At AllFaith.com I share numerous studies into the world's religions based on my personal quest for Truth. Over the years this research has led me to embrace Judaism. That is now the main focus of the domain.
On my blogs I share many of these studies and invite your questions and comments.
Also see my Xanga Blog.
Todah veShalom,
~ John of AllFaith
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Whatever Happened to the Hare krsna Movement
May Lord Nrsimhadev Protect Us All!
What Ever Happened to the Hare Krsna Movement? Part One
From time to time I receive questions about the Hare Krsna Movement (ISKCON) from people who are considering getting involved in it but are concerned about some of the things they have heard. Following is my honest attempt to explain this situation in a balanced way.
To begin with, the Hare Krsna ("Krishna") Movement is part of a larger sect known as Gaudiya (i.e. Bengali) Vaisnavism ("Vaishnavism"), which is a sect of Vaisnavism (worshipers of Lord Vishnu), which is a sect of the Sanatana Dharma (commonly known as "Hinduism"), which is the third largest and oldest extant religion on earth. Hinduism was already ancient when Abraham was a baby!
I mention this because one common question is whether or not the Hare Krsna Movement is a "cult." As a general statement a "cult" is any religion that one does not approve of! I've even had people insist that Islam is a cult! No, these are religions and religious sects not cults. I've been directly and indirectly involved with ISKCON and other groups within Gaudiya Vaisnavism for many many years and I can assure you that despite the abuses I'll get into below, Gaudiya Vaisnavism is merely a sect of the world's third largest and oldest religion. SOME individuals in this sect made some serious mistakes years ago, mistakes that our Guru Maharaja would have condemned in the strongest possible terms. In many ways it is different than what many people are used to but then, "Bible believing Christianity" seems odd to Indian Vaisnavas as well.
Despite common misconceptions, in Hindu dharma (teaching) there is but One God. This One God is utterly beyond human conception and description. For this reason the Deity is conceived of in myriad ways including in various forms that may appear to the uninformed as polytheism. For instance on the top of this page you will a murti (image) of Lord Nrsimhadev. He is a popular Avatar of Lord Visnu who is featured in the story of God rescuing the young Pralada Maharaja from his demonic father. I share this inspirational story here. The feats of such Avatars are actually accounts of Divine intervention inti the affairs of humanity. Most of the Vedic accounts took place during the age prior to our or even earlier. These ancient histories directly and indirectly impacted the development of later religions like Zoroastrianism, Judaism and so on.
God is One.
Prayers to Lord Nrsinghadeva
An ancient teaching is
Ekam Sat: Vipra Bahudha Vadante:
"Truth is one; sages call it by various names."
And again as we read in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.9.1:
"Then Vidaghdha, son of Shakala, asked him, "How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
Yajnavalkya, ascertaining the number through a group of mantras known as the Nivid, replied, "As many as are mentioned in the Nivid of the gods: three hundred and three, and three thousand and three."
"Very good," said the son of Shakala, "and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Thirty-three."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Six."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Three."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Two."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"One and a half."
"Very good, and how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"
"Ek [one]."
So the question is: Who is the One God?
Is there a Supreme Personality of Godhead Who is the Source of all?
No comments:
Post a Comment