Hinduization of ISKCON? What do you mean exactly?
I was master of ceremonies last week for our Annual Supporters Dinner, and also yesterday for our weekend Janmasthami celebrations. We have a large, high-ceilinged marquee that can seat one thousand people comfortably, and the large stage offers a very good view of the entire crowd. As I surveyed one thousand friendly faces at the annual dinner and the audience at the festival, I could not help but feel grateful for all the support that comes from our friends who provide both funding and hours of volunteer service. Without them, such a large project as Bhaktivedanta Manor could not function. With their support and help, it is an indisputable fact that the Manor has gone from strength to strength, and has succeeded in implementing at least some of the orders that Srila Prabhupada gave. I am very happy with that. There is so much more to do, that’s true, but we can see improvements year on year.
But my sense of gradual growth is not shared by all. I know that some devotees are concerned by the fact that the Manor has come to represent some of the changes within ISKCON that they perceive as unwelcome and a hindrance to spiritual progress. They are not in the majority, yet they are vocal. They say that ISKCON has changed significantly from its early years; from a membership of mainly young, idealistic and frugal western converts, to a diverse movement of all ages, from all walks of life. They feel that through this change the movement has somehow lost its initial spiritual potency, and perhaps, as a consequence, its appeal to young people. They argue that the original purpose and pioneering edge has been eroded, and we have gone from a rugged, highly committed campaigning group on the fringes of modern society, to a much more socially accommodated organization for the middle classes - an established ’religion’ even. This they find troubling.
In addition to this, somewhere along the way, during all the years of ups and downs, through all the meandering twists and turns that such a growing movement takes, we have attracted a huge amount of support from those of Indian background (or ‘east Indian’ if you’re in the USA). And when Indians come to ISKCON they bring with them, just as the western converts did, their cultural conditionings and existing religious perspectives, namely those of Hinduism.
Now, I’ve written about Hinduism before, and how its a generic, catch-all term that in its broadness defines nothing at all. Its a geographical designator, not a theological one, and was stuck on as a false label by both Muslim and British overlords in the days of invasion and subjugation. But now the label has stuck and most people of sub-continental origin, no matter what their particular religious affiliation, are quite happy to be regarded as Hindu, whatever the term means to them.
What devotees in ISKCON mean when they speak somewhat disparagingly about Hinduism and Hindus boils down to just three simple ideas. Ideas they find objectionable. The first is the notion that there are ‘many gods’ and that ‘all the gods are the same’. The second is that by religious ceremonies, morality and virtuous behaviour one can aspire to enjoy more sensual gratification in this life or the next. The third is that the ultimate state of existence is the soul’s merging with the divine, formless light known as Brahman.
Now these three ideas are also condemned as inferior beliefs by all Vaishnava schools of thought in India. Indeed, you will not find a great Vaishnava teacher, and certainly not the head of any of the traditional Vaishnava institutions, that will not have strong words about each of these notions. They are held as popular beliefs within other strands of Hinduism. But popularity does not mean they are true or in the best interest of the soul. All Vaishnava acaryas have consequently seen it as their duty to elevate mankind above those primary level religious ideas that are, in essence, selfishly motivated. The Vaishnavas want to help others towards selfless love of God, which includes the greatest and everlasting rewards for the true self . Accordingly, the founder of ISKCON also had strong words about such notions that were prevalent within the broad Hindu population. What is often seen, and what he spoke about, is that while on the surface many Hindus will vocally espouse the conceptions of selfless devotion of bhakti to Krishna, the three ideas mentioned above still lie just beneath the surface and therefore need to be addressed by robust teaching.
ISKCON devotees, as Vaishnavas, naturally feel they have a duty to carry out their duty to Srila Prabhupada by similarly condemning philosophies of life that he indicated as errors of philosophical judgement. And they also feel duty bound to convey the positive conceptions of Krishna bhakti as taught by all Vaishnava acaryas throughout history.
But they should also understand if Hindus residing in the west, brought up from childhood to admire and respect Krishna, are drawn to ISKCON. And if they come in their thousands because of the beauty of our religious services, festivals and shrines, that is certainly not a threat. What is a threat is if ISKCON compromises its theology, liturgy or governance structure to accommodate any one of the non-Vaishnava ideas identified above. Has that happened? I don’t know for every branch of our Society. I can say that it has not happened here. Could it happpen? Yes, of course. There is always a chance of ISKCON’s growth being compromised by any one of a number of factors.
