of how toxic it was.”
Mark Gearhart, Comment on a post on the author’s Facebook page
Author’s reply: “Eleven Naked Emperors is just a history book. I’m not surprised at Gearhart’s reaction, however. The entire zonal acharya era of ISKCON was toxic!”
February 19, 2020: “I am nearly through Chapter 9 in your book, Eleven Naked Emperors, about Tamal, Hansadutta, and Jayatirtha, titled ‘ISKCON Gurus Begin to Deviate.’ Around that same time, or perhaps very soon after, Bhavananda was also severely chastised by my ‘spiritual master,’ Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. One of my closest friends was SDG’s servant, while they were in India, and SDG was sent to chastise Bhavananda for his sex life with men. My friend told me that SDG yelled and yelled: ‘We know what you did!’ and was using expletives too.
“Senior devotees at Gita-Nagari (where I lived at the time), told me that the whole thing that happened at Mayapur in the mid-1970s—when the whole town came and attacked the ISKCON Mayapur temple—was because Bhavananda was having sex with one of the local boys. Did you ever hear about the raid by a local Bengali mob attacking Mayapur ISKCON and Bhavananda shooting someone and going to jail? They were after him for molesting local boys.
“I was made the butt of jokes when Bhavananda, Harikesh, Jayatirtha and Satsvarupa dasa Goswami came to Gita-Nagari early after just becoming Zoned Outs in 78. I was 19 and I guess cute because Bhavananda was really interested in me, asking many questions while I had prasad with the other young brahmacharis, then he asked me to go with him on his mission. When I made some comment that I would not go, he left and all the other brahmacaris were laughing at me that he ‘liked’ me.
“Why didn't we just then know that this guy was bogus pretender? Young and stupid I guess.”
Christopher Colm (Sri-Krsna dasa)
former disciple of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Belmont, Vermont
February 19, 2020: Hare Krsna, Dear Henry,
I have just finished reading your new book Eleven Naked Emperors, and I feel obliged to write you a few words describing my impressions of the book.
You have presented all the different perspectives held by the different groups of devotees on the continuation of the preaching mission of Srila Prabhupada with an unbiased, non-hateful and neutral manner, which is very valuable. It gives devotees of all camps an opportunity to educate themselves about the various viewpoints and especially about the circumstances and history in which these viewpoints have developed over the years. Your intention to be a mere historian comes handy when the devotees need sober minds to decide how to push forward the wonderful mission Srila Prabhupada started at the time of confusion and mistrust.
I also see you have quite a genuine appreciation for Srila Prabhupada and regard him to be a genuine saint and spiritual master. The non-devotee audience would also benefit from reading your book as it very nicely distinguishes Srila Prabhupada as the real guru who follows the orders of the previous acharya as opposed to unauthorized gurus. You have very humbly stated in your book that you also take blame for being cheated by the false gurus yourself, which is not a weakness but quite the opposite: a great asset.
Unfortunately, many devotees are not so gentlemanly and therefore they rather point their finger at the faults of others to justify their own fault of insincerity. Thus they get stuck in unending cycle of arguments and counterarguments just to prove themselves to be innocent, which is not the case. We always follow some sort of authority. If not a guru, then at least our imperfect senses and imperfect biases we have developed in our conditional existence and naturally making mistakes is part of the process. We should not lament, but admit our mistake and move on. Everything is simply a purification of motive. Therefore humility and submissiveness are always encouraged by great teachers. If one is sincere, one cannot be cheated, or he will not be cheated for a long time. And even if he’s cheated for a long time, if he at one point matures and realizes his delusion, he benefits from such experience, since due to his humility and surrender he is able to carefully study the cheater and gain perspective rarely available to those who are distant. Thus being cheated becomes an asset. I believe your next book is the result of such undertaking.
In regards to the doubt that was expressed in the last portion of the book, 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, surpress them, or demonize those who genuinely discover them. Quite the opposite, all doubts should be discussed and if they are ignored, they devour us.
Ultimately this one single doubt, whether Srila Prabhupada is absolutely perfect or not is the core of the problem, the reason why the Hare Krsna movement became stagnant and why devotees, instead of making the world a better place, have become overly engaged in mundane arguments about political and managerial posts within the spiritual master’s institution (as though they had to help the so-called imperfect master). So it is good to raise these doubts and speak honestly rather than hide behind the fascade of a ‘guru,’ ‘Prabhupada man,’ ‘ritvik’ or any such meaningless designations.
We must always consider, what is actually the mission of the genuine master in this world? To satisfy our mundane ideas of bodily so-called friendship, love and society or to take us from all these, liberate us and engage in pure devotional service that cannot be checked by any material circumstances (corruption in the guru’s institution is one)? Indeed, if we want to transcend this bodily plane of existence, it is necessary to develop genuine disgust for lording it over propensity (false guru mentality). What better lesson could be found for this than in the post 1977 ISKCON zonal acharya period? So in one sense Srila Prabhupada’s teaching continues and shows who is attached to what. Everyone is being tested. God is not cheap. The guru shows the way, we have to walk it.
I would highly recommend the book to devotees who are genuinely interested in knowing the history of ISKCON. You have done a great research, maintained devotional undertone without degrading to tabloid, exploitative, gossip type of writing style as one would expect from such a publication. Well done.
All the best
Your servant Purujit dasa
La Linea, Spain
P. S. The book has lots of valuable historical information. I particularly became interested to read that the originator of the ‘book changes’ controversy was Kirtanananda Swami [who opposed editing Prabhupada’s books posthumously as early as 1983]. I enjoyed little snippets of valuable information like this.
February 21, 2020: I am about 75% done reading your book Eleven Naked Emperors. I have read thousands of books in my life (I am a cerified speed reader). You are very talented, my friend. I have learned a lot more about people I knew personally in ISKCON. I am working on a video on . . . ISKCON and I will plug your book. I have much admiration for your talents and dedication. BRAVO! Many ex-Hare Krishnas have taken negative paths, but you shine with positivity.
Henri Jolicoeur (formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP)
Montreal, Quebec
February 26, 2020: Dear Henry Doktorski,
Greetings from India. I recently read your book Killing for Krishna. I purchased the Kindle version on Amazon. First thing, take a bow for bringing out the truth to the whole world. I have no words to thank you for your years of research and writing and hard work for the benefit of all, especially for us in ISKCON.
I and most of us are convinced (almost 100%) now who were involved in plotting/killing Sulochan, but the important question still remains unanswered. Did Radhanath Swami kill Sulochan? I honestly want to know your thoughts. I don’t care whether Judge/Jury let Radhanath Swami scot-free. You were in New Vrindaban for so many years and I want to hear it from you. This has been troubling me for a long time.
Devotee in India (Name deleted by request)
Author’s reply: Hare Krishna prabhu and thanks for your kind appreciation. Yes, I lived at New Vrindaban many years, but I never saw anyone kill anyone. I only interviewed people who were involved in the murder plot and I read classified documents in the secret Swami Bhaktipada Archive. But those people and documents incriminate Radhanath Swami as a principal member of the murder conspiracy. This is, as you know, all explained in Killing for Krishna.
Devotee in India: Thank you for your reply. What is your suggestion for people who are initiated by Radhanath Swami and now come to know about the murder plot?
Henry Doktorski: I suggest they follow their conscience, as I did 27 years ago when I became convinced that my “spiritual master”—Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada—had been engaging in illicit activities. For years I had dismissed these unsavory allegations as “rumors,” but finally I began to have doubts, so I conducted my own investigation and talked to some of the young men who said Bhaktipada had sexually molested them when they were gurukula students. I believed them. Why would they lie?
Then, I had a private darshan with my “spiritual master” during which I asked him directly if it was true. When he denied it, saying “I haven’t broken any regulative principles since I met Srila Prabhupada,” I knew he was lying so I immediately rejected him as spiritual master and stopped serving his mission.
But everyone has to do what they think is right. Not all may be able to reject a lying and cheating spiritual master immediately. For many, especially those who may be financially or emotionally dependent on ISKCON, it may take some time.
Devotee in India: Thank you again for your timely response. You have done many of us a great favour by publishing your books. The Lord will never forget warriors like yourself and Sulochan.
Henry Doktorski: Hare Krishna, my friend. Are you a disciple of Radhanath Swami? I’d like to put your question and my reply on the Killing for Krishna Facebook page. May I use your name or merely say “anonymous devotee?” Thank you.
Devotee in India: I am a disciple of Radhanath Swami. Please do not use my name. I will be in trouble. If my name is mentioned I will be kicked out of the community. I have a family and I don’t want them to be in any kind of trouble. You have no idea how powerful Radhanath Swami is in India. He has over 10,000 disciples.
I find that most Westerners have a pretty open mind, but Indians are very sentimental. Indians do not have an open mind to read this book. ISKCON is now all about profit adoration and distinction. I feel very hurt and cheated. I can’t even share this with my wife. She is such a faithful follower of Radhanath Swami.
Henry Doktorski: I won’t mention your name.
Devotee in India: Thank you. I want to read next your second book, Eleven Naked Emperors. Hare Krishna.
Henry Doktorski: Hare Krishna, my friend.
February 27, 2020: Dear Henry Prabhu,
I have a few questions and comments about your book, Killing For Krishna. Request you to please answer if possible.
How can conspirators such as Krishna-Katha and Kuladri get 100% immunity, as they are intimately involved in the plot? The USA justice system is apparently more corrupt than the 3rd world countries!
Regarding the money and fingerprints episode, the police could have just checked whether the money used for bail had fingerprints of Bhaktipada. If there were none, it would have proved that Radhanath Swami was lying and Dharmatma was right.
We see that so many conspirators were there. But Tapahpunja is having special status. Why is he pleading with Bhaktipada for ten hours at the behest of Tirtha? I mean, others such as Kuladri and Dharmatma are also involved. But they don’t seem to care. Tapahpunja could have similarly distanced himself! Why was he trying to escape with Tirtha? He could have escaped separately. Gorby requested Hayagriva to give Tirtha the money to escape.
Why did the 2nd trial take place at all in 1996, if Kirtanananda was acquitted of the charges after his successful appeal against the judgment of the 1st trial in 1991? Why did the government place a plea deal in 1994 before an innocent Kirtanananda (as he won in the appellate court in Richmond)?
Why were Radhanath and Janmastami called to testify before the grand jury? No one had implicated them. Even if Dharmatma had implicated Radhanath, why was Janmastami called to appear before the grand jury? Why did ISKCON suspect that Radhanath could be involved in the conspiracy? I conjecture because they had told that he could be a GBC member, provided he was not implicated or indicted in the investigation.
Regarding the Winnebago Incident, only the driver saw. How is it possible that the half of the community believed the accusations against the spiritual master by one man? Why was the driver’s words taken so seriously? The implications are grave. How Radhanath Swami lost his faith so quickly and left in haste? Who threatened Radhanath and Devamrita Swamis that they had to leave New Vrindaban? If Radhanath Swami came to know that Kirtanananda was corrupt, why did he never appreciate Sulochan’s efforts to expose Bhaktipada as a pretender?
Why would Janmastami threaten all residents of New Vrindaban? What could be his motive? Janmastami is apparently not directly related to any of the New Vrindaban conspirators, barring Radhanath. So if Radhanath is innocent, who else could have brought him into the plot to kill Sulochan?
Devotee in Kolkata, India (Name deleted by request)
Author’s reply: Dear Friend,
Thank you for your inquiries. You have excellent questions. Some I may be able to answer, others not.
Q: “How can conspirators such as Krishna-Katha and Kuladri get 100% immunity, as they are intimately involved in the plot? The justice system is apparently more corrupt than the 3rd world countries!”
A: As I understand it, often the prosecutors need inside information to convict the big crime bosses. So they give immunity to a lesser player and expect him or her to tell the complete truth, in return for freedom and immunity from all charges. This works very well to get the big bosses of organized crime behind bars, even if some lesser players go scot-free.
Q: “Regarding the money and fingerprints episode, the police could have just checked whether the money used for bail had fingerprints of Bhaktipada. If there were none, it would have proved that Radhanath Swami was lying and Dharmatma was right. We see that so many conspirators were there.”
A: I imagine the police might have checked Tapahpunja’s bail money for fingerprints, but if they did, they did not find any fingerprints of Kirtanananda. So the money must have come from somewhere else, maybe the New Vrindaban Accounting Office. But remember, at that time, one week after the murder, the Kent police had no idea who was Radhanath Swami, and why they should have checked the bail money for fingerprints. I never heard that the Kent police checked Tapahpunja’s bail money for fingerprints. Yes, Kent police (or federal investigators) checked Tirtha’s money for fingerprints, but that is because they had a warrant for Tirtha (not Tapahpunja or Radhanath.)
Q: “But Tapahpunja is having special status. Why is he pleading with Bhaktipada for ten hours at the behest of Tirtha? I mean, others such as Kuladri and Dharmatma are also involved. But they don’t seem to care. Tapahpunja could have similarly distanced himself! Why was he trying to escape with tirtha? He could have escaped separately.”
A: I guess that Tapahpunja Swami felt affection for Tirtha. He had some pity for Tirtha. He also knew that if Tirtha was arrested, New Vrindaban would be in trouble. He loved Bhaktipada and New Vrindaban. He understood that Tirtha must leave the country and fast. Dharmatma and Kuladri did not have the same love for Tirtha which Tapahpunja had. Tapahpunja had much more association with Tirtha. He lived with Tirtha in Buffalo, and in Columbus. He knew Tirtha was at heart a sincere devotee, even childlike, in some respects, perhaps due to his unhappy childhood. So Tapahpunja wanted to help him escape.
Q: “Why did the 2nd trial take place at all in 1996, if Kirtanananda was acquitted of the charges after his successful appeal against the judgment of the 1st trial in 1991? Why did the government place a plea deal in 1994 before an innocent Kirtanananda (as he won in the appellate court in Richmond)?”
A: Even when a conviction is overturned on appeal, the prosecutors are allowed to schedule another trial, to try to convict the accused again. The prosecutors made mistakes in the 1991 trial, which they intended to avoid in the 1996 trial.
I imagine the government offered a plea deal in 1994 because they didn’t want to spend all the money to have a second trial. Maybe the prosecutors were mindful that public opinion might have changed, or maybe their budgets were curtailed. Who knows?
Q: “Why were Radhanath and Janmastami called to testify before the grand jury? No one had implicated them. Even if Dharmatma had implicated Radhanath, why was Janmastami called to appear before the grand jury?”
A: Obviously, the prosecutors thought Radhanath and Janmastami had important information regarding the murder plot. Undoubtedly Krishna-Katha in Los Angeles told the prosecutors about Janmastami, who he met in Los Angeles in February 1986, and traveled with Tirtha to the Mojave Desert to look at abandoned mine shafts in which to dispose of the body. So the police HAD to interrogate Janmastami. Regarding Radhanath Swami? Who knows. Obviously they thought RS might have been involved, or might have information to incriminate Bhaktipada, who was the person the prosecutors really wanted to get.
It is likely that it was Jagad-Guru Swami (B. G. Narasimha Swami), who heard Radhanath’s confession about the murder on a beach in San Diego, who reported Radhanath to the investigators. He said so himself, in so many words.
Q: “Why did ISKCON suspect that Radhanath could be involved in the conspiracy? I conjecture because they had told that he could be a GBC member, provided he was not implicated or indicted in the investigation.”
A: It is likely that Radhanath spoke about the murder plot to some of his ISKCON godbrothers. We know he spoke about it, after the murder, to Jagad Guru Swami on a beach in San Diego. Jagad Guru Swami says he spoke to the FBI. I’m sure he was one of the persons who incriminated Radhanath Swami. RS undoubtedly spoke about the murder plot to others.
Q: “Regarding the Winnebago Incident, only the driver saw. How is it possible that the half of the community believed the accusations against the spiritual master by one man? Why was the driver’s words taken so seriously? The implications are grave.”
A: Half the community believed for two reasons: (1) Sarvabhauma dasa was a respected and serious devotee, not a fringie. (2) We had heard rumors for so many years, and many of us had serious doubts about Bhaktipada. The Winnebago Incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back and allowed all those people who in secret harbored doubts to now reveal those doubts to others and we were surprised that so many others also had doubts. Of course, those who remained dedicated disciples considered us blasphemers.
Q: “How Radhanath Swami lost his faith so quickly and left in haste? Who threatened Radhanath and Devamrita Swamis that they had to leave New Vrindaban? If Radhanath Swami came to know that Kirtanananda was corrupt, why did he never appreciate Sulochan's efforts to expose Bhaktipada as a pretender?”
A: As early as 1987, Radhanath had heard from reliable sources (the gurukula boys) that Kirtanananda Swami was giving fellatio to the boys in his ashram at his house. At the time, Radhanath thought that this testimony might be rumor, after all, it was only one year earlier he had participated in the murder of Sulochan to protect the “pure devotee” Bhaktipada, so Radhanath had doubts about the boy, and the boy was forced to leave New Vrindaban, out of fear of death threats. Six years later, in 1993 at the Winnebago Incident, Radhanath was finally convinced (like many of us at New Vrindaban) that Bhaktipada was having sex with boys and young men. Or, if he was convinced earlier, finally he did something about it: he rejected Bhaktipada as spiritual master and left his service.
Ramanath dasa, a disciple of Bhaktipada from Malaysia with Mafia connections (now deceased I have heard) who was visiting New Vrindaban for the first time for Bhaktipada’s 1993 vyasa-puja festival, made the threats, as I heard. I’m sure others might have made similar threats. When Radhanath Swami finally understood that his shiksha guru, Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, was corrupt, Sulochan had been long dead for seven years. I imagine Radhanath felt terrible that he had participated in the conspiracy to assassinate a godbrother who was eventually proved correct in his criticism of Kirtanananda Swami. I noticed that in the 1990s Radhanath preached incessantly about love and tolerance. I think he was trying to reverse the prevailing opinion at the time: that blasphemy should be corrected with violence.
Q: “Why would Janmastami threaten all residents of New Vrindaban? What could be his motive? Janmastami is apparently not directly related to any of the New Vrindaban conspirators, barring Radhanath. So if Radhanath is innocent, who else could have brought him into the plot to kill Sulochan?”
A: Janmastami did not threaten all residents of New Vrindaban. This was a rumor spread by a sannyasa disciple of Radhanath Swami (out of respect I did not mention his name in Killing For Krishna, although I included a few clues regarding his identity) when he communicated with me by email. Thomas Westfall, the former sergeant at the Marshall County Sheriff Office, know nothing about this. Therefore, it certainly did not happen.
Radhanath is not innocent, as attested by Janmastami dasa, Hari Venu dasa, Kuladri dasa, Jyotirdhama dasa, Jagad-Guru Swami (B. G. Narasimha Swami), and Priyavrata dasa. Please give me permission to post our exchange on the Killing For Krishna Facebook page, my friend.
Devotee in Kolkata, India: Thank you for answering the questions. It cleared a lot of doubts. Please post prabhu if you want. I have one request. Please don’t write my name. I know the ISKCON temples, but I am not a regular devotee. I am practicing at home.
February 26, 2020: February 26, 2020: Your book Eleven Naked Emperors arrived today. Started with Chapter 7: “Two Architects of Evil.” Much info that I had never heard. I never intentionally offered obeisances to Keith, only to Srila Prabhupada, because I suspected such things. The GBC is still a rogue element in Gauranga’s movement.
David Sherk (Gadai dasa, ACBSP)
Angelica, New York
February 27, 2020: I just read the Dedication from Eleven Naked Emperors. Excellent! Hard to imagine it being any more perfect. Your humility is palpable. Thank you very much. You are healing my heart.
David Sherk (Gadai dasa, ACBSP)
Angelica, New York
March 4, 2020: I’m about one-third through your book. Your expertise in documentation is astounding. Prabhuji, even a professional movie script writer couldn’t generate a story this crazy. Amazing, that you can maintain your sanity sifting through all of it.
Here’s my analogy regarding the GBC: Driving in a rural area without GPS or even a road map, taking alternate left and right turns at each successive intersection. Clueless.
Right now I’m reading in your book about the BBC documentary film on Bhagavan. I haven’t gotten past William Bhagavan. He was so arrogant. My godbrother Puskara dasa (Matthew Goldman) told me personally that he and other brahmins were outside the temple door during Bhagavan’s extravagant guru-pujas and they were cursing him to fall down.
David Sherk (Gadai dasa, ACBSP)
Angelica, New York
March 5, 2020: In his latest literary offering, Eleven Naked Emperors, the author, H. Doktorski, has accurately answered a once-frequently-asked question: “Whatever happened to the Hare Krishnas?” Of late, the question has fallen out of use as no one any longer remembers the kirtans that were once commonplace on major city streets.
An individual’s experience with ISKCON, not unlike blind men groping and describing an elephant, may vary widely. In describing those events of ISKCON 1977-1987, HRISHIKESH has invited the wrath of the “Sentimentalist Sahajiyas,” but he willingly takes that risk. HRISHIKESH successfully walks the tightrope between fault-finding and fact-finding without a fall down.
Many legends and lore of ISKCON are examined, and all this is done in CARLOS CASTANEDA style. In describing “a YAQUI way of knowledge,” Castaneda describes his first hand experiences with his spiritual path and his teacher. His analysis is in stark contrast to the enthusiasm noviciate. Similarly, with HRISHIKESH and his in-detail analysis of ISKCON.
Janmastami dasa (John Sinkowski), former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami and New Vrindaban resident
March 10, 2020: 5.0 out of 5 stars. A Healing Tool and Valuable Reference Guide
My first wish in reviewing this book is to recognize the tremendous work that the author dedicated to this project—both from an academic as well as a personal perspective. It is evident from the first chapter that there were no shortcuts taken to achieve the massive undertaking that is tackling this sensitive, yet important subject. While it may difficult for anyone outside of ISKCON to understand most of the subject matter and references to its history, I sense this work may contribute immediate and tremendous value to all interested in the subject matter—a reference for the zonal-acharya era of ISKCON and (in a broader sense) the issues surrounding succession upon the physical departure of a religious leader.
I very much appreciate how the author took the time to preface the work with how subjective the content may turn out to be. Even with this disclaimer there was plenty of opportunity for a lot of the sides of the issue to be included (even when some refused, such as Hans Kary—your loss dude!) Ultimately, providing different perspectives served the book well as it portrays the facts and a crucial part of what happened before and after Prabhupada’s passing in 1977.
We may not agree with everything the author presents (it’s healthy to disagree respectfully), but the value here is historical as this book opens so many doors and ideas that have been difficult to discuss in the past. For example, I feel the author is extremely generous in his view of the eleven “naked emperors” and shows a compassion I cannot find within me to portray them as fallible human beings. While I do appreciate the obvious consequences on placing the tremendous pressure and responsibilities that were upon the “emperors,” there was too much writing on the wall. Especially with Keith Ham—his manipulative nature, power hunger, and sexual deviance was known from the days at 26 Second Avenue.
Why he was given sannyasi within a year of knowing Prabhupada in Manhattan is a mystery as baffling as why or how the pyramids were built. It’s like sending a surgeon to the operating table after less than one year of undergraduate studies...there is simply not enough preparation. In any case, this book is a healthy approach to discuss and present what I used to think was the unthinkable—touching on issues that represent a dark period in ISKCON history—and then going (to my favorite chapter—the last one) and addressing the human aspect of being a religious leader.
I cannot praise the author enough for assembling such a complete work that serves as a document that presents the dangers of absolutism. Much like the previous book, Killing for Krishna, there is an important and underlying premise where there is a noble intention to help heal. We have learned from Buddhism (now supported by neuroscience) that the only way to properly heal from pain and trauma is to go through the eye of the storm; to bring a caring attention towards that which hurts the most. I realize that one has to be emotionally ready for this process and clearly not all are.
