ITHACA, NY – Ex-ISKCON guru, John O’Brien, is now also an ex-Ithaca car salesman, closing his doors after a scandal-rocked year. 2007 was “difficult as hell,” claims O’Brien, adding, “What with the cost of gas and the weak dollar, people were just not taking to buying cars.”
The Ithacar Used Carlot in Ithaca, NY opened in spring of 2002, several months after O’Brien stepped down from the post of ISKCON guru due to sexual misconduct and what he calls “financial misunderstandings.”
But it was those “financial misunderstandings” that O’Brien insists gave him the business skills to establish the Ithaca-based business.
“You’d be surprised how similar the two jobs were,” Says O’Brien, whose skills as guru naturally lead him into the used car business.
“In ISKCON I had to convince my disciples that I was some pure and holy guy, ready, willing and able to take them back to Godhead, what they didn’t know was that I was sleeping with my secretary and lying on my expense reports.”
“And as a used car salesman,” he continued, “I had to convince my customers that I was some friendly and honest guy, ready, willing and able to sell that 1987 Ford Fiesta at invoice, taking not a penny of profit, what they didn’t know was that I picked it up at a repo-sale for under a hundred bucks. I was lying on my expense reports there too.”
The business flourished until 2006, the year he was audited by the IRS and taken to court on five separate occasions under New York’s Lemon Law.
“It was surprisingly similar to his experience in ISKCON,” states ISKCON spokesman Balananda dasa, “in both cases, he managed to pass himself off as honest and trustworthy, but in the end, it was his disciples and customers who paid the price.”
There were hints of misconduct at both professions long before termination of either. In 1994, several of O’Brien’s female disciples came forward, claiming to have to have been inappropriately touched and taunted by their, then, guru. This resulted in O’Brien being suspended from initiating new disciples for one full year.
Similarly, in 2003, a disgruntled customer, Jerry Berowitz, accused O’Brien of dishonesty involving a 1989 Mercury Topaz with two different Vehicle Identification Numbers. The lawsuit resulted in the suspension of his Auto Dealer’s License for one year.
“I just didn’t know what to do,” complained Berkowitz, “I trusted this man to be everything he said he was. I put my faith in him and he let me down. I was promised that this Mercury Topaz would take me back to home, but it was all lies.”
In a letter of apology to his customers, modified only slightly from his letter of apology to his disciples, O’Brien states, “Yes, I’ve made my share of mistakes, but I am truly sorry for the pain that I have caused to so many trusting people. But my with my health problems all the service I had to do, I simply couldn’t keep up with my daily duties and practices.”
O’Brien is now banned from giving class in any ISKCON temple as well as selling cars in New York state.
He claims that he will appeal the ruling and be “back in charge in no time at all,” but it was unclear whether he was talking about ISKCON or the Ithacar Used Car Lot.
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33 responses so far ↓
1 Michael // Feb 15, 2008 at 9:38 am
Hehe, we’ll probably see this guy soon. He’ll no doubt end up managing some department at New Vrindavan.
2 phanisvara das // Feb 15, 2008 at 10:13 am
not funny.
for some people, quite a lot, actually, experiences like this are very real, and IMO it’s not something to treat in this way.
the way how ISKCON deals with these matters certainly leaves room for criticism, but i find the form you’re dealing with this inappropriate. to me it comes across like saying: “well, you should have known better than trusting one of these guys.”
this doesn’t take into consideration that some of “these guys” are actually quite nice, and that for some ex-disciples of those who are not, this is a real, painful experience.
just my opinion, of course…
ys phani.
3 Dwija // Feb 15, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Great article.
I’m not sure he would qualify to be a New Vrindaban manager. It would appear that only the lowest of mankind can take part in stripping the resources, er….. I mean ‘managing’ the resources of New Vrindaban. Does his resume include child abuse, pedophile protection and conspiracy to murder? If not, there’s simply no place for him at New Vrindaban, they’re quite strict about these things.
