Two months ago since the launch of Krishna West, Hridayananda das Goswami has been speaking with ISKCON leaders throughout the world regarding the role of Krishna West and the importance of expanding ISKCON’s western preaching mission.

As an ISKCON project, Krishna West is an initiative conceived by Hridayananda das Goswami to help facilitate ISKCON’s outreach to western audiences. In the Krishna West mission statement, Hridayananda das Goswami explains:

We call this movement Krishna West because we do everything possible to make bhakti-yoga easy, relevant and enjoyable for Western people, without in any way compromising, diluting, or diminishing the purity and power of a glorious ancient tradition. We do this by offering the essential spiritual teaching and practice in its entirety, without requiring students and practitioners to embrace a new ethnicity composed of non-essential Eastern dress, cuisine, music etc. People in the West need and deserve the chance to practice genuine bhakti-yoga within an external culture that is comfortable and natural for them.

Since learning about Krishna West, many ISKCON leaders have embraced the project and are now eager to participate. Other leaders have volunteered to systematically correct any misunderstandings within ISKCON regarding Krishna West’s mood and mission. In response to the enthusiastic support and encouragement, Hridayananda das Goswami explains, “It is so clearly Krishna. I’m just trying to do my part and not get in Krishna’s way!”

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