However, we may ignore this truth at our own risk if there is any hope for true healing. This book is a necessary step in the direction towards a collective healing that is still very much needed and perhaps long overdue. This is perhaps the most relevant contribution.
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
From a review at Amazon.
March 17, 2020: Hrishi,
I have now finished reading your book, Eleven Naked Emperors. Another amazing effort to uncover the truth, just like your first book, Killing For Krishna. l feel you remained balanced and tried to give as comprehensive a look as possible, honoring all perspectives.
It is an opportunity for your readers to carefully analyze past mistakes and then learn from. For those who were not thrust into such a demanding role as guru, it is an opportunity for them to appreciate the good work these eleven gentlemen did despite the pressure of having to always appear perfect. The last chapter is thought provoking. There is surely much more l could say as l am very impressed by your colossal effort to document so much information and compile it in such a readable manner.
If you approve of my comment you may certainly use it as you see fit, such as on your Eleven Naked Emperors Facebook page. And yes, as l fade quietly into the twilight of my career l would prefer to remain anonymous.
By the way, you may have noticed that l left the word “them” off the first sentence of the 2nd paragraph. I am surely looking forward to your next publication.
Anonymous godbrother, former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami and New Vrindaban resident
March 21, 2020: 5.0 out of 5 stars. An Unmatched Insider View
Doktorski has provided perhaps the best insider view of the internal power struggles of ISKCON from the late 70s up to the present. His honest “warts and all” approach to ISKCON history, coupled with the clear respect he has for its members both past and present, as well as its founder, clearly indicate a desire to tell the truth with a heart for healing. As an Anglican priest I highly recommend this and all of Doktorski’s works to my fellow theologians, apologists, clergy, and students of world religion.
Father Joseph “Jack” Gingrich
Dayton, Ohio
From a review at Amazon.
March 24, 2020:
Today I would like to give a brief review of the book Eleven Naked Emperors by my friend Henry Doktorski. First, I want to say that I really like Henry. Henry has made a very positive life for himself [after leaving the Hare Krishna movement]. He’s a great writer, he’s an organist, he is a chessmaster, a master accordionist. He’s a real nice guy. He has made a lot of research to do this book. . . .
Eleven Naked Emperors deals with the period from 1977 and on, the period after Swami Bhaktivedanta, [the founder of the Hare Krishna movement], died. Those eleven decided that they were now “spiritual masters,” they were now “gurus,” and they were now worthy of praise, worthy of worship, worthy of taking hundreds, some thousands of disciples, to love them and serve them. Many built themselves little thrones so that people could worship them.
One thing that they did, all the eleven of them, is what is called “Washing of the Feet” [pada-puja] once a year [on the birthday of the spiritual master], with milk, yogurt, honey. Then they would let their disciples drink this mixture because it was “holy,” it had touched their feet. And every day, they [the eleven] would let people eat from their plate [after they had finished eating]. That would be called “Maha-Prasadam.” It was “holy” because the spit of these eleven people had suddenly, in 1977, become “holy.” Anyone who would eat something that had touched their spit would benefit spiritually.
Henry’s Eleven Naked Emperors is a very interesting book, [especially] if you want to learn the history of the Hare Krishna movement and how it is functioning now. It’s not about self realization, it’s about being elected by a board: “Okay, now you’re a guru.” It’s very far away from the ideal of the Bhagavad-gita, which says that the self-realized soul can show you the truth because he has seen, he has experienced the truth. . . .
There’s a lot to learn in the book by Henry Doktorski, a lot to learn about the sinister brainwashing that can happen when a guru is not real. You can learn about money scams, manipulation of women for sexual pleasure, manipulation of men [and boys] by some of those gurus who were homosexual pedophiles. Like Kirtanananda and Bhavananda, who were complete perverts. But for a little while many people believed that they were enlightened saints, when in reality they were scabs.
Henri Jolicoeur, M. A. (formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP)
Hypnotherapist
Montreal, Quebec
From a review on YouTube.
March 30, 2020: 5.0 out of 5 stars. Devastation Row
The author, a former ISKCON devotee during at least part of the time involved, proves to be an excellent historian. Don’t expect a story written in “pulp fiction” style, filled with suppositions, concocted conversations and dramatizations—as was told in Monkey on a Stick.
While this book is filled with an overwhelming amount of facts—nearly all of which are documented in the plethora of easily accessed Notes—it is written in a personable style, so that it isn’t a “dry” read. The research is a success of documentation, most of which are had by-way of interviews conducted by the author over a number of years.
For all the devotees and friends affected—this isn’t just a little thing. It became a terrible experience over ten horrible years, that devastated the spiritual and mundane lives of thousands of people totally dedicated to changing the world. Reading this book has cleared up my own questions and lingering confusion over the false guru scam, as a former follower of ISKCON.
Wade Ryan (Damodar dasa, ACBSP)
Inititated in San Francisco, 1967
From a review at Amazon.
March 31, 2020: Hi Henry,
I want to thank you for your time, talent and hard work in authoring this book, Eleven Naked Emperors. You have cleared up so many of my own personal questions and confusions over the ten+ terrible years that has ruined so many lives of sincere devotees. And—though you’ve examined excellently documented so many details, you've been able to tell the story with a “calm voice” that has helped me come to terms with it all in a less soul-rocking manner.
I also purchased Killing for Krishna, which led me to the Eleven Naked Emperors book. You may even have the rather vicious letter I sent to Keith Ham when I sent his book to him, after reading Monkey On A Stick. I happened to visit New Dwarka the day after Sulochan Prabhu was murdered, and the place was suffused with horror and fear. It was heartbreaking. As for that book, Monkey On A Stick, the authors really set themselves up especially for the “conjecture” rebuttals that followed. But having even just a short, little with Keith Ham early on in San Francisco in 1967, I had no doubt about his pathological egoism.
When the poisoning issue first came out—hearing the “Whispers Recording”—I wasn’t just angry, I wept for three days straight. So I suspect your book will also have a healing effect.
The story about my 1967 initation in San Francisco was incorrectly portrayed in Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita. Either the devotees in the Haight-Ashbury Temple neglected to document Srila Prabhupada’s spontaneous Nama initiation (I boldly insisted on it one night), or my name was either not included or removed from the Devotee listing website. It doesn’t matter—I remember when it happened, and someone else must have because a somewhat inaccurate version was included in the Lilamrta. I was the “hippy” kid who, in my youth was probably a little too bold in demanding Swamiji initiate me. Thankfully, Swamiji had a very good sense of humor!
I’ve posted a 5-Star review on Amazon in appreciation for your good efforts. . . . Again, Henry, I am so grateful for this book, that has well-informed me, and “settled the unsettled” in my own heart and mind.
Wade Ryan (Damodar dasa, ACBSP), initiated in San Francisco in 1967
April 2, 2020: I lived through what is in these [Henry’s] books, and they are truthful.
Joseph Pollock, Jr. (Jyotirdhama dasa, ACBSP)
Richland, Washington
from a radio talk show: Expedition Truth radio.
April 2, 2020: I know Henry well, I really admire what he’s doing, and I agree he has really helped a lot of people straighten out the history. There’s an acharya, he’s a guru in our line, his name is Madhva, and he says, “Anyone who understands history correctly is eligible for liberation.” We needed to sort out the history.
Tim Lee (Purajana dasa, ACBSP)
from a radio talk show: Expedition Truth radio.
April 2, 2020: I’m very appreciative of the therapeutic element that he [Henry] wants to connect with others and help them understand the history [of ISKCON]
Mark Goodwin (Kailasa-Chandra dasa, ACBSP)
Jasper, Arkansas
from a radio talk show: Expedition Truth radio.
April 2, 2020: Listen to an interview with Henry about his books Eleven Naked Emperors and Killing For Krishna with Rev. Jack Davila-Ashcraft from a two-hour broadcast on Expedition Truth radio.
April 4, 2020
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Dear Hrishikesh Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I received your latest book, Eleven Naked Emperors, a while ago, and I am very slowing digesting it. Almost done now. Riveting. The manner in which you examine issues and controversies is engaging and refreshing, unlike the typical throwing of selected quotes and the absolute interpretations thereof. I am inspired to research further and write myself. Even myself, as one of the Radical Reformers, did not know so much that was covered in the book. So I assume these historical books will be of great help to many devotees.
As an aside, I am quite sure Chittesvara dasa, the ghost buster (he toured ISKCON widely doing ghost-busting rituals at temples and homes) was a Jayapataka disciple, who prescribed the purple vibhuti to Harikesh, with rumors that Jayapataka knew Harikesh would go nuts from it, and then he could move in on his zone and men, and, sure enough, Jayapataka was the first GBC/guru to tour and “save” the Eastern Europe zone as soon as Harikesh fell down. Within days he was there, giving shelter and eventual reinitiation to many of Harikesh’s followers.
Nityananda dasa (Nico Kuyt)
Former New Orleans ISKCON Temple President, former member of the ISKCON Guru Reform Movement, and author of Kill Guru, Become Guru: The Poison Is Personal Ambition
April 5, 2020: One Great Book!
Hare Krishna, devotees! I am [recording this video in my car] at Los Angeles International Airport. I’m [an Uber driver] waiting to take a customer to their destination. While I take breaks, or when I wait between people, I read. I read Prabhupada’s books, and I read books in relationship to Prabhupada and the [Hare Krishna] Movement. Eleven Naked Emperors is an excellent book by Hrishikesh Prabhu, or Henry Doktorski. I’ve been reading it. . . .
Excellent book! Very nicely done. This is a professional endeavor. It says here [in the Preface that] it’s a controversial book. But devotees delight in addressing controversial topics. It enlightens their minds and it brings their hearts closer to Krishna. We’re not afraid of controversy.
The Foreword is very, very good, by a professor: Edwin Bryant, Professor of Hindu Philosophy and Religion at Rutgers University. I don’t agree with everything he said. [However], most everything [he said] I [do] agree with. [Only] a few things I don’t agree with. In the same way, I don’t agree with some of the things that Hrishikesh writes, but the important thing is that this is giving an opportunity for dialogue, an opportunity to learn, an opportunity to share ideas on controversial topics. It has a strong foundational basis, so that is very, very good. Very, very good service.
Here we have Chapter One: “Gaudiya Vaishnavism Comes West.” [In this chapter] we have the foundational basis on how all this [the Zonal-Acharya Era of ISKCON and the formation of the two splinter groups: the Neo-Gaudiya Math and the Ritvik-In-Absentia Advocates] started. Very, very nice book. I highly recommend it. Any devotee who doesn’t read a book like this will not have a strong foundational basis in philosophy, in history, and who is who in this movement. I highly recommend it, even though I’m sure all of us will not agree with some parts of it.
Hare Krishna! [Now], let me continue reading [more of Eleven Naked Emperors] myself! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Haribol!
Mario Pineda (Mahatma dasa)
Los Angeles, California
From a video review on Facebook.
April 16, 2020: Hi Henry,
I’ve read Killing For Krishna twice now. Once, including every End Note, and once just the story itself.
Oh my! Your attention to detail, your myriad End Notes, and your personal memories have made this a book far beyond the usual range of such literary documentaries! Reading Killing For Krishna has been a very difficult, and also healing experience.
All I had to go by for years was [the pulp-fiction book] Monkey On A Stick, and conversations with a few of the New Dwarka [Los Angeles] devotees. Interestingly, you’ve somehow presented each person as an actual person, not just a cardboard cutout.
My Amazon Review is going to be carefully written, so as to follow in your compassionate footsteps, while telling of the care and talent you’ve given in this book.
I’ve also just started Tirtha’s [book] 100 Monkeyz. Tell me—did he actually write this? It’s too well structured, and so nearly poetic, that it’s difficult to reconcile him in his role in Sulochan’s murder with him as a talented author. Not that all sociopaths are without such talents, but showing such emotionality doesn’t seem to “fit”—or am I wrong? The one consistent thought is that the entire story is all about him. Him the victim, him the strong survivor of countless strange difficulties.
Actually, sociopaths have a particular knack at presenting [themselves] as good, well-meaning, emotional (crocodile tears abound) fellows.
Fortunately, my training and experience in psychology—including forensic psychology—made such “theatrical acts” pretty transparent.
This honestly was a painful healing. The work you put into this book, just like [your more recent book] Eleven Naked Emperors, is nearly tangible. Your thoughts, experiences really made it more like a conversation with a friend. It was hard to put the book aside for ordinary daily living activities.
Every “player” really becomes a person. Even Kirtanananda, who I met only once or twice, and found him rather scary. I had the uncomfortable experience of Hayagriva, in the Haight-Ashbury temple [during the spring/summer of 1967]. Uncomfortable because I was a young (overly sheltered) 17 year old, and he was constantly touching and hugging me ... he smelled ...
I think most revealing was Rabid-Nut [Radhanath Swami]—his manipulating ways. Never met him, but have seen videos of him—and he’s oily. As I said before, you treated him with compassion and respect. You’re a bigger man than me.
I am now eagerly awaiting your third book [Gold, Guns and God]—I know it will be another keeper!
Wade Ryan (Damodar dasa, ACBSP)
April 18, 2020
Five Stars: A Most Painful Healing
First, I'm going to warn you: this [Killing For Krishna]isn’t a pulp-exposé, filled with tempting drama, to feed one’s literary bloodlust. It is the brilliantly written, incredibly well-researched literary investigation of the terrible events that unfolded in a spiritual community, associated with the Hare Krishna movement: New Vrindaban, in West Virginia. Copious Notes (easily accessed throughout the E-book by links) offer a precious wealth of documentation that add depth and breadth to the story of love and faith that developed into a kind of transcendental madness; indeed, a deranged devotion.
Amazingly, the author—who resided in New Vrindaban for some years—has a real talent for presenting the various people (and there are many) as real, actual human beings, unlike a former book on the subject [Monkey On A Stick], that was hastily written by a couple of hacks many years ago. No one in this book gets off the hook, yet everyone is treated with compassionate respect; yes, even the conspirators and even the murderer himself.
Reading this book has been a most painful, incredibly healing event for me. My gratitude to Henry Doktorski, for composing the entire, admittedly convoluted story in such a well organized manner. My own decades of confusion and unanswered questions about how it all unfolded have been painfully, finally healed.
—Wade Ryan (Damodar dasa, ACBSP—pseudonym: Seth Roberts), from a review at Amazon.
April 20, 2020
Dear Henry Prabhuji.
I purchased Eleven Naked Emperors through Amazon. I plan on getting a print copy of Killing for Krishna before the May 2020 Sulochan Memorial in Los Angeles as well, but I especially love that both your ebooks are free for Amazon Prime members. I have recommended, and got many people to read Killing For Krishna on their Kindle app because it’s free if you have Amazon Prime. A LOT of people who wouldn’t have purchased a copy, quite a few younger devotees who don’t have much money, read Killing For Krishna through their Kindle readers.
I recommended Eleven Naked Emperors and Killing For Krishna to all my friends on the Facebook group I manage, which has about 30 people on there, and I read at the end of Eleven Naked Emperors in the “Aftermath” chapter where you talk about where each of the eleven zonal acharyas are now, so they could get more info on that. Your book had stuff in it that even I didn’t know! Amazing work! I’ll do a short recommendation video soon.
I can’t wait to meet you and Yashodanandan Prabhu at the Sulochan Memorial. Hare Krsna. Please accept my humble obeisances as well Prabhuji. Thank you for giving such great work! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Balanarasimhadeva dasa
San Francisco, California
April 23, 2020
Henry Doktorski III, Hare Krishna!
Thanks for your hard work to make THE TRUTH visible for all those who haven’t chanced to see her (THE TRUTH) without taking ANY side: ISKCON—GBC vs. ISKCON—IRM. Thanks for your objective pointing THE TRUTH in both of your books, Killing For Krishna and Eleven Naked Emperors. Looking forward on your third book, Gold, Guns and God, because you are bee and you are blessed by HDG Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to open eyes of many aspirating devotees who are confused by rumor (prajalpa) and contaminated with hearing/reading offences (Vaisnava aparadha) even to the devotees who don’t deserve to be offended.
Dinanatha dasa (Dragan Buskoski)
Kičevo, Republic of Macedonia
May 10, 2020
Hello, Henry-ji.
I had a question as I was reading the last chapter of Killing for Krishna. Please tell whether there is any proof that Radhanath, Janmastami, and other members were subpoenaed in 1993. Because Kirtanananda, if I am right, had successfully appealed against the judgment of the first trial that concluded in 1991. Why were they subpoenaed? Please tell in some detail about how Radhanath Swami’s father was able to protect him from the government? He was not a big man! There was no evidence that Radhanath was involved in the plot at that time. There was no witness who would testify against him. So why would he take the help of his father in the first place.
Devotee in Kolkata (Name deleted by request)
Author’s reply: Thank you for your inquiry, Sir. Very soon after Bhaktipada was convicted on Good Friday, 1991, he made a motion to appeal his case. If the motion was approved by the judge, the prosecutors knew if he won his appeal that they would have to try him again in court. As it was, Alan Dershowitz, whom Bhaktipada hired in May 1991, won Bhaktipada’s appeal two years later, on July 1, 1993, as explained in Killing For Krishna.
Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath and Paramahamsa-Krishna Swami and Bhakti-Rasa Swami were subpoenaed in Spring of 1993, Janmastami claims that he and Radhanath were asked to talk about the Sulochan murder charges, and PK Swami and Bhakti-Rasa on copyright issues. PK was director of Palace Publishing. At this time Bhaktipada had not yet won his appeal, but even if he had, there is no reason why the prosecutors would not continue their investigation, as they thought if Bhaktipada won his appeal, they would charge him again and try him again in court, which they did in April 1996.
Regarding Radhanath Swami and his father, we do not know what influence Gerald Slavin had/has on Federal Law Enforcement or Investigative agencies. We know, as stated in Radhanath Swami’s autobiography, that Gerald Slavin had become quite wealthy since the 1970s. Wealthy people often contribute generously to political campaigns, such as elections for judges, police chiefs, district attorneys, governors, Congressmen, etc. Wealthy people often have strong connections with political leaders.
It is rumored that the father of Sri-Galim (Gary Gardner), a wealthy Texas cattle rancher, sold 100 head of cattle to pay off the West Virginia District Attorney who was in charge of the child sexual molestation case of Sri-Galim to convince him to drop the charges. Mother Kanka, whose son was molested by Sri-Galim, had several boys, including her son, ready to testify at trial that Sri-Galim had sexually abused the boys. However, suddenly and without warning, the charges were dropped. Very strange, in my opinion. Wealth certainly has a great influence on justice in the United States.
Lately it has come to my attention that Radhanath Swami may still be involved with a government agency, perhaps the CIA, as an informant within ISKCON. It is certainly possible, that the United States government in 1993 wanted a spy with a very high position at New Vrindaban, and they may have promised Radhanath Swami that any information incriminating him in the murder of Sulochan, or other crimes at New Vrindaban, would not be used against him, if he became a government informant, as Randall Gorby earlier had been.
Undoubtedly, as he was implicated up to his neck in the plot, as revealed in Killing For Krishna, Radhanath Swami would have jumped at the opportunity to save his neck. A year later, when he rejoined ISKCON as an initiating guru and GBC member, he undoubtedly became much more valuable as a government informant highly planted in ISKCON. We do not know any of this, but recent events, including a government agent familiar with the New Vrindaban case, has recently approached one of the devotees who participated in the murder plot, and strongly suggested that he keep his nose out of business which the United States government does not want anyone to know about. This devotee has decided to “retire” from his efforts to convince Radhanath Swami to confess his involvement in the murder as he knows he has absolutely no power against the vast wealth of the United States government. He does not want to end up as Randall Gorby, another government informant, ended up: dead. It was officially ruled a suicide, but under extremely suspicious circumstances.
Perhaps Radhanath Swami also fears the United States government. If he is and has been an informant for the last 27 years, he has undoubtedly contributed much information about criminal activities which may be still going on in ISKCON. Maybe he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If he confesses that he helped in the conspiracy to murder Sulochan, he would certainly lose his favored informant status, and might expect an assassination attempt, similar perhaps to what happened to Gorby. We can only pray for Radhanath Swami’s deliverance. When I last saw him, he appeared to be in great anxiety, and I expect he is still in anxiety today. Certainly the actual facts regarding the story of the murder of Sulochan are difficult to discern, and it is likely, in my opinion, that Radhanath, Kuladri, and others in ISKCON and the government will take these secrets with them to their graves.
May 11, 2020
Today I would like to give some comment on the book by my friend Henry Doktorski called Eleven Naked Emperors. If you would like to know about the conspiracies that did happen at the time that Swami Bhaktivedanta left his body in 1977, you have to read this book.
Henri Jolicoeur (formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP)
Montreal, Canada
From a video titled Jayatirtha das, aka James Immel (My Testimonial) at YouTube.
May 20, 2020: Thanks to Henry for writing his second book about the Hare Krishnas, Eleven Naked Emperors! This book helps fill in some chapters not only in the history of ISKCON, but the rise of “Hinduism” in America and and larger cultural trends that resonate with many contemporary issues.
The process of Bhakti-Yoga is the hidden theme all throughout the book, though Henry takes a scientific “just-the-facts” approach, allowing the reader to interpret the facts for themselves. The narrative of the people involved clearly shows the Bhakti-Yoga process of how these men who surrendered to Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada changed their lives based on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita, despite various bad decisions or even criminal activity committed and documented.
Henry’s approach also allows the lesson learned from this “social experiment” to be useful not only for ISKCON or people affiliated with the Hare Krishna movement, but also for students of psychology, Hinduism, spirituality, law, sociology, music, religion, interfaith, American culture, even fields like management and many others can gain insights from a objective history of Kirtanananda Swami, ISKCON and New Vrindaben, and appreciate Henry’s efforts to bring this historical narrative to fruition.
I look forward to reading Henry’s forthcoming grand project of a detailed biography of Kirtanananda Swami and the history of New Vrindaban. And hopefully the third book will allow people under the full scope of the evidence to see how deeply flawed people were still able to come together and accomplish great things that are a chapter in American history.
Continued blessings & success, and hopes that Henry can complete his third book soon!
David A. Calton
Host of the Doooovid Internet Streaming Show
Detroit, Michigan
May 21, 2020
Hi. I’m watching your book reviews on YouTube, and reading your books too. Very nice, your writings. What you say is not against Hare Krishna, but supporting the True. It is a world-wide true, beyond Hare Krishna Movement.
But for the faith character, to understand the human behavior: about the lies, perversion. I am a former devotee. I had very nice experiences, but learned to me the worst of the human, too. And reading your book is a kind of therapeutic way. Thank you so much for your efforts.
Francisco Tupy
São Paulo, Brazil
June 14, 2020
I love podcasts. I listen to so many podcasts, and one that I enjoy is called “American Scandal.” I listened to a series of episodes about this book [Killing For Krishna], and I have to tell you: it was fascinating. I went online, and yes there’s a book about this [the Hare Krishna murders], and I wanted to get the author with us [on my radio show]. The book is called Killing For Krishna. . . . For someone [in our radio audience] who’s looking for a true-crime story, this [book] is just an incredible, incredible page-turner. . . . A barn-burner. This book is incredible. It’s incredible what happened there [at New Vrindaban]. . . .
And you [Henry] are such an interesting guy, and now you’ve moved on with your life. . . . I think these are positive things; we take something negative that happened [in our lives] and we turn it to a positive. And you’re certainly not just sharing this story [about the Hare Krishna murders] but you’re giving kind of a blueprint for cults that are out there today. [Cults] that could draw people in and terrible things can happen, and you’ve got to know when you’re crossing that line and getting involved with a dangerous group, such as what was happening back in 1986 [in the Hare Krishna movement, like the murder of Steven Bryant].
—James L. Paris, from an interview with Henry at Jim Paris Talk Radio Show.
