Is ISKCON an American organization that sends temple donations from India to America?
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Answer Summary:

  1. ISKCON is not an American organization, but an international organization.
  2. ISKCON has a standard policy of each center being financially self-sustaining. So normally donations from one temple are not sent to another temple even in the same country, what to speak of outside the country.
  3. As special holy places in India like Vrindavan and Mayapur are sacred for ISKCON devotees from all over the world, they give donations for temples there. So there is indeed a flow of donations, but it is into India, not out of India.
  4. ISKCON follows the vision of Srila Prabhupada, its founder, who envisioned a global East-West partnership with India contributing spiritual wisdom and the West contributing material resources, so ISKCON uses the latest technology that might make it seem foreign to some people.
  5. Those who target ISKCON for its foreign connections are misinformed because, though ISKCON started in America, ISKCON India is run almost entirely by Indians for offering cultural and spiritual services to Indians.
  6. ISKCON’s contributions in sharing India’s spiritual culture all over the world have been appreciated by eminent statesmen, thinkers and scholars of religion.

Answer:

A video that has gone viral on youtube makes this bizarre claim. The claim is bizarre because nothing about it is true – in fact, the truth is entirely opposite to the claim. Let’s deconstruct the claim point-by-point:

1.    ISKCON is not an American organization, but an international organization.

ISKCON by its very name The International Society for Krishna consciousness points to its global mission. It was established in America in 1966 by Srila Prabhupada, but the krishna-bhakti that it intends to share with the world has been practiced in Indian for millennia. And now ISKCON has over 600 centers, spread across nearly all the countries of the world, thus fulfilling the vision implied in its name. After Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON’s leadership is now shared by a Governing Body Commission, which comprises of spiritual leaders from various parts of the world, with no nation’s leaders having any exclusive or excessive privileges. So from both its membership and leadership point of view, ISKCON is not an American organization, but an international organization.

2.    ISKCON has a standard policy that each center is financially self-sustaining. So donations from one temple are not sent to another temple even in the same country, what to speak of outside the country.

According to the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita, the sacred text that is the scriptural basis for ISKCON, every person is a soul with the spiritual potential for devotion to God, Krishna. With this principle, Srila Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to universalize krishna-bhakti by inspiring people all over the world to practice it and further share it with others. That’s why whenever he established centers anywhere in the world, he intended the local devotees there to take up the initiative for maintaining and expanding it. Accordingly, ISKCON has a standard policy of financial independence and self-sustainability for each of its center. So, there’s no transfer of donations from even one center to another even within the same country, what to speak of from one country to another. What to speak of sending donations from country to country or city to city, donations are normally not sent even within the same city from one temple to another. That’s why for example in metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai where ISKCON has many temples, some are huge, some are modest and some are small, depending on the capacity of the local patrons to support the temple.

3.    As special holy places in India like Vrindavan and Mayapur are sacred for ISKCON devotees from all over the world, they give donations for temples there. So if there is any flow of donations, it is into India, not out of India.

The only exception to this principle of self-sustenance is with regards to temples in pilgrimage places that are sacred for ISKCON devotees all over the world. Srila Prabhupada wanted at these places magnificent cultural centers built around majestic temples – devotional retreats that would attract, shelter and inspire seekers from the world over. So, he encouraged temples and devotees everywhere to contribute for the devotional projects at these places. Thus, for example, for the temple in Sridhama Mayapur, near Kolkata, one of ISKCON’s prominent patrons, Alfred Ford (Ambarisha Dasa), the great-grandson of the famous American industrialist, Henry Ford, has personally contributed as well as solicited with his global contacts donations to the tune of Rs 250 crores. The Mayapur Temple is going to be the biggest Vedic temple in the world and will significantly enhance the cultural glory of India.

So, on the exceptional occasions when donations do move from one place to another, that movement is from is not from India to elsewhere, but from the rest of the world to India, to enhance India’s cultural glory by making those holy places more attractive for visitors.

4.    ISKCON follows the vision of Srila Prabhupada, its founder, who envisioned a global East-West partnership with India contributing spiritual wisdom and the West contributing material resources, so ISKCON uses the latest technology that might make it seem foreign to some people.

