Great observations and insight. This is precisely how all of this goes down. I can verify that every krishna group I have been a part of (6 gurus+) has the practice of foot washing and distribution of the water (and partaking of it) as a regular practice.
Jagad Guru and Prabhupada as a title that Butler used was common place. I don't recall an active denouncement of this other than a refined use of it when Tusta was boosting Butler's status at the WVA meetings in Vrndaban. At that time he was introduced simply as "Siddhaswarupananada Das". Maharaj would not fly since he was married and Paramahamsa/Prbhupada/Jagad Guru were out of the question. The WVA was representative to many gurus. Many objected to these titles being used for anyone other than Siddhanta Saraswati and a few select gurus in the Gaudiya line.
Obviously the term Jagad Guru is still well circulated on many SIF sites and memes in reference to Butler.
The fact that Butler always used images of himself as a young 30-40 year old guru has been a point of major frustration for me in my review of my time in the cult and outside of the cult. Here is a guy who preached about not being the body but yet showing that he ages like the rest of us is taboo. Basically, in line with the "guru business" ideas proposed here, he was selling a certain Brand. Once people buy into the brand it's bad business to change it. Since this and all other Krishna cults are cults of personality, the image has to be branded and remain in circulation to have the right impact.
Bhaktivedanta opened many Rdha Krishna temples. This was not a common Gaudiya practice as it was warned that Sahajiyas would swarm the temples. But this was what the hippies liked about it all: The Ever Youthful Loving Courtship of Radha and Krishna. A myth that had scarcely left the vedic gates but less than 500-1000 years before. Don't let anyone tell you the Bhagavatam is 5000 years old and written by an elephant headed god by a single sage. There is ample proof showing the myths of the Bhagavatam were slapped together by opportunist brahmins, bhakti reformers and just about everyone under the sun.
Krishna and even Vishnu are barely mentioned in any sacred texts predating the Puranas. At best, early hindu culture was centered around animal sacrifices, poly-theism and pagan nature-god myths—like all major world cultures. This does not negate Eastern Philosophical ideas that emerged primarily through Samkhya and Buddhism, but those systems of through have scarcely anything to do with guru culture and krishnaism. They are observations of man/mind/cosmos.
ALL devotees in the krishna cults pray to images of their guru. They convince themselves that the guru is somehow guiding them telepathically and that he is somehow receiving their worship and prayers. Devotees numb their mind by chanting 16 (32 for Gaudiya Math devotees in some cases) rounds a day. This task starts off as a main instruction to disciples as way to see if they are willing to perform a mindless simple task with verve and conviction. They are told this is way to "purify" themselves. As years go on and naturally devotees get tired of rambling the mantras over and over, they are told that "service" is more important than route repetition of japa. And the cycle continues. Devotees peel out of bed at early hors to worship little statues and read and perform so-called services. The devotees who are serving the guru directly are considered "fortunate" and "special" (they don't need to chant 16 rounds cause they are out performing the important "seva" of collecting money to "support" the temple. This service is "top-most".
This method of slowly convincing people that they are doing something more "esoteric" and "of great importance" is a method used by any number of scams. I used to go out and collect money from tourists by telling them we were feeding poor families or kids in india. We donated some negligible fraction (to make it look good on paper and for the non-profit status) but the rest weren't to support huge properties worth millions of $s. Usually for a handful of people to live on the property—usually the Guru and his "close ones".
Any deviation in the form of starting a family or business is considered a "materialistic endeavor" unless "dovetailed" with the guru in some way (cause it's not like you get to see Krishna, like ever). Devotees delude themselves into believing they have special "dreams" or "service opportunities". I have heard devotees claim they saw jaggaanth in their dreams or baby Krishna who told them that their service of sewing clothes for the deities (making clothing for dolls) was of grand importance. Or that their book distribution scores were noted by Nityananda!
And you can't argue or try to point out their fallacy or blind thinking. That's immediately considered as having a lack of "favor" form the guru or god or, in most cases—a sign that we have committed some great offense. Of course, it's not ever clear what exact "great offense" you had committed. After all, you give 50% of your income to the guru, you chant your rounds, you follow the 4 regulative principles and you read, cheat and worship daily. It's almost as if the MORE you do—the more offensive you seem to be. "It's just krishna testing your devotion" you are told. It's the purification process "bad karma bubbles to the top". It must feel great for the guru to always have an answer as to why things don't "feel right".
