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ISKCON

ISKCON. RELS 225 Cults and New Religious Movements. Asian Influence in the USA. Turn to the East in 1965-1975 1924 Asian Exclusion Act until 1965 Hinduism 4 million practicing Transcendental Meditation in the US at one point Ragneesh (“ Osho ” from 1989 on) Pete Townsend (the Who)

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ISKCON

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  1. ISKCON • RELS 225 • Cults and New Religious Movements

  2. Asian Influence in the USA • Turn to the East in 1965-1975 • 1924 Asian Exclusion Act until 1965 • Hinduism • 4 million practicing Transcendental Meditation in the US at one point • Ragneesh (“Osho” from 1989 on) • Pete Townsend (the Who) • “Between 1969 and 1971 Townsend, along with other devotees to Meher Baba, recorded a trio of albums devoted to the yogi's teachings: Happy Birthday, I Am, and With Love.” See O Parvardigar

  3. 1893: World Parliament of Religions • Next to the World Fair in Chicago • Attended by thousands • Dominantly Christian, but some Shinto, Zen, Hindu practitioners. • Small, unassuming Hindu was the star: Vivekananda

  4. ISKCON (Hare Krishna) • Mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare • George Harrison (After the breakup of the Beatles) • My Sweet Lord • All his love songs: he’s not singing to a woman. • Boy George

  5. History of Hare Krishna • A sect of Hinduism. • Not really a NRM. • Only new to us in North America. • “Hinduism” is multi-form, although now it is becoming homogenized. • Krishna Consciousness is from the Middle Ages in the form of Gaudiya Vaishnava. • ISKCON founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

  6. Two styles of Hinduism: Monism & Bhakti • Monism • Philosophical • The One (Theosophy) • Rooted in the Upanishads (5th Century BCE) • Brahman is One. • Chandayoga Upanishad: “Tat vamasi” “That art thou” • Become ready for this by practicing yoga. • Surrender to a guru. • Humiliation to show non-egoism • Key to salvation is knowing (knowledge) • Only when you have correct knowledge do you know how to love.

  7. Two styles of Hinduism: Monism & Bhakti • Bhakti • Devotion • ISKCON falls into this category • Like Christianity, with a God of Love. • Out of true love comes knowledge. • BhagavadGita • Krishna plays a flute, advises Arjuna: • Arjuna has a dilemma: killing relatives in battle. • Lesson: no choice but to fight and fulfill your social duty as a warrior. Do your duty without concern for personal benefit. • How? Focus attention on me & I will assist you to do it with purity & detachment.

  8. Medieval Origins • Krishna bhakti movement founded by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu • A late medieval saint from NE India, travelled all over India; popular. • Revival in late 19th Century • Caitanya initiated sankirtana • a practice requiring followers to dance in the streets, singing praises of Lord Krishna.

  9. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada • 1896-1977 • Had been manager in a chemical firm, until his retirement in 1954. • Had published in English • Spiritual master was Bhaktisiddhanta (died 1936) • Instructed ACB to carry the teachings of Krishna Consciousness to the West. • Published Back to Godhead magazine, used to promote his movement in America. • Took order of sannyasa (religious ascetic, dedicated to religious cause) at age 59.

  10. Growth in America • On a steamer, Prabhupada came to New York in 1965 with $50 in his pocket. • Wanders around Greenwich Village • Bumps into hippies, who become his first disciples. • By 1967, dozens of centres • 1987: 50 temples in US, 1775 other temples around world • Recruited alienated youth from the counterculture. • Membership began to decline in 1974 • As a missionary movement, ISKCON was opportunistic in its recruitment strategies.

  11. Appearance • Sikha: Men shave head, • To avoid vanity • except for a tuft at the end. • Signifies surrender to guru and Krishna

  12. Appearance • Dhoti: Men wear robe: • white • Saffron if far along. • Formal wear in India. • Sari • Women wear traditional Indian garb • Any colour, but modest

  13. Appearance • Tilak • Dab of clay down the middle of forehead • Reminder that body is temple of lord. • Body must be pure, in all you eat & do.

  14. Practices • Kritan (video) • Chanting for hours to get into a state • Centre of religion • Prasadam (link to explanation) • Free food distribution • Famous for its cuisine • All food is an offering to the Lord • Also, giving to emergency relief, like Red Cross.

  15. Beliefs • Not sophisticated doctrine • Until recently, women had to hope for reincarnation as a man • Emphasizes orthopraxis over orthodoxy.

  16. Teachings • Find blissful consciousness is this lifetime. • We are spirit souls, parts of God. • Krsna is omni-everything, father & sustainer • Absolute truth is in all great scriptures, • But the BhagavadGita is oldest, the literal record of God’s actual words. • Learn from an unselfish focussed guru • Offer food to Krsna before entry • All actions are for Krsna, not for our sense gratification. • To achieve love of God, recommended chant Lord’s names, e.g., mantra • We are in the end times; The universe is near its end (Apocalyptic)

  17. Krishna • Krsna is worshipped in one of his manifestations: a charming young man living in a village. • Beautiful, mischievous, girls all in love with him. • Approachably human, metaphoricized as love. • You’re supposed to fall in love with him. • Radha the gopi receives special favour.

  18. Nature of humanity • Traditional Hindu view. • We are spirit souls • Obtain release from this material existence if you can. • A world of sadness, woe. • Reincarnation is not a good thing • Karma • Death & the Afterlife (escaping samsara) • One ceases to exist & becomes one with Krishna.

  19. The Good life • Highly prescriptive, puritanical religion • Ascetic. • Wear this, get up at this time, chant this number of mantras. • Very strict dietary rules. • Men & women live separately; highly chaperoned. • In favour of children. • The ritual is not magical; it reminds you of what your inner discipline is. • Pacifist; communal.

  20. Overall • Particularistic religion. • It’s the ultimate religion. • Good book (in our library): • Canadian Susan Palmer, Moon Sisters, Krishna Mothers, Rajneesh Lovers: Women's Roles in New Religions.

  21. Decline • Charges of brainwashing from anti-cultists • Media portrayed it as a dangerous cult. • Alternate fundraising • Had been bookselling • Branched into music, art. • Dressed as Santa Claus soliciting donations • Movement became financially-driven, rather than principle-driven (spreading the movement) • Now, ISKCON’s sectarian lifestyle has given way to domesticity: jobs, families, etc. • ISKCON’s temples are used by thousands of East Indian immigrants in North America. • “A faith too accommodated to worldliness lacks power for conversion” (Rodney Stark)

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