Srila Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to serve as a vibrant vehicle for the spiritual rejuvenation of the entire world. To this end, he applied the traditional metaphor of the blind man-lame man joining forces to progress along the way. The West having to a large extent lost its spiritual moorings due to excessive materialism is like the proverbial blind man and the East, especially India, due to its financial weakness caused largely by nearly a millennia of foreign domination and exploitation, is like the lame man. ISKCON works to integrate the strengths of both – the spiritual wisdom of India and the material expertise of the West – for offering world-class facilities for the progressive respiritualization of the whole world. ISKCON has been a pioneer in using the latest technology and other such material resources in its temples. Such things that are not seen in other traditional temples (though many other temples have also started integrating such things too) may give some undiscerning Indian nationalists the mistaken impression that ISKCON is a foreign organization. But it isn’t – it's firmly rooted in the krishna-bhakti tradition coming from India and simply uses global resources for sharing that tradition with the world.

5.    Those who target ISKCON for its foreign connections are misinformed because, though ISKCON started in America, ISKCON India is run almost entirely by Indians for offering cultural and spiritual services to Indians.

In ISKCON’s Indian temples, non-Indian devotees are often seen, usually while they are on a pilgrimage to India. The presence of such foreigners attracts a lot of attention and may give the impression to some people that these foreigners run ISKCON. But that’s far from the truth. ISKCON was started in America in 1966 and for the first one-two decades of its history, its global leaders were primarily Americans, because they happened to be its initial members. But since the 1980s, hundreds and thousands of Indians have started practicing Krishna consciousness and they are now the prominent members and leaders of ISKCON, who actively share its cultural and spiritual gifts with fellow Indians. ISKCON India has books, courses and cultural centers customized to serve the needs, interest and concerns of Indians.

Moreover, today, ISKCON India is the leader for the rest of ISKCON with respect to number of practitioners, number of temples and number of spiritual books distributed.

So not only is ISKCON India essentially Indian, even ISKCON international has a prominent Indian presence. Hence, allegations about ISKCON’s foreign roots or connections are totally baseless.

6.    ISKCON’s contributions in sharing India’s spiritual culture all over the world have been appreciated by eminent statesmen, thinkers and scholars of religion.

Here are a few examples:

"The ISKCON movement has few parallels in the world in terms of its rapid global spread, its trans-national, trans-ethnic, and trans-professional appeal, its outward simplicity, and the devotional energy of its followers. In the less than three and a half decades since its inception it has established temples in practically all parts of the world, and many of them are marvels of beauty, such as the one that is being opened in New Delhi today. The maha-mantra of Hare Krishna Hare Rama reverberates to the dancing feet of ISKCON devotees each morning and evening in temples from Stockholm to Sao Paulo and from Miami to Mäyäpur. What ISKCON has achieved is indeed globalization of the Gita appeal."

- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India

"Guess again if you think Bollywood, or Indian writing in English, is the country's biggest cultural export. You may not come across any of these if you visit Cochabamba in Bolivia or Gaborone in Botswana, what you will find instead is a centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) ... It is easy to see where the Krishna movement's global appeal lies. In the midst of today's impersonal institutions and vast bureaucratic collectivities, it promises an intimate relationship with a personal god."

-       Times of India editorial, Jan 6, 2006

"The Hare Krishna movement arose out of next to nothing in less than twenty years and has become known all over the West. This is an important fact in the history of the Western world ... for the first time since the days of the Roman Empire, an Asian religion is being openly practiced by people of western origin in the streets of western cities."

- Dr. A.L. Basham; Eminent scholar of Hinduism, Author of A Cultural History of India

When ISKCON is striving tirelessly and selflessly for preserving and sharing India’s spiritual culture in India as well as over the world, as has been recognized by unbiased and eminent authorities, it’s unfortunate that some people with mistaken notions are making baseless allegations against it. We hope that this document clarifies the misconceptions and helps us all focus unitedly on the important work of raising global human consciousness by sharing spiritual wisdom and devotional culture.

To know more about ISKCON's contributions to India, please see these series of talks centered on the acronym India:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/04/iskcons-contributions-to-india-1-overview-acronym-india/

INDIA acronym:

I – Internationalization

N – Non-discrimination

D – Development

I – Infrastructure

A – Appreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Vrindavan Daily darsan @ June 16, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

They have given Their lives to each other. During bathing, sleeping, eating, and all other activities, Their intense, ever-new love does not allow Them to remain separated. They eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes together in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana forest. Let me worship that supremely sweet, splendid divine couple.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-63, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Stockholm, June 2014 – Part 2
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Report by Hari Vilasa das*