The ability to put on a show of integrity will certainly open a few doors though. A GBC position perhaps providing he can demonstrate the ability to completely disregard the instructions of Iskcon’s founder, Srila Prabhupada, defend his fellow GBC men no matter what they do, and most importantly, demonstrate the technique of ridiculing anyone who might ask awkward questions like “acording to a statement by Ravindra Svarupa, the Direction Of Management, a legal document drafted by Srila Prabhupada, was rescinded as a result of the 1975 GBC meeting, so why is there no record of this being discussed with Srila Prabhupada before or after the meeting? Before the meeting, GBC members asked Srila Prabhupada for his opinion on various topics on the agenda. They range from important issues to some quite trivial. Are we seriously expected to believe that something as important as rescinding the DOM did not merit any clarification? Also, the 1975 GBC resolutions do not mention the DOM by name but simply state that “There will be no elections”.
How convenient for the GBC to pass a resolution that makes them GBC for life, even if they abuse their positions. These are the same people who went on to declare themselves zonal acarya’s. Most of them proved to be pale imitations of a real Spiritual Master. How are we supposed to have any faith in these people?
Sorry if this sounds like a rant.
Keep up the good work.
Dwija
4 eric tries to sit properly » Blog Archive » Ex-ISKCON Guru Now Ex-Ithaca Car Salesman // Feb 16, 2008 at 9:01 am
[...] Click here to read more… [...]
5 nicci // Feb 16, 2008 at 7:14 pm
nothing brings enlightenment like a little gossip
6 Nanda Sunu // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:06 am
Very funny =).
phanisvara prabhu: this is satire, not a solution.
7 Rati // Feb 22, 2008 at 11:18 am
While I appreciate Phanisvara prabhu’s concern, as someone who has had an “ex-guru” (Kirtananda, one of the worst) I thought the article was great.
The fact is what most people find really frustrating is that this type of thing is too often true. It seems many “leaders” can be involved in all sorts of illegal, immoral scandals and cover-ups and “be back in charge in no time” or even in charge the whole time. (I know of a few myself, and they’re not even “ex” gurus.) It’s refreshing to see it brought out in the open, even if done jokingly.
It may hit a little too close to home for some.
8 phanisvara das // Feb 23, 2008 at 12:16 am
well, rati mataji, your experience with kirtananda must have happened some time ago. would your reaction have been the same right after you realized he was bogus?
my other concern is that this article creates the impression that all gurus in ISKCON are on the car-salesman level, which isn’t true. some of them are quite nice. i’m not able to judge what level of vaisnava they are (uttama/madhyam/kanistha), but they _are_ vaisnavas; so this article comes close to vaisnava aparadha, which isn’t something to joke with.
(i understand that “don’t commit vaisnava aparadha” is being misused to cover many un-vaisnava actions by so-called or very contaminated devotees, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to offend real ones…)
considering all the faults and defects of ISKCON and many of our gurus and leaders, i still think the principle of taking shelter of a (more) advanced devotee, guru, is a valid one; and acticles like this don’t really help with that.
it’s ok on a fringie website perhaps, if the author doesn’t mind to play around with v. aparadha, but this article was the reason i took eric’s feed off namahatta.org, even though i like all the other posts.
ys phani.
9 Priya-darsana // Feb 23, 2008 at 7:55 am
Very funny! Keep it up. Most of us need some humor in our lives.
Hari!
10 Rati // Feb 24, 2008 at 8:21 am
Phanisvara prabhu, in response to your question, I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty sure I would have had the same reaction.
Anyway, this article isn’t referring to true gurus, just cheaters in general. (I am sorry to see that it’s upset you.)
Closing thought:
There’s nothing offensive about calling a spade a spade.
