As I watched the video they showed one pic of their main pastor with pants so low they barely covered his privates. I wondered how anyone could believe this is a bonafide pastor.
Yet, they did. He was passionate in his speaking about God. He was powerful in his delivery. He made you feel. Later when it all fell apart, when he fell apart, and hurt so many including his loved ones - he said he did not know how it happened.
Really? Because I did. Simply watching I observed his preaching to appear, not as coming from God, but from ADHD. However, shhhh as I was keeping that to myself because I could be mistaken. Low and behold, as I saw more, he said he has ADHD. Not to misunderstand. Anyone with ADHD can preach about God as well as anyone without it, "but" they must be properly treating it, and be under the guidance of someone 'qualified' and more spiritually advanced (as should we all).
Thus the next problem I recognized contributing to this falling apart, was ignoring their own Biblical teachings. As my title says, "Lead Us Not Into Temptation" (Mathew 6:13). Yet this man was put on a stage [by others - whose offenses I've since discovered are worse than his!]. He was surrounded by money, fancy cars, travel opportunities, women. Any desire that hit him, he could go get it if he wanted. And he did, while instructing the congregation maintain blind trust and faith in their pastor/him.
Please dear devotees, do not surround yourself with temptations. Remember: Simple living, high thinking. :) And do not blindly surrender to anyone and get proof according to ancient scripture, that they are a pure devotee or correctly repeating the pure devotee.
Some say these problems arise due to a society of cheaters and the cheated. Yes. Simultaneously, it's also a society of the desperate. Many want God but have been tricked out of the real deal; or can not even find Him therefore take what they can get. Their church has let them down, prissy arrogant preachers have left them feeling undeserving or hopeless. The opposite of sexualized preachers let them down. A [false] sense of community that wasn't there for them, let them down. And let down by those in charge who allowed nonsense to go on, or fallen pastors to still preach, while aware of their digressions. This list can go on. The larger the institute, the greater the risk.
Anyway, cheating exists, yet so does desperation. This is why people fall for it. It is why they surrender to narcissist's [not saying all are narcissists]. It's why they get taken in by charisma.
They also fall for it because so few devotees are out there anymore, to give them a book. Since Prabhupada left the planet, book distribution has dwindled significantly. In turn, this shows in the population.
Stuff happens because there needs to be education explaining how to recognize a qualified pure devotee, and surrender only unto him - who therefore would never want any harm to come to you!
Life is short. Don't waste time. Study transcendental scripture, open your own small, uncentralized temple on the condition to never spoil yourself with it's money or it's people power. (And keep it simple.)
Folks out there need you and may not find Krishna if someone like you does not have a place of worship for them to attend. Check in with yourself from time to time in an effort to stay humble, and you can do it.
"There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by the waves of time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log floating down a river accidentally washes upon the bank." - (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 22.43, Purport)
At least open a preaching center or make regulated visits to the park with a book table, some prasad, and singing. You don't have to be perfect, just honest. Anyone can get together someplace, any place, for readings and popcorn or simple prasadam. Of course, only do what you can handle. Simply: Harinama Sankirtana is blissful.
Prabhupada has told us - Everyone is looking for their dear-most friend, and that dear-most friend is Krishna.
Give Krishna to someone soon, that they won't have to be so desperate they become cheated by the cheaters.
Bottom Line: Share Krishna, worship, serve and chant - go back to Home back to Godhead. Enlightenment. :)
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Free online unchanged books of Prabhupada here.
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