Flash ~
Remember also that in the 1990's Tusta did a lot of leg work and diplomacy with competing gurus and co-founded
The World Vaishnava Association. Butler was getting politically isolated in the guru world. He was losing followers to the more "mellow" Indian guys who came to America and also Hawaii to fill the void left by the territorial AC Bhaktivedanta Swami. (People were also running over the the Katyayani/B.T. camp just to not get yelled at for petty infractions.)
Scroll down on the right side of the WVA website to see the list of Present Day Acharya's. You will see Butler is listed. It still amuses me that he uses only youthful photos of himself when he is almost 70 years old. Naw, it couldn't be that he is vain? And why didn't he leave his wife to take sanyass again, which is prescribed in Gaudiya Vaishnavism? Is he still afraid to be alone in a room with a woman? Never mind.
There was some discussion on this forum years ago about the fight between Butler and another guru over one of Butler's followers.
AC Bhaktivedanta and Butler both told their followers to stay away from other Vaishnavas, that they were the only true "Jagad Gurus" while the others were envious. They both taught that there was only one unbroken Sampradaya or disciplic succession from Chaitanya. Now Butler teaches that there are other sampradayas. Never mind.
In 1977 a lot of people got put off by Butler's "Haribol Special" where he appointed himself the next in line (while his guru's body was still warm). It was written by Tusta and Butler in the form of a fake interview. Butler directed the whole publication and had L.L. do the layout - including the size and selection of his own images. I find it of interest that he had to be pictured larger than all the others.
Not that he didn't have a lot to say about the ridiculous things going on at ISKCON, Butler later had to concede to other gurus just to maintain his own legitimacy (by joining the WVA). I think the main reason he did this was to not "out" his cult and hide under the umbrella of an established religion.
He also back-peddled on a lot of statements over the years. For example the title "Jaggad Guru" which means the Teacher of the whole world and Teacher of all other teachers, or the Master of all masters. Now he says it just means Guru and that there are many other "godbrother" gurus too.
Like his book "Sai Speaks" he also wants to obliterate the existence of the "Haribol Special" (both of which had once been on this forum for all to review). Hey, if he is truly the bleeter of absolute truth, why does he have to keep changing his bio and covering up old writings? Aren't they eternal? Never mind.
Here is another link where Tulsi acknowledges that her guru is indeed Mr. Butler.
U.S CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD'S JALADUTA YATRA MESSAGEFAIR USE IMAGES:Thanks Rama for the thought bubble!Acharya ~ Appointed, Elected, or Self Indulgent!Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2015 02:58PM by Vera City.