June 21, 2020
Three stars: This book [Eleven Naked Emperors] finally set me free from the shadow of ISKCON
I am very grateful that the author wrote this book because it finally set me free from caring about ISKCON and the organisations ‘gurus.’ However, I did not enjoy the book and found it very repetitive. Perhaps this is why it had the effect on me it did, it showed how 99% of the managers and gurus at the top of the Hare Krishna pyramid are simply little boys playing politics and trying to be the king of the castle. There is nothing special about any of them. They lack any special knowledge and are in no way transcendent god men. They are on a power trip, trying to emulate their guru, who despite his faults, was at least genuine in his mission and had a personal charisma and degree of purity his followers could only dream of.
The contents of the book [in the later chapters] itself mostly deal with Ritvik vs direct successor arguments. These go into excruciating detail as the various players attempt to prove their position is the correct one using scripture, religious history, and of course the statements of Prabhupada himself. Honestly, I don’t know why Prabhupada just didn’t give clear instructions for what to do after he died! Surely he had the insight to see that his followers were all vain young men on a power trip?
The book is very specialist, there isn’t much here for someone who has never been involved with, or studied ISKCON and it isn’t gripping like the author’s last book Killing for Krishna, which had a true crime feel and dealt with the sordid activities of some of these gurus.
The author is now working on a full history of New Vrindavan, which at one point was the one book I wished someone would write. Now, I have no desire to read it and I no longer care at all about ISKCON and the people in it. For this, I am so pleased and I hope that readers like me can find this freedom from this author’s books. It is important someone writes them, but I am done reading them, and am very happy about that!
R. Moores
from a review at Amazon
June 22, 2020
It is terrible to become fully aware of so many terrible events like those you describe in Killing for Krishna. But it is necessary to know the truth. When I bought your book last year I put it on a shelf and started waiting for the right moment to read it. Everyday I took a look at its cover and didn’t open it: I was scared of what I would read in it one day. Now I know. Thank you Henry.
Devotee in Italy
July 5, 2020, Vrindaban, India: I consider your work very important, a necessary archive to cover an particularly significant moment in history, which will be very useful to sociologists and psychologists of religion in the future. I hope that you can get your books to be accepted in university libraries. Perhaps if you can find some scholars who work in those fields to support it, you will have the chance to see your work have more influence.
Jan Brzezinski (Jagadananda dasa, formerly Hiranyagarbha dasa)
Former resident of New Vrindaban, currently editor for Gaudiya Grantha Mandir and Vrindavan Today
August 18, 2020
Five Stars: Extremely Objective
Pranams. Jaya Srila Prabhupada. [Eleven Naked Emperors is] Meticulously and voluminously researched and extremely non-partisan, especially considering how partisan virtually every devotee he interacted with to write this book was. Lots of facts and background info are given that allow the reader to come to their own conclusions. The author takes pains to avoid steering the reader to a certain perspective, purposely including even the most blinded views of the eleven subjects. I also lived through this experience and interacted with Henry in the 80’s during our shared mis-leadings at the hands of our one-time “gurus.”
The objectivity extends to some critical examination of Hare Krishna founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s preparation of his leaders, including the eleven, for what would be needed after his physical departure. Hence the one negative review. However, at the end, Henry does give a very Krishna conscious reason as to why Srila Prabhupada handled this issue as he did.
Nevertheless, this book, although respectful of devotees, isn’t pure devotional service. One needs to exercise good discrimination regarding siddhanta when faced with the diversity of devotees’ biases and sectarian loyalties. Logic leads one to conclude that, at most, only one of many differing conclusions could be the Krishna conscious one. May the Lord in the heart guide you as you read and otherwise!
Eric Johanson
Moab, Utah
formerly Radha-Vrindaban Chandra Swami
formerly a disciple of Hansadutta
from a review at Amazon
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August 26, 2020
Henry, if you can open the eyes of just one person and save them, it is enough. If you can save more, it is the beginning of a new era. We all need to know the Truth. I suffered while reading Killing for Krishna. After buying the book I let it sit on top of a shelf for about a year. I was afraid of reading it although I already knew something about Sulochan’s death. Then I decided it was time to read it. I cried for long hours when I discovered about the mischievous actions of those who were supposed to take care of so many people and educate them spiritually. But I went on. I am a different woman now. No lies in my Life. No Fairy tales: I don't need them anymore. Krishna Is in my heart. But I say NO to rascals telling lies and abusing people.
Lucia Ballerini
Senigallia, Italy
August 26, 2020
Greetings and Namaste. First of all a VERY BIG thank you for your second masterpiece, Eleven Naked Emperors, which recently arrived at my doorstep. It was great that I’ve received your book upon returning from a magnificent trekking holidays in Nepal. I was and still am very much inspired by being Blessed to witness Mother Nature’s splendid and glorious manifestation in form of mighty Himalayas. Coming back to your book, it’s obvious that you've written your name in a history of the Hare Krishna movement as a marvelous historian and Truth investigator. It goes without saying that your natural honesty and transparency in seeing things/facts as they are is your weapon and absolutely captivating quality in your writing, my dear friend. As an ex-Hare Krishna devotee myself, please allow me to use a vocabulary associated with our past: “I bow upon your lotus feet and take a dust from your lotus feet on my head.” Kindly continue writing and sharing with others the Truth as only Truth will set as all Free. Om shanti. Om tat sat.
Rafael Kotowski
Hamburg, Germany
September 21, 2020: Dear Henry,
I am just a reader of your two books (Killing For Krishna and Eleven Naked Emperors) on the Hare Krishnas, and I appreciated them a lot. I was born in an Iskcon devotee family, my parents were initiated in the movement during the eighties in the south of Europe. We all left the movement in the course of time due to the horrifying internal politics.
I wanted you to know this interesting video of two of the zonal acaryas discussing the fall down of another one in 1986. Hoping this may be of some interest.
Again thank you for your literary works.
Yours,
Anonymous
September 28, 2020
Five Stars: The net of the planet
A magnificent very informative and historical book of contemporary Vaishnavism. Thank you. Hare Krishna!
Emilio Rafael Ituarte Baca
from a review at Amazon
October 8, 2020
Henry,
I’m enjoying reading this first volume (or rather Vol. 3) of Gold, Guns, and God on my Kindle reader. Your work is tremendously relevant and the historical value is immeasurable. I appreciate you so much and all the hard work that you are putting into this project. I’m looking forward to writing another stellar review for Amazon when finished.
In gratitude,
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
November 11, 2020
Oh, Henry. Oh my God. I was on my way to work at 1 am in the morning, and I saw your book, Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 5 sticking out of my mailbox. After my shift was finished, I began almost running back home, and I thought, “I’ll just glance through Henry’s new book, and have a coffee.” I was very anxious to “dive in” into this extraordinary blast-from-the-past story of the deranged devoted devotees of the New Vrindaban community.
The next thing I know, several hours had passed, and I finished reading 90 pages: until just after they killed Chakradhari. Oh my God, Henry, it’s such a detailed explanation and expresses the viewpoints of all the characters in this story. You’re taking this to the next level. You took it to the next level. You’re a truth seeker, exploring the truth, revealing the truth. I admire your cojones. I truly and deeply appreciate your detailed style of writing, dear friend. You definitely make sure that “no stone is left unturned,” with excellent documentation: references, letters, quotes, etc. You have no hidden agenda. You simply present the plain facts, which basically speak for themselves.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this enormous and absolutely vital historical biography of Swami Bhaktipada. I also hope that your books will help others to heal the wounds of deranged devotion, as they helped me. Om Shanti. Om Tat Sat.
Rafael Kotowski
Former ISKCON devotee and former disciple of Indradyumna “Swami”
Hamburg, Germany
PS I have all four of your books, as seen in the attached photo.
November 15, 2020
Thank you for doing this [researching and writing Gold, Guns and God.] I truly believe that the importance of your work will grow exponentially in time. P.S. I just purchased ten copies of Vol. 3 for family and friends.
Jason Detamore (Kiba-Jaya dasa)
Santa Monica, California
Former resident of New Vrindaban
November 18, 2020
In Senigallia, Italy, today is a sunny day at 3:49 in the afternoon and I’m happy because through reading your book, Killing For Krishna, I’m learning lots of things and gaining new insights every day. When you mentioned a couple weeks ago that you were tired of always being asked by reporters and interviewers about negative things regarding your past experiences at New Vrindaban, I started thinking: “Henry is right. Everything has a good counterpart.”
So I started seeing things differently. Our spiritual life is something great, the way we get to it is personal, but I must say that the Hindu philosophy has helped me cope with the heavy load I sometimes have to carry on my shoulders. One of my nephews told me a few days ago: “Henry gave you the opportunity to renew your faith in God and live happy.” And it’s true. Now I’m not trying to convince myself something great exists beyond reality. I know it exists and I can talk to a friend who is not a fanatic! Thank you Henry!
Lucia Ballerini
Senigallia, Italy
November 20, 2020
I finished your book, Killing For Krishna. I found it good to help me heal from the trauma I experienced while in ISKCON. Many, many ISKCON members were abused by their leaders’ strange ideas of Krishna. Most temples copied Kirtanananda’s mood to push devotees to be unpaid slaves of the invented idea that by making money one pleases Krishna. It’s very cultish. You did well to survive after all that weird stuff at New Vrindaban. It would probably ruin most folks.
I joined in 1978 in Ireland, and I helped buy the Inis Rath temple. I’m still trying to heal from all the cult false patterns. It ain’t easy to unlearn fake spiritual concepts. My bad karma, perhaps? Jayatirtha was my first “spiritual master,” then came Satsvarupa. Later, I took diksha outside of ISKCON and then, of course, I was treated like a criminal. Such a cruel little fundamentalist group. Material energy is cruel. Real surrender to God is a very intimate, private thing.
While living in Ireland, we had little trouble, but while reading your book I saw that Prithu (the temple president at ISKCON Inis Rath) and most of ISKCON tried to copy mad Kirtanananda. Of course the Lord allowed it to happen. It is a priceless lesson for you and all of us to really go deep and see how many nasty traps there are if we follow such an unfortunate person. It is truly one of the darkest places to go with such a wonderful process. However, I sense ISKCON is now more polished and even more crafty than Kirtanananda was, and it's still is going on. It’s like a phony strange Disneyland version of Krishna.
Reading your book also activated some trauma in me, as I experienced the sense of falseness which cults create. Indeed, I’m lucky to be alive. Four devotees from Ireland committed suicide; such was the damaging effect of their mis-treatment in ISKCON.
I left ISKCON around 2006, but the training—does it ever leave us? Every year in November and December I shut down, cause of old trauma from doing loads of Christmas marathons. Such an artificial, unnatural life style. I feel ISKCON is one the worst cults. It holds real truths, but they use it to cheat folks to make slaves for money for their fake GBC and gurus. I’m healing. I’m learning. I hope the mystical Lord will help you heal fully and a real blossoming of love awakens in your heart.
Clifford McKellar Kirk (Keshimardana dasa)
Derrylin, Enniskillen, United Kingdom
November 20, 2020
[Regarding the letter from Clifford Kirk to Henry]: Right. A psychotherapist told me that when there is a cult, the people who die from suicide are really only the tip of the iceberg. Many others are suffering terribly, but only a very few more severe cases will actually take the step to take their own lives. That means many others, perhaps hundreds or even thousands, are feeling depressed and somewhat suicidal. They are surviving, meanwhile suffering a lot of mental trauma. They are more in control of their depression, begging the question, what kind of “leaders” make their followers depressed, even suicidal?
I had a friend here who was initiated by a GBC guru, and he just could not live with himself any more, because he was sort of a violent goonda “enforcer” for the GBC guru. He told me “I have committed many, many dark deeds to defend my guru.” And so, after he discovered his guru was bogus, he only lived for about 8 months, and he took his own life. I really cried over that death, such a waste and for no good reason, other than his bogus guru had a big ego to feed.
And there are a number of similar cases. So his guru has all the blood of this suicide victim on his hands, since the bogus guru is 100 percent responsible that this event happened. Wow, it seems to me Yamaraja is going to take these gurus and have his agents take the stuffing out of them, if we are to believe shastra. And the enablers and goody two shoes apologists like Mukunda swami will have their place on Yama’s planet fixed up as well.
Sometimes there is also physical trauma, because the victims gave the best years of their lives and now that they are more elderly and worn out, and they are somewhat disabled, they get weeded out and left to fend for themselves. Anyway we have seen some other positive feed back from Henry’s books—because then the victims’ lives make more sense, they are simply co-victims along with many others. And so it gives them a little relief that they are not just isolated fools who are offenders who are going crazy.
Some devotees commit suicide direct—and others get cancer etc. due to stress and depression—and they sort of commit suicide through the back door. Needless to say, these leaders are going to have literally hell to pay for making all these Vaishnavas suffer. This devotee is correct, the reason Kirtanananda became the darling of the ISKCON leaders is—they wanted to be like him. He was the role model for the rest of them, like Prithu, etc.
So it is a cult, and a very nasty one too. The only good news is—more people are waking up and sharing their experiences and realizations, so it is slowing down future victims from getting exploited. Perhaps Krishna created the Internet so people could research all this and figure out what is what.
Right now another professional author has contacted PADA for some help with putting together a book of the history. Again it is odd, so many devotee complain they do not like the books of Henry, and they may—or may not—like this author either, meanwhile they are not authoring their own books. Lots of sour grapes out there. Anyway we wish this devotee [Clifford Kirk] well, he is right, it is a miracle me, Henry and himself even survived all this. Many did not.
Tim Lee (Puranjana dasa)
Berkeley, California
Originally posted in “Feedback from Killing For Krishna”
Krishna 1008: Hare Krishna News
November 20, 2020
Dear Clifford,
The books of Henry have a way to show us that we were not alone being brainwashed with all kinds of nonsense beliefs: like the ISKCON GURUS, Kirtanananda, Jayatirtha and so many others were “PURE DEVOTEES.” Thousands of naive and innocent devotees had to take initiations from those unscrupulous phony spiritual masters and suffer the consequences and unfortunately as you mentioned here many did commit suicides.
I joined ISKCON in 1969 in Los Angeles. The Hare Krishna movement then was still innocent, in a sort of a GOLDEN age of Krishna consciousness on the west coast of the USA. I mainly dealt exclusively with Swami Bhaktivedanta, who could be quite a SAGE and wise person at times. And at other times he would make very stupid and dangerous statements such as stating that KIRTANANANDA (a very active pedophile at the time) was a pure devotee of Sri Krishna. Statements that eventually lead to killing of Sulochan and sexual abuses of hundreds of children in Hare Krishna schools.
Some devotees are still 40 years later totally brainwashed and still signing the GLORIES OF PRABHUPADA, and some have actively DEPROGRAMMED themselves from such brainwashing, and reprogrammed their hearts and minds with positive things to do with their life. Henry is a bit of a role model for making a great change with one’s life. He writes (and I am sure that is therapy for him), he plays music, teaches chess to children, and is close to his parents and his kids. Deprogramming does take a strong desire to get rid of unwanted beliefs. Sometimes it takes years to accomplish. Spirituality is still the center of my life, but now it’s more things like Buddhist and Advaita meditations. Some of the basic teachings of Krishna consciousness, like the Bhagavad-gita chapter 2, will always be important to me. The beliefs in GODs and GODDESSES has left my life. It’s more ZEN in the HERE and NOW.
Henri Jolicoeur (formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP)
Montreal, Canada
December 4, 2020
Hi Henry,
I finally finished reading your excellent Gold, Guns and God, Volume 5—The Murder and the Mandir. Again, a great read; enlightening and informative! Thank you so much for your first person perspective and information. Appreciate everything you’ve done to enlighten my knowledge of the “Black Sheep of the Ham Family!” Looking forward to future chapters!
Here’s a picture to share, and you can add my comments as well if you want to! I can’t wait to go to New Vrindaban again and really see for the first time the magnitude of the devotion, the extremely difficult and tumultuous times, and the dedication to survive and make the community what it is today. I not all is not perfect and never will be, but I find New Vrindaban to be a great place to visit, relax, and rejuvenate. I missed going to New Vrindaban in 2020. Here’s to a better 2021!!
Take care, Hare Krishna, God Bless, and Thank You!
Barbara Michaels
Bath, Pennsylvania
December 5, 2020
Five Stars
Excellent and fascinating historical document!
This volume (Volume 5 of Gold, Guns and God) provides tremendous insight into the backstory of how the Palace of Gold came to be in West Virginia. The entire story of the New Vrindavan Community from start until Keith Ham’s incarceration in 1996 is nothing short of dramatic and full of the twists and turns of a great novel. I find the story, the community, the characters absolutely fascinating. At the same time it is quite revolting. The author accomplishes quite a historical document here. The reader gets to enjoy a front row seat of the details, planning, and financing of the famous Palace of Gold. There are plenty of facts that are well documented to paint an exciting picture of the better years of New Vrindavan.
Of course, the more important aspect of this story is that the author also embraces the unfortunate series of events that eventually led to the downfall and excommunication of its leader and community. From a historical perspective, I can’t thank and admire the author’s meticulous attention to detail. The amount of hard work to provide the reader with an accurate depiction of how New Vrindavan came to be is to be celebrated and recognized. Henry has my profound respect for this.
I’ve always been fascinated by the character that is Keith Ham. Amazing how such a flawed person (known even in the 26 Second Ave days) was welcome back to ISKCON after he ws banned from ISKCON New York . Even when the writing was on the wall (stealing the Gita and trying to get it printed as his own, disobeying Prabhupada after taking sannyasi vows, dressing [in black cape and] in suit and tie) he was able to rise to be such a prominent “guru” within ISKCON. I’ve always wondered if this says more about Keith as a person or ISKCON as a spiritual institution. In any case, Keith Ham is definitely a complex character and aside from the generally known deviations about him (sexual, philosophical, religious), this book reveals there were more than I originally thought. Reading about them is somewhere between deeply disturbing and complete disbelief.
Today I finished this volume only to find out that the volume I’ve been anticipating the most—Volume One about the biography of Keith Ham was just released! Thanks Henry! You have single handedly made my free time disappear!
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
From a review at Amazon.
December 12, 2020:
I recently finished Eleven Naked Emperors, and found it to be such an interesting read, mainly because I’m familiar with a few of the characters there in. I spent a couple years at New Vrindaban. I had heard Ramesvara speak at the farm outside Denver and spent six months at Mt. Kailash in California, Hansadutta’s zone, before settling at New Vrindaban. Kirtanananda Swami gave me the name Janardana dasa in 1981. Like Henry, I never experienced the negativity at N.V. I enjoyed the austerities I experienced there. As crazy as Hansadutta is portrayed, I liked the guy. He acted more like a friend and was an easy guy to talk with, unlike Kirtanananda, whom I was kind of in awe of (thanks to the Brijabasis). Henry puts these guys in the perspective of who they really were. Personally, I’m glad I spent some time at NV but also glad I left before the **** really hit the fan. I’m finding Henry-ji’s books rather interesting and as he says, these books aren’t for everyone, but for a healing process for those who have invested so much of their life in being hoodwinked by a bunch of—whatever ya wanna call these guys. Everyone involved in ISCKON today should read these books that Henry is putting out. After all, it’s your spiritual life.
Jeff Claussen (Janardana dasa)
Sioux City, Iowa
December 12, 2020
Henry’s books are fascinating. I think they’re important to American religious history, and I think they’re important to anybody interested in Christian apologetics, specifically with regards to the dynamics of cults.
Rev. Jack Davila-Ashcraft
From an interview with Henry about Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 5, at Expedition Truth Radio.
December 31, 2020: Five Stars—Brutally Honest
I finished this book [Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 1] stunned. I was aware of Kirtanananda’s dereliction, his poor character, etc., but this book strips away any pretense he may have had (and sadly still does in some circles) to being a guru, a holy man, or even a decent person. The quotes directly from his long time lover’s (Hayagriva) unpublished manuscript are extremely graphic and not for the feint of heart. What emerges from this important history of an ISKCON guru and community (New Vrindaban) is the story of fraud, sexual immorality, abuse, mythomania, narcissism, and a clear plan on the part of Hayagriva and Kirtanananda to hijack their little portion of ISKCON for power, money, influence, and sex.
This is an incredibly dark history that every ISKCON devotee, every disciple of Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada in India must read if they’re at all interested in truth. Henry Doktorski has pulled back the curtain of lies to reveal this part of ISKCON history warts and all, and does so without sensationalism. He simply presents the truth as it is and allows it to speak for itself. Amazing book! Highly recommended for students of world religion, new religions and cults, and apologetics.
Rev. Jack Davila-Ashcraft
from a review at Amazon
December 13, 2020:
I have just finished reading Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3: Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. You have presented so much valuable history about New Vrindaban! Others will also think it valuable too. More valuable as time goes on. The people immediately involved rarely see the value. It’s future generations, who have no direct connection with the history, that will value your books more than the current generations.
Chaitanya Mangala dasa
Former Kirtanananda disciple, resident and board member of New Vrindaban
January 10, 2021:
Hrish, I have just finished reading Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3: Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. This is a good service you are doing. Eventually many people will read these books. Except, of course, those who are desperate to forget the past. Enclosed is $40. Please send me volumes 1 and 5.
Former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami
New Vrindaban, West Virginia
January 13, 2021
Five Stars: An important book about a significant time in ISKCON
This book [Eleven Naked Emperors] gives some important information about the zonal acharya era of ISKCON. Since this is a time period that the ISKCON leaders would like to cover up or sweep under the rug, it is especially important that people who remember it can give their stories. Mr. Doktorski is entitled to do so, since he is a former disciple of one of the zonal acharyas, and also no longer a member of ISKCON, so he doesn’t have to sugar-coat the story to fit the present dogma. The book does not only give information about the time period itself, but it also covers some relevant events before 1977 and after 1987 as well. This book is well researched, and gives the story from an academic perspective as well as from a devotee perspective. It is a good book for those who want information about the ISKCON history from other sources than the official ISKCON ones.
G. R. S.
from a review at Amazon
January 16, 2021: Five Stars—Disturbing, eye opening, exciting, and relevant - a must read!
I had to put this book [Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 1] down several times due to its graphic and sexual nature. This part is not even the author’s writing—it’s entirely the unpublished diary of Howard Wheeler (and all I can say is Holy Crap!). Please be warned that the sexual (homosexual) escapades, seduction of a minor, and deviant behavior is entirely captured in great detail in the first person. Brace yourself as you will be introduced to a world I was completely unfamiliar with—the promiscuous world of anonymous male homosexual encounters—going to public bathrooms and other places for gratification.
From a historical perspective, the work laid out in this volume will shed plenty of light and help us understand how New Vrindaban came to be. Additionally, it is now easier to understand why the demise of New Vrindaban came to be under Keith Ham.
From a broader perspective, this book is extremely relevant and important in today’s political landscape. ISKCON and Prabhupada’s prescription that, “the spiritual master is never at fault! And even if he is, it is your duty as his disciple to do whatever he asks” set up the perfect framework from which Keith could operate, exploit, deceive, sexually abuse children, lie, steal, and deviate philosophically in New Vrindaban. It made me super sad to read that Prabhupada had very serious problems with Keith from the very beginning. The writing was already on the walls of 26 Second Avenue.
Reading this book was frightening, as the parallels between Keith and Trump turn out to be examples of the dangers of “deranged devotion.”
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
January 31, 2021: Five Stars—A well researched biography about a very unique person
This is Vol. 1 [Gold, Guns and God] of a ten-volume biography of Swami Bhaktipada, a controversial leader of a controversial movement. For many years, Bhaktipada was one of the top leaders of the ISKCON movement, but he was expelled from that movement and started his own mission, for reasons that will hopefully be elaborated in later volumes of this biography. For the author’s own reasons, Volumes 3 and 5 were published before Vol. 1, and in the volumes that have been published, we can see that the author, Mr. Doktorski, has done a very good research about his former guru, and he is doing his best to give an honest story about Swami Bhaktipada’s life, both the good and the bad. This biography is also a very important part of the history of ISKCON, and especially the New Vrindaban community, for which Bhaktipada was the leader for a long time.