11 phanisvara das // Feb 24, 2008 at 8:36 am
i’m afraid i was getting a bit carried away, arguing for arguing’s sake, or something like that.
i’m not upset about the article. because i was importing eric’s feed into namahatta.org, a straight-edge ISKCON institution website, i felt this article was going a bit too far–for this particular audience & purpose.
personally it doesn’t upset me at all. i wouldn’t make statements like this because i am scared of adding more offenses to my account which isn’t very good as it is. on the other hand, i’m sure eric means it in the spirit you’re understanding it in.
calling a spade a spade is a good thing, even and especially in an institutional context. i’m just trying to be a bit careful to avoid possible misunderstandings, like creating the impression i’m calling something a spade which really is a spoon …
12 JayaBlissNectar // Feb 27, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Funny piece, Eric, and kudos for highlighting a poignant issue.
In his classic book “Sri Guru and His Grace”, Srila Sridhara Maharaja explains that there are three levels of guru: one who has “both feet” in the spiritual world, one who has one foot in each world, and one who has both feet in this world but whose vision is firmly fixed on the spiritual realm.
Unscrupulous “gurus” who have misled their disciples and ultimately conned them out of money obviously do not fall in any of the above-mentioned three categories. Any institution that, as a means of self-sustenance, promotes such people as genuine spiritual masters is depraved.
13 Haribol magazine // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:36 am
Maybe the ex-guru should look for a job at Rivik Car sales
14 TaruN // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:05 am
I hope Rati is not too bitter about “KSwami”.
That’s how he formerly magic-marked his laundry – KSWAMI
PrabhupAd did extract much service from him.
He in turn did inspire many.
Unfortunately, from 1978 0n… he + others became puffed-up feeling they could challenge/offend obviously senior vaisnavas & get away with it unscathed.
What could b further from TRUTH?
————————-
They thought & spoke thus:
I have preached on 7 continents. I have disciples worldwide. What about u???
I have served my guru more than u served yours!!!
External measurement may not reveal WHAT GOES ON within.
Even Ringo Starr’s Rubber Soul can defeat that.
In turn, they deviated with juniors.
Don’t make the mistake of offending kanisthas either.
Everyone is dear to KRSNa, even nondevotees.
jive doya KRSNa nAm…
As for genuine percentages, Srila Sridhar Mhrj stated:
“For each genuine there may b 100 imitations.”
“As connotation increases, denotation decreases.”
Srila NArAyan Mhrj gives further break downs:
kanistha-kanistha, madhyam-kanistha, uttam-kanistha, kanistha-madhyam…
Even at age 97-102, Srila Bhaktipramoda Puri Mhrj stated:
“I am sahajiya. We r all sahajiya. Sahajiya means 2 try 2b like. We r not devotees, yet we r trying to act like, 2b like devotees.
Just don’t become prakRta-sahajiya.
Don’t try to lower/bring that pure thing up there down to your low level way down here.
Then everything will b ruined.”
Similarly, Srila Bhaktivallabha TIrtha Mhrj advised us to b familiar with/to know those 13 sahajiya groupings delineated by “The Judge” Srila Bhaktivinod ThAkur.
Jesus Xrist: “The path is narrow; few there b that find it.”
PrabhupAd: “Don’t b surprised by those that leave, b surprised at those who stay.”
15 Bhakta Godhead // Feb 28, 2008 at 8:44 pm
^
Proof that crack don’t smoke itself.
16 Jaya Vaisnava Thakur // Mar 4, 2008 at 8:21 am
Bhakta Godhead – too funny, LOL!
17 yas // Apr 19, 2008 at 5:57 am
Here we are laughing while others are going to hell.How profound,how funny.Had someone not gotten of their arse and given us a book instead of satirizing around we would have gone to hell too.LOL LOL LOL
18 yas // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:03 am
Hey,I have an idea.Let is joke about raped toddlers and gurukulis.That would be sooooooo funny.Or perhaps about the devotees that committed suicides
because they were sadened with the state of afairs in Prabhupadas movement.This is a great forum for emasculate vagina lickers that have no better business than making fun of others peoples pain.DO YOU THINK SRILA PRABHUPADA WOULD FIND IT FUNNY?
