The Hinduization of ISKCON

[Guest guest]

In this regard, I was thinking that if ISKCON as a whole, managerially and

otherwise, is truly being influenced (even subtly) by an Indian/Hindu

congregation, one path towards the successful establishment of cow/bull

protection would

be to influence the congregation, with quotes as those below and of course

those of Srila Prabhupada (who was actually fond of Gandhi prior to meeting

Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Thakur), to the point where they too demand

reform from ISKCON management.

 

As mentioned previously -- there is no easier way to get the attention of

management than to influence the source of funding.

 

"Utility is the principle!"

 

Just some thoughts,

 

ys-Gopal dasa

 

--------------------

In a message dated 2/15/2004 1:11:06 PM Central Standard Time,

Rupanuga.TKG (AT) pamho (DOT) net writes:

Good quotes, Prabhu, even if coming from Gandhi. A good example of taking

gold from a filthy place. Well, maybe not filthy, but not pure according to

Srila Prabhupada's standard.

[Guest guest]

-

Dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com

Sunday, February 15, 2004 12:26 pm

The Hinduization of ISKCON

 

> On second thought, lets "Hinduize" ISKCON after all (but not how

> its

> happening today) --see quotes below:

>

> "Cow protection is the gift of Hinduism to the world." - MK Gandhi

> (Mahatma,

> Ed. DG Tendulkar, Vol. 2, 2nd Ed., 1960)

>

> "My religion teaches me that I should, by my personal conduct,

> instill into

> the minds of those who might hold different views the conviction

> that

> cow-killing is a sin." - MK Gandhi (Collected Works of Mahatma

> Gandhi, Vol. XXV).

>

> "When I see a cow, it is not an animal to eat; it is a poem of

> pity for me

> and I worship it and I shall defend its worship against the whole

> world." - MK

> Gandhi (Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. XXV).

> -------------------

> We simply have to stress that the best way to promote cow

> protection is to

> show the wrold the usefulness of the living cow and bull by

> engaging them in the

> service of God/Krishna through sattvik, devotional agricultural

> projects.

> ys - Gopal dasa

 

Sorry. I can't agree. I'm not a member of PETA and I'm not a Hindu.

 

I agree with many of the things both groups do, but I consider both

perspectives a distraction from obtaining pure devotional service to Lord

Krsna.

 

I believe that Srila Prabhupada's unique perspective will give us all the best

of what they both have, but without the materialistic baggage.

 

My hog farmer Uncle Mike would not visit a PETA meeting, and my Muslim friends

would not attend a demigod festival. But both have been attracted by Srila

Prabhupada's broader message of devotional service to Krsna.

 

Demigod worship is central to Hinduism. Just ask any Hinduism professor.

 

I was cleaning my husband's room last night and found a copy of Sri Isopanisad

that our daughter gave him in 1983 (she was 3 yrs old then, so of course I had

helped, but she signed it). Out of curiosity and sentimentalism I picked it

up. I flipped open to the following passage which I had forgotten:

 

Those who are engaged in the worship of the demigods enter into the darkest

region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshippers of the Absolute.

-- Mantra Twelve

 

That convinced me even more that it's time for ISKCON to get back on track and

leave Hindu-oriented distractions behind.

 

 

ys

 

hkdd