DSC_0429Since his arrival at New Radhakunda, outside of Stockholm (2 June), Kadamba Kanana Swami has spent the most part of every day in his room, or what he calls “the cave” (picture attached)! He emerges at breakfast and lunch time, and then re-enters the cave where he types away on his MacBook. He is finishing a book that he has been working on for the last five years. Trying to write while travelling around the world is a difficult business and this month of dedicated writing time is needed to bring everything together…

The rooms here are equipped with huge soundproof double-doors but it is rarely necessary to use them as New Radhakunda is very peaceful and quiet – the perfect place for writing! However, even peaceful and quiet has to be balanced out by some action and loud transcendental noises, so on Sundays, Maharaj puts down his pen (or closes his laptop) and gives the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class at New Radhakunda and the Sunday feast class at the Hare Krsna Centre in Stockholm. On Sunday (15 June), the class focused on the Panihati Festival which was celebrated.

*Hari Vilasa Das is from Stellenbosch, South Africa. He is currently assisting Kadamba Kanana Swami with various services.

Photos

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Audio

KKS_Stockholm_15 June 2014_SB 2.5.22

KKS_Stockholm_15 June 2014_Sunday Feast: Panihati Festival

KKS_Stockholm_15 June 2014_Bhajan

 

The Advantage of the Present Age of Kali, June 15, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

Chaitanya-Mahaprabhu-as-Radha-Krishna1Giriraj Swami and Bhakti Charu Swami spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18 during the Sunday festival in New Dvaraka.

“Krishna considers who is qualified and who is not, and accordingly He gives His mercy. But Srimati Radharani did not consider the qualification of a person to receive mercy or not. She gives without consideration of qualification. Therefore Krishna decided to come as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, assuming the mood of Srimati Radharani. And what is He doing? He is distributing without any consideration of qualification. One’s birth and other things like that are considered external considerations for qualification. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to distribute His mercy without any consideration of qualification. And that is what has been explained in this verse.”

—Bhakti Charu Swami

Giriraj Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

New Vrindaban 24 Hour Kirtan Set to “Tattoo Hearts with the Holy Name”
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By Madhava Smullen

Today, 24 and 12 hour kirtan festivals seem to be spreading all over the world like wildfire. Devotees are gathering to immerse themselves in the Holy Name every year with events like Kirtan Mela in Mayapur, Germany and Australia; 24 Hour Kirtan Birmingham in the UK; Sravanam Kirtanam in Italy, Radhadesh Mellows in Belgium, and Festival of the Holy Name in Alachua, USA. The globe is reverberating with the sound of Krishna’s name.

But back when the New Vrindaban 24 Hour Kirtan began in the hills of West Virginia, it was one of only a small handful of early trendsetters.

The event began life in the Bhajan Kutir that was introduced at the first Kulimela at New Vrindaban in 2006, a gathering of the second-generation Hare Krishna community. There, “Kulis” chanted kirtan in the yajnashala, an outdoor covered space outside the temple, every day.

Inspired by the endless 24 Hour Kirtan in Vrindavana, India, led by the late Aindra Das, the kirtan went on for 24 hours straight on the last two days of the Mela. Excited by the possibilities, organizers inaugurated the New Vrindaban 24 Hour Kirtan the very next year on the same June weekend.

That first year saw a simple, grassroots event, with little promotion, basic kichari meals, and just 100 people coming together to chant. But more were attracted by the purity of the event, and it continued to grow every year.

Currently it draws crowds of six to eight hundred, and while these are primarily ISKCON devotees, a growing percentage of attendees are newcomers introduced through New Vrindaban’s Festival of Colors and kirtan performances at yoga studios and the like.

“I think they find it accessible because it’s so simple and stripped down – just 24 hours of non-stop maha-mantra,” says kirtan artist Gaura Vani, who is also one of the event’s organizers.

This year, the 24 Hour Kirtan will run from 11am on June 21st to 11am on June 22nd. Lead chanters and musicians will gather with their harmoniums, mridanga drums, cymbals and bass guitars in the center of the temple room, beneath the intricate moldings and curved stained glass ceiling.

Surrounding them will be waves upon waves of chanters, and beyond them Sri-Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra, Sri Sri Gaura Nita, Sri Gopal Nathji, Lord Nrsimhadeva and the rest of New Vrindaban’s no less than 24 merciful presiding Deities.

In addition, many chanters will bring their own home Deities, while banners inscribed with the Hare Krishna Mantra and pictures of Lord Krishna’s pastimes will fly everywhere, creating an inspirational, uplifting atmosphere.