19 yas // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:07 am
Let us kid about all the broken marriages( I could bet my last penny that at least 99% of men on this forum are divorced and ladies too)HAHAHA so funny it just made my day.I suppose when you are divorced there is no better things to do but to hang around and gossip like a bunch of women.LOLOLOLOL
20 phani // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:42 am
see, that’s what i was afraid of. if you have a sense of humor ver. 8 or above, and really try to understand what bh. eric is trying to say, the article is ok. but that’s not always the case, as ‘yas,’ whoever he is, proves.
i find it perfectly fine to joke about 150% fired up ’sankirtan’ devotees, greencard-devotees, and pretty much all the other topics you took up. but things like child molestation, rape, or blooping gurus are perhaps better not treated in this way…
ys phani.
21 yas // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:55 am
Dear Phani
Everything and I mean everything adverse and contrary to SP instructions that happens in “ISKCON” nowadays is adverse for the society in general.”Green card” devotees that you find so amusing are there because TP’s are corrupt.Because TP’s are corrupt books are not going out and people are going to hell.Do you find the consequence amusing.Read about hellish planets and see how “funny” it is to be there just because some crooked TP is using “green card” devotees to make profit.Just because bunch of “vaishnavas” are laughing out loud while their service to suffering souls in neglected.Sorry gotta go to puke now..
22 Bhakta Billy // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I am a newer Bhakta within the movement, and this site actually HELPS me. This type of association can be good as well as HDG Srila Prabhupadas books, since if you search Google for Krsna, your likely to find so much confusion since there are so many silly controversies which misleads potential practitioners and neophytes away from accepting and examining the lilas of Lord Chaitanya’s movement.
This is not blasphemy, because it is presenting opportunities for peace and forgiveness with our culture, instead of fear.
23 bhakta rupa das // Jul 9, 2008 at 11:32 am
what is john o’brian’s spiritual name?
24 Nandini // Jul 9, 2008 at 2:27 pm
YAS wrote:
I suppose when you are divorced there is no better things to do but to hang around and gossip like a bunch of women.
YAS, this comment of yours is very abusive to women. Do you realize that this is actually a sign of hatred for women, the very kind of mentality that is at the root of rape of children? Disregard for women because of personal sexual frustration is very dangerous, way more dangerous than bad jokes.
25 Appreciative Reader // Jul 12, 2008 at 11:54 am
Nandini, of course YAS’ statements are abusive and dangerous. But remember, all misogyny in ISKCON comes from Prabhupada himself. “Women are less intelligent,” “women have smaller brains,” “women enjoy being raped,” “all unmarried women are prostitutes,” “giving birth to girl children is a ‘defect’,” and on and on and on.
And it was Prabhupada who, as quoted in the “Lilamrta,” criticized his male family members for “eating and sleeping like a bunch of women.”
So, the unfortunate reality is that as long as you choose to hang around ISKCON, you can expect the same abusive and dangerous mentality from those who accept Prabhupada to be “as good as God” and who accept his every word to be absolute truth.
26 Kenny // Jul 12, 2008 at 1:32 pm
That’s RIGHT! Before Srila Prabhupada came to American, sexism didn’t exist.
It certainly couldn’t be that the devotees brought their own hang ups and sexism to Krishna Consciousness and twisted/took advantage of Srila Prabhupada’s words for their own material benefit. Oh my no.
That darn Prabhupada! And ohhh those pure, innocent ISKCON devotees he corrupted!
27 Nandini // Jul 12, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Kenny,
I agree, I have been saying this for a long time now. Prabhupada may have made things worse, but he was NOT singly responsible for the abuse of women and children in Iskcon. In our culture too there are men who would love, like large sections of Indian, Middle Easter and African men, be free to beat and rape women as they wished.
