What is the story of the Bingo Hall at the ISKCON Brooklyn temple?

[Paramananda das]

What is the story with the Bingo hall at the Brooklyn temple?

dear Ramabhadra Prabhu

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 Do you still have a Bingo hall at ISKCON Brooklyn? I mean renting out temple property for Bingo?

As I mentioned before this obviously would not please Srila Prabhupada, and I hope something is done to 

stop this Bingo business.

Also according to GBC rules of 1996 no activities that brakes the 4 regulative princniples can  not take place at at temple.

Nor is renting ISKCON property for such purposes allowed.I know it has been an income for the temple there at least 

since I first served there in 1989.I really hope the international GBC will find a solution to this and stop this practise

of renting  part of the temple for these activities.According to some devotees there is a yearly meat cook out also by the

local firemen that rent this place is this for real?

I am just suggesting you present this to the international GBC as a dilemma and what to do about it.It was going on even 

before

you became the TP...we discussed it before and I am sensetive to the situation, but I am of the opinion there should

be no compromise as the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya is our all in all.

Actually the temple in Brooklyn can easy be maintained by the congregation if you present to them that there is a bingo hall

to help maintain the temple ,many devotees and congregation will step up to help.I will personally also make a yearly 

donation as long as this Bingo hall gets closed for good.(and encourage others to do so)

your servant

Paramananda das

 

[Paramananda das]

-----Original Message-----
From: Payonidhi das <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
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Sent: Tue, Jan 11, 2011 10:57 am
Subject: Re: What is the updated story of the Bingo hall at ISKCON Brooklyn?

 I am offering you something sincerely and you call me and curse me out and tell me I need brain surgery and Prozac etc.

Keep displeasing Srila Prabhupada with the Bingo hall, if all of GBC approves of it Srila Prabhupada never will.

I am not delusional you are because you claim this activity pleases Srila Prabhupada,and yes run ISKCON NY in your dictator style

 

 

 BINGO HALLS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN ISKCON:

 

GBC RULES OF 1996:

3. It is permitted for other groups, at the discretion of the local
ISKCON authorities, to rent space in ISKCON premises, outside the temple
room, for their own ceremonies and functions, even for functions listed
above (1.A-E), provided that the public understand clearly that the function
is not being sponsored or conducted by ISKCON. However, no function on
ISKCON property shall include any activity contrary to the four regulative
principles. The GBC recommends that temples provide outside groups rental
contracts clearly stipulating the above restrictions.

 

 

BINGO HALL BRAKES THE 4 REGS NAMELY GAMBLING

 

Lord Narasimha opposed to demigod worship and concocted worship

•  

Krsna has stated clearly in Bhagavad Gita ,demigodworship is not wanted
ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥte 'pi mām eva kaunteya yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam"Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way."
Bhagavad Gita 9.23

anta-vat tu phalaḿ teṣāḿ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām
devān deva-yajo yānti mad-bhaktā yānti mām api... See More

"Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet."
BG 7,23

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante 'nya-devatāḥ

taḿ taḿ niyamam āsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā... See More

"Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
BG 7.20
In Skanda Purana it is stated:

yas tu nārāyaṇaḿ devaḿ brahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥsamatvenaiva vīkṣeta sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam"Whoever thinks Lord Viṣṇu and the demigods are on the same level is to be immediately considered a rogue as far as spiritual understanding is concerned."

There is so many quotes.I once opposed some temples in US that introduced demigod worship as a way to increase donations even in the temple room,Satya Naryana Pujas ,and reading of Ramacarita Manasa in the temple room, though this a very popular book in India and has many nice lilas of Lord Rama ,the problem is this book as has ideas not accepted by vaisnavas namely that the jiva can become Lord Rama.So Srila Prabhupada did not want this book recieted in the temple rooms in ISKCON.

69-09-06. Letter: Raktaka
Regarding the two books you have mentioned, Sri Ramacharitamanasa by Goswami Tulasi das is not very authorized, and Ramayana is authorized. One thing is though, you have got enough other books to study. Did you appear in the examination held on Janmastami Day? Why should you go to Ramayana when you have got Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Teachings of Lord Caitanya? Don't divert your attention in that way. The author of Ramacharitamanasa, Goswami Tulasi das, has a tint of Mayavadi philosophy. He belongs to the Ramananda Sampradaya. They are mixed up combination of personalist and impersonalist. Therefore, the author is not considered as pure Vaisnava. Pure Vaisnava is free from all material contamination of fruitive activities and mental speculation. The pure Vaisnava is simply, purely disposed to transcendental loving service to Krishna. The pure Vaisnava rejects anything which has no pure idea of serving the Personality of Godhead.

The GBC passed some rules in 1996 to stop and limit these practices upon our complaint, and some proper
rules was given.

this is part of the GBC resolution of 1996



A. That the following activities are not allowed as part of ISKCON
functions, whether conducted on ISKCON property or elsewhere:

B. Satya Narayana Katha. (This is a concocted form of worship).

C. Garbha dance, when it is conducted in association with the worship of
Durga. (Garbha dance is usually performed as part of Nava-ratri, a Durga
festival. However, there are also Garbha dances in glorification of Krishna.
Temple authorities permitting a Garbha dance must be confident that the
performance is entirely Krishna centered.)

D. The reading of Tulsidasa's Rama-carita-manasa. (Ramayana readings should
be from Valmiki Ramayana, as Tulsidasa's work is tinged with impersonalism.)

E. Lectures advocating Mayavada or other offensive philosophies.

F. The singing of the Hindi arati song "om jaya jagadisha hari". (This is
a prayer for material benedictions).

2. Regarding worship of demigods:

A. Worship of demigods as independent gods is not permitted in
Krishna consciousness. However, the Nectar of Devotion says that demigods
should be respected. Worshipping demigods as Vaisnavas is authorized. For
preaching, in order to teach people the right position of the demigods as
great Vaisnavas, ISKCON temples may hold on special occasions ceremonies or
pujas respecting and worshipping demigods as great Vaisnavas, provided:

i) The worship is only as a Vaisnava (This means that the
deva/devi shall be offered: the prasadam arotika items immediately after
they are offered to Lord Krishna, Krishna prasadam flower garlands, and
Krishna