So far as I see at Bhaktivedanta Manor, the reverse influence is taking place: our local Hindu community has been singularly affected by ISKCON and its message of practical devotion to Krishna; the very opposite of what is feared by some. New converts from ‘generic Hinduism’ to Vaishnavism are coming forward every year, and last year more than one hundred became initiated. During our last Summer Book Distribution Marathon – a core ISKCON missionary activity if ever there was one - over 70 participants were from Indian backgrounds. Our Janmasthami Festival, this year attracting some 70,000 visitors over two days; almost entirely staged by 600 volunteers who came every evening after their day’s work finished to give ISKCON an average of four hours voluntary service each. Then there is the considerable financial support: 400 major supporters and many thousands of donors, all of whom help to realise what Srila Prabhupada wanted for Bhaktivedanta Manor: the new agricultural land and driveway (£1 million), the new roof (£1.5 million), the new cow and oxen protection centre (£2.5 million), the new school, pushed forward by a combination of community involvement and central government funding (total £13 million) and many other projects, all of which help to establish the core activities that ISKCON’s founder identified as being essential.
We can never become complacent, however. Many is the religious organisation that was inadvertently, and gradually – sometimes over many years – profoundly affected by the divergent ideas of its members. Core values and foundational principles can be set aside for more pragmatic ones; policy making based on the founder’s wishes can fall victim to popular notions and more liberal philosophies or the process of modernization. Can Bhaktivedanta Manor’s outreach activities and considerable resources be more directed to the young spiritual seeker from a Christian, Jewish or Atheist background? As Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura termed them, the ‘fair-skinned English?’ Of course, more could always be done.
But we do not accomplish more in one direction of outreach by disparaging attempts in another. And far less is achieved by criticizing those attempts when they are successful, as they are at Bhaktivedanta Manor. To all those who would challenge that ISKCON has become ‘Hinduized,’ I would ask: “What do you mean – exactly?”
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Hare Krishna Swami ji I am
Hare Krishna Swami ji
I am confirm with my personal experiences as native of India that most Indians are illiterate in the deeper meanings and philosophies of Vaishanavism. In fact Shaivism and Vaishnavism were probably competing religions in past times. But now, they have integrated in India because we have no time and will to fight especially when Islam and the likes are gaining grounds. In my family, most are Vaishnavas, some were Arya samajis and some are Jains. But all revere Lord Krishna; but surely we need to accept Krishna whole-heartedly!
(1) What is wrong in Akashat
(1) What is wrong in Akashat patit toyam yatha gachati sagaram,
Sarvadeva namaskara keshavam pratigachati?
(2) Your allegation that
"Hindu was stuck on as a false label by both Muslim and British overlords in the days of invasion and subjugation."
is to put it most mildly malicious slander.
See Savarkar's Essential of Hindutva (http://www.scribd.com/doc/16918418/Essentials-of-Hindut...):
"Hindu would be the name that this land and the
people that inhabited it bore from time so immemorial that even the Vedic name Sindhu
is but a later and secondary form of it. If the epithet Sindhu dates its antiquity in the
glimmering twilight of history then the word Hindu dates its antiquity from a period so
remoter than the first that even mythology fails to penetrate - to trace it to its source..."
(3) The foundation of Vedic philosophy is rit and sat, is there anything more rational, sublime and more scientific than that in any religion, cult, sect, religious movement?
I am that Hindu this article
I am that Hindu this article describes.
I believe that God can manifest itself in many forms (Not to be interpreted as that there are many gods).
At work I am a civil engineer, at home I am a father, a husband, a son, a brother....so if a mortal like me can manifest so many facets so can God !!
However I firmly believe in ISKCON Philosophy, ideology and methodology. The reason I go to ISKCON is their approach to Lord Krishna. Their reverence and importance to their belief.
I am a born vegetarian ...but unknowingly was using leather. For last 10 years I have been leather free (difficult to buy shoes...not because it is hard to look for compeletely 'clean' shoes some have everything man made but the 'sock' is leather etc. but also difficult because I have to touch leather when I am looking for my type of shoes ...it makes my skin crawl to think of touching dead skin !) I was able to shun leather because of influence from ISKCON. I like the idea that ISKCON does not dilute belief in face of 'modern' living to accomodate.
I almost stopped going to other hindu temple because I didn't feel spiritual connection there. I would love to see ISKCON control and methodology there. There is so much wastage of food.
As the writer suggests I can see some influence on ISKCON temple
(of the Indian devotees). Other temples always said ....welcome to our temple to newcomers I did not expect this at ISKCON...but it was there. Since when is it my /our temple it belongs to Krishna and we all 'belong' to Krishna.