What I find amazing is that people like the poster YAS here, denounces rape of children but fails to make the connection that disrespect for women is the first step to abuse of children and other less self-defensible groups in society.
28 Appreciate Reader // Jul 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Kenny,
Certainly, misogyny and sexism (along with racism and other pernicious social ills) existed long before Prabhupada came to America.
But, as someone who was supposed to be enlightened, spiritually realized, God-realized and, indeed, “as good as God,” Prabhupada really should have done better. Especially, knowing that his every word was being recorded and accepted as “absolute truth” by his naive and inexperienced disciples, he had a grave responsbility to do better.
Why, even in this week’s Time magazine, Mark Twain is being profiled for having “pioneered the sophisticated literary attack against racism.” Why couldn’t Prabhupada, an “as-good-as-God-Acarya,” have done at least as well?
But the fact is that he didn’t. He said horrific, abusive things about women and about black people and he ordered his disciples to send their tiny 4-and-5-year-old children away to Dallas and other so-called “gurukulas,” where they were violently abused and sexually molested.
And then, in ADDITION to all that, as you say, Kenny, “devotees brought their own hang-ups and sexism to Krishna Consciousness and twisted/took advantage of Srila Prabhupada’s words,” which have lent themselves to unfathomable abuse over the past four decades.
29 Devak // Jul 12, 2008 at 4:35 pm
INDIA, Gujurat
Dearest Devotees:
I have to agree with Appreciate reader.
A. C. B. was an old man from West Bengal when he came to America in 1965. All he knew was what he was taught from childhood. He had the attitude that was very common in India at that time [and still is in most part.]
Many young men were extremely attracted to his attitudes and still are. They love to treat women as less than equal. These same males like to act like little demi-Gods and lord it over the weaker.
Srila Praphupada, a “good as God Acarya” ….hardly. Sooner or later the current crop of devotees may come to their senses. Thank God a few have…but not many.
A.C. B. freely admitted on a morning walk in India that he loved the attention he was getting as the founder of ISKCON. I heard him say it. He had a big smile on his face.
He said that he had always hoped that it would someday come to him, like it had come to Gandhi . That one little remark did him more damage than he could ever have realized. It revealed him to be egomanical.
It forever proved him to be just another person like all the rest of us…..full of flaws. He also did some good things along the way.
Devak…..Hare Krsna…all praises to God.
30 yas // Oct 7, 2008 at 11:56 pm
So it seems that this website has become a meeting place for all the ingrates , women worshipers and amateur psychology analysts.Pfui.I bet bhakta Eric’s bhakti lata bhij is flourishing for facilitating this filthy” mental menstruation” forum.
From The Hing Editors:
Simmer down. Here’s a ska song about Jesus!
31 Rati // Oct 8, 2008 at 10:09 am
ZAP! Oh my God! That’s so great! Looks like Four White Dudes Kickin’ Ass On Stage might just have some competition.
Gotta give ‘em credit.’Thanks for that!
32 spirit soul // Dec 21, 2008 at 8:39 am
It’s unbelievable what souls like (appreciate reader, Devak & others) thinks and writes about His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Shame on you!
33 Boy-R-D dasa (not the chef) // Dec 26, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Although it pains me badly to hear Srila Prabhupada publically critisized by devotees, we must individually behave like spiritual scientists and find out if Krishna Consciousness has any actual value, or if it is only a bluff. That was Srila Prabhupada’s actual challenge to each of us. We must each practice our spiritual sadhana individually, and gradually after a long and arduous efforts, perhaps spaning many, many births, come to real knowledge, and true understanding. That is practically the only way we can believe that Krishna Consciousness is real – we have to qualify ourselves individually by our own efforts. But if we are lucky, and we should always hold out for suprise luck – there is Gurukripa and Krishnakripa. We must hope against hope for this.