Good insights Maharaj, much appreciated. I spent 10 years in Iskcon 87-97 in Cape Town and Durban, saw a lot of what you mention in this and the previous video class. Heard about the other issues. It has caused my fellow devotees from my days in the temple, and myself, to keep a distance from Iskcon the past 20 years, while reading, chanting and remembering from a distance.
My realization is that after Srila Prabhupada's physical departure from this world his ISKCON has been misused for purposes other that those which Srila Prabhupada had established. And the reason is quite obvious, that those who had the most power and responsibilities, those who held the main keys of the institution, they proclaimed that the main focus from Srila Prabhupada (who was no longer present) should be transferred to a few selected, and that Srila Prabhupada is no longer an acarya of ISKCON, but it is them. Of course, they were always keeping Srila Prabhupada's name as the acarya on side, as a backup, since they knew if anything would go wrong due to them, everyone can always resort to Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON is currently a combination of those two thoughts: those who proclaim that Srila Prabhupada is the only acarya of ISKCON, and those who think that other devotees can also serve as acaryas by hands-vote or self-promulgation. This direction has contributed to a wishywashy situation in ISKCON - the spirituality has been washed away, and only mundane formalities and material designations remained. The same situation is happening as in Christianity (just replace Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON with Jesus Christ and His Church).
Interestingly enough the person who Robin George married while in ISKCON was Nityananda who is also responsible for pushing the bogus poison conspiracy. So Nityananda is esponsible for a lot of problems in ISKCON.
Our godbrother, Subhananda Prabhu wrote the booklet "Please Don't Lump Us In" which I would use in many school programs I did to explain that ISKCON is not a "cult" in the pejorative sense of the word that the deprogrammers were trying to frame us as. To assist Anuttama Prabhu, inister of Communications, I did 8 hrs a day of Harinam in Washington D.C. against the Robin George Case which I did in front of the Smithsonian Archives in Washington D.C. which a large banned behind me stating "Prayer Is Not A Crime". Robin George combined with Rabbis to try to rip off ISKCON
Seems like you forgot to mention Kirtinanda. If you ask me that was the biggest backlash against Iskon . I live 20 minutes from New vrindavan and locals still say stay away from there! Even though now it's a very peaceful community.
As Maharaj often says, if you’re just a street crook, people think it’s normal that you’ll do wrong things, but representatives of a spiritual movement are expected to be exemplary, so i’s understandable that the legal case would be heavier. Situations such as Robin’s are also dangerous for a society who gives freedom to practice all types of religion, as people could easily become abusive in the name of their peculiar form of faith. If devotees had gotten away with this or just paid a small fine its possible that they would continue to act in a reckless way or even become bolder in their recklessness. IF ONLY they had instructed the girl to just attend temple meetings, practice at home as possible and wait until she was 18 to join the temple… but no, they radicalised her and the consequence was they ended up turning a lot of people against the movement, even Robin herself turned against them later. Sometimes common sense is better than deep philosophy. Although initially the lawyer tried to make the case that she was held against her will, it was clear that this was not the issue, the main issue was temple authorities repeatedly lying to her family, actively making schemes to deceive them, providing fake letters, buying plane tickets to move Robin from place to place and at times even threatening her parents, saying they would bomb their cars and that they would never see their daughter alive again. I hope people can understand that this is very irresponsible and stupid behaviour and thinking this is acceptable creates precedents for criminal activity, not only in the HK movement, but also in other religious institutions. And Just see how devotees became used to lying and thought it was alright. And how they damaged the image of the movement, being seen as deceitful and disrespectful. There seems to be some phenomena, that people misbehave in name of spiritual life and their character becomes increasingly degraded and themselves and even others get used to it and find it acceptable. Even more amazing, Prabhupada was still physically present when this happened.
Swamiji, the majority of people who died at Jonestown were either forced at gunpoint to consume poison, or were shot. Hundreds were children. It is more aptly called mass murder than mass suicide, though both were part of the gruesome event.
