Position Statements
Here are some unofficial position statements from 1992:
The Ecological Crisis:
In response to a request for ISKCON positions on current social issues, Drutakarma Dasa, a member of the movement for over twenty years and an editor of ISKCON publications, including Back to Godhead and ISKCON World Review, made the following statement on the ecological crisis (1992a):
The root of the environmental crisis is a spiritual one. The world has for several centuries been dominated by a mechanistic, materialistic, and essentially godless view of the universe. And from this has grown an industrial-consumer civilization bent on exploiting and dominating matter to the maximum extent possible. The environment has suffered from this. Responding to the environmental crisis, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness offers a new way of looking at the universe, as the energy and property of God, who offers humans an opportunity to develop their dormant God consciousness and return to their original spiritual home. Meanwhile, humans can use the resources of nature in a balanced, harmonious way, consistent with the primary goal of developing God consciousness. The movement sees the gradual adoption of voluntary simplicity in the context of a spiritual, God-centered philosophy and way of life as the real solution to the environmental problems brought on by the industrial-consumer civilization.
War:
The founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, advocated the position that conflicts will not end until destructive nationalism, racism and sectarian religion are overcome. These attitudes are, from this perspective, merely one of the manifestations of the ignorance of the material world. They create a sense of "enemy" and "friend," which can be transcended only through perception of the true, spiritual self. According to Srila Prabhupada, "Because people are identifying with this material world, they are thinking 'I am an Englishman,' 'I am this,' 'I am that.' But if one chants the Hare Krishna mantra, he will realize that he is not this material body." (Drutakarma 1992a: 54). Only through such spiritual realization will people develop the sense of unity necessary to overcome nationalism, racism, and sectarian religion and the wars they breed. Concerning war, the Hare Krishna movement today takes the following position, according to Drutakarma
Dasa (1992a):
Member of the Hare Krishna movement are followers of the Vedas. In the Vedas, there is allowance for war under certain circumstances, principally self-defense and to uphold primary spiritual values. Wars were, however, carried out by members of a professional military social order (the warrior caste) away from civilian areas. In short, the state does have a right and duty to maintain armed forces and police to protect the state and its citizens. But wars should be fought by volunteer professionals, for reasons in harmony with Vedic spiritual and ethical principles, and in such a way that fighting does not endanger civilians.
Capital Punishment:
Drutakarma Dasa (1992a) explains the Hare Krishna position on capital punishment as follows:
The Vedas and books of social codes such as the Manu-samhita sanction capital punishment. According to the laws of karma, a killer must suffer in the next life by being killed violently. But if the killer receives capital punishment in this life, the killer is freed from any further violent karmic reaction in the next life. Capital punishment is thus a legitimate resource for the state in its dealings with criminals and in the context of the law of reincarnation is, in fact, merciful.
Abortion:
According to Drutakarma Dasa, the Hare Krishna position is that abortions are not to be condoned. (1992a)
According to Vedic books of knowledge, the persons involved in abortion must themselves be aborted in future lives. The Vedas say that the soul is present in the embryo from the moment of conception. For worshippers of Krishna who become initiated by a spiritual master in the line of succession, illicit sex is forbidden. This means that there can be no abortion or contraception. Couples should engage in sex only for the purpose of procreation. If all children are wanted, there is no requirement for abortion. Procreative sex is considered spiritual sex, and is sanctioned. These rules are observed by initiated members in good standing. However, anyone may participate in temple functions regardless of their views on abortion.
Economic Justice:
Drutakarma Dasa (1992a) explains ISKCON's position on economic justice in this statement:
Under Vedic standards, the government has a duty to see that all members of society are employed and have adequate food, shelter, and medical care. In Vedic times, brahmanas (brahmins) trained in the Ayur-Veda system of medicine would provide free medical advice and care, living simply on charity. Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, said that no one should go hungry within 10 miles of any Krishna temple. In response, the movement has organized Hare Krishna Food for Life which distributes free vegetarian meals to the poor and homeless as well as disaster victims, on five continents. Unemployment is thought to be largely a byproduct of the urban-industrial -civilization. A move back to a more simple, natural way of life on the land, in small self - sufficient villages, would solve that problem.
Gender Roles and the Status of Women:
According to Drutakarma Dasa (1992a), the Hare Krishna position on the status of women is as follows:
The Vedas teach that God, Krishna, has an eternal, equal, female counterpart, Radha, who is the personification of love of God. God is therefore worshipped in the dual Radha-Krishna form. The most perfect examples of love of God are Radha and her feminine extensions, the gopis. Throughout history, there have been great women devotees of the Lord, who are honored and respected.
On the spiritual platform men and women are considered equal, with the same opportunity for spiritual progress through bhakti-yoga. There were, however, different gender roles.
In an ideal Vedic society, the economy was household-based and husbands and wives were partners, according to their social status. The economic base of society was primarily agricultural and centered around households. This meant that both men and women would be part of the same economic unit, though with different roles.
Generally, men would be involved in ploughing and herding cows, and women would be involved in churning butter, making yogurt, cooking and other such activities around the household. Kshatriyas would be involved in military and administrative affairs. Women would not normally be engaged in fighting and ruling, but would be loyal assistants to their husbands and play a role appropriate to their status as queens, princesses, etc. The wives of brahmanas (brahmins) would assist their husbands in the performance of religious rituals and teaching. In each case, the men and women would be partner in the particular activity of their social order, but with different roles in the partnership.
In modern Western society, ISKCON has had to make adjustments. The economy is not agricultural or household-based. So members might follow the standard patterns of either both husband and wife working at some occupation away from the household, or husband working and wife staying home and taking care of the children. But men and women, as in Vedic society, have equal access to the bhakti-yoga process. They receive the same initiations, and perform mostly the same priestly duties in temples. There is, however, as in society in general, some debate about the role of women, their role in the family, leadership in ISKCON, etc. According to tradition and philosophy, women may take the position of guru, or spiritual master, and this is about to take place in the Hare Krishna movement. Women do not currently occupy any seats on ISKCON's Governing Body Commission, but a change in this policy is under discussion. In some parts of the world, such as Europe, women do serve as temple presidents and occupy other administrative posts.
Homosexuality:
Drutakarma Dasa (1992a) reports that the position of the Hare Krishna movement on homosexuality is that it would not be allowed for initiated members, for they commit themselves to have no illicit sex. Illicit sex involves sex outside marriage and sex within marriage not for procreation. Thus, practicing homosexuals may not be initiated, and would not be offered positions of leadership in the movement. Previous homosexual practice does not disqualify someone from initiation and practicing homosexuals who are not initiated are not excluded from attending temple function's and practicing Krishna Consciousness as much as they can. The movement has no position on the issues of homosexual rights in society outside Krishna Consciousness communities.
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