This biography also shows what a unique personality Swami Bhaktipada was. I don’t think any other ISKCON guru will have a ten-volume biography written about him.
G. R. S.
from a review at Amazon
February 4, 2021
Dear Henry,
I just finished reading your very well-documented book: Killing for Krishna. In the first place, I’d like to thank you for your brave and diligent work to find out the truth behind a curtain of lies and misinformation.
I also appreciated the degree of compassion that you show with everyone involved in the whole drama related to the Kirtanananda/New Vrindaban affairs. You do not try to justify any of the misdeeds committed by the conspirators, yet you put the facts in a light in which is possible to understand what led people to do what they did.
It really puzzles me how such a beautiful and delicate doctrine as Vaishnavism can lead to such bizarre outcomes, the Lord for sure is mysterious. I myself am really puzzled by the complexity of Prabhupada, also. Sometimes right on spot and divine, other times allowing for strange ideas and notions to creep in the leadership of his movement.
I am a Brazilian and also sympathetic to the Hare Krishna movement. Since I live in a kind of “isolated state” here, I do not have much direct association with the devotees, so I just got together a small group to make kirtan, chant Hare Krishna and study Vedic literature. I do one-hour of mahamantra a day, which corresponds to only 4 rounds in my very slow pace. I have some concrete results with japa meditation and I believe the doctrine is really beautiful and contains more than a grain of truth in it, so I really feel bad that pretenders hold positions of power in what could be such a beautiful movement to bring happiness and peace to people in general.
That said, I'm getting in touch to see if you would like to have your book translated to Brazilian Portuguese, I think the propagation of this type of information could really help advance the cause of Truth.
Although I’m not a professional translator, I do work in the Academy (I’m a University professor), having a Math PhD in one of the best universities here in Brazil, also I collaborated with researchers in Italy, India, USA and other countries. I did some translation work also from Italian to Portuguese for some Italian devotees (two books) that I did exclusively as devotional work.
Please let me know if you have any interest in getting your books translated to Portuguese.
Sincerely yours
Name deleted by request
February 4, 2021:
Dear Henry, I finally ordered and read your book, Eleven Naked Emperors, and have just finished it today. In much the same spirit as when I wrote you upon having read Killing for Krishna, I am again grateful to you for caring enough to have put so much time and effort as you clearly have into this account. I can’t adequately praise you.
There are two things I wanted to mention, for what ever they might be worth.
When I read Killing for Krishna, one of the book’s qualities I found most remarkable was the degree to which you were able to present polemical views without yourself appearing to weigh in too much on one side or the other. I thought this was one of the book’s most compelling strengths. While this quality is present as well in Eleven Naked Emperors, it felt a little less so to me. And while I can easily understand why this might be the case, I feel it reduces this quality I was so struck with in Killing for Krishna.
Where I noticed it most was in your discussion of Kirtanananda and Bhavananda. I felt you referred to them as “homosexual gurus” more than necessary. (In my humble opinion.) I do realise that was in fact true! But this was already being made abundantly clear by everyone you were quoting. In some instances, given the context, all that was necessary was to mention they were having illicit sex while presenting themselves as renounced spiritual masters. That would have been enough. Pushing on the “homosexual guru” tag as narrator only made me question the bias of your presentation. Given the book’s entirety, please understand I consider this a small and somewhat nit-picky point. I’ll hope you’ll forgive me. I only mention it because I hope your book is widely read and taken seriously.
The other thing I thought to mention has to do with the Ritvik question within Iskcon. (I found your presentation of the differing views here really excellent.) I happened to be in the San Fransciso Bay area in the summer of 2019 and attended a program at Iskcon Silicon Valley where Radhanath Swami held an initiation ceremony. I was struck by the fact that he very clearly told each initiate he was initiating them on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. I wasn’t expecting this. At the end of Eleven Naked Emperors, Nityananda dasa’s letter mentions that many Iskcon gurus are telling their disciples this, but I think it merits more pronounced mention in the book, somewhere in the chapter on Ritvik-vada. I find it significant.
I hope you’ll forgive my forwardness in volunteering these minor points. Mainly, I just wanted to thank you. I see that you have begun publishing your series on New Vrindaban and look forward to reading these in time.
With best regards,
Thomas Desouches
Hong Kong
March 13, 2021
Thank you for putting up a map indicating the Krishna terms for the locations on McCreary’s Ridge. I grew up in Limestone, and am reading your books because no one (not locals, not Krishnas) will discuss what happened, or at least they are only interested in their own version.
I’m in the 2nd chapter of Killing For Krishna, and all the names of my classmates are coming back. Lila St. Denis, Marken Meberg, Abhay Sofsky, and Karl Detamore were all in my class at Limestone Elementary. My dad’s farm in Pleasant Valley was across the creek of what I now know you called Talavan.
When I was flipping through the book before I started reading, I saw mentioned Sky View Inn and Jerry Williams, so I read that page. I got on ancestry to see who Jerry was because I’m a very curious person, turns out he’s my Great Uncle!
I’m sorry if I’m rambling a bit, but it’s nice for the story to finally be told. Thank you.
Amanda
Limestone, West Virginia
March 15, 2021
Dear Hrishikesh,
I am listening and watching the Interview with Mahatma das (Mario Pineda), Part 1. Very impressive! And you come across as very sincere and want to help expose the truth. It’s very good. You reveal in the interview that you had no animosity towards anyone, and that you enjoyed the spiritual time of 15 years you spent in New Vrindavan. Why I think your book, Killing For Krishna, is important for devotees to know about, is that there is still seemingly immovable corruption of different sorts, in the highest ranks of ISKCON leadership. That I have personal and unfortunate experience of. To be true to the phrase that Srila Prabhupada said, “Purity is the force,” that corruption has to be revealed to the devotees, who in turn have to act to help rid iskcon of this serious darkness. There has to be checks and balances over the GBC and the guru system, by persons who are not GBC members. So let’s start....by telling the truth! face it, accept it, and help return ISKCON to the pure force that was there in the original ISKCON Prabhupada started.
Dasarath das
Disciple of Srila Prabhupada since 1971
Founder of two ISKCON temples in Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
May 6, 2021
The books of Henry Doktorski are very popular among devotees who “were there.” That is because not only are the books well written, and subject to meticulous research, but Doktorski was also “there.” But, most of all, these testimonies to a period of history are a message to any future egoistical and self-appointed “leaders,” who think that their crimes against Vaishnavas can be swept under the rug and that sins at the lotus feet of Krishna’s devotees carry no repercussions. Let the future generations of bhaktas read these accounts, and let them take note that the eyes of the all-pervasive Supreme Lord are everywhere. As Prabhupada used to say, “Be very careful, you are dealing with Krishna.”
Patita-Uddharana dasa Adhikari, ACBSP (Miles Davis)
(Initiated September 1968, Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
May 6, 2021: I’m so happy! I’m relaxing on my garden hammock starting to read Gold, Guns, and God, Volume 2. Looking forward to another great read by Henry Doktorski!
Barbara Michaels
Bath, Pennsylvania
May 12, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars. Non-devotee loved this book. Prior to reading this book I knew virtually nothing about the Krishna community but despite this, I really enjoyed Killing For Krishna. Factual events are presented in such way that it reads like a mystery as it describes disturbing information concerning this “cultish” religion as well as our legal system. And I have so much empathy for the man who is still in jail for this crime. In the beginning, I thought he was the “bad” guy, but he’s the hero. (As well as the author for telling the story.) I will be reading the next one, Eleven Naked Emperors. I’m very impressed with the work and extensive info the author put into the first book.
Cindy Fuchser
Ramona, California
May 16, 2021: Regarding Eleven Naked Emperors, this response is for those who assert, “I am offended by what Doktorski has written.”
Actually, I am likewise offended, and I am sure that whatever you and I feel, Doktorski feels thousands of times worse—or why would he have written a dozen volumes of books about cheating gurus? The fact is, the author has worked overtime to compile a series of well-documented historical events—the good, the bad, and all the ugly right there in plain sight.
Indeed, Eleven Naked Emperors is actually a form of scripture known as gramya-sastra, or “village news.” People like us who are offended—not by the book but by the arrogance of the players in high places described in Eleven Naked Emperors—should know that there is no scriptural instruction that advises anyone to read gramya-sastra. Likewise, there is no injunction anywhere in the sastras that opposes reading gramya-sastra.
In other words, there is no violation of dharma when it comes to understanding the facts of the past, and neither is anyone forcing us to read it, either. However, the fact that each of Doktorski’s books rapidly goes into one printing after another, proves that there is substantial interest by some very intelligent persons in what actually transpired in ISKCON and New Vrindaban while the leaders slept.
As Prabhupada once stated to this effect, “Let them read—it is history.”
In other words, Doktorski’s books are not fiction but fact. They are not “historical novels” or any sort of wishful thinking. Neither is this “mental speculation.” They are not what could have happened or “based on some true story.” Since the facts of the matter are engraved in stone, there is no point in being offended by unchangeable history. The message is “learn the lessons from what happened, and then move on.”
No intelligent person should ignore the stories behind the events of ISKCON’s growth, either. The examples of eleven power-crazed individuals—who foolishly thought that they could do no wrong yet who have wound up on the cover of a book about gurus in the raw—should be a wake-up call for future generations. At the very least, the case of threadbare monarchs in their birthday suits should be a lesson for the more thoughtful and controlled among us. The wise are never afraid to learn from history.
Henry Doktorski, who gave the best years of his life and his vast musical talents to New Vrindaban, has therefore rendered each of us a great service. It is better to learn about the sad destinies of the “fools who rushed in where wise men feared to tread” than to experience the results of arrogance.
In other words, the wisdom of historical vision dictates that it is better to read Eleven Naked Emperors than to find one’s self on the cover!
Patita-Uddharana dasa (Miles Davis), ACBSP
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Eleven Naked Emperors: A Very Brief Review
May 20, 2021: I just finished reading Eleven Naked Emperors by Henry Doktorski (2020 Edition).
I found it so well and interestingly written that I could hardly put it down until I had finished reading it. The book seems to be very well researched—plus, the author brings more than 15 years of personal experience in the Hare Krishna Movement to the table. I was quite amazed how unbiased it is—which is not an easy task. Throughout the book the author offers different accounts allowing the reader to come to his own conclusions. Representatives from any camp get a chance to voice their experiences and opinions, often on the same incident or subject.
Would I recommend reading it? Yes, absolutely. To anyone? Yes, sure.
Apart from some minor nonessential errors that I detected, there is this one thing I have reservations about—but I do not blame the author for it: In his concluding chapter with his suggestions and food for thought it becomes obvious to me that the author (who joined after the departure of Srila Prabhupada) never met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in person.
There is something about Srila Prabhupada that I find impossible to “explain” or “describe” to the devotees of the younger generation—no matter how many recordings they watched or listened to, or how much they studied his literature. It is something like this:
Being in Srila Prabhupada’s personal presence took you out of this material world, at least for the duration of being with him. Fatigue, hunger, sensual desires, impersonal concepts, attraction to women (and vice versa), fear of death—all that faded almost completely into some far distant background. The self-realized, transcendentally situated pure devotee radiated that energy of the spiritual world to those around him.
Apart from morning walks, room conversations I distinctly remember how it was for me when he picked up the karatalas before giving class. When his deep, grave, and nectarean voice filled the room with “Jaya Radha-Madhava” most of us were practically free of any desire for anything else for the time being. What could be more desirable and higher than being in the presence of Srila Prabhupada? It was a feeling almost like “Vaikuntha Can Wait.” I can only guess that was because for those moments we actually were in Vaikuntha.
Experiencing that transcendental reality was only possible in the personal presence of His Divine Grace. That is not to say that a sincere follower cannot attain perfection by just studying his divine literature. It is possible, but certainly not by the aberration and concoctions of the Ritvik-Walas.
Atmavidya dasa (Axel Stoecker)
Zeitz, Germany
May 21, 2021: Dear Hrishikesh dasa,
Eleven Naked Emperors is an amazing achievement. In a previous essay, I argued that ISKCON is basically a case study of the Iron Law of Oligarchy, articulated by Robert Michels. (available here: Iron Law of Oligarchy) My review of Eleven Naked Emperors shall not repeat those points. However, I will to some extent, suspend my deep disdain for ISKCON in the paragraphs that follow.
In my humble opinion, Henry Doktorski should have explicitly and forcefully explained how his book contributes to the existing literature on ISKCON. Such an explanation is a key ingredient to good marketing. ISKCON has been a subject of ongoing academic inquiry. What gaps exist in the literature? I personally feel that Eleven Naked Emperors makes important contributions. But more importantly, the author himself should explicitly point out the unique, original, or distinctive angles of his published work.
Henry Doktorski provides readers with an unsurpassed understanding of the power struggles within ISKCON. The internal dynamics that he so carefully documents must be placed in the following context—ISKCON still exists. ISKCON is an enduring, time-tested institution with a proven ability to withstand financial crises and negative publicity. Even with all of its self-inflicted problems, an undeniable, inescapable fact is that ISKCON persists.
Regarding negative publicity, sadly, many people have become desensitized to child abuse, in part because of the news coverage of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church makes ISKCON appear to be not so bad—former members who look forward to the downfall of ISKCON often do not consider this factor.
In my view, Eleven Naked Emperors did not adequately analyze or document the economic foundations of ISKCON. Although the history of ISKCON provides many lessons, it is also a tale of economic survival. However, in Doktorski’s defense, his intended objectives focused on how the emperors clashed with each other and rooted out dissenters. Moreover, ISKCON is hardly known for financial transparency.
ISKCON has not transcended the material realm. Analytical frameworks that were developed in such fields as political science, economics, and sociology can provide useful tools for understanding the history of ISKCON, predicting the future of the organization, and assessing the credibility of their public statements.
A key principle of geopolitics is that leaders, including ISKCON’s emperors, are constrained by reality. George Friedman, a geopolitical savant, uses a chess analogy. A novice chess player may believe he can choose from a wide range of various moves. In contrast, an experienced player is more capable of weighing the costs and benefits of alternatives—he knows that only a few good moves are available to him. To avoid defeat, he needs to find those relatively few good moves. Despite all of its boneheaded policies, ISKCON survived because it played enough good moves. I mean “good” in a Machiavellian, not moral sense.
With binding constraints and relatively few good moves available, leaders eventually become somewhat predictable, unless of course, he is a chess master, in which case he can find brilliant, unexpected moves. Predictably, ISKCON gurus were subject to disciplinary action when they embarrassed the institution. A guru could avoid excommunication if he threatened to take his wealthy disciples out of ISKCON. Obviously, such threats were of no use when dealing with the police.
As the media publicized the institution’s abuses and “karmi” law enforcement authorities prosecuted ISKCON’s illegal fundraising activities, it became almost inevitable that ISKCON would seek greater integration with the local Hindu populations. Who else could ISKCON turn to for support? Also, ISKCON has historically defended itself by claiming that they are experiencing religious and cultural persecution. ISKCON would bolster its claims of persecution by seeking support from Indians.
In my opinion, three of the most subtle actors were B. R. Sridhara, Ravindra Svarupa, and Radhanath. Maybe I am just being obtuse, but Eleven Naked Emperors did not leave me with an exact understanding of B. R. Sridhara’s motivations. Was he attempting to shape ISKCON in the image of the Gaudiya Math? Perhaps Doktorski could have directly asked Kailasa Chandra dasa to explain the nature of B. R. Sridhara’s motivations.
The Eleven Naked Emperors would have communicated more effectively if it had used visual aids or graphics. The author could have created a color-coded map showing the territory controlled by the zonal acharyas. Doktorski has a masterful understanding of ISKCON’s complex organizational dynamics. Given the large number of variables and moving parts, it might be helpful to see a series of flowcharts or schematics that depict shifting alliances, coalitions, and conflicts among key players. A timeline of major events would also be a useful addition to the book.
None of the comments given above detract significantly from the immense value of Doktorski’s contributions. Historians are indeed a valuable asset to humanity. I have the highest regard for the author’s thorough, painstaking research and his writing ability.
Doktorski kindly referred to Angela Burt. Doktorski mentioned that she is in good standing with ISKCON and therefore she has access to information that he does not. However, after reading one of Dr. Angela Burt’s summary papers, I realized she is a publicist or at least an apologist for ISKCON, which explains why she is in good standing with the cult. Although it is not clear to me that Doktorski is truly biased, I am quite certain that Dr. Burt lacks objectivity.
Mr. Doktorski accumulated his own powerful base of knowledge and he is not dependent on ISKCON. Academic scholars could, at the very least, diversify their sources of information by writing articles and books in collaboration with Doktorski. It is not possible to write a credible study of ISKCON’s history without making reference to Henry Doktorski’s published works.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope this letter finds you well.
Yours in the Service of Krishna,
Chand Prasad, Ph.D. Maryland, United States
May 25, 2021: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA: that may spark memories of peace, saffron robes and airports, but what about murders, drugs and tax evasion? Gold Guns and God .... an ashram I spent a couple years at. Henry Doktorski is putting them out faster than I can read them.
Jeff Claussen (Janardan dasa)
Sioux City, Iowa
June 13, 2021
Reading Eleven Naked Emperors was a very clarifying experience. Being provided with all sorts of historical accounts in chronological order was like a puzzle that was gradually being put together.
I came to ISKCON in 2001, after the zonal acarya system, and was initiated by a “guru” who later turned out to be unfit for this service and had to step down. Over the years I got some informations from some people in regards to the history of the guru system in ISKCON and the Ritvik camp, but never such a detailed and thorough account as Henry provides in his book.
I very much appreciate the holistic and honest approach Henry takes. Many theological and philosophical issues, that go along with the previous and present guru system are being presented. Henry truthfully allows that all these viewpoints and arguments are being looked at objectively and critically. I didn’t sense any bias on his side.
Since many contemorary witnesses had a place to share their insights and experiences, I was provided with historical details which I would probably never have gotten otherwise. I felt as a reader that I was led to come to my own conclusions. That I appreciate a lot.
I think that ISKCON should establish a history department that honestly and truthfully presents the history of ISKCON “as it was” and not “as we would like you to believe it was,” written by their own people and not by others, as Kailash Chandra Prabhu points out in one place of the book. Great read!
Hare Krishna
Your servant
Keshava Madhava das (Klaus Frenzel)
Transformational Coach
OMNI Hypnotherapist
Zürich, Switzerland
John Cuthbert and Henry Doktorski at the West Virginia and Regional History Center (June 17, 2021)
June 17, 2021
Henry Doktorski’s Gold, Guns and God series represents an exhaustive compendium of information about one of the most compelling stories of the late 20th century: the meteoric rise and gradual decline of the Hare Krishna movement in America and elsewhere around the globe, but especially at the West Virginia New Vrindaban community.
Rather than a concise summary, these books draw on literally all existing sources of information about the Hare Krishnas, including the voluminous personal archives of Swami Bhaktipada himself. Personal reminiscence and oral history is another significant source. Doktorski himself was a devotee at New Vrindaban for more than a decade and a half. His personal experiences and observations are compelling testimony, as well as those of fellow devotees (some) with whom he interacted for more than four decades.
It is a story of absolute power corrupting absolutely.
John A. Cuthbert, Director and Curator
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
June 29, 2021: Finally I started reading GGG Vol. 1. My mind is blown. There is so much details. Every decision has reaction, how life choices can change our course of life. I haven’t even gotten to the part where Keith meets Prabhupada, getting close to that part. I must say, it is well written, very impressive. Bravo.
Oh! and further I read & I couldn’t believe the subway stalls & university stall stories. I thought those occurrences were rare & not the norm. Boy, was I naive!!! I’m surprised Keith and Howard didn’t succumb to death from disease at young age from all the unsafe practices. They were very lucky indeed. They were so promiscuous. I feel like they never left their wild ways, just more discreet.
I’m amazed that such a sex maniac as Keith was able to achieve the status of sannyasi and guru. How he had fooled so many for so long.
I’m enjoying tremendously reading this volume. I laughed out loud when I read about Keith and Howard’s first experience ingesting the hallucinogenic cactus! The peyote experience and puking in the shared bucket. Ewwww! :(
Dharmi Norton
Houston, Texas
former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami, initiated Bombay (September 1979)
September 4, 2021: [Regarding Henry Doktorski’s Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 4: Deviations in the Dhama,] If you’re looking for a book that minimzes or excuses New Vrindaban’s history with women and children, this is not that book. This book tells the true story.
Nori J. Muster (formerly Nandini dasi), author of Betrayal of the Spirit,
Phoenix, Arizona
September 5, 2021: Five Stars—A Spiritual Criminal
Overall, Kirtanananda “Swami” is an extremely confusing study both devotionally and morally. He was very intelligent and convincing as far as Krishna consciousness is concerned. And there is no question that he was very dear to his guru, Srila Prabhupada, at least during periods of Srila Prabhupada’s manifest presence prior to 1978. Yet, the author paints a very detailed picture of his ambition, something Srila Prabhupada was largely able to control through peer pressure and Kirtanananda’s emotional attachment to him. Of course, his positives are contrasted with this and his homosexual promiscuity, the level of which most readers will not be able to imagine. The author also provides some evidence that, even as a devotee and “Swami” under strict vows, this only ceased for brief periods.
Being also a product of the 1960s, Kirtanananda was the type of hippie who others admired. He went to India on a spiritual search and otherwise exemplified the counterculture. He was the first American to commit pretty wholeheartedly to his guru’s otherwise foreign, Indian cultural demands for his disciples. Although many, in the light of his later life’s scandals, pretense and audacity, will see his early superlatives as little more than a prelude to his later self-absorbed ambition, there are a number of testimonies from others of his example and guidance. The author highlights a quote by Lord Krishna from the Mahabharata at the book’s beginning, “No good man is entirely good; no bad man is entirely bad.” Kirtanananda more than fits the bill. It is hard to refute his positives.
Rather than thoroughly condemn him, something I have been inclined to do many times in the past, I found myself wondering what might possess myself if I found myself in the prominent and privileged position he achieved in his guru’s society so early. In terms of Krishna conscious philosophy, it seems clear that Kirtanananda had been a disciple of some Vaishnava (Vishnu worshiper) or quasi-Vaishnava guru in a past life. It may have been Srila Prabhupada. However, his early offenses in this life are also detailed at the end of Vol. 1, and his overall saga through the following books will bring out that many more. Kirtanananda was, in the end, a charlatan’s charlatan. In many ways he set the substandard for so many of the other Hare Krishna movement so-called guru cheaters, a paradigm which has ruined so many both spiritually and emotionally, at least for a number of their years. It is debatable as to whether Srila Prabhupada’s good will was there for him at the time of death. These books would be better classified in the true-crime genre.
Eric Johanson, formerly Vrindaban Chandra Swami
Moab, Utah
Amazon review
October 22, 2021
Hello, I heard your interviews on Expedition Truth Radio and I was fascinated. I wanted to know more. I ordered volumes 1-3 of Gold, Guns, and God and was glued to them. I wanted to know when volume 4 might become available. I really enjoy your books and your work as a historian on this group is very important and to be commended.
I visited (or at least walked around outside) the Palace of Gold when I was visiting a friend in Moundsville a few years ago. I am very excited that you are writing a comprehensive history of a religious movement told in a biographic way. That is EXACTLY what we have been trying to accomplish (with little success) about the religious movement I am involved in, the Asatru Folk Assembly. The scope and scale is obviously very different but our founder resurrected Asatru as a living faith in 1968 and it has grown and developed since then and we are trying to write that history. Your books are the closest thing I have found in similarity to what we are wanting to do (thankfully without the same type of scandals).
