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Re: Hare Krishna
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However I may have sleighted
You, teasing in play, reposing
or sitting or at meals, alone
or in company O Changeless One
I beg You the Immeasurable
to forgive me!
-Bhagavad Geetaa 11:42b
In a previous article, Don Thompson (donthomp@rahul.net) advised:
>: A friend's 20 year old son is considering joining the Hare Krishna Society.
>: Anyone wish to comment on the wisdom of this decision?
>
Dear Mr. Thompson:
A twenty year old deserves the trust of his parents, as trust is the
finest ground for wisdom to develop in. That said, I don't know
anything about the Hare Krishna Society.
However, if by `the Hare Krishna Society' one means Gaudiya Vaishnavism,
one might say. If one means ISKCON, one might say that instead.
If the Hare Krishna Society `is' ISKCON, I suggest the young man attend a
minimum of five temples before accepting initiation as an ISKCONite.
I suggest that cuz I used to think ISKCON was an organization something like
the Catholic Church. (Well, actually the theology is somewhat akin in
ways). I thought just as the Church had a Pope, so ISKCON had Swamiji. As
the Church had cardinals, so ISKCON had gurus. As the Church had parishes,
so ISKCON had zones. As one moved to one parish or another, little
changed, as the Church ever offered the same services, and the only
difference was the local priest.
But I have since changed my mind, and now think ISKCON is more like the
Southrin' Baptists: a loose confederation of individual churches, pretty
much following The Holy Books as they think fit, sans Papal oversight,
but agreeing utterly on Christ's identity, making decisions by committee.
Thus, an aspiring member of either sect might want to visit many many
different temples, meet many many different gurus (in ISKCON) and meet
many many different members of the Governing Board.
For the most part ISKCON is not an organization so much as a
confedaration, and in that sense `is' whatever goes on in the individual
temple one attends. Each site is a mite different. The flavour at New
Vrindivan will be different than that found in the Los Angeles community.
I think that is a good thing, even though some members might think I mean
it is not good. Some members seem to like to think of ISKCON as some huge
worldwide singular entity that is identical in all ways wherever one
goes, but as far as I know only Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses have
achieved that `unity.' I think it is a good idea that each site be a mite
different, since people are different.
Too, while there are many fine and wonderful persons within ISKCON, there
are some who are meanhearted bigots. Therefore rather than joining ISKCON
per se, I suggest the young man join a *congregation* where he finds
godly brotherhood, sound teaching, an authorized instructor, and welcome.
Example is everything for the spiritual aspirant. So, my suggestion
to the young man is: find individuals he admires, and congregate.
As for his parents, where do they congregate that is nobler?
*+*
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Whatever a fine person does, so will others do; people effect behaviour
by example. -Bhagavad Gita 3:21
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