Since the Hare Krishna movement (often referred to as ISKCON - the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) began to grow in the west there have been concerns about it being a strange form of indoctrination and even accusations of "brainwashing". So what is a cult? And are the Hare Krishnas following a bona fide religion or is it just a man-made concoction?
Definition of Cult
The word cult can be used to refer to a religious system, intense devotion and the followers. However there are negative assumptions that are made about cults including the following:
- Cults exploit members financially and may be secretive about their finances.
- There is a strong and persuasive leader, who claims to know what God wants and indoctrinates their members.
- Limiting the freedom of members by cutting them off from the outside world, and do not allow questioning of their practices.
- Criminal behavior, such as rape, suicide, murder and abduction.
- Cults use scare tactics and focus on the imminent end of the world.
- Cults punish those who leave with excommunication, physical harm, or taking legal action against them.
Cults (like many religions) claim to be the only path to salvation. One way to separate the genuine spiritual organizations could be to see where the ideals come from, and whether the philosophy is based on authoritative scriptures.
ISKCON Movement: Cult, Religion or Spiritual Science?
While ISKCON's teachings are based firmly on the authority of the Bhagavad-gita (also an important text for Hindus) they claim to not represent the Hindu religion: "In fact, however, Krishna consciousness is in no way a faith or religion that seeks to defeat other faiths or religions. Rather, it is an essential cultural movement for the entire human society and does not consider any particular sectarian faith. This cultural movement is especially meant to educate people in how they can love God." Though they sometimes use the word cult, it seems to be to describe their "cultural movement" rather than with any type of negative label.
The ISKCON founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada stated that the movement is non-sectarian and a person could simply chant the name of Christ or Krishna to get closer to God. In the book The Science of Self Realization he explains that "The Krishna consciousness movement has nothing to do with the Hindu religion or any system of religion. No Christian gentleman will be interested in changing his faith from Christian to Hindu. Similarly, no Hindu gentleman of culture will be ready to change to the Christian faith. Such changing is for men who have no particular social status. But everyone will be interested in understanding the philosophy and science of God and taking it seriously."
Celebrity Links With ISKCON
In the 70s The Beatles- especially George Harrison spent time with Hare Krishna devotees and even collaborated on some records. Harrison even donated funds for the first printing of the Krishna book and donated the premises now called Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford, England. More recent people that claim to have benefited from speaking to devotees include Nick Nolte and comedian Russell Brand. None of the celebrities claim to have been indoctrinated or pressurized into joining the movement.
Academic Perspective of ISKCON
Dr. J. Gordon Melton, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion (a Californian research facility that studies religious groups and organizations) makes a statement regarding ISKCON pointing out that while practices such as vegetarianism and regular chanting are "certainly different from that of most people, there is no evidence that following such practices have had any harmful effect upon either the Indian public or any person ever affiliated with ISKCON."
He goes on to say "Rather than a danger, ISKCON has shown itself capable of raising up a religious community which turned a number of people alienated from society in the 1970s into substantial law-abiding citizens who have in turn developed a program of service to the community through its efforts to feed the poor and other acts of charity. ISKCON does not threaten any Country’s constitutional freedoms." Overall Melton concludes that the organization has a positive impact on society.
Though the appearance of western devotees following Vedic customs may seem strange; the Hare Krishna philosophy is rooted in genuine scriptures that are shared by Hindus alike. While cults may be seen as negative or even dangerous; the devotion to God promoted by ISKCON is in no way threatening to the public. Followers retain full freedom to live the way they choose, and there are no obligations to leave their families or provide financial donations.
Sources:
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, The Science of Self Realization Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1978
Addictioninfo.org Nick Nolte Fight For Life (Accessed August 1, 2011).
Krishna.org Hindu Cult or Divine Nature? (Accessed August 1, 2011).
Krishna.org Is the Hare Krishna Movement a Cult? (Accessed June 19, 2011).
Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...