Matthew D. Flavel (Alsherjargothi)
Asatru Folk Assembly
Brownsville, California
November 25, 2021
Editor’s note: Here is a message and endorsement for Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 4, from Prabhupada disciple, Patita-Pavana dasa (also known as Patita-Uddharana), originally posted on the Facebook page of Saraswati Richardson Jones, who is spearheading a campaign to secure justice regarding the status of long-time ISKCON guru Lokanath Swami. Patita Pavana says:
The fight against the abuse of the most innocent devotees is being spear-headed by Saraswati Mataji on her Facebook page. I have mentioned here in my posts the books of Hare Krishna historian Henry Doktorski, who is dedicating a projected ten volumes to exposing the sordid legacy left behind by Kirtanananda Swami. Doktorski’s latest work (Vol. 4) specifically deals with the tragedy of how women and children were treated in New Vrindaban under K. Swami.
Doktorski’s series about the corruption of admitted child molester Kirtanananda Swami is well-researched, and air tight. In fact, the author Hrishikesh dasa (aka Henry Doktorski) kindly accepted a Foreword from me for Volume 2 of this series. I wrote it because I believe in his work which runs the gamut by dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly.
Originally, Doktorski was a sold-out devotee of K. Swami. Apart from being a skilled writer, Doktorski is a genius musician who conducted the Krishna Chorale at New Vrindaban.
When K. Swami’s perversions came to light, the love many felt for him turned to disgust. Had K. Swami behaved himself as per his duties as a Gaudiya sannyasi, this extensive set of well-researched volumes that Doktorski has written and continues to write would have been brimming with loving praise. But he—and all other devotees who trusted K. Swami—became disheartened with K. Swami’s monstrous abuse of children and his natural disregard for women. So instead of some Kirtanananda Samhita full of glorious praise for the guru of New Vrindaban, the result is what is you see here. The truth is not always pretty, but the time to sweep such deviations under the rug by “leaders” has long past.
Any ISKCON guru who allows himself to fall into deplorable behavior towards the most innocent among us can expect a similar result. Because Doktorski’s well-researched series sticks to the truth of the matter without any deviations or motivations (such as revenge or sensationalism) it is clear that he is simply doing what Prabhupada ordered his followers to do: “speak the truth even when it is socially unpalatable”—just as you have seen here on this page.
Persons in the elevated post of spiritual leadership should see the result of deviations from the sampradaya. Any one with an iota of common sense will consider what sort of literary legacy will arise behind them, once their game is finished. This volume, incidentally is currently NUMBER ONE in Amazon Hot New Releases in History of Hinduism.
Patita-Uddharana dasa Adhikari, ACBSP (Miles Davis)
(Initiated September 1968, Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
December 15, 2021
My guru is Niranjana Swami. I am lucky he never created any large confusion in our Society. I’ve done my service as the BBT artist very selflessly, with no heart broken dramas, etc.
I took this photo when I received the first six of your books. I received Vol. 4 a few days ago. Thank you so much. Haven’t got an opinion on your books yet as I just began to read two books simultaneously.
What I know for sure that your books are MUST read for any mature devotee. Why mature? Because anyone with “pink glasses” (rose-colored glasses) outlook would not believe some facts, or will be afraid to read such books at all.
In Brisbane we have a group of Russian speaking devotees, about 30 people. We share all the news and realisations quite often. I have shared the info about getting a set of your books; long discussions began in the messenger.
Maybe because several devotees are disciples of Devamrita Swami, or maybe they’re “pink glasses.” Most of them have young children and I am sure they would need to know what happened to a previous generation of devotee kids. I have 3 daughters.
In Austin Texas last year I’ve met one former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami. He took reinitiation in Narayana Maharaja’s camp later on. I asked him several questions about his time in New Vrindaban. I was always curious how come devotees didn’t pick up on any craziness in Kirtanananda Swami at that time. He replied that serving in a community made him do the same things as others, it was natural. And he didn’t get much personal association with Kirtanananda Swami during the late 1980s. So he was going with the flow so to say.
Please feel free to share my comments. You can edit for grammar if you wish. I have no position or any agenda in ISKCON.
Dina Bandhu dasa
Brisbane, Australia
December 18, 2021
Henry Doktorski’s multi-volume work Gold, Guns and God, is one of the most important literary contributions to our understanding of the nature and character of cults, and of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in particular. In his latest volume, Deviations in the Dhama, he presents a detailed history of the horrific abuse of women in the New Vrindaban community under a misogynistic and cruel criminal enterprise headed by Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada.
While I’m certain some would have preferred these inconvenient truths to have remained in the closet, the author, in the name of truth and honesty, as well as justice (a justice denied most of the victims), the author opens that closet and reveals the many skeletons. What he reveals are the many firsthand accounts of women and children who suffered beatings, rape, humiliation, and other atrocities committed in the name of Vedic civilization and encouraged in large part by the barbaric commentaries on Vedic literature produced by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder and Acharya of ISKCON.
I know some will take issue with that, but the author presents direct quotes with sources wherein Prabhupada’s own teachings established the foundation for many of the crimes committed at New Vrindaban. What is made clear in this volume is that everyone shares some degree of responsibility for the crimes committed, from the founder of ISKCON, to Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada and his closest henchmen, to the average devotee who either chastised those who spoke up, or simply turned a blind eye to the black eyes, bruises, and cries of pain of those around them in their deranged devotion.
Rev. Jack Ashcraft
Host of Expedition Truth Radio
February 2, 2022
Five Stars. The lessons here in Henry Doktorski’s Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 4, are impossible to ignore. As soon as I saw the cover for this volume I knew it would probably be the hardest to read. Turns out, this was the most fascinating to read so far out of the available editions of the proposed ten-volume saga about New Vrindaban. Clearly the abuse, deceptions, disregard for truth, and damage we can inflict on each other knows no limits when under the spell of deranged devotion and the guise of a “spiritual community.” However, the history of New Vrindaban shows the reader a new low in lack of humanity—separating parents from children as young as four? A sexual deviant disguised as a religious leader inviting different children to spend the night with him in his private quarters? Collecting money under false pretenses? A complete disregard of the four regulative principles? Legalizing wife beatings?
I appreciate that the author was meticulous in ensuring proper citations for all information presented—an indication of the efforts to put together a balanced portrayal of this history.
I also appreciate that there were plenty of examples where the author ensured that two sides of a story were presented (for instance, the full letter rebuttal by Dharmatma’s wife regarding how he abused the Dharmettes while out on the pick). Although, the evidence of the abuse and crimes has been well documented, presented in court and used to charge some criminally is spectacularly overwhelming. As a matter of fact, most of the atrocities described here were revealed thirty-four years ago in Monkey on a Stick (1988).
Volume 4 is a successful endeavor that documents the dark side of the history of a failed attempt to establish a sustainable spiritual community, but with greater detail than Monkey on a Stick. The author does not shy away from exploring all aspects of this history and that is commendable. Proper healing from these atrocities is not possible until one can fully understand the scope and nature of the why and how this happened.
This is, by far, a great contribution—aside from a history book, this is a healing tool. The only regret in reading this history is the unfortunate absence of accountability that led to even more abuse and atrocities before it all imploded. By the time lawsuits came down and the organization was able to remove rotten elements from the movement, too much preventable damage had been done. Curiously, ISKCON is not alone here—plenty of examples are readily available where lack of accountability proved to have disastrous consequences—Catholic Church, Nxivm, Rajneesh, etc.
This book provides a larger statement about human behavior and attitudes during similar crises. As a former follower of bhakti yoga I can unequivocally state that for any sincere seeker of truth and especially on the bhakti path—this book can be a manual of sorts. The lessons here are impossible to ignore for anyone who wants to learn from the painful lessons of the past in order to avoid an encore. Perhaps this should be required reading for all devotees within ISKCON and those aspiring to become devotees. There is a good reason why so many countries have laws that forbid genocide denial in the post World War II era. You may ignore this book and history at your own risk.
Pedro Ramos
Former ISKCON devotee
Atlanta, Georgia
March 10, 2022: Five Stars—Detailed Study of a Cult
Pranams, Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Vol. 2 of Henry Doktorski’s Gold, Guns and God, follows Kirtanananda “Swami” on his preaching and management journey and further cements his reputation as Hare Krishna movement founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s favored disciple (“He is worth 10 of you.”). Doktorski serves up a delicious irony having been granted access to New Vrindavana’s archives and other histories and personally knowing hundreds of its “inmates” from their shared devotion to Kirtanananda. He documents not only Kirtanananda’s head inflation but the extreme pride his acolytes from among his fellow disciples felt in following him and being members of the community. Now that they have all gotten what comes around their statements are found to be deftly turned on them in what amounts to a detailed and illustrative example for all to benefit from. Vol. 2 sets the stage for what comes next in the inflation and coming around.
Another interesting element of Doktorski’s series, and that this volume details, is how Kirtanananda’s cult took shape within the framework of a manifestation of a genuine and strict religious tradition, the Gaudiya Vaishnavism of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Kirtanananda is documented nourishing the reputation that he is the most advanced and learned of Prabhupada’s disciples, and not merely in word. This series is a trip through the brain of a very complex and extremely intelligent individual who was capable of fooling virtually everyone with his charisma, grasp of Vaishnava philosophy and persuasiveness. “There but for fortune, may go you or go I.”
Eric Johanson
Moab, Utah
Amazon review
March 11, 2022:
I have only read about 80 pages or so [of Eleven Naked Emperors] thus far but: Wow! Extraordinary research, Prabhu! I already knew the basic deplorable history, but the nitty-gritty details as depicted in your book are truly destestable. You should do a book on the GBC, but that would be challenging considering the veil of secrecy they work behind.
SD dasa (ACBSP)
Mayapur, India
March 18, 2022:
Hey! Just read Eleven Naked Emperors. Great book! Thank you for writing it. Mind blowing stuff.
I’m a product of the post-zonal-acharya days, having gotten into Krishna consciousness in the mid-late 80s and moving into the temples in the early 90s. I saw firsthand the damage that had been done before I got there and that perpetuated after I arrived. My own diksha guru also “fell down” and, even though I took reinitiation (which I thought was the necessary move back then), I ended up leaving the movement for 10 years, only “coming back,” so to speak, last year. I now run an unaffiliated bhakti center with emphasis solely on kirtan and prasadam, no guru talk.
After all this time, I’m still blown away by all the bullshit I see with the movement and its “leaders.” I am way too liberal to practice bhakti “by the book,” and am well aware of how Gaudiya Vaishnavism degraded into what we see today.
Anyway, just wanted to reach out and let you know you’ve got a supporter in me.
Govardhana dasa (Justin King)
Portland, Oregon
May 14, 2022:
I just finished reading ELEVEN NAKED EMPERORS. Your efforts in writing and researching are extraordinary. Your work is a tour de force. Implicit in it is your coming to terms with troubling aspects of ISKCON and your praiseworthy spiritual growth. Forgive me if my comment is too direct or presumptuous. I admire your accomplishments.
Though I must confess when I watched your videos playing the accordion, I got PTSD from my memory as a child taking forced accordion lessons from Mr. Osmond. I had zero musical talent and the lessons were as painful to Mr. Osmond as they were to me.
Miles Wayne Raucher
Miami, Florida
May 15, 2022: THE HARE KRISHNA HISTORIAN
Henry Doktorski, aka Hrishikesh dasa Prabhu, has established a new territory of scholarly research with his books on “Hare Krishna History.” Hrishikesh Prabhu was very kind to print my essay on Kirtanananda Swami as a Foreword in Volume 2 of his series, Gold, Guns and God.
At one point, Hrishikesh was a faithful follower of K. Swami, which explains why he is going to so much trouble to see that the truth gets out there. Although this book is technically gramya-sastra or “town news of everyday affairs,” it is still Krishna conscious. It is not a sensational “tell-all.” From what I have seen in his books, the content still leads to worship of Krishna and to the chanting of His Holy Names. He does not denigrate the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Rather he holds to them-—which is something that the “leaders” of Guru Maharaja’s movement should have done. Had they done so, then such books could not have been written about them.
His writings are meticulously researched, and his style is engaging and intelligent. He is a musician and artist, and that artistry shows in his literary pace.
In the future, genuine scholars will consult these books with confidence to see what actually went on during the rise of the first and second generations of the Hare Krishna Movement. Unlike the BBT(I) in their trademark haphazard disregard for the rules of scholarship and editing, the books of Doktorski are precisely indexed with exact references to anything written in them.
The Supreme Lord Himself, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has created a vast movement that has covered the world. The Lord’s movement has expanded worldwide, but with great difficulties that have directly been created by inept followers who tried to visualize themselves as spiritual leaders. Therefore, with a growing global movement at hand, the need for accurate descriptions of the past and present progress of the Hare Krishna Movement is important. Hrishikesh Prabhu has answered that need and those who seek spiritual shelter without any fear of being cheated owe him a vote of thanks.
As I said earlier, in the future, scholars will refer to his books with confidence. And, it goes without saying that any devious ISKCON leaders still living can now learn a lesson by seeing what the public actually thinks of their sociopathic blunders. Thus, Doktorski’s contributions are also a stern lesson to anyone who wants to mix personal ambition with a show of spiritual elevation.
These books will sit on the shelves under the Bhagavatams along with Chasing Rhinos, Miracle on 2nd Ave, and other genuine records of Hare Krishna History. People will want to know what happened, and here it is in well written black and white.
Patita-Uddharana dasa (Miles Davis)
AKA Patita-Pavana dasa
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
June 19, 2022
FIVE STARS: Riveting, Enthralling, and better than a True Crime Documentary on Netflix!
This volume [Vol. 6] of the Gold, Guns, and God opus by Henry Doktorski is riveting and enthralling, much like a true crime documentary on Netflix (Making a Murderer, anyone?). Two chapters in and like a magic act everything around me disappeared because I could not put this down or do anything else, but keep reading! The story itself of the conspiracy to kill Steve Bryant should be enough to capture anyone’s curiosity.
The author presents detail after detail of evidence of how many participated in the murder conspiracy and how it was carried out. The more one reads the more one may find themselves in this difficult place of what is reality vs. what we all wish was not. It’s not always easy to accept this unfortunate episode in Prabhupada’s movement and especially when it involved so many “higher ups.” However, it’s too important to trace the root of the problem and it is already well known—it started immediately after November 14, 1977 after Prabhupada’s passing ISKCON degraded down a dangerous road of clashing cults of eleven personalities, or better stated—“Eleven Naked Emperors.”
Volume 6 provides details that explain the beginning of the end of Keith Ham’s reign of sex abuse, corruption, deviations from Prabhupada’s teaching, and ego centric cult in West Virginia. It’s a fascinating read when one compares to other dangerous cults that puts a flawed human being in the center of a community as good as God and calls him ridiculous names like “King.” I say fascinating because the similarities are frightening—unquestioned authority/power over others, blind followers, scriptural inaccuracies of pure teachings, the easy justification of crimes, etc. Think Nxivm, Osho, People’s Temple—the examples out there are endless yet feels like an all too familiar story.
Refreshing that ISKCON and those who follow the path of Bhakti (non-ISKCON) that I have experienced in the present have taken note. Krishna and Prabhupada seem to be at the center again, not “show bottle gurus” exalted to the point they are as good as God. In this sense there is definitely a collective maturity and intentional effort to restore the purity of the movement. The lessons here are impossible to ignore for anyone who wants to learn from the painful lessons of the past in order to avoid an encore. You may ignore this history at your own risk.
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
From a review at Amazon.com.
July 19, 2022
Dear Henry,
You asked me a while ago (eight months) to give you a review of GGG4. I finally finished reading it today. Sorry it took so long. It was a difficult read, especially as I am female.
Of course, I love your writing style and that you acknowledge where the information was obtained. You stay neutral in your writings of a difficult subject matter and don’t try and bull shit the reader into one side or the other. One can make their own decisions of right or wrong; hearsay or fact; belief or non-belief based on the information you put forth!
As a female born in the late 1970s; I was blessed. I grew up with a loving family where both parents were happily married and involved in my growth. Education was supported and extremely important to both Mom and Dad. They wanted my younger sister and I to succeed in life intellectually. We both got good grades, went to college, and have decent jobs in our fields of study (mine Biology, Ann’s Chemistry and Mathematics). Throughout our 40+ years together (unfortunately Mom passed in 2015); we are still an extremely close family who care about each other and celebrate our accomplishments!
I found reading GGG4 rather difficult at times; it was a major reason why it took me so long to finish it. I can not imagine being separated from my parents to be raised by members of the community. As a child, I spent so much time learning about everything; from trees and farming to engineering, academics, and science from my Dad and academics and sports from my Mom. Our primary focus was on education and being able to provide for ourselves when it became necessary.
We weren’t trained to be housewives; to cook, clean, raise children, make sure our husbands were happy, etc. Ask my husband; I’m terrible at cooking, cleaning, and keeping house.
I’ve always had a “soft spot” for the underdog. As a child and adolescent; I was bullied and I understand the effects it can have on a person later in life. Fortunately for me; my parents could help and make things better! My experiences with bullying are nowhere near as traumatic as those of the gurukula kids at New Vrindaban.
These “underdogs” did not have the support and guidance needed! They needed someone to believe what was happening and continually act on it. Easy to say for me; I had my support! They didn’t! I feel there was abuse happening at New Vrindaban from the beginning!
The 1960s was all about free love, civil rights, and acceptance of everyone no matter religion, race, or color. The philosophy was everyone was equal; who cares if you’re black, white, or pink with purple polka dots, or if you praise Jesus, Krishna, or the Martian on the Moon. Now throw in Prabhupada, an enigma; he has the answers to the ’60s culture’s questions; information no US citizen has heard; Krishna is loving and forgiving, chant Hare Krishna, follow these four regulative principles: (1) No Intoxication. (2) No Meat Eating. (3) No Gambling. (4) No Illicit Sex. It’s no wonder that so many individuals wanted to join the flock. If I was a teenager during the ’60s; I may have joined (although, I’m sure I wouldn’t want to cook).
Unfortunately child abuse doesn’t just happen in ISKCON, it happens in many religions. I’m a confirmed Catholic as is my Dad, and his siblings, my sister, and my older son, (my youngest has confirmation this upcoming school year.) In 2018, the priest at my church and school my kids attended was accused of inappropriate conduct. Thank God my children weren’t involved, nor was anyone else at the school. It was an internet “liaison” so to speak. The Allentown Diocese has been part of a long investigation of child abuse by clergy. I’m sure other religious communities encounter the same thing.
On the aspect that Keith wasn’t right in the mind; I believe that to an extent. Yes, there is plenty of research that damage to any part of the brain can cause changes in behavior. The frontal lobe (where lobotomies are performed) does cause changes in behavior. Yes, Keith suffered major brain damage when attacked. As a scientist, I have trouble believing this was his turning point to homosexual tendencies. He was a homosexual before the blow to the head, and a homosexual after the blow to the head. His sexuality didn’t change. The only thing that changed was his ability to “turn-off” his proclivities.
Keith’s homosexuality isn’t the problem; it’s his denial that’s the major issue!
I’m not defending or condoning Keith’s behavior or that of other devotees. Any mistreatment of children, whether innocent or not, is deplorable! Children look up to teachers, elders, and those in authority to show them what is right or wrong.
I would like to add that I love visiting New Vrindaban! The dedication and love of the devotees to preserve Prabhupada’s vision is astounding! Since 2015 (when I learned of the familial connection); I’ve tried to visit yearly. Keep chanting Hare Krishna, it helps everyone; even us karmis.
Barbara Michaels
Keith Ham’s second cousin once removed
Bath, Pennsylvania
July 29, 2022
FIVE STARS. FOREWORD SURPRISE!
To my surprise and delight—my review of [Henry Doktorski’s Gold, Guns and God, Volume 7] has to start with the Foreword by Bhakta Eric Johanson (formerly Vrindaban Chandra Swami). One of the more exciting parts of reading (for me) is when I find language for ideas I’ve conceived, but never found a way to articulate. Prior to reading Chapter 69 (first chapter of Vol. 7) I re-read the Foreword thrice. One of the virtues of the Foreword is how eloquently the stage is set for Vol. 7 and Dr. Henry’s opus on New Vrindavan and ISKCON in the larger context.
The opening sentence was enough to blow me away; it left me contemplating and reflecting on so many aspects of ISKCON since Prabhupada’s departure. “...ISKCON institution’s leadership has provided any number of cul-de-sacs... (for spiritual seekers).” The fact that this was pluralized makes me consider that this is actually a rhetorical question. The problems since A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s departure are impossible to count or categorize even if it’s already common knowledge and the evidence irrefutable. Here is where Eleven Naked Emperors provides a deep dive or “beginning of the end” type of analysis into these problems. Hats off to Bhakta Eric for enhancing this volume and the entire series with clear and “to the point” language.
Bringing to light the complete disregard for morality by many leaders operating within the confines of ISKCON is a sad reality to come to terms with. The damage done caused a spectacular exodus of devotees and it’s painful to think how many good souls departed from Prabhupada’s mission and movement. However, reading these pages provides a compelling reason to do so. I had never made the connection between this hemorrhaging of devotees and the present-day dependency on followers of Indian descent. Suddenly, the current state of ISKCON that one can appreciate in temples all over the United States (and world) makes sense. This Foreword alone will provide, in few words, great insight and explanations to what we all can see today.
Moving on to Volume 7, one of the more interesting aspects described is the legal proceedings following a murder conspiracy. Most of us have a general sense of how the judicial system works and the deals can be worked out between law enforcement/judicial system and the accused. Volume 7 provides a front-row seat to the unfolding drama after Sulochan’s murder. Still hard to imagine that someone who so fiercely verbalized the determination to kill a “demon” did not serve prison time. Accountability may elude anyone willing to cooperate—I guess the fear of prison time; “snitches get stitches.” At least now there is some clarity as to why so many were involved and so few paid the price.
On a personal level I was looking forward to learning how Keith Ham and the New Vrindaban community got the boot from ISKCON in 1987. While there are too many reasons for Keith to have never returned to ISKCON in 1968 after getting booted the first time, it was the more compelling to learn exactly how he was thrown out after he built a Palace and a thriving community raking in money (in the millions), tourists, and great PR for ISKCON. This book documents the GBC’s resolution to support the excommunication. Here is yet another sad case where evil can be overlooked in the name of money and power. The fact that he made it one decade (after the passing of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) and stayed in ISKCON is amazing by any measure and especially considering that even prior to GBC approval he started initiations in New Vrindaban. I’m still baffled every time I read the incredible amounts of cash that was pouring into the community from sankirtan in the early ’80s. There are several references to this and while there can’t be an exact amount documented—what is certain is that we’re talking about millions of dollars. This volume continues to document the “dangers of deranged devotion” and how it goes deeper and beyond a murder conspiracy. While this history is fascinating it continues to leave the reader oscillating between wonder, repulsion, and tremendous sadness that Prabhupada’s home was so tarnished by ego, power trips, corruption, and “deviations in the dhama.” Thanks Henry for continuing this project that serves as a healing journey for so many and the hope that much can be learned to avoid repeating the same disastrous mistakes. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
From a review at Amazon.com.
June 12, 2022
The hidden message behind Henry’s books is the Bhakti Yoga process, a process which I see as a type of self-improvement process which can transform people for good. Honestly, I think the message of Bhakti Yoga is blatant in Henry’s books, and despite all the negative in the story of New Vrindaban and Swami Bhaktipada, Henry’s books still give a positive take on the Bhakti Yoga process, and also on the dynamics of cults and the general cultural dynamics of what was happening in America at the time. This is because Henry’s books deal with real human struggle and flawed people making mistakes. I am skeptical of power structures, so all the corruption he uncovered is not surprising to me. Nor does the corruption diminish what I interpret as how Bhakti Yoga generally helped the people Henry writes about in a self-improvement process
David A. Calton (Doooovid)
Host of the Doooovid Internet Streaming Show
Detroit Michigan
July 29, 2022
There are lots of lessons to be learned about cults reading the books of Henry Doktorski. . . . If there’s one thing to learn from the books of Henry, is that you have to take care of your heart. You have to take care of your mind. You do not give your life and power to anyone except God himself. Henry speaks with experience, because he was himself deeply brainwashed by the Hare Krishna movement. And it takes a lot of effort to deprogram oneself from a cult that you’ve been involved for years. It’s possible, as Henry Doktorski is a shining example of one that has now a very successful life, a very positive life, helping others to see what the truth is all about.