Devotees will begin by setting an intention to immerse themselves in the Holy Name with a Sankalpa Ceremony, before easing into the maha-mantra, the culmination of all ceremonies.

A host of experienced chanters known for their heartfelt devotion will lead, including Bhakti Charu Swami, Agnideva Das, Acyuta Dasi, Ananta Das, and Gaura Vani.

But many of these well-known chanters will take late-night slots in order to facilitate younger chanters and the less renowned at more peak hours, to emphasize the Holy Names over “big names.” “At the 24 Hour Kirtan, the Holy Name is the star,” says Gaura Vani.

And boy, is it. While other kirtan festivals are split into two days of 12 hours each with a full night’s sleep in between, New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan is one of the few with 24 nonstop hours of maha-mantra.

“The kirtan leads itself,” says Gaura Vani, describing a tidal flow of quiet meditation and rip-roaring rock-out. One moment, devotees are sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, swaying gently like a field of wheat in the breeze and calling out to the Lord with feeling; the next, they’re exploding into a raucous dance party, roaring, pounding drums, jumping and pinwheeling across the temple room floor.

While there are breaks for prasadam – three meals are served every day – and sleep, devotees are there for one thing. Many log 18 to 20 hours, some even going nonstop for the full 24, and some  can be seen taking 20 minutes of shut-eye against the temple room wall, still letting the Holy Name sift into their subconscious.

“It’s punk rock, man!” Gaura Vani says gleefully. “And we’ve worked hard to keep it that way. This is a trial-by-fire, intense, tattoo your heart with the Holy Name kind of event.”

And the effects are undeniable. “From the beginning of the festival to the end, you can feel a tangible shift in your consciousness,” says Gaura Vani, adding that the 24 Hour Kirtan brings a sense of community to devotees usually spread out across the nation.

Meanwhile newcomers also experience the same transformational energy, feeling their hearts become more and more attracted to the devotee lifestyle and association with every 24 Hour Kirtan they attend.

To provide even more chances to associate with the Holy Name, New Vrindaban is adding a Kartik 24 Hour Kirtan to be held from October 11th to 12th, which will bring an extra dimension of atmosphere and devotion as attendees offer candles to Lord Damodara during the chanting.

In the future, Gaura Vani hopes to see the event continue to “franchise” out to other locations. Beyond that, he hopes the 24 Hour Kirtan experience will inspire people to take kirtan to the next level by bringing it out onto the streets in multi-hour public Harinama festivals.

“We can’t over-emphasize the importance of chanting God’s names – in any tradition – for the wellbeing of mankind,” he says. “And the 24 Hour Kirtan is one of the major ways to contribute to that.”

ISKCON New Vrindaban extends a warm invitation to all to bring their contribution by attending this year’s summer 24 Hour Kirtan, from June 21st to 22nd, 2014, and Kartik 24 Hour Kirtan, from October 11th to 12th.

 

The almighty “Prasadam” (Album 36 photos)
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Today at the Embassy of India passed the gala evening celebrating 153 birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Indian writer, poet, composer, artist and public figure, whose neohvatnoe is a unique part of world heritage cultural treasures. Ms. Artie Soni (the initiator of the idea and the organiser of the event, the editor-in-Chief of the newspaper "Višv darpan"), who visited in April charity photo exhibition "India", invited Valery Ignat′eviča Dolgopolova (Director of "food for life") and Oleg Singareeva (author's works exhibition) to participate in this landmark event. After the opening ceremony with the ignition lights, guests were given a cultural program, concert dance and song. In turn, Valery Igntat′evič and Oleg Singarevym were congratulated for the feast and solemnly handed one of the works of the author as a gift to the Ambassador of India to Russia and his wife. At the end of the concert, the "food of life" team fed the guests and participants of the event a delicious vegetarian meal. For decades between India and Russia have developed friendships. Mmnogie our compatriots love this country and warmth are the inhabitants of India, the Indian people reciprocate. Read more ›

Another Panel On The Dome (Temple of the Vedic Planetarium) (4 min video)
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This spectacular four-minute video from BhakTV shows a massive crane lifting a two-and-a-half ton stainless-steel panel onto the center dome of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sridham Mayapur, India. The crane is accompanied by a remote-controlled miniature helicopter with an on-board HD video camera. With complementary footage from a second camera on the ground, "Another Panel On The Dome" presents a view of how the construction of this immense dome proceeds, panel by panel. Two hundred fifty panels will be fitted into place to form a massive glittering steel dome with a base measuring fifty-six meters across (150ft) at a height of 51 meters (200ft) above the ground. And this is only stage one. The steel dome will act as a base for a layer of concrete poured on top of it. The present stage is the most critical in this momentous project -- a double-width dome on a world-class religious structure, the largest Hindu temple to be built in decades. Your servant, Vasudeva das Read more ›