Anyway—over and out. I appreciate the solid insight here folks. Some great recent posts.
Jagad Guru and Prabhupada as a title that Butler used was common place. I don't recall an active denouncement of this other than a refined use of it when Tusta was boosting Butler's status at the WVA meetings in Vrndaban. At that time he was introduced simply as "Siddhaswarupananada Das". Maharaj would not fly since he was married and Paramahamsa/Prbhupada/Jagad Guru were out of the question. The WVA was representative to many gurus. Many objected to these titles being used for anyone other than Siddhanta Saraswati and a few select gurus in the Gaudiya line.
Obviously the term Jagad Guru is still well circulated on many SIF sites and memes in reference to Butler.
The fact that Butler always used images of himself as a young 30-40 year old guru has been a point of major frustration for me in my review of my time in the cult and outside of the cult. Here is a guy who preached about not being the body but yet showing that he ages like the rest of us is taboo. Basically, in line with the "guru business" ideas proposed here, he was selling a certain Brand. Once people buy into the brand it's bad business to change it. Since this and all other Krishna cults are cults of personality, the image has to be branded and remain in circulation to have the right impact.
Bhaktivedanta opened many Rdha Krishna temples. This was not a common Gaudiya practice as it was warned that Sahajiyas would swarm the temples. But this was what the hippies liked about it all: The Ever Youthful Loving Courtship of Radha and Krishna. A myth that had scarcely left the vedic gates but less than 500-1000 years before. Don't let anyone tell you the Bhagavatam is 5000 years old and written by an elephant headed god by a single sage. There is ample proof showing the myths of the Bhagavatam were slapped together by opportunist brahmins, bhakti reformers and just about everyone under the sun.
Krishna and even Vishnu are barely mentioned in any sacred texts predating the Puranas. At best, early hindu culture was centered around animal sacrifices, poly-theism and pagan nature-god myths—like all major world cultures. This does not negate Eastern Philosophical ideas that emerged primarily through Samkhya and Buddhism, but those systems of through have scarcely anything to do with guru culture and krishnaism. They are observations of man/mind/cosmos.
ALL devotees in the krishna cults pray to images of their guru. They convince themselves that the guru is somehow guiding them telepathically and that he is somehow receiving their worship and prayers. Devotees numb their mind by chanting 16 (32 for Gaudiya Math devotees in some cases) rounds a day. This task starts off as a main instruction to disciples as way to see if they are willing to perform a mindless simple task with verve and conviction. They are told this is way to "purify" themselves. As years go on and naturally devotees get tired of rambling the mantras over and over, they are told that "service" is more important than route repetition of japa. And the cycle continues. Devotees peel out of bed at early hors to worship little statues and read and perform so-called services. The devotees who are serving the guru directly are considered "fortunate" and "special" (they don't need to chant 16 rounds cause they are out performing the important "seva" of collecting money to "support" the temple. This service is "top-most".
This method of slowly convincing people that they are doing something more "esoteric" and "of great importance" is a method used by any number of scams. I used to go out and collect money from tourists by telling them we were feeding poor families or kids in india. We donated some negligible fraction (to make it look good on paper and for the non-profit status) but the rest weren't to support huge properties worth millions of $s. Usually for a handful of people to live on the property—usually the Guru and his "close ones".
Any deviation in the form of starting a family or business is considered a "materialistic endeavor" unless "dovetailed" with the guru in some way (cause it's not like you get to see Krishna, like ever). Devotees delude themselves into believing they have special "dreams" or "service opportunities". I have heard devotees claim they saw jaggaanth in their dreams or baby Krishna who told them that their service of sewing clothes for the deities (making clothing for dolls) was of grand importance. Or that their book distribution scores were noted by Nityananda!
And you can't argue or try to point out their fallacy or blind thinking. That's immediately considered as having a lack of "favor" form the guru or god or, in most cases—a sign that we have committed some great offense. Of course, it's not ever clear what exact "great offense" you had committed. After all, you give 50% of your income to the guru, you chant your rounds, you follow the 4 regulative principles and you read, cheat and worship daily. It's almost as if the MORE you do—the more offensive you seem to be. "It's just krishna testing your devotion" you are told. It's the purification process "bad karma bubbles to the top". It must feel great for the guru to always have an answer as to why things don't "feel right".
Anyway—over and out. I appreciate the solid insight here folks. Some great recent posts.