Oberoende akademiska och övriga utlåtanden, brev etc
om Krishnarörelsen
(ISKCON - Det Internationella Sällskapet för Krishnamedvetande)

ROBERT JACKSON - Dr

WARWICK RELIGIONS AND EDUCATION RESEARCH UNIT
Director: Dr Robert Jackson
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
COVENTRY CV4 7AL U.K

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION

Mr Boris Yeltsin The Kremlin Moscow

February 7th 1995

Dear Mr Yeltsin

I am one of countless people outside Russia who has welcomed the possibility of democratic institutions and religious freedom becoming established in Russia. I am also aware of the fears and uncertainties that beset this process.

As a scholar studying contemporary religions (including both Orthodox Christianity and the Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON) I am particularly disturbed to hear that the Moscow city Duma has
declared the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to be a destructive sect. I believe that the State Parliament is currently considering a new law that would outlaw this movement.

I find this especially sad at a time when antidotes are urgently needed to some of the morally undesirable influences to which Russia is now open. From personal experience and academic study I can assure you that followers of ISKCON try to live up to extremely high ethical standards. These exclude altogether the consumption of alcohol (a great problem, causing ill health and crime in many western countries, as you know) and the use of drugs. Devotees are
also expected to maintain a high level of sexual morality, but this certainly does not result in 'mental castration'.

In Britain, we benefit from a number of religious communities and traditions, including - increasingly - Russian and Greek Orthodoxy. In many ways members of different faiths here cooperate in common concern at the erosion of spiritual and moral values in what can seem a superficial materialist society. There is much that people of different faiths can share with each other (e.g. a concern for social work) as well as learn from each other (e.g. ISKCON prepare wonderful vegetarian food!)

Although ISKCON may be a new phenomenon in Russia, it is not new in Britain. The children of the first generation of devotees here are now adults. Its origins in India are in the centuries-old Vaishnava strand of the Hindu faith. It is certainly inaccurate to regard ISKCON as a dangerous new movement.

I will gladly provide information from my study of young Hindus including those influenced by this movement if that would be helpful.

With good wishes

Yours sincerely