Henri Jolicoeur
formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP
Montreal, Quebec
from a review of Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 6 on YouTube.
September 23, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and interesting read. Verified Purchase
I was in the Baltimore temple in 1980 as a new Bhakta when this was all going down and Satsvarupa was the naked emperor in my region. And I well recall the lies, the scams,the bullying and fraudulent sankirtana. I knew a handful of those pretenders. [Eleven Naked Emperors is] Truly a great study.
George Fear
United States
From a review on Amazon
October 7, 2022
Dear Henry,
After reading your proof copy of Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 8, all I can say is, that’s a lot of music! I’m fascinated by the musical ambitions and the installation of the pipe organs. It’s insane to read all this went on Henry. Actually, baffling.
What I mean is: I had no idea how elaborate the music program became in New Vrindaban during your tenure there, and especially after New Vrindaban was expelled from ISKCON in 1987-1988. Between getting those pipe organs, the chorale, the orchestra, the music theater, and how much you were performing, I’m amazed.
Honestly, this volume is the first time that Keith Ham is becoming human again, from my perspective. I’ve been too quick to take the easy road and just call him a sick man, a child molester or a master manipulator; this in spite of the fact he was proven to be all the aforementioned. However, these musical endeavors, his attempt to blend religious traditions, and his work in creating an interfaith City of God suddenly makes sense. His intentions were clearly more noble than I originally thought.
It feels like you’ve opened my mind. Keith, from the beginning, was a proven deviant who disobeyed Srila Prabhupada, so I have always dismissed him as such. His ideas about Christian-izing Krishna consciousness and making it more accessible to westerners is not as crazy as I originally thought. Especially after reading the Foreword to Volume 8 by Patrick Garrison.
Clearly Keith’s ideas were endearing to many, and for good reason. One of your greatest contributions to this monumental biography/history is that you present multiple perspectives. Hats off to you. The result is that you’ve opened my (sometimes) closed mind. It’s been too easy to discard Keith as a “crazy man.” But you’ve mentioned over and over in your works that humans are way more complex than a simple label.
I reflect on the fact that the more evil any one person is perceived to be, the easier it is to lazily discard and label said person as evil or crazy and be done, instead of developing a curiosity and asking why, or looking into the complexity of a person’s character. It took eight volumes, but you finally did it!
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
October 18, 2022
Hare Krishna, Prabhu. I just sent you $60.00 U. S. by Western Union. Please send me Gold, Guns and God, Vols. 5, 6 and 7. The total cost for me is $94.65 Canadian. Thanks and please keep on writing and publishing your books. I’m certain Srila Prabhupada is pleased because your books have potency to lead sincere souls to Prabhupada instead of the fake gurus.
Daryl Mark Johnston
Winnipeg, Manitoba
October 27, 2022
I had a long conversation with a distraught young lady on the phone last night. She was nearly brainwashed to join the Radhanath cult. Radhanath's disciples attempted to pressure her to surrender and become a Radhanath Swami disciple. It looks like your books and your interviews with me helped make her decide not to go forward into the abyss. She says she is leaving the Radhanath cult. She is still shaken. So BRAVO for your books.
Henri Jolicoeur
Montreal, Quebec
December 22, 2022
Henry Doktorski’s books are well researched and are daunting to read, but in them you get to see what was really going on behind the scenes. ISKCON leadership had a big PR act for us and the public. Most of them worshiped and glorified Kirtanananda, knowing all the sordid details lots of which are in Henry’s books. . . . It’s very low and weird. Henry’s books are not easy to read. There are so much details of the sick weird schemes and active deception, you just won’t believe it, but it’s worth it to really get the full picture what was going on in ISKCON. It’s not pleasant reading, but will give you a glimpse of the depraved and abusive mood of the leaders’ real games and motives. We are conditioned souls; it’s our fallen nature to sully real spiritual life.
Clifford McKellar Kirk (Keshimardana dasa)
Derrylin, Enniskillen, United Kingdom
December 30, 2022
Lots of people like the book Killing for Krishna. Lots of people do not like the same book. Meanwhile! Lots of people never write any history of any type anywhere ever themselves, but they like to armchair advise others.
“Write this and not that!” OK, are you going to stick your neck out and write something yourself? Didn’t think so! I am the original person who bought out “the poison tapes” and that is because—no one else could or would. Could not be bothered. If you can present the history better than us, then go for it! Everyone has the same freedom of speech we do!
Puranjana dasa ACBSP (Tim Lee)
Srila Prabhupada’s Poison Complaint (2 Volume Set)
Berkeley, California
January 18, 2023
Subject: New Vrindaban Recordings
Hello Henry,
Thank you for uploading the vintage New Vrindaban interfaith musical recordings on YouTube. I have been listening to them for many days now. I have to say they are a real eye opener. I had no idea what this experimental era of New Vrindaban sounded like. I saw the photos and read the stories of this time era, but hearing what you were actually doing really changes things. For some reason I never thought the Western classical music at the City of God would be so technically proficient and, well. . . musically convincing.
I think you were really on to something with this musical approach to presenting the Vaishnava philosophy within the framework of Western tonality. I hate to say this, as it seems to reflect well on Kirtanananda, but maybe on this idea he was correct.
I also purchased your book, Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 8. Looking forward to reading more about this era of New Vrindaban.
Best Regards,
JJD
Jersey City, New Jersey
P.S. The Ragamathani devi dasi recordings are extremely beautiful and sincere. The reworking of the classic themes are quite successful and many moments of her recital are very moving. The children’s bhajans are wonderful, but knowing the history: sad and tragic.
January 8, 2023
Mandatory reading for devotees hopefully.
Vimuktasanga Das
London, United Kingdom
January 8, 2023
Over time this book will be read by millions—perhaps. After all it is very well researched history in ISKCON’s post-Prabhupada era. Couple hundred years from now it’ll be a classic and one of the few books from this time that is honest.
Daryl Mark Johnston
Winnipeg, Canada
January 15, 2023
It is my opinion that every person interested in Krishna Dharma, especially if you are a long time in ISKCON, should read these books, Gold, Guns and God, by Henry Doktorski. They are to be read as a duty; not an easy read, because they give laser-beam truth of what was really happening behind the scenes. All beings do that to some extent; they pretend they are fine and happy, etc., but religious groups usually put on a big show of pretense. It’s human nature. These books show very clearly what was really going on and reveal so much hypocrisy which we can all learn from. And we can choose to not follow blindly with pop-star worship of spiritual teachers. Often the negative experiences are the best teachers. Nothing has been held back here; everything is the naked truth. Most folks want tea-cup spirituality. If that’s your thing, don’t read these books. The awful truth is like bitter medicine. Well, Henry’s books are like that.
Clifford McKellar Kirk (Keshimardana dasa)
Derrylin, Enniskillen, United Kingdom
January 15, 2023
What I find most interesting in your writings, and that is different from other ex-Hare Krishnas, is that there is no criticism of Krishna consciouness. Only the historical facts of what happened. In this view, I see it as a great service to the Hare Krishna Movement, as to become aware to not become a cult as it happened in New Vrindavan and still happens in many cases in the present time, where people serve bogus gurus who in reality are sense enjoyers.
Ramananda Dasa
Vrindaban, India
February 1, 2023
Henry’s Gold, Guns and God decalogy is like the Mahabharata!
ISKCON sannyasi, formerly from New Vrindaban who requested anonymity to avoid retribution from the institution
February 22, 2023
I bought GGG8. Very Interesting book Henry. I learned a lot about those times and your contributions. So many misunderstandings from this era.
Thanks for describing the circumstances about that crown and scepter made for Kirtanananda Swami. I always got the impression KS wore that around New Vrindaban, not only for that photograph.
I also had no idea Govinda Maharaja from the Chaitanya Sarawat Math met KS during the time you mentioned. Find that very strange.
They should have left the giant Prabhupada sculpture/murti. That was kind of novel!
Best Regards,
JJD
Jersey City, New Jersey
April 11, 2023
Dear Mr Doktorski,
I have just finished reading two of your books: Eleven Naked Emperors and Killing for Krishna and very much appreciate them both. I joined ISKCON in 1981 in the United Kingdom and have lived through much of what you wrote about while being in the dark about the behind scenes activity. I have strong faith in Krishna and Prabhupada because I experience the benefit of sadhana. But for many years I have no faith in the GBC, sannyasis and gurus.
Still, I have never read your books before because of the sensational titles and covers. I thought they would be written like a racy novel full of half truths. But they are not. Your writing is well researched and balanced.
I think many ISKCON devotees would benefit from reading them, but it is highly unlikely with the current titles and covers. I am writing to make a humble request. Please publish your books under two different titles and covers. I am sure the current titles help your sales among the non devotees, but they are not good for the devotee market. Much more boring names would make them more marketable to ISKCON rank and file who need to read them.
Boring covers and names like: The History of New Vrindaban from 1977 to 1990 and The Evolution of GBC Policy Regarding the Propagation of the Parampara from 1977 to 2020. Such titles with plain covers would make them much easier to promote among devotees.
Yours
Anonymous ISKCON devotee
London, United Kingdom
April 11, 2023
Dear Mr Doktorski,
I have just finished reading two of your books: Eleven Naked Emperors and Killing for Krishna and very much appreciate them both. I joined ISKCON in 1981 in the United Kingdom and have lived through much of what you wrote about while being in the dark about the behind scenes activity. I have strong faith in Krishna and Prabhupada because I experience the benefit of sadhana. But for many years I have no faith in the GBC, sannyasis and gurus.
Still, I have never read your books before because of the sensational titles and covers. I thought they would be written like a racy novel full of half truths. But they are not. Your writing is well researched and balanced.
I think many ISKCON devotees would benefit from reading them, but it is highly unlikely with the current titles and covers. I am writing to make a humble request. Please publish your books under two different titles and covers. I am sure the current titles help your sales among the non devotees, but they are not good for the devotee market. Much more boring names would make them more marketable to ISKCON rank and file who need to read them.
Boring covers and names like: The history of New Vrindaban from 1977 to 1990 and The Evolution of GBC Policy Regarding the Propagation of the Parampara from 1977 to 2020. Such titles with plain covers would make them much easier to promote among devotees.
Yours
Anonymous ISKCON devotee
London, United Kingdom
February 28, 2023
Five Stars
This volume [No. 9] of the Gold, Guns and God decalogue is the one I’ve been waiting with enthusiasm and high anticipation. After 8 volumes of taking a deep dive into the history of New Vrindaban and the complex character that was Keith Ham, it’s time for the reader to learn the details of his final demise and incarceration. The years spent reading, studying, and reflecting this history have led to this moment. It has felt like listening to a symphony and here comes the crescendo. This volume is riveting. It is full of the same twists, turns, contradictions, shameful crimes, and revelations that the rest of the volumes provide.
However, this volume goes deeper as we learn that Keith Ham’s ability to hide his crimes, vices, violations of the regulative principles, and corruption comes to an ignoble end. Thankfully for the community of New Vrindaban, his victims, and followers—accountability and justice paid this con-artist a much needed visit. It sent chills up and down my spine when Keith quotes Prabhupada when he said, “beware of demons dressed in Vaishnava cloth.” How prophetic—and unfortunate. In the end, this is probably one of the saddest chapters in the history of ISKCON.
The reader is afforded a detailed account of what happened in court and how Keith’s lawyers mounted an unsuccessful defense. This insight proves useful to learn how this once thriving community imploded. While fascinating, it evokes a lot of other emotions as the community becomes fractured. Understandable that as more and more crimes committed by Keith were revealed, the community split into two bands—those who rejected this “show bottle guru” and those who refused to accept the reality of this extremely flawed and thoroughly corrupt human being. There were many whose need for security and spirituality would not allow them to accept the truth of the matter. This is an invitation to reflect on the psychology of cognitive dissonance and how we, as humans, respond to it at various levels. I was humored by Keith’s convenient excuse that his being charged was nothing more than religious persecution. What a joke of an excuse to hide behind his criminal enterprise and sexual abuse of children! It is encouraging to learn that where ISKCON failed this community, the legal system in this country did not.
I’ve always been impressed with the author’s meticulous research, attention to detail, and citation of sources to substantiate his work. Additionally, by presenting differing opinions on the issues of those days provides a balanced understanding to create a more accurate picture of all that transpired. Through this, the author achieves a remarkable account that is all inclusive. There is a higher purpose in documenting this history; to present this history as a tool for healing those that lived it. In my own healing journey, learning facts about the past has led to epiphanies, new perspectives, and a healing of what was otherwise a traumatic experience. Facts and knowledge have a powerful effect to humanize difficult experiences. I still feel this is the single greatest contribution of this author. For him and the work contained in this and the rest of the volumes, I am grateful.
Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia
From a review on Amazon.com
March 12, 2023
I like your work. ISKCONSPIRACY is a fascinating rabbit hole to go down. I lived under Ravindra Swarupa in the 1990s. I would be happy to share my experience if you ever need anything.
Dan Davis
Salt Lake City, Utah
April 12, 2023
I also was astonished by the seriousness and balance of the information inside your books; not a cheap attractive novel but a source of historic information. I at the half of the the Second Volume of your last opus, Gold, Guns and God, and it is quite valuable. You do not hide any fact. You were one of the “inmates” or supporters of Kirtanananda. Keep the titles as they are. If they attract more outsiders than people having been through it all, let it be that way, as they are more outsiders anyway. People who were in it will understand what the title means. Plus it is explained: Danger of Deranged Devotion.
Jean-Jacques Péroo
Cergy, France
April 12, 2023
It was a necessary work, and it is ISKCON’s good fortune that Henry put in years and years of diligent research to put this together. Worthy of a Truman Capote. A great American tradition. Jai Radhe. As to whether it is “necessary” for ISKCON devotees to read it: As a prophylactic for anyone ascending to higher positions, I would say, it should be required reading. It is a kind of Mahabharata for ISKCON.
Jagadananda Das
Montreal, Quebec
April 22, 2023
Radhe shyam! You claim to say the Radhanath was included in Sulochan murder and he ordered Janmastami to do the murder, etc. If some one comes with a point that you are making up the story, how to answer it then? Is there any proof to this because Radhanath will not accept it that he murdered, etc. Can you share some valid suspects or anything else which prove it? I read Kill Guru, Become Guru and Monkey on a Stick, too. Please reply. Radhe Radhe.
Anonymous
Reply by the author:
April 22, 2023
Hare Krishna, Prabhu. Thank you for your inquiry.
I think you will find the answers to your questions in my book, Killing For Krishna: The Danger of Deranged Devotion.
In the meantime, I will say that I was bewildered myself some years ago, because of conflicting testimonies of those people, including Radhanath Swami, who were involved in the murder plot. Many conspiracy members claim that Radhanath Swami was a key member of the plot to murder Sulochan Prabhu.
Janmastami, as you know, claims Radhanath recruited him into the conspiracy. I have met Janmastami many times, he is my godbrother. We talk on the phone every couple months. I believe his is telling the truth.
Kuladri, although he keeps his mouth shut, told an investigative reporter in 1989 I think that Radhanath Swami was involved in the plot, and Kuladri thinks Radhanath even told Bhaktipada about the plot. Kuladri, who himself was a leader in the conspiracy, escaped from prison due to a sweet plea bargain with the prosecutors.
Jyotirdhama, who was in charge of New Vrindaban’s telephone system, helped coordinate the murder and conspirators by routing special calls in the switchboard room at New Vrindaban. He says that Radhanath ORDERED the execution of Sulochan. I am friends with Jyotirdhama. We speak on the phone periodically. He wrote a 15 page summary of his involvement in the murder plot, which appears in Killing For Krishna.
One of my friends, Harivenu, who was a teenager at the New Vrindaban gurukula in the mid-1980s, says he was present when Radhanath Swami ordered Janmastami to “Destroy the Demon.” I keep in touch with him today. He lives in California.
It is a fact that Radhanath approved of the murder. Another friend of mine, a traveling sankirtan partner, Ramachandra, told me, on the day of the murder he asked Radhanath Swami in the New Vrindaban temple, “Do you know who killed Sulochan?” Ramachandra says Radhanath replied, “No. But whoever it was, he was doing devotional service to Krishna.” I believe Ramachandra. He lives in Wheeling and we talk on the phone periodically.
Even Tirtha in prison, who exchanged 200 letters with me by snail mail from 2002 to 2017, told me that “Radhanath delivered a big bag of money to me, after the murder.” This was so Tirtha and his family could purchase air tickets and fly to India and hide from U. S. law enforcement.
Dharmatma, the New Vrindaban sankirtan leader, says he gave a bag of $6,000 in small bills to Radhanath and Bhaktipada when they came to his house shortly after the murder. Dharmatma asked, “This is so Tirtha can fly to India?” Both Bhaktipada and Radhanath nodded “Yes.”
Jagad Guru Swami, a Prabhupada disciple, who founded an ashram in India, told me personally, that a few weeks after the murder, Radhanath confessed to him his involvement in the murder plot while the two godbrothers were sitting on a beach in San Diego, USA. Jagad Guru Swami says he spoke to the FBI about it.
This is all in Killing For Krishna.
So it comes down to: Who do we believe? Radhanath, or all these other people? The choice is ours. Proof may not exist, as sometimes people lie. But in this case, I believe Radhanath is the liar.
I knew Radhanath personally, and we always had a cordial relationship. But after I started talking about my research about the history of New Vrindaban, and the conspiracy to murder Sulochan, he avoids me like the plague, even when I approach him and try to have a friendly conversation.
I hope this helps answers your questions.
Sincerely,
Henry (Hrishikesh dasa)
April 25, 2023:
The author: Pilate asked Jesus of Nazareth “What is truth?” If anyone is interested, here is a conversation I had with a Radhanath Swami follower/disciple. I think she and I have different definitions of “truth.” In addition, she believes religious leaders like Radhanath are exempt from the codes of morality/criminality which the rest of us are subject to.
KD: Hare Krsna, I wanted to ask you why you wrote this book Killing for Krsna? I don’t know whether about Radhanath Swami you are telling the truth or not, even if what you write is true what is the purpose? He is helping so many people to change their habits (eating meat, taking intoxicants, etc.), he is bringing them closer to Prabhupada and Krsna, but by reading your book they would go away forever—is that your purpose?
HD: Thank you for your inquiry, KD. Perhaps I might ask you a similar question. I was a disciple for 15 years of Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada. He helped so many people to change their habits (eating meat, taking intoxicants, etc.), he brought them closer to Prabhupada and Krishna, but should I not have rejected him as my spiritual master when I discovered he had been, for many many years, secretly abusing boys and teenagers sexually to satisfy his lust? Should I have continued to serve him, to chant, “Jaya Bhaktipada!” and worship him?
KD: Yes, you did very well to leave such a person, but Radhanath Swami seems to me very different from Kirtanananda. Radhanath, in those days, was very young and inexperienced and lived in a place surrounded by very fanatical people. Everybody was convinced that Kirtanananda was a pure devotee (Prabhupada’s successor), and this Sulocana das wanted to kill the pure devotee, his life was in danger and he had to be defended... And in his fanaticism as a young devotee he was convinced that he was acting right.... They would have done that [assassinate a demon] for [to protect] Prabhupada as well. If it had been necessary... I don’t agree with this violence, it could have been done differently. But what I want to say is I have known Radhanath Swami for 25 years and he is a good, sensitive selfless person, he would not hurt a fly, he is not a vice murderer or he is perverted like Kirtanananda, but due to bad association he was involved in murder When he later found out who Kirtanananda really was he left the movement and went away
HD: So please convince Radhanath Swami to admit his participation and apologize. You know as well as I, by the story of Amburish Maharaja and Durvasa Muni, that one can NEVER find peace or atonement if one does not apologize to the victim. Radhanath has lied and blasphemed those devotees who spoke the truth and told about Radhanath’s involvement in the murder. How can anyone trust a liar? Do you think Radhanth can hide forever? Do you think Krishna will not eventually reveal the naked truth for all to see? Better that Radhanath admit rather than deny. In this way, HE IS NO BETTER THAN KIRTANANANDA!
KD: I have never heard that he speaks ill of the devotees who accuse him, give me the evidence To admit now would be a disaster, many would leave the spiritual life, too much time has passed, to tell the truth now would only do damage to the sermon, to Srila Prabhupada’s movement
HD: Radhanath has stated, “As far as what Janmastami dasa has written on the Internet, every single allegation against me is totally false. I was not involved in any criminal activity. On a personal note, I have nothing against Janmastami Prabhu and only wish the best for him.” This is a lie. Janmastami’s allegations are not totally false. My question is: Is ISKCON today REALLY Srila Prabhupada’s movement? Radhanath should have thought about this BEFORE he had tens of thousands of disciples. “The truth should be spoken in a straightforward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth.”—Srila Prabhupada. But of course, you and I have different opinions. I believe a religious movement should be based on truth, not lies, but apparently you believe otherwise. That is okay. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs.
KD: I also that truth should be constructive, not destructive
HD: As you like. I prefer honesty. Sometimes one must destroy the perverted reflection before one can establish the true path.
KD: But I see that you struggle to understand this. This “truth” would destroy the faith of so many new people—what good does it do?
HD: In my opinion, faith should be based on truth, not on lies. No? All these other people, if they are sincere, they can still follow their spiritual master, IF HE ADMITS HIS FAULTS AND BEGS FORGIVENESS! If he continues to hide his faults and criminal past, he is no better than a thief, in my opinion. I knew Radhanath when he was Radhanath dasa Brahmachari living in the Vrindaban Farm at New Vrindaban. We always had a cordial relationship. In Killing For Krishna, I beg him to tell the truth and become an honest disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
KD: Their lives are being based on Srila Prabhupada's teachings and not on lies
HD: Then why do they worship a liar? Do they chant Radhanath Swami’s name?
KD: We lose ourselves caring for them every day
HD: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, my friend! I have enjoyed our correspondence. It is late here in California, and it is past my bedtime. Thank you again, Hare Krishna, and take care.
KD: Thanks! Hare Krsna! Jay Srila Prabhupada! We are in the hands of Krsna.
May 15, 2023: Henry Doktorski: It’s not every day someone calls me a “demon!” One former New Vrindaban resident shared a post of mine about ISKCON history on his Facebook page, “Interplanetary Istagosthi.” At the bottom of my post is a link to Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 1. This one fellow read the post, clicked on the link, saw the material on my page, and was horrified. He made the following comment on the post in an effort to warn others not to visit my pages. It just goes to show that you can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but never all the people all of the time.
Locana dasa: DEVOTEES BEWARE! Opening up this link to Henry Doktorski’s book will expose you to opinions about Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON that could be construed as outright blasphemy. I innocently clicked on his link and it opened up the dirty details about two of our former prominent ISKCON members; details of which are very contaminating to read about. So, Kirtanananda and Hayagriva had serious addictions. Is that worth writing about—to such an extent? Would Srila Prabhupada ever approve of a TEN volume book on the sordid secret lives of two of his disciples who rendered him valuable service? Not for a second! Why is Doktorski writing this, really? Money must be the only objective, and tearing down the legacy of ISKCON. IMO this posting should immediately be taken down. Doktorski slyly tempts one to open up his post with the innocent history of Srila Prabhupada’s founding of the League of Devotees, then announces his book at the bottom which is only food for the crows and jackals. And he uses the Holy Name to con you in: “Hare Krishna” historian. He is an enemy of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, Lord Chaitanya and all the acharyas. While the sincere devotees are out on the streets blissfully chanting the Holy Names, he is publishing books for the masses entitled, Killing for Krishna, and Gold, Guns, God. Innocent people are attracted when they see the blissful devotees chanting and dancing on the street, but if they once see the covers of any of Doktorski’s books, would they ever THINK of allowing their children to associate with this movement? He is an enemy, undoing the devoted efforts of Lord Chaitanya’s sincere followers to spread the Prime Benediction for humanity at large. If this group [Interplanetary Istagosthi] was founded for spreading the pure messages of our acharyas, then the presence of such an enemy on here should be striken from this group without delay.
