Dear Devotees,
Jaya Prabhupada! It has come to my attention that some devotees argue Krishna West by saying that we have shown no results. The truth is very different. Several sincere devotees began a KW program in Chapel Hill last year. I just heard from Bir Krishna Goswami that there are now twenty students chanting japa.
Similarly in many countries, hundreds and thousands of devotees have found new inspiration to preach Krishna consciousness. Obviously this is a gradual process, but in Israel and now Italy, many devotees are finding this new inspiration in their preaching work.
Regarding Krishna West success, I must also mention one of our best programs, Pandavas Paradise in Brazil. This rural spiritual retreat hosts many hundreds of guests every year from around the world.
Please note that the traditional style of presenting Krishna consciousness has not shown significant success in thirty years. Yet the critics of KW demand huge results immediately. I am quite sure that it will take far less than thirty years to show very convincing results.
Ironically, the GBC and other senior devotees were very concerned that:
Krishna West not become a separate movement, nor even a “movement within the movement.”
Krishna West not interfere with existing ISKCON projects.
This is ironic because our gradual speed is linked to these two factors. I have not established a central KW administration, nor taken other steps to formally organize an international “movement within the movement” in order not to alarm our many critics and skeptics.
Also, I and other KW devotees have taken many measures to avoid disturbing temples or attracting devotees, even congregation devotees, away from their temple services.
We have chosen consciously to grow at a slower pace in order to avoid conflict in ISKCON. And, of course, now the critics criticize us for going gradually. We should not take these criticisms seriously.
Thank you all for your support.
With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
July 21, 2015