When I began my doctoral work at Harvard, I quickly learned that ISKCON was a laughing stock in my department. Devotees would come to Harvard Square to jump and run around, banging on drums. We all know the story.
Many ISKCON leaders are urging that we give much greater support to ISKCON rural development and cow protection. These are noble goals indeed, but here are some real, practical problems in fostering such a “change of consciousness” among devotees:
It is well known that to get a clear understanding of Prabhupada’s view on a particular topic, we must look at all his statements on that topic. Prabhupada clearly taught that we follow guru-sadhu-shastra, and he made equally clear that
It is well known that to get a clear understanding of Prabhupada’s view on a particular topic, we must look at all his statements on that topic. Prabhupada clearly taught that we follow guru-sadhu-shastra, and he made equally clear that
I feel it’s an unfortunate aspect of ISKCON culture that it marginalizes raganuga-sadhana (particularly in madhurya-bhava) to the point it appears non-existent and even undesirable.
Regarding the statement that Raganuga-bhakti is marginalized, that may be a good thing because it should be, literally, at the margins, and not in the center of a large, sprawling, and largely neophyte spiritual society. A margin is “an edge or border” not in itself pejorative, though the verb “marginalize” may have negative connotations.
I’ve seen many husbands in our society whose wives are so busy serving the society/guru that they have no time for family. They expect the husband to assist them in a service which the husband has no inclination for. This is one form of neglect/abuse.
I agree, but everything said below for women also applies to men. We have seen too many men neglect their wives and children in the name of “preaching.” The entire family depends on