More and more I am seeing Srila Prabhupada pushed into the background in Iskcon. This is deplorable. On FB my post shares in some Iskcon groups are declined whether it's because the group has rittvik leanings or the group is Iskcon fanatics. I do hope that more devotees can push back at these regrettable developments by putting Srila Prabhupada in first place instead of on the back burner. So much deviation and nonsense is presented that it obliges one to stand up for the real Prabhupada Iskcon. Hare Krishna.
Although Prabhupada’s ISKCON is not a cult, I think it’s worth considering that when the leadership fails to follow Prabhupada, it does become a cult, disconnected from the parampara, preaching what is convenient for the sake of money and power. Yes, I do believe some temples and some groups in Iskcon act as cults and can do more harm than good.
Hare. Krsna. Maharaj is looking like Mother Teresa in this one. Please forgive me if my comment was offensive. I would like to thank Maharaj for all the lectures. My dandavat pranams.🙏🙇♂️
Here Krishna 🙏 I wish I was a devotee but there are things that really hold me back from doing it. Firstly I wonder why Prabhupada was a racist towards black people? 2) He was Hitler apologist and so on. 3) Why nobody talks about prabhupada being poisoned by his devotees?. I would appreciate if someone could help me by answering that. Tks
Heavens gate, founded in 1974, finished in early 1990’s with a mass suicide Branch dravidians, founded early 1980’s ending in the Wako siege massacre in the 1990’s Scientology, founded in 1950s, still going on strong to this day Twelve tribes, founded in the 1970s and expanded through the 80s and still exists in many places up to this day Nuwabian nation founded late 1960s, still existed in the 2000s New Acropolis founded in late 1950s continued expanding over decades and exists to this day in more than 40 countries There are many more. These examples show that despite the decline of the hippie movement, there were and still are a lot of people looking for an alternative (even radically alternative) way of life. There are even some aspects of their crazy philosophy that resonate with Krishna conscious philosophy (ideas of eternal life, being transported to a different planet, hierarchical societies and even early marriage and polygamy) but KC is so much superior and complete, perhaps if they had met with some solid preaching and farm communities, some of those people would have joined iskcon instead of those crazy and even dangerous alternatives.
If people use the constitution to defend themselves (the right to congregate in public space and spread religion) but break that same constitution when they want (take away a minor from their family for so called religious purposes), that’s hypocrisy. Individually someone may be willing to take a risk, but jeopardizing the reputation and assets of a whole institution is something else. Also, if someone claims to preach the absolute truth but think it’s ok to tell lies just to get some extra bucks, don’t be surprised if people don’t want to read their books. A businessman telling some lies to make a profit is something, but distributing spiritual literature is preaching activity even if it involves some money exchange. Mixing things up can be very damaging. Someone acting purely on the transcendental platform could probably do anything even stealing for the service of Krishna, but I think devotees in general should avoid acting in that way. It can easily become a bad habit.
Not just great insight. All our 'the next generation' devotees should listen to these lectures. Nowadays our so called Iskcon Next gen hear all wishy-washy lectures. Please devotees spread these lectures.
That depends on how you define gay and how you define ok. Krishna tells us in Bhagavad-gita that we must not identify with the mind or the false bodily designations that we currently have, which are only temporary manifestations brought up by material illusion. The idea is to be purified of lust and sexual desires altogether, which should be an entirely thought out and the devotees own decision to be committed to this. Strictly speaking sexual conduct is only to be used for making god-conscious children under a legitimized relation of marriage. I don't see why then, if you do share the same goal and sincerely do want to reach it, would you not be welcome. It all depends on how sincerely you believe Krishna Consciousness is the best for you and pursue it, whether you are committed and serious about giving up unnecessary (not for making children) sexual conduct.
Actually our lust in it's original form in the spiritual world is said to be pure love of Godhead, only in this material world does it become so adulterated. So we should only be hankering for His association and to please Him. Also the transcendental relations of conjugal love between Krishna and the gopis are not to be seen through our mundane and perverted understanding, as they are fully and eternally holy and pure.
with greatest respects to you maharaj,why at first instance you don't speak about prabhupada's book changers,prabhupada's poisoning and prabhupada's juda disciples?
Interestingly enough the person who Robin George married while in ISKCON was Nityananda who is also responsible for pushing the bogus poison conspiracy. So Nityananda is esponsible for a lot of problems in ISKCON.