Henry: He continued with a personal message to my friend who shared my link:
Locana dasa: Hello, you requested that I join your group [Interplanetary Istagosthi] recently, so I accepted your kind invitation. But now I am finding that you are presenting a demon on here who is an enemy of our sacred movement. Please read my response to your posting of Doktorski’s book ads. He is not writing to help our movement become purified, or he would write articles only for the devotional community. No. He is writing to attract the public with salacious graphics, and his extensive detailed descriptions of the sins of these two men only serve to scare people away from our movement. If this is the purpose of your group, I’m leaving it. He is an enemy.
Comment by former ISKCON devotee Steven Gelberg: Henry, there is no mystery in why some devotees will react like that to your books. You are exposing truths that are painful to them and which they’re unable to process within their ISKCON-conditioned minds. They feel their most cherished beliefs and dogmas are under attack. Naturally they will attack back.
May 16, 2023: Different individuals will draw different conclusions after examining Volume 1 of Gold, Guns, and God (GGG1) by Henry Doktorski. GGG1 reveals the filthy lifestyle of Kirtanananda with disturbing clarity. A key inference I drew from GGG1 is that depravity and perversion were deeply ingrained in the psyche of Kirtanananda to such an extreme degree as to make it impossible for him to suddenly renounce his twisted sexuality. In my view, the man described in GGG1 is the same man presented in Volume 2 (GGG2) and all of the remaining volumes. Deeply embedded wickedness, such as the kind chronicled in GGG1, does not suddenly vanish. Since Bhaktipada Kirtanananda’s basic character did not improve even after meeting Srila Prabhupada, it stands to reason that Kirtanananda founded New Vrindaban with dark intentions. However, the historical evidence Doktorski uncovered is more powerful than mere a priori reasoning. Therein lies an important contribution of GGG2, specifically Doktorski’s insights into the inauspicious founding of New Vrindaban.
When I was a graduate student at The Ohio State University, I attended a class at the Columbus Temple in which Radhanath falsely told us, “New Vrindaban started out as a nice place. Then it became a different place. Now it is a nice place again.” Although Bhaktipada Kirtanananda advertised New Vrindaban as a divine sanctuary, it was a place of perversion from the start. His is not a story of a benevolent visionary who later became corrupt when he subsequently acquired power. Kirtanananda created an image of absolute dedication to Srila Prabhupada, while also deceiving and disobeying Prabhupada. Kirtanananda’s goal was to move Srila Prabhupada aside.
Suresh Persaud (Chand Prasad) Maryland, USA
May 17, 2023: Chand Prasad—brilliant analysis and spot on. To understand Keith Ham starts with learning about his persona and behaviors prior to meeting Prabhupada. As you point out, meeting ACBSP does not mean a switch turns off and his old habits, impulses, and nature suddenly disappear. This is one of Henry Doktorski III’s great contributions with the GGG Decalogue. We are afforded a thorough exploration of this complex character who disobeyed Prabhupada multiple times since Day One and was even kicked out of the movement more than once. I’ve always noticed—the writing was in the walls of 26 Second Ave. This may be an invitation to reflect on when we should forgive someone and welcome them back vs. understanding their potential for causing harm and irreparable damage so we stay/keep them away at all cost. It is a difficult predicament and also unfortunate when we explore the history of ISKCON.
The key question is: when to forgive. I have been wrestling with this for a long long time. When is someone bad enough that we should bypass our compassion, understanding, and humanity and completely discard them vs. finding it in our hearts to forgive them, accept that like all of us we are not entirely good or bad, and welcome them back in our lives? Definitely not an easy dilemma. However, the Keith Ham story proves that there are some clear signs that show past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, regardless of what he said; hence, actions speak louder than words. We may ignore this lesson at our personal and collective risk.
Pedro Ramos Atlanta, Georgia
July 7, 2023
PADA: Oh oh. Mukunda UK is on the warpath against PADA, again! This time we are at fault for supporting Henry Doktorski’s expose of all the players from New Vrndavana—some of whom were part of the Sulochana murder scheme, and numerous other crimes. As a result of Henry’s research, it was uncovered that folks like Radhanath had a role in many of the criminal schemes going on there.
And Henry got a number of direct testimonies from eye witnesses to confirm many of these issues, in addition to—he is an eye witness himself. OK Mukunda was never going to put any of this together, nor was anyone else. And that is one reason why we work even with “karmi police, courts and media,” at least some percent of the story gets out there.
And then—thanks to Henry—we got the testimony of the switch board guy, various temple enforcers, and various others, who say there was indeed a criminal plot to get Sulochana—and so on and so forth. Again! All of this info surfaced thanks in large part to the investigation work of Henry Doktorski. And this info never would have surfaced otherwise, at least not in this much detail. Did I forget to mention that investigating these people carries no small amount of danger?
Did Henry get all of his facts totally 100% right? Well nope, for example Kailasa Chandra was not helping Sulochana write the Sulochana papers, I was. Kailasa was hiding in the hills at the farm and he was too paranoid to go anywhere, much less be seen with Sulochana or venture down to Berkeley. But overall, most of what Henry writes is accurate, and verifies many other testimonies. . . .
Someone said these guys were formerly in the ISKCON system and they just cannot get fully out of their program, and that seems to be the case. In other words, a person cannot be for the Pandavas and the Kauravas all at the same time. And that is why Maharaja Yuddhisthira made a big announcement one day, if you are with them—then go live with them, and get out of our camp, but you cannot be in both camps. To be promoting two diametrically opposing veiws at the same time happens in Hare Krishna land a lot unfortunately, because a lot of devotees are not stable mentally. At least Henry has taken one side, he is against the regime, and his writings about them show that is self evident.
ys
Puranjana dasa, ACBSP (Tim Lee)
Berkeley, California
angel108b@yahoo.com
PADA Blog Post
July 9, 2023
Henry,
PAMHO.
I just finished reading Gold, Guns and God, Volume 10. I’ve followed this complete journey now and have to commend you on doing such a wonderful job. When all is said and done, I think you treated Kirtanananda Swami fairly. I hope that you can now go on with your life, leave some of that behind you and just be happy. I’m forever indebted to you for your insights which helped me avoid mistakes I otherwise would certainly have made.
I don’t know what your spiritual condition is, but this much I know; God loves you and wants the highest for you. I hope you receive that. Thank you so much for permitting me to be of service to you (even though it was a very small way) and thank you for undertaking a daunting task. I’m happy to have known your association, my friend. If I can ever be of help again, please let me know.
Haribol,
Jagadananda Gauranga Swami
Vrindaban, India
July 9, 2023
Hare Krishna Hrshikesh prabhu!
Watched your guest appearance on Narada’s podcast last night. I found the whole conversation interesting. The most interesting thing to me is that I found out why you followed Bhaktipada almost to the end of his reign at New Vrindaban, and I contrast it with why I followed Bhaktipada as long as I did.
I never had the love for Bhaktipada like you did. I had some love towards him as an older, more advanced, senior god brother; that I had. I never bought the line that we were all fed and were supposed to follow at New Vrindaban that “Kirtanananda is a pure devotee,” but I decided to give him a chance. Srila Prabhupada also said that “Kirtanananda is a madman.” By the time he got hit over the head, I wasn’t sure which Kirtanananda I was following. Nice that you got to talk a lot about your work, your books.
It’s very courageous of you to openly talk about your feelings. That story about Tapahpunja and the boxes of documents to me is undoubtedly Krishna’s arrangement.
Jyotirdhama dasa, ACBSP (Joseph Pollock, Jr.)
Richland, Washington
August 1, 2023
My dear godbrother Hrish,
l have now read all twelve volumes of your books: Killing For Krishna, Eleven Naked Emperors, and Gold, Guns and God. What a massive and highly commendable effort you have made. As more people read your literatures, it will shed a lot of light for many.
Your idea to have the Timeline of Important Events at the end of Vol. 10 is a good idea. I am also impressed that you so honestly presented letters from people who disapprove of your work, also in Vol. 10. A couple of them were way over the top with their stupidity.
So you should rest assured that you have awakened people to the fact that having a certain position in an institution does not justify bad behavior. Will you write more?
Glories to your writing service.
If you want to post this online, no need to mention my name. I prefer to remain anonymous, being the nobody that I truly am.
August 7, 2023: Your consistent Facebook posts, Prabhu, are very succinct and they bring to life the history that you have carefully compiled and published in your books. Thank you for serving us Kali Yuga people who can’t find time to read big books and when we do, usually can’t remember and quite specific points.
This type of real propaganda, repeated and with links to the research materials, goes a long, long way towards defeating the bogus propaganda that is keeping up, till now, this charade of the Naked Emperors. I hope it can be brought down before too many more of Srila Prabhupada’s direct disciples leave this world.
Hare Krishna. Thank you, prabhu, for your love for history & truth and for your readiness to honestly share your own experience of having been under the grip of devotional delusion and how you brought yourself out of it eventually. May more such deluded souls wake up soon.
Dina-Anukampana Das
August 7, 2023
My dear Hrishikesh dasa Prabhu,
Dandavats to you and all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Your very generous gift to this poor brahmana has arrived and I am so grateful to have this library. The thirteen books are sitting before me and, when the Deities of Radha and Lord Krishna open later, will be offered.
You always say that you are not a devotee—which is fine with me because that is a means of protecting your professional status as an even-handed writer/historian. Nonetheless, this is a work of devotion.
Your readers are not coming to you to find their “siddha-dehas” and “submerge in prema.” Rather they come to you to be protected from charlatans who claim to submerge them in a fabricated prem and false spiritual status. This is important, and is very much an important aspect of devotional service in this day and age.
You have always displayed Vaishnava qualities inwardly, rather than the big show devotees are apt to settle on nowadays. When you are insulted on Facebook, you simply take it in stride and do not strike back. Then when the astonished party offers apologies, you always accept and move on. These are more important qualities of a devotee than merely being an ISKCON groupie though few these days are sufficiently pensive and introspective enough to see the obvious.
The dull-headedness of the ISKCON Community is astounding, yet it can only be attributed to the class of so-called “gurus” and the quality of “disciples” they attract. Basically, they have forgotten the Founder-Acharya and are like Christians begging for their daily bread from ordinary men who put on a song and dance and are attired in saffron cloth.
Best always to you,
Humbly your servant,
[Name deleted by request]
Prabhupada disciple living in Slovenia
August 22, 2023: [Your books are] Simply wonderful. Very accurate, it does not jump to conclusions but explains well the atmosphere, situations, the feelings of an entire historical period of the Hare Krsna movement.
Manuela N.
September 1, 2023
Henry,
Thank you for your books. They are like the sun purifying the Krsna consciousness movement’s dirtied waters as it flows along revealing specks of gold.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
September 16, 2023
I have read your book Killing for Krishna and I am happy I did. I think every devotee should read it and start to think for him/her self. That book opens the door for getting out of imaginary bubble that ISKCON leaders have created for blind followers.
Miŝo Madhava Gauranga
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 16, 2023
You have done a fantastic job, putting in books all those Kirtanananda and ISKCON stories. I joined ISKCON in 1969 and I heard all those rumors about the crimes of pedophilia of Keith Ham and the murders of New Vrindavan. And you have written those stories honestly in books form for the whole world to know about gravity of those crimes. Now thanks to you it is clear and recorded. Anyone that wants to argue must read your books first.
They are the new authority, and that is what I told the Kirtanananda devotees in India when I visited Bhaktipada’s “samadhi” in Vrindaban a couple months ago. I said: “RIGHT NOW, Read Henry’s books and you will find out that you are worshipping a pedophile a murderer and a scammer.”
Possibly reading your books has also given me the courage to expose the MISTAKES of my ex-guru Swami Bhaktivedanta in my videos. Writing so many books in so little times its simply AMAZING to me who as a hard time putting my knowledge of things in a book form. Plus you are an AMAZING musician. All I can say to you in ONE word—BRAVO—And keep going.
Henri Jolicouer (formerly Hanuman Swami, ACBSP)
Montreal, Quebec
September 16, 2023
I am so glad I read your book Killing for Krsna. My late mom and I had always had suspicions of Radhanath Swami. Yup he couldn’t fool me anymore. After I read the book I sent it to my late mom who was surrounded with her friends who many were disciples of Radhanath Swami. It created a lot of irritation. But I don’t care. Truth is best as it sets one free. I knew there was something phony of the ISKCON guru 2.0 not as bad as the zonal acharya days. I still know a number of old time ISKCON people from the late 60s and early 70s that adore Radhanath Swami.
Dvarakadisa dasa (Darwin Bothwick)
Santa Rosa, California
September 21, 2023
Henry’s writings let the genie out of the bottle. ISKCON, whose motto has been that our ignorance is its bliss, will not be able to put the genie back into the bottle and neither will some Rtviks.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
September 21, 2023
Your books will be a benchmark for many years to come. Without them so many people would still be living the life of delusion. I applaud you for all your hard work and dedication you have invested in your writings and much needed historical research for future generations to come. Without truthful and factual historical accuracy, we become embedded in ignorance.
Madhava
Belfast, Ireland
October 16, 2023
Some people don’t like Henry’s writings, and I have to admit I don’t fully agree with some of it, and I fully disagree with some of it. However, he has done the research on New Vrndavana crimes like no other person could, or would. And we needed to name names and give details to understand the history here. Has anyone else made a detailed history of New Vrindaban? Nope. Will anyone else ever do that? Ummm, nope again.
Puranjana dasa (Tim Lee)
Berkeley, California
October 19, 2023
It is nice to spend one’s time gardening. It’s a lot easier than farming but you can still grow a surplus that the kids can sell at market and some you can take to the temple for offerings to Krsna. I think Henry is gardening too, his books are the bitter fruits of the truth as the devotees experienced it. They are like the proverbial apple, awarding knowledge of the good and the evil that the human spirits rose and sometimes descended to in ISKCON.
The safest thing is that I haven’t found any success stories in them, nothing about anyone becoming Krsna conscious or even self realized. Considering the aims of Krsna consciousness, such a monumental failure is tragic, but not perhaps extraordinary in the history of religious movements, so a nice spring wine celebration is more heartening. I am not surprised at how badly Krsna consciousness failed, it’s that it doesn't seem to have worked for anyone is an indictment, either of the religion itself or the ones presenting it, which include Prabhupada apparently as what he meant to create, has still not come about, leaving us with hard questions, “Why not?”
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
November 23, 2023
This Thanksgiving I’m thankful for your nice books. I have had many hours of enjoyment reading them.
Jason White
Weirton, West Virginia
November 23, 2023
+Thanks for attempting to present the history of ISKCON and its critical evaluation in a balanced and respectful way. It is an ontribution despite of inevitable shortcomings that an endeavor like this would obviously have.
In these histories some will find closure, others will find justification for why Hare Krishnas are bad, that their philosophy is simply speculative or that their founder was perhaps a great prophet but ultimately an ordinary mortal on the level of a conditioned soul. What people find I these stories is their prerogative, I might not agree with them and I have no control over them.
However, in these stories and excerpts which you post on Facebook, and in the reaction of readers of these stories, I find important learnings which can help avoid costly mistakes of both the deranged devotion, and the deranged dejection for practicing devotional service that must follow on the oscillating pendulum of dualities.
Jaimin Barot
Issaquah, Washington
January 2, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars An explanation of the controversies. Verified purchase
In this volume [Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 8], the author gives the reasons for the changes in liturgy, that Bhaktipada introduced in the late 80s. These changes were very controversial amongst the Hare Krishna devotees at that time, and they were often ridiculed and mocked by devotees from other groups. Now, in this volume, we finally get some understanding of Bhaktipada’s reasoning for the changes, and they actually seem to have been an honest attempt to make Vaishnavism more available for Westerners. Ultimately, they failed, and the liturgy was reverted to the more Indian-style ceremonies.
G. R. S
Germany
From a review on Amazon
January 13, 2024
Namaste. I am in India for a few months filming videos in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Thousands of westerners come here every year. Yesterday in a restaurant I met a lady name Kelly, an American woman about 45 years old who has been around ISKCON for the last ten years. When she finally decided to get initiated she chose Radhanath as her new guru, but two weeks before the initiation ceremony she watched my Interview with Henry Doktorski saying that Radhanath was an important member of the conspiracy to murder Sulochan. Kelly told me that in this interview she found Henry’s arguments very convincing and decided against being initiated by Radhanath. She said to me, “Please thank Henry for saving my life.” One of her lady friends got initiated and now offer prayers to Radhanath every day. She says she will look at Henry’ books. At least one small miracle came from Henry writing those books.
Henri Jolicoeur
Montreal, Quebec
January 14, 2024: Today I finished reading Eleven Naked Emperors except for the Afterward and Addendum. This book is essential reading for anybody who is seriously interested in learning about ISKCON’s history. It’s very thoroughly researched, and is well-written and accessible to devotees and secular readers alike. I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you very much, Henry, for the invaluable service you have done for the devotee community in the writing of this and your other books. Killing For Krishna I read in pieces, not cover to cover, but Eleven Naked Emperors I did read cover to cover, and now I am going to read Killing For Krishna again the same way. Emperors is probably the best work of non-fiction I have EVER read. It’s definitely one of the best. Epic, it is.
Brian Birmingham
Dallas, Texas
January 15, 2024
Killing For Krishna was the first of Henry Doktorski’s books that I read. I honestly could not (did not want to) put it down. Tragic chapter in the history of a wonderful movement.
Russ Thomas
Post, Texas
January 17, 2024
Prabhu, I started reading your book, Killing For Krishna. Your Introduction and Preface themselves *Enlightened* my consciousness. I had tears of emotion just reading these sections. I don’t know, when I complete this book, what my consciousness is going to feel about ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada, whom I adored so much with his philosophy initially, though I never met him, was truly inspired, but I too realized this after 20 years in association with many so called fakes. I have been with ISKCON since last 20 years. Everything was hidden & was thoroughly brainwashed. I know how those fake, who controlled ISKCON, as we were treated as slaves under their control. Anyways, I am not going into the past, but my practice will continue as our goal is back to Godhead. Thanks a ton, Prabhu!
S. N.
Bangalore, India
Ferburary 15, 2024: Thank you for Eleven Naked Emperors. It is very educational and factual. Very well researched and compiled.
Visvakarma dasa ACBSP (Bobby Hebert)
Hamilton, Ontario
January 19, 2024
Henry Prabhu, I served as a faithful servant for 24 years in the ISKCON ashram, and then I was thrown out onto the streets!! I began “researching” about this stuff (anomolies in ISKCON) when it was not even legal to talk about it in the temple. I was marked as, what did they say, incorrigible! I really appreciate your work, Prabhu. The value and importance of your work will be felt for hundreds of years!!!! I will make a mission to buy all your books and work on presenting them to the world where ever I go.
Vaughn Knee
United Kingdom
February 6, 2024
1.0 out of 5 stars This book and all his others are envious calumny. (Which Bhaktivinoda warned against!)
“Just like in Christian religion, those who do not follow the Bible, they are called heathens. I do not know what is there in the Bible, but I understand in the Bible there is sankirtana allowed. I have asked our Kirtanananda to write some article, Sankirtana and Bible, because he is..., he knows Bible very well than other members. So we shall see very nice how in Bible there is sankirtana.”—Srila Prabhupada, San Francisco, 1967
Kirtanananda understood Srila Prabhupada’s desire, and brilliantly executed it by writing a book called Christ & Krishna, the 5th Chapter of which is specifically about Sankirtana. Unfortunately this book was banned by GBC authorities from the get-go in 1985—disallowing the advertisement of this classic gem in official ISKCON publications. This shows the inability of Prabhupada’s disciples & consequently, succeeding generations, to use our brains to figure out how pick up the gold (all his books) which have been buried in a filthy hole & deliberately topped off with the stool of calumny (which Bhaktivinoda warned against employing against ANY other spiritual leader in the world!) Because we’re too lazy and try to find gold in a filthy place, It’s easier just to assassinate his character and dump whatever loving contribution he’s added to this movement into the dustbin of history. Because this has become the chosen path of ISKCON, this institution will NEVER be able to charitably distribute that gold for the benefit of others as per Srila Prabhupada’s order. It’s easier just to jump on the bandwagon of blasphemy born in the fetid cesspools of the hearts & minds of envious disgruntled 3rd class “devotees” (like Doktorski) whose egos revel in the attention and money received from publishing yellow journalistic sensationalistic defamatory books which are subsequently picked up and broadcast worldwide on streaming services by greedy predatory producers of slick media documentary series that appeal to the lowest instincts deep within the reptilian brain of the masses of human casualties of this age of Kali, thus increasing the size of it’s ocean of faults. This is how we’ve chosen to further Mahaprabhu’s mission? I guess we’ve concluded that it’s more important to polish the turd of our own superficial image for the sake of shallow public relations.
Jennifer
United States
From a review on Amazon
Author’s reply: Jeniffer did not purchase the book from Amazon, but wrote a review regardless. Where did she get her information in order to write a review? Of course she’s entitled to her opinion, but she spreads fiction when she says Bhaktipada’s book, Christ and Krishna was banned in ISKCON in 1985. When I visited New York ISKCON during my travels as a sankirtan picker, I used to set up a book table filled with Christ and Krishnas at the Sunday feast, alongside the book table set ujp by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami Gurupada’s disciples. I sold many Christ and Krishnas and Song of Gods. Tamala Krishna Goswami liked the book so much he asked Bhaktipada if he could print 100,000 copies for distribution in the Philippines. Bhaktipada’s books were not banned until he was expelled from ISKCON in 1987.
February 12, 2024
What a magnum opus, your Gold, Guns and God decalogy! Without this there would be no real record of the cult potential even within an otherwise bonafide theology. I hope you feel a sense of closure, as they like to say these days, and I hope these tomes reach the readership they deserve. Well done. This is a real accomplishment.
Edwin Bryant
Professor of Hindu Philosophy and Religion
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey
March 28, 2024
Killing for Krishna is a classic, or at least should be, most likely will become.
Daryl Mark Johnson
Winnipeg
Manitoba, Canada
April 16, 2024
Reading your books has been a good part in my healing process, and now I’m focusing more on the holy name, and less on controversial gurus.
Rikard Skotnicki
Sweden
April 18, 2024
I find your being respectful in referring to Prabhupada not disingenuous and shows maturity. My sense is that you are attempting to surgically remove the mistaken approach to religion rather than bring a bad light on Prabhupada, and therefore I feel you are doing a good service. The dangers of elevating a man to a God, and Literalist Fundamentalism are what I see as your actual targets, and not Srila Prabhupada. And in my unqualified assessment it seems like a good thing to snip those misconceptions in the bud and by doing so it would seem true spirituality and not blind sentimental fanaticism can prevail. One other point is that if someone had thought Prabhupada must be the guru of everyone.
It’s understandable that someone will be turned off by Prabhupada’s sometimes “based” style. It may make someone more open to cooperate for the good of doing anything related to Vedic Lifestyle with people who follow other gurus understanding that not everyone is going to vibe with a certain teacher, and it is okay.
I do wonder if you don’t see the overall impact of the spreading of Vedic thought in the west, and bhakti as an overwhelming step in the right direction, even if there were some mistakes.
