Culture Matters, What is ISKCON? - Incompatibility with ISKCON

[Guest guest]

Comments on Damana Prabhu’s feedback:

 

“ I think there is no problem with hinduism, but if we are not strongly

preaching that only Vishnu is Supreme then surely we will loose our

purity.”

 

On the contrary, there is a problem with Hinduism. And it is a theological

one, for Hinduism is polytheistic. In Hinduism, Lord Vishnu or Lord

Krishna is a just another “Hindu god.” Not the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, as Srila Prabhupada so potently presented Him to us in the West.

 

 

“So what is the use. It may be useful to get more donations, imidge,

acceptance in public etc. “

 

Our Krishna Consciousness Movement is not dependent on anyone’s donations,

whether coming from Westerners or Hindus. And as far as public image in

concerned, we are doing a bad job in many fronts, without having the mess

with the Hindu label on us. In reality, public image is all about

character, integrity, and the quality of human beings we are producing in

ISKCON. That involves how we lead our personal lives, the purity stability

of our leaders and followers alike, the integrity of our organization, the

stability and good example of our families. I don’t see how the Hind label

has to do anything with these elements of public image!!!

 

“But is it pleasing to Lord Caitanya.”

How do you know that the Hindu label is pleasing to Lord Caitanya? Can you

read His mind? When was the last time He talked to you??? How can you make

such a claim? I think, to be on the safe side, we ought to go by what is

pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. And that’s why I proposed (as a response to

Bashu Gosh’s assertion) that someone needs to do research in Prabhupada’s

folio on this Hindu stuff. We may all have our own personal opinions about

what the Lord may want about it. But I think personal opinions or

assertions may or may not help. They are not conclusive. What would be

conclusive is to know what Srila Prabhupada opined on this matter.

 

 

“I think here the leaders have to make a very deep analysis how to

establish Lord Krishna as the only God in hinduism by using sastra etc.”

 

Again Prabhupada never said that “Lord Krishna is the only God in

Hinduism” !!!! On the contrary, Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of

Godhead of the whole universe. (Again I am willing to be corrected

provided some evidence is given).

 

 

“In holy places there is still lots of vaishnava culture. So we can learn

a lot. In Mayapur there are still many vaishnavas following the vaishnava

culture. And this is not some mundane culture. Its very close to the

spiritual culture.”

Yes we relate to your realization. But the issue under discussion is not

Vaishnava culture; it is Hindu culture, Hindu civilization, Hinduism

itself. Now, I am at a loss here. I know very little of Hinduism, since

Srila Prabhupada didn’t come to teach it to us. And the only information I

have gathered, in my years of studies about Hinduism, comes from Hindus

themselves and Western scholars. Hinduism is filled with impersonalism and

polytheism. Vaishnava culture is not equal to Hindu culture; or is it?

 

 

“I think Basu Ghoshs Pr.conclusion is correct. You can just observe

devotees spending some time in India and in West.”

Again, we as individuals may have our own “conclusions.” That is not the

point. The point is to know what’s Srila Prabhupada conclusion on the

matter!!!

 

 

“Then you can analyse who has adopted vaishnava culture more. I can see

even by pratyaksa that such facts are there.”

 

Osmosis, as you implied in this statement, may work; I have no doubts

about it. But where did Srila Prabhupada state or write or comment that

we, Westerners, need to come to India, to learn Hindu stuff to be able to

make it as Vaishnavas?

 

Mention one, just one, Hindu custom, or Hindu philosophical concept that

Prabhupada ever gave us...