Rebel – Europe: Being inspired to know more about the teaching expounded in these most brilliant of books, the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, by the greatest saint, teacher, guru and embodiment of human being, of all ages, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda , it was recommended to approach one of the ISKCON centers.
After being for some years in some of the centers of ISKCON, one may come to a conclusion how different things are there, than one may expect after reading above mentioned books. A center of Saints in which one could learn and become a saint, within the speed of light and the ease of going to high school. However I remained a fool, maybe because I didn’t like school, and being fast has proven not to last.
When Indians see us they sometimes ask – ISKCON?
Exited, flattered and inspired the answer would be Yeess, with a big smile, “ISKCON”
This question nowadays enacts a more complex thought and reaction pattern:
Hmm, ISKCON of Prabhupāda, naḥ, I’m too fallen, not qualified for that one.
Hmm, this society of leaders and followers within ISKCON, having separate agenda than the founder, his Divine Grace, naḥ I’m too fallen, not qualified, and not interested to follow and or to be exploited, the very reason for leaving the materialistic world.
The topic ISKCON is not only an interesting one, but also one that causes concern.
Here are some resent statements regarding ISKCON:
The Ṛtvik leaders are just as corrupt as ISKCON.
This statement implies that ISKCON is corrupt.
The ISKCON you see today is not the same. It might look like it, but it is not, (it is a con), and Śrīla Prabhupāda nor Krishna are inside of it any longer.
This statement implies that Krishna has left ISKCON. There is no difference between Krishna and the deities on the altar, so if Krishna has left this implies the deities have also left.
ISKCON is full of unsavory social & sexual deviants. It appears clear to me, Iskcon provides safe refuge, and a smoke screen for perverts & violent devotees with psychopathic & sociopathic characteristics, to act out unwell atrocities against women and children.
Hope this statement is not based on fact but generalization, however more and more discredit directed to IKSCON is being shown on Indian TV and in newspapers. Should the father be blamed for the sins of his son?
For those of you who are attached to living in ignorance, ISKCON is considered as good as an apa-sampradāya by many genuine Vaiṣṇavas from the other sampradāyas. They don’t care to read our literatures, because they have rejected the movement by observing its deeply pitiable condition and that of its inhabitants, especially the Gurus.
They have a solid culture and they know what the real standards are. ISKCON has become a laughing stock within the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya.
This statement implies that ISKCON is considered an apasampradāya.
Hopefully these genuine Vaiṣṇava’s are inspired from within to distinguish between the spiritual movement ISKCON, coming from Krishna to us by Prabhupāda, and the materialistic movement.
A Vaiṣṇava failing to recognize the greatness of Prabhupāda, and his books, is surely unfortunate.
By disobeying the orders of Bhaktisiddhānta Goswami Mahārāja, the preaching potency of the Gauḍīya Math has been checked. The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sampradāya should be very concerned that whatever movement is spreading love of God, is being checked by Kalichela’s. And should therefore be praying and eager to assist, that this does not happen to ISKCON, for whatever movement they have could be next. Now these rouges and thieves are trying to check the preaching of ISKCON, but to no avail. They may take a few with them to Hell, but the sankirtan movement of Lord Chaitanya can’t be checked.
It is obvious that ISKCON has been infiltrated and being used by a nefarious society of leaders and followers, to discredit the real purpose of ISKCON as given by his Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. ISKCON is also being used freely to imply something which it’s not.
This is done purposefully by these offenders, and pretenders, and sometimes mistakenly by others.
What would you answer if you were ask, what is ISKCON ?
ISKCON according to Prabhupāda :
Prabhupāda: ISKCON. That is a short-cut of “International Society for Krishna Consciousness.”
(conversation march 9, 1974)
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(from vedabase, legal document of incorporation 1966 at Newyork)
International society for Krishna Consciousness is an interesting name chosen by Prabhupāda.
He could have called it International Krishna Conscious Society, or International Society of Krishna
Consciousness or Krishna Consciousness Society International.
However his chosen name is so perfect, that it leaves no space for the flickering mind, to misunderstand or misinterpret the meaning of this movement.
Prabhupāda expertise in conveying a most profound meaning by use of just a few words is just mind boggling and beyond the reach of spiritualist of this universe, what to speak of the misdirected materialistic scientist, speculative philosophers and or bogus yogi’s.
The purpose of ISKCON according to Prabhupāda:
(a) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
(b) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagawat Gītā and Śrīmad Bhagawatam.
(c) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at largo, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
(d) To teach and encourage the Samkirtan movement congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.
(e) To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
(f) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
(g) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
(from Vedabase, legal document of incorporation 1966 at Newyork)
Interviewer: Swami, will you get a little closer to that microphone, if you will. You are the head of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Interviewer: Is it a church?
Prabhupāda: It is not exactly a church, but it is an institution for understanding the science of God.
(Radio enterview, march 12, 1968)
Brahmānanda: You’ve, said that our society ISKCON is like a sample of the spiritual world.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes.
(Morning walk, may 4, 1973)
Our Krishna consciousness movement is genuine, historically authorized, natural and transcendental due to its being based on Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. It is gradually becoming the most popular movement in the entire world, especially amongst the younger generation. It is becoming more and more interesting to the older generation also. Older gentlemen are becoming interested, so much so that the fathers and grandfathers of my disciples are encouraging us by becoming life members of our great society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
In Los Angeles many fathers and mothers used to come to see me to express their feelings of gratitude for my leading the Krishna consciousness movement throughout the entire world. Some of them said that it is greatly fortunate for the Americans that I have started the Krishna consciousness movement in America. But actually the original father of this movement is Lord Krishna Himself, since it was started a very long time ago but is coming down to human society by disciplic succession. If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya 108 Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda.
(Bhagavad Gītā as it is, preface, may 12, 1971)
As instructed by Prabhupāda, ISKCON is an international society for Krishna Consciousness. A society in which we can practice Krishna consciousness and help others to become Krishna conscious, by following the instructions of Krishna, given to us by His Divine Grace.
Societies practicing and propagating anything other than love of Godhead, Krishna Consciousness, under the guidance of Prabhupāda, are not ISKCON.
ISKCON founder Ācārya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda Ki Jaya!!!!!!!!!!!