And I wonder if you feel you have a score to settle with Prabhupada over some unsatisfactory outcome in your own life—fallout with friends, family, loves, money— or if you just want to improve things all around by strategically bringing attention to things in order to resuscitate critical thinking in those who’s minds have been turned off.
C. J. Welnick (Surya Caitanya Das)
Honomu, Hawaii
The author’s response: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, my friend. In my twenties, I had no problem following a spiritual leader who liked to say about those who espoused different beliefs, "I kick on face with boot," but in my late 60s, I am turned off by such talk. And yes, Prabhupada is just one example of people raising a human being to the platform of the divine. Many times I have said I regard him as a great preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and I have no problem with people who follow him and love him. Many of my friends do just that. But I do not believe he was a perfect, divine and infallible being.
April 23, 2024
Henry, I enjoy reading your books of Hare Krishna history. It seems to me that you attempt to coax people up to the point that they can take the bold step of questioning their blind faith and stepping off the precipice, where they can fly and soar like an eagle, and think for themselves. However, it’s a long way down into the abyss, so many, fearing to trust their wings and their intellect, continue to cling to the ledge, instead of flying. Perhaps that is real liberation. Henry, you are like a guru driving the darkness away from those who are in illusion.
It’s been said that the best historians of religions are the people who belonged to it once but belong to it no more. Most don’t choose to write histories of bitter disappointments, of the heart breaks and heartaches, the betrayals of trust that ripped their guts out, the crimes that were done to their bodies that left their souls dead. You are the utterance of thousands of mouths which, save for you, would have no voice at all, you are a speaker for the silent, whose voices we only hear through your pages, a teller of all of the horrible things that in the name of Krsna were done to them. You are a speaker to the living.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
May 3, 2024
Henry! Congratulations on the sale of the full encyclopedia [ten volumes of Gold, Guns and God] to the Professor [Amanda Lucia, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside on April 30, 2024]. I want to say that since she is a bona fide and recognized academic—unlike the editors at the BBT(i)—therefore she can rely completely upon your research as being presented wih integrity with an honest presentation of facts as per the highest levels of journalistic standards. In this way you have followed Prabhupada’s example of making the presentation more important than the style or poesy. So this is a very good thing that those wolves in saffron cloths shall understand that the public is watching. In this way you have done a great service not only to history, but to Prabhupada’s movement.
Patita-Uddharana dasa, ACBSP (Miles Davis)
AKA Patita-Pavana dasa
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
May 10, 2024: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for an ex devotee like myself. Verified Purchase
I joined ISKCON just after Srila Prabhupada died. I saw several of the zonal acharyas and was convinced to try for initiation by Tamal Krishna Goswami, but left the movement through deprogramming before that could happen. I had never seen Srila Prabhupada so I had nothing to compare the gurus I did see to, but everyone else seemed to find them impressive so I assumed that I was the problem.
My experiences with ISKCON were an important chapter in my life and I’ve spent much time trying to better understand what happened. I even wrote a book about my experiences.
I have so far only read the first half of this book -Eleven Naked Emperors] but I’ve found it very helpful. It is not a straight forward narrative, more like an organized list of testimony from people who were involved.
Bhakta Jim
United States
From a review on Amazon
May 19, 2024
I read both Killing for Krishna and one volume of Gold, Guns, and God. I’m notorious for buying books and not getting them read, but those were both exceptions! Since I still live near the ashram that I got kicked out of, I put the two books in a plastic bag and hung them from a fencepost at the ashram. I wish I could have been a bird in the tree when they were discovered!
Lynda Sarkisian
Long Beach, California
May 29, 2024
The content of Henry’s books is magnet for a listing of wounded souls!
W. G. Roberts (Mayesvara Dasa)
Ojai, California
May 30, 2024
Truly, dear friend, thou art an unsung hero, but in your old digs of Eleven Butt Naked Kings in Their Own Minds, oh wow! what a superb title that might have been to classic text that is exciting all of scholarship’s Indological research. Actually, I think that it is the mercy of Krishna, the Supreme Lord, that you are named DOKTORSKI. Truth is the real medicine against tyranny in the form of saffron divinity. And you have shared lots of that from the razor’s edge throughout your exhaustive research and dedicated reporting.
Patita-Uddharana dasa, ACBSP (Miles Davis)
AKA Patita-Pavana dasa
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
May 30, 2024
I read your Killing for Krishna some years ago. Your book helped me to stop being so naive, thinking all devotees, especially those sitting on the vyasasana, are honest and well wishing to us. I accepted initiation from Radhanatha Swami. Your book was one of several things which helped me to make my decision to take distance from him. Thank you very much.
Mišo Madhava Gauranga
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
May 30, 2024
Devotees weren’t taught to think critically before they became devotees, so of course there was little chance of that after they became devotees with Prabhupada’s clamp down on critical thinking, or “mental speculation” as the cagey little con man referred to it. He got um dumb and by God he intended to keep them that way, else otherwise they might figure him out. So there was no chance of them learning to think critically after that little con man scummy poopooplop got his stoolhooks into their heads.
After becoming devotees, they became essentially brain dead, they became Poopooplops parrots, mindessly parroting his gibberish. “Prabhupasa said, SQUACK.”
So here we are with devotees in their dotage, and even on hospice, that are still following a blind faith religion in the modes of declining, almost dead or completely kaput passion, and ever increasing ignorance because “Prabhupada said” and Prabhupada has Krsna in his pocket and they are are still dumb enough to believe the little con man.
I sometimes wonder if it isn’t cruel at this stage of their lives to try to wake them, but luckily I have Henry to point to and when recriminating eyes shift my way I can always point to Henry and exclaim “He started it!” which gives me time to slip away while they pile up on poor Henry.
Wake up calls are what Henry’s books are, each one of them like a bucket of cold water splashing upon the sleeping minds of the readers who read them. Time after time I see him lead them to water, the obvious conclusion right in front of them, but do they see it? No! They just stand there or read around it. If it were me I’d just call the glue factory and have them send a truck, not Henry, he has that character flaw called human compassion.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
The author replies to George:
I met a fellow once years ago, an avowed atheist, who told me he used to get a kick out of visiting Christian college campuses, striking up casual conversations with devout Christian students, and methodically dismantling the logic of their beliefs. Many times, students, finally realizing that their faith is based on belief, not reason or logic, broke down in tears; their lifetime of illusion destroyed. However, this fellow told me he stopped doing this, because of compassion, that he thought maybe it was better for these students to cling to their mistaken beliefs rather than systematically destroy them, so he stopped doing this type of preaching.
Regarding your assertion, “Henry started it!”: you err. I wasn’t the first to point out the errors and foibles of so-called spiritual leaders! There are plenty of other pioneers before me.
First there were the courageous reformers who recognized the faults of the zonal acharyas and pointed them out. These brave souls appear in Eleven Naked Emperors.
There was also Dr. Kali Prasad Sinha (1937-2011), a renowned philosopher, linguist, poet, lyricist and social reformer who served as Professor and Dean of Assam University, Silchar, India, and wrote thirty highly-acclaimed books. One of Dr. Sinha’s books is: A Critique of A. C. Bhaktivedanta published in 1999 by Punthi-Pustak of Calcutta.
Then in 2004, two chapters by the Indologist Ekkerhard Lorenz, one titled “The Guru, Mayavadins, and Women: Tracing the Origins of Selected Polemical Statements in the Work of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,” and another titled “Race, Monarchy and Gender: Bhaktivedanta Swami’s Social Experiment,” were published in the book by Columbia University Press: The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant.
In addition, I don’t think I go out of my way to destroy anyone’s faith. After all, I work as a church organist and I respect the beliefs of the clergy, staff and congregation. I love the people I serve and they appear to love me. Ditto for my Krishna devotee friends. Some believe in ISKCON, some follow the ritvik system, others have taken initiation from disciples of Gaudiya-Math gurus, yet I don’t care what are their beliefs. We have some shared kinship or experience, therefore I don’t sweat the small stuff. However, in my books, I do not avoid or hide the embarrassing or outright erroneous things that spiritual leaders in ISKCON have said. I try to let the reader come to his/her own conclusions. And, unlike you, I would never call Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ill names; I regard him as a great prophet of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and this view is expressed in my books, although I do not believe he was a perfect, divine and infallible being.
June 10, 2024
Dear Henry Doktorski,
Hare Krsna. Pamho. AGTSP!
I hope this finds you well in all ways. I personally read your Facebook posts for many reasons and finding a comment that I think lacks context would never be a reason to stop reading your posts. You have spent years in serious research. You should know that I appreciate and respect your endeavors.
Your aspiring servant
Ramesvara dasa (Robert Grant)
Los Angeles, California
June 20, 2024
I have to thank my friend Doktorski for giving a voice to the voiceless in his honest, frank, and tightly-researched encyclopedic volumes of what actually happened. Doktorski, at risk to himself, has like God’s Public Defender, given a correct reflection of what actually transpired. His volumes are highly recommended. Even if you happen to one of the ex-Divinities on the cover itself, it is worth opening the pages of his encyclopedic research to see what sort of footprint you are going to leave for the scrutiny of the next generation of Hare Krishna historians. And a lot of that ain’t purty.
Patita-Uddharana dasa Adhikari, ACBSP (Miles Davis)
(Initiated September 1968, Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
June 28, 2024
Henry gives the light of truth that removes the darkness of doubt and changes the world forever.
Kanta Das
Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago
Facebook comment
July 24, 2024
I have read Killing for Krishna and Eleven Naked Emperors. Very good work on both books. You are quite the scholar! I especially liked how the Eleven Naked Emperors book opened a new perspective for me, I always thought post-humous ritvikism was dimwitted and the appointment claim didn’t seem right either. That book offered a 3rd option that really clarified things for me. Similar to the situation of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, he wanted the parampara to continue (not ritvik). But he didn’t appoint anyone either, so it’s kind of open for an exemplary disciple to become a “self-effulgent acharya.” So you offer a kind of a middle ground between the official ISKCON canon of events and the reactionary ritvik version of events. My respects to you, Hare Krishna!
Michael Stevenson
New York City
July 30, 2024
Banned by executive decree!
Henry, I’m glad by Krsna’s grace that your books are being read by the current ISKCON gurus, such as Bhakti Vikasa Swami, who briefly mentions Eleven Naked Emperors in one of his videos, even though he told his disciples that it is not necessary for anyone to read your books. I have heard other ISKCON gurus are forbidding their disciples from reading your books. One disciple of Hridyananda dasa Goswami recently told me that her guru personally forbade her from reading any of your books.
In her communication with me she wrote: “I have no interest in watching the Peacock documentary [Krishna: Gurus, Karma, Murder] and reliving the past or reading poisonous books like those by Henry Doktorski. Henry seems full of bitterness, enragement, hatred, and contempt towards devotees, leadership, the people I love as family, and my initiating spiritual master, H.D. Goswami. Guru Maharaj has instructed me not to read such material from a miserable Ritvik whose plan is to take down ISKCON, tear down the leadership of every person, and more. I love this ISKCON Hare Krsna movement and am grateful for the association of so many devotees.
Also interesting to note how the zonal acaryas keep brainwashing their disciples by referring to you as a ritvik.
Name withheld by request.
Facebook Messege to the author
Author’s reply: I find this interesting. Where do I promote the Ritvik System in any of my 12 volumes? However, I suppose it is a convenient strategy for those ISKCON leaders who wish to hide the past and instill hatred in gullible disciples. In addition, where in my books do I exhibit qualities of bitterness, enragement, hatred, and contempt towards devotees and the ISKCON gurus? I don’t think this lady has even read one sentence from my books. Perhaps in the future, the strategy of Hridayananda dasa Goswami may backfire, if a few of his more discriminating disciples in ISKCON eventually read my books, and find what they’ve been taught about ISKCON history (and the condemnation of my books) is rubbish!
July 30, 2024
For me, there is nothing surprising that an ISKCON guru [Hridayananda dasa Goswami] told his disciples not to read Henry’s books, and that is nothing to be surprised about.
For years, I identified myself as an ISKCON devotee. In my experience, when I identified that way, it created this tension when I inevitably heard about the events described in Henry’s books.
At first, I thought, “I do not believe what I am hearing in Henry’s books, especially about my guru, because I have devoted my entire life, my entire soul even, to the ISKCON project, which is perfect because Prabhupada is perfect and is never corruptible.”
However, after reading Henry’s books that tension broke, because I believe Henry’s interpretation of events is accurate and factual. That is why Henry’s books threaten even the big progressive gurus like Hridayananda dasa Goswami and Radhanath Swami.
It’s a not a pleasant experience to lose that faith in the institution you are told again and again is your guaranteed path to salvation. The sorry truth is that most ISKCON devotees have exactly the same mindset as the HDG disciple Henry quoted in his post. Who wants to sacrifice their innocent bliss in the face of painful truths?
I’m grateful to Henry’s writings for helping to burst my bubble. The freedom on the other side, to no longer defend what is actually indefensible, is a powerfully liberating feeling.
Christopher Fici
New York City
Facebook comment
July 30, 2024
These people like Henri Jolicoeur and Henry Doktorski are not against Prabhupada by chance! This must finally be understood. . . . People like Kirtanananda, Umapati and Hanuman (Henri Jolicoeur) and also Doktorski are clearly part of the Great Sinister Movement and are all working together to destroy Iskcon and Prabhupada’s reputation! . . . They all work together for their beloved Kali Yuga age. . . . It’s a huge struggle, but you have to learn to see it and not trust everyone like Doktorski or Jolicoeur.
Doktorski is an intelligent asura [a demon of the ancient world] and his books are also enlightening about what was going on in iskcon, but you have to understand that he is still part of this Great Sinister Movement, just like Henri Jolicoeur, Rabbinath [Radhanath Swami] and all the other Kamsas and Putanas [Evil Kings and Witches of ancient India] in and outside of iskcon.
They are very smart and know exactly how naive and gullible we are. They talk about brainwashing in iskcon and that we should free ourselves from all the rules and regulations and preferably drink alcohol like Henry and preferably become gay.
Mathura Pati Das
Facebook comment
Author’s comment: I think our friend Mathura Pati Das is mistaken on several accounts. First, I am not against Prabhupada! Nowhere in my books do I belittle or blaspheme the ISKCON Founder/Acharya. I do, however, attempt to show evidence that he was not a divine and infallible being incapabhle of making mistakes. Nevertheless, I respect him as a great prophet of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Perhaps I drink alcohol from time to time, and Henri Jolicoeur writes about his support for gays and lesbians in ISKCON, but that doesn’t mean I want Krishna devotees to break their vows and drink alcohol, or that Henri wants them to engage in homosexual activities!
However, it is nice that our friend gave me an underhanded compliment, “Doktorski is an intelligent asura and his books are also enlightening about what was going on in iskcon,” and I am grateful for the compliment!
July 30, 2024
Thank you Henry, for posting a remarkable comment by Christopher Fici. You set him free and he thanks you for it. I would have broken your jaw if you’d done that to me. Free me from my illusions will you? The nerve of some people!
Christopher’s a brave man. Finding the truth is not enough to free you from the shackles of illusion, you must also accept the truth and that takes courage.
Christopher says that it’s “not a pleasant experience,” what a miracle. He still has hise sense of humor. Awakening to a truth in which you gave all of you to the one who has betrayed you? What that must be like. Oh God! Let me die before that! Let my soul be lost for I shall never want it again.
I am so sorry, so sorry for all of you who have had the pain of that experience, for all of you that will have it.
Never! Never! Never! Never! Never in all the names of Krsna may anyone experience that again.
I am fortunate, I never have experienced that.
Your books are wonderful, Henry, and if theres a God in Heaven, a Krsna in Goloka Vrndaban as I bet there is, I’m sure that He’s indebted to you for setting His servants free. You are surely the servant of the servant of the servant, 10,000 times and more shackles broken, chains removed, thanks to your books. Your books and the courage of those who are brave enough to accept the truth they bear, the very tools they need to be freed from the bondage of illusion.
I’m sure that others, besides Christopher, have been freed and that your books will keep on freeing even more, way into the future, until ISKCON and its gurus lie and cheat no more. That will be a glorious day. I hope that they will name that day after you and another one for Christopher, a man brave enough to accept the truth, endure the pain of it and say thank you to the onew whose books were the hammer and chisel he used to strike off his chains and win his freedom.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
July 30, 2024
Five Stars. GGG Vol 3. Verified purchase
An objective revelation from a former devotee of the main subject the swami known as Kirtananands or Bhaktipada. Surprisingly a mixture of frankness & devotion.
Jada
United States
From a review on Amazon
August 1, 2024: 5.0 out of 5 stars GGG Vol 3
I joined ISKCON just after Srila Prabhupada died. I saw several of the zonal acharyas and was convinced to try for initiation by Tamal Krishna Goswami, but left the movement through deprogramming before that could happen. I had never seen Srila Prabhupada so I had nothing to compare the gurus I did see to, but everyone else seemed to find them impressive so I assumed that I was the problem.
My experiences with ISKCON were an important chapter in my life and I’ve spent much time trying to better understand what happened. I even wrote a book about my experiences.
I have so far only read the first half of this book -Eleven Naked Emperors] but I’ve found it very helpful. It is not a straight forward narrative, more like an organized list of testimony from people who were involved.
Bhakta Jim
United States
From a review on Amazon
August 9, 2024
I’m not sure if Henry’s Facebook posts are gonna help with his Gold, Guns and God book sales. However I like the way Henry is like the helicopter gunship testing the mettle of a few grunts in their foxholes. I’m sure that they’ll climb out dead or self realized!
Guruttama Das (Varis Lux)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Reply by another Facebook friend: Guruttama Das, For what it’s worth, I love Henry’s books! I’m reading them still. Mr Henry Doktorski is a wonderful author and I’ve read and am reading still his books. They are so hard to put down! Also I have followed his musical career for quite a few years now and am a huge fan. And thank you for the compliment! I do consider myself just a little “crazy,” like a fox.
Sashi Sadhaki
August 24, 2024
I just recently bought your Eleven Naked Emperors as a Kindle book, and I can use the text-to-speech option. Your book is really good. It’s good how you have made the chronology clear. That’s helpful for me.
Ajit Krishnadasa
August 25, 2024:
I’m giggling my way through your book [Eleven Naked Emperors]. It’s simply amazing to see how the false ego can make people (the ISKCON “gurus”) think and do all sorts of crazy things. It is really tragicomic.
Ajit Krishnadasa
August 30, 2024:
I put a picture of your book cover on my Facebook wall with the following text:
All devotees—new as well as senior—should read this book by Henry Doktorski. I will write more about it later, but for now I just want to say that this book is wonderful. It will not only shatter your belief in the “ISKCON” narrative by exposing the eleven false pretenders, lower than kanistha-adhikari, so-called gurus and their sycophants, but also strengthen your faith in Srila Prabhupada and his real ISKCON. Please read this book and chant Hare Krishna free from the shackles of “ISKCON” and be happy in your surrender to Srila Prabhupada.
Ajit Krishnadasa
September 2, 2024:
I’ve finished reading Eleven Naked Emperors. Wonderful! I’ll write something more (a review) about it as soon as I can. Looking forward to continue to your other books also.
Ajit Krishnadasa
September 2, 2024:
What I like most about Henry’s books, they don’t tell us the answer to every question, but encourage us to think for ourselves and to find for ourselves the answers to whatever questions that our minds might come up with that other minds might have come up with earlier had they not been so focused on their own agenda, such as in the instance in which Tamal Krsna, Satsvarupa, etc., were gathered around Srila Prabhupada on May 28th, 1977 (the alleged Guru Appointment Conversation), hoping and praying that he would appoint them to be gurus as Henry’s book clearly indicates by Satsvarupa’s attempt to end the discussion on the guru succession issue after he had gotten what he wanted, the thought that he and the other interested parties that he was representing had just got what they wanted from Srila Prabhupada, an iron clad response that would promote them to the positions of initiating gurus after the old man was dead and gone, finally departed making room for new blood. Yes, Henry’s books are definitly thought provoking as most great history is.
George Smith
Overland Park, Kansas
September 29, 2024: “Don’t your books, which explain in detail the crimes committed by ISKCON members, act as a deterrent for people curious about Krishna consciousness?”
Muchukunda Das Menheere
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
“Indeed, it is derogatory to associate the whole Hare Krishna Movement with this tragic history. Why shade a bad light on the whole Hare Krishna Movement?”
Pushkaraksha Das
Paris, France
Author’s reply: “Gentlemen, do my books act as a deterrent for people curious about Krishna consciousness? Perhaps. But no more than people who are interested in the Roman Catholic Church who read about the Catholic priests who sexually abused boys in their parishes. All religions and societies have negative aspects, but when one intentionally hides the negatives, such as when ISKCON hid the abuses of children at their schools and protected the perverts, or when the Catholic bishops protected the pedophile priests and when there were complaints shipped them to other parishes, THAT serves as a deterrent to people who are intelligent and inquisitive. Better be honest about one’s faults than sweep the bad under a rug, in my humble opinion.”
Others also commented on this post:
“Pushkaraksha Das, have you read Henry’s books? Your comments make it sound as if you have not. I have read all 12 of them and yes, they include much corruption, but a great deal more. In any large organization there will be some corrupt individuals and a historical documentation of such should include that as well as the good. Henry’s books do just that.”
Cindy Fuchser
Ramona, California
“Henry’s books are helping to expose the monumental scam that the 11 gurus and GBC pulled off; how they stole Prabhupada’s institution and give a poison version of Krishna and Prabhupada. I’m 67 years old and only now am realising it fully. So many have told me I’m offensive, etc. However, milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effect, as Prabhupada says. I was close to giving up everything, but Henry’s books help me see the painful truth. Thank you, Henry. It’s an intense place for me, though, to discern truth from falsity, and continuing with my personal journey towards Krishna The Reality.”
Cliffork Kirk
Former disciple of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Ireland
“It seems to me Henry is neither trying to bring a bad light on Prabhupada or Bhaktipada. It seems like he is trying his cool-headed best to illustrate the pitfalls of blind following. Seems like Henry has a healthy appreciation of both persons, and like the proverbial swan taking milk from water, is incorporating the essence to his capacity in his life.”
C. J. Welnick (Surya Caitanya Das)
Hawaii
September 30, 2024:
It’s hard to understand why you make your life focus on some past horrible things. Why not to focus on something hope-giving and beautiful! Do you like just reliving some bad past memories? Be fixated on them and repetitively experience the anxiety coming from these toxic memories? Even enduring heat [at the 2024 Bhakti Fest in the Mojave Desert] just to share these horrible history facts? Does it give you joy? Or you feel like sacrificing yourself for the sake of others? Or it’s more about having the income? I just wonder. Sorry if it’s to straight forward.
Renata Palubinskas (Renata Jaruseviciute)
Detroit, Michigan
Author’s reply: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Renata Palubinskas. Krishna, as far as I can tell, inspired me to research and write these excellent history books about the pastimes of His devotees, and He is inspiring me to share these books with others. This brings joy to my heart. I have long ago shed myself of any bad feelings about the past. I have no anxieties. If I must perform some little austerities, like enduring a little heat, or losing money from paying festival fees or hotel costs, I am happy to offer a little austerity to Krishna. I have received over 200 letters from people who appreciate my books. Perhaps others might feel these things: reliving some bad past memories, repetitively experience the anxiety coming from these toxic memories; but I do not dwell on these things, I live in the present. Didn’t you read my Facebook comments? I met so many people at Bhakti Fest who shared with me their stories. That is important to me. Regarding people who love my books, take a few minutes and read some of the letters at my Reader’s Letters page.
Henry Doktorski
Temecula, California
October 2, 2024:
I survived my time in ISKCON & so did my girls. They’re now strong, independent ladies & living their best life. I’m grateful. Your books have helped me heal & make sense of some of the stuff that was hard to work through. I thank you for that.
Dharmi Norton
Former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami
Houston, Texas
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