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FAX MESSAGE FROM: Dr. Gavin Flood DATE: 3-2-95 - Re: The Hare Krishna Movement Dear President, I would like to write concerning the Moscow City Duma declaring the Hare Krishna movement or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to be a 'destructive sect'. Placing the Hare Krishna movement in this category is inappropriate for the following reasons. (1) The Hare Krishna movement which was brought over to the west by a learned Indian religious teacher, Srila Prabhupada, has its roots in Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism. the religion of most Indians, is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) in the world. Within Hinduism there are two major traditions focused, on the one hand, on the worship of Shiva, and on the other on the worship of Vishnu or Krishna. The religion focused on Shiva is called Shaivism, while the religion focused on Vishnu - Krishna is called Vaishnavism. ISKCON is a development in the west of Vaishnavism. The particular branch which ISKCON is related to is Bengal Vaishnavism, which traces its immediate development to the highly revered Indian saint Caitanya (1486-1533). So ISKCON is part of Bengal Vaishnavism and beyond that, part of the greater Hindu tradition. (2) Although the clothing and practices of ISKCON devotees might appear strange at first to Western eyes, this is mainly a cultural difference. In India the clothing and religious practices of the Hare Krishna devotees are quite 'normal'. (3) The practices of ISKCON are in complete conformity with Hinduism. ISKCON does not support illegal or immoral activities. Devotees lead highly moral lives, are vegetarians, and are against the taking of drugs and drink. Their religious practices involve presenting offerings to God or Krishna and repeating the name of God or Krishna in order to receive God's grace. They believe that in repeating God's name they will come into contact with him through his grace. The Hare Krishna devotee's life is seen by him/her as one of service to God or Krishna. These practices are not harmful to mental or physical health. (4) There are overlaps between Christianity and ISKCON. Both traditions are essentially theistic; both maintain that human beings should live a highly moral life of service; and both believe that the human condition can be redeemed with effort and God's grace. (5) Of great importance to democratic traditions developing in the west is tolerance of other people's beliefs and ways, even if they differ significantly from our own. Placing ISKCON on a list of 'destructive cults' is discrimination against Hinduism, a major world religion. Indeed other Hindu groups and communities in Russia might suffer as a result of the proposed legislation limiting the activity of ISKCON. Any objective investigation of ISKCON will bare out the above points. In short, ISKCON is not a 'destructive cult'. The movement is made up, on the whole, of sincere people and is part of a greater Hindu tradition. There have been problems in past after the death of Srila Prabhupada, but the movement has matured through these troubles and is now probably less corrupt than some forms of Christianity. I would suggest, therefore, that ISKCON should not be regarded as a destructive cult and that legal and human rights issues should be dealt with either by existing legislation, or by new legislation which is applicable to all groups and individuals, not only to some religious groups. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter. Yours sincerely. Gavin Flood *** TO; Mr. Antall Jozef, FROM: Dr Gavin D. Flood - Lecturer in Indian
Religions and New Religious Movements; Director of the Interfaith
Studies Programme, DATE: 28-4-93 - Re: The Hare Krishna Movement Dear Prime Minister, I would like to write to you to protest against the inclusion of the Hare Krishna movement or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) within the category of 'destructive cults'. Recently the Human Rights Committee of the Hungarian Parliament included ISKCON in a list of four 'destructive cults' which should be disallowed in Hungary. Placing the Hare Krishna movement in this category is unreasonable and inappropriate for the following reasons. The Hare Krishna movement which was brought over to the west by a learned Indian religious teacher, Srila Prabhupada, has its roots in Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism, the religion of most Indians, is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) in the world. Within Hinduism there are two major traditions focused, on the one hand, on the worship of Shiva, and on the other on the worship of Vishnu or Krishna. The religion focused on Shiva is called Shaivism, while the religion focused on Vishnu/Krishna is called Vaishnavism. ISKCON is a development in the west of Vaishnavism. The particular branch which ISKCON is related to is Bengal Vaishnavism, which traces its immediate development to the highly revered Indian saint Caitanya (1486-1533.). So ISKCON is part of Bengal Vaishnavism and beyond that, part of the greater Hindu tradition. Although the clothing and practices of ISKCON devotees might appear strange at first to western eyes, this is mainly a cultural difference. In India the clothing and religious practices of the Hare Krishna devotees are quite 'normal'. The practices of ISKCON are in complete conformity with Hinduism. Devotees lead highly moral lives, are vegetarians, and are against the taking of drugs and drink. Their religious practices involve presenting offerings to God or Krishna and repeating the name of God or Krishna in order to receive God's grace. They believe that in repeating God's name they will come into contact with him through his grace. The Hare Krishna devotee's life is seen by him/her as one of service to God or Krishna. There are overlaps between Christianity and ISKCON. Both traditions are essentially theistic; both maintain that human beings should live a highly moral life of service; and both believe that the human condition can be redeemed with effort and God's grace. Of great importance to democratic traditions developing in the west is tolerance of other people's beliefs and ways, even if they differ significantly from our own. Through keeping ISKCON on the list of 'destructive cults', the Human Rights Group (perhaps an ironic title!) of the Hungarian parliament is discriminating against Hinduism, a major world religion. Indeed other Hindu groups and communities in Hungary might suffer as a result of the proposed legislation. Any objective investigation of ISKCON will bare out the above points. In short, ISKCON is not a 'destructive cult The movement is made up, on the whole, of sincere people and is part of a greater Hindu tradition. There have been problems in past after the death of Srila Prabhupada, but the movement has matured through these troubles and is now probably less corrupt than some forms of Christianity. I would suggest, therefore, that ISKCON should not be regarded as a destructive cult and that legal and human rights issues should be dealt with either by existing legislation, or by new legislation which is applicable to all groups and individuals, not only to some religious groups. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter. Yours sincerely, Dr. Gavin D. Flood |
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