I know and can relate to this article. I see ISKCON as the 'Pure' form of Hinduism ~
Kripamoya Das was the MC at
Kripamoya Das was the MC at the Annual Supporters Dinner of Bhaktivedanta Manor at which I was a guest with my Indian-born wife Sudha. Srila Prabhupada's Murty was brought fom the Temple to the big tent and he was introduced as "Our special Guest". Srila Prabhupada is of course the Propietor of Bhaktivedanta Manor and our host for the evening and we his guests. Without him, none of us would have anywhere nice to go where there is no meat-eating, intoxicants or illicit sex and where we can associate with devotees of the Lord. It is a Family to which my wife and I are fortunate to belong and we are grateful to Srila Prabhupada for his kindness and generosity.
I must point out that nearly all the supporters of Bhaktivedanta Manor are of Indian origin as are the hundreds of volunteers at Festivals,not to mention the thousands of visitors . Without them, the Manor would shut down in a week.
There is nothing to stop English people, young or old like me( I am 69 ) from coming to the Manor if they so wish and they are welcome. If they don't it is their loss. Donald.
In continuation of my
In continuation of my comment:
It should read, "half empty not half full". Sorry for the wrong inclusion. Ours is optimistic movement and Srila Prabhupada has taught us to see goodness in everyone and every activity in Krishna consciousness must be encouraged. Those who criticize they see only half-empty glass and those who encourage the good activities of even a bad person they only see the glass half-full. Again please continue encouraging those who come to Sri Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple whether they be Indians or any ethnic origin. Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna. All glories
Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Very nice article and the service is in line with Srila Prabhupada's desire. Srila Prabhupada appeared in this world to give opportunity to one and all to Serve Sri Krishna. Srila Prabhupada didn't manifested ISKCON for one type of people, it is for one and all and that is why He predicted this movement will be there for next 10,000 years. This means, He does not expect everyone to graduate within same lifetime rather through many lifetime but somehow the living entities need to start somewhere. Believe me ISKCON is the best in giving opportunity to serve Sri Krishna through festivals, Ratha Yatra, book distribution and other services. Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON is reviving the Hindus' Krishna Consciousness and the more people practice Krishna Consciousness the better this world will be. Pls note, the 60's and 70's was a different time and circumstances and the devotees of that time also have matured and changed a lot for better but always keeping the focus on Sri Krishna. However, now times and conditions are different so is the people's consciousness still one must always focus on Sri Krishna and get the messages of Srimad Bhagavad Gita across and wait for Sri Krishna to provide the perfect opportunity to preach. Everything happens according to Sri Krishna's Sweet Will and preaching and making devotees will also happen according to His Sweet Will. Pls do not be discouraged by those who only see the glass half-full. Criticizing other's activities and judging them is only Sri Guru's activities and conditioned souls shouldn't be doing them. We should listen to their criticism if it is legitimate however if the person(s) are not doing any other devotional engagements but simply time-passing by criticizing other's well intentioned preaching acitivites then it is best to ignore these type of people and continue in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Prabhu, This is a very
Dear Prabhu,
This is a very beautifully written article that shows true belief for and unwavering devotion to your path: Vaishnavism. Yet there are so much compassion in your words. As you correctly pointed out Hinduism was an identity imposed on us and, today, it came to be a universally accepted one. Therefore, the Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, etc., are all associated with Hinduism, in the modern world. Hinduism embraces Vaishavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and the Smarta Tradition. Therefore to revered these scripture and boldly disassociate yourself from Hindism (as many ISKCON preachers do) is really stealing. This is no different from what Deepak Chopra is doing: he persistently takes information from the Ramayana and the Gita and never have the manners to Cite them. By the way, Hindus do not believe in many gods, we believe that there is God (not one God and not many God) and only God and qualitatively we are all God.
As you pointed out, Hinduism has endured a lot and ISKCON trying to religate it will not destroy it - the British and the Muslims could not. Instead of separating people why not look for commonality that will bring people in harmony?
With humble regards,
Ishwar.
vaishanavism vedas all part
vaishanavism vedas all part of sanatana dharma(hinduism) dont divide ...
Hare krishna Pabho, I am
Hare krishna
Pabho, I am anantaacarya das from Los Angles,Ca. I enjoy reading your essay, and I support your ideas. Being from Hindu family from the island of Trinidad,I believe that the some hindus are afraid ISKCON because they believe we will take over there temples.There are others who are now waking up to when they visit our temples and listen to Gita classes. I was station in the UK in the late 90's with the US Air Force and my family and I supported the Manor and Soho street temple.
your servant
Anantaacary das