Celebrating Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi 9th June 2014 @ ISKCON NEPAL (Album 214 photos)
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Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi Celebrated at Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari Mandir, Hare Krishna Dham, Buddhanilkantha, Kathmandu Nepal. About 300 devotees stayed full Nirjala Fasting By chanting, Dancing, Kirtan and also not sleeping whole Day and Night with His Grace Patri Prabhuji. Kirtans, Class, Bhajans, Video Presentation, Mahabharat, Avisheka, Wish Fulfilling, Mangal Arati, Fast Breaking. It was really great doing Fasting. Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi Ki Jai!!! Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!! Read more ›

Love Letter for Radhe Shyam
→ Seed of Devotion



My Dear Radhe Shyam,

Oh magnificent Shyam! My gorgeous, life-giving Lord. Your Radharani is a moon in the dark night of my mind. Her beauty is unrivaled in this world.

I want to share that You both are my inspiration for connecting with God as a person. You have inspired me for so many years to connect with You through intimate singing, dancing in kirtan, everything to do with worshiping the Lord. You are woven into the fabric of my soul. When I am in Your presence, all worries dissolve, all of my wishes seem to be granted. I am at peace, satisfied.

You are the reason I attended Mayapur Academy in India to learn the highest standard of worship. You are the reason I received second initiation, so that I could step upon Your altar to worship You. I just want to worship You, care for You, learn how to love You.

When all seems lost in my connection to Krishna consciousness, I have only to sit before You and sing for Sayana Arati and the well of my soul fills with the sweet water of nourishment and realization.

You both are the monarchs of my heart. Always. Forever. You are so, so high above, commanding such presence and high level of worship. And yet You are also so divinely soft and loving - You allowed me to step upon Your altar a year ago to touch Your feet for the very first time. Absolutely mind-blowing.

I have sat before You literally thousands of times to chant, sing, and absorb Your gorgeous forms. A year ago I sat before you, writing in my journal. You were on the other side of the curtains, getting ready for bed. I did not know when I would return to You to sing You another lullaby. I still don't. My destiny is in Your hands. I am now in New York, praying that I may be an instrument of Your grace.

I love You. I miss You. May I eternally return to reside at Your feet, singing lullabies.

Love,

Bhakti lata dasi

(photos courtesy of Ragunath das) 


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He Will Give Us The Strength
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"Maya is always placing the memories of our past sinful activities before us, and encouraging us to come once again into her clutches, but by always chanting Hare Krishna and keeping our mind fixed on Krishna, he will give us the strength to resist her demands, and gradually they will diminish."

Letter to Koumadaki
March 27, 1972

Can’t get no satisfaction?
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.4.49-50)
jayananda_ptaI like in the Bhagavad-gita that when austerity is mentioned – there is the austerity of the body, austerity of speech and austerity of the mind. It is mentioned that the austerity of the mind is to be satisfied. So, since when is it an austerity to be satisfied!?

To be satisfied when everything is in place, all the auspicious things are there and then the mind still goes, “But…” out of habit.
“No, no, dear mind, this time there is no but. There is actually no but.”
“Really? Not a little but?”

“No, no buts. It is alright. It is actually nice. It is actually good. It is okay. Radhadesh is actually a nice place. Yes, it is!”  the mind can say. In this place, especially in November, it is like when the sun is over and the skies get permanently grey and can be for the next three months. It is the time when it rains and the drizzle really sets in. It is the time of preparation. It is the time when one thinks, “Why am I here?” I always used to run away to Greece before Krsna consciousness. So that is November in this part of the world. It is an austere time but as a devotee, one can say, “No, this November is nice. This is the time when we read. Finally, the festivals are over. Jaya! No more festivals. Great! The end of all of it, now it’s quiet. People don’t come. Yay!”

In Vrindavan, the winter is austere but in a way, it was the only time of the year when one had some time to himself. Now even that is spoilt. Even now there is never peace. My point is that if one is positive, one can find the positive in every situation and that is something to learn.

 

 

From the New Vrindaban Garden 6-16-14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban G7G

300 foot long terrace of tomatoes, marigolds, peppers, and basil

 

Over the past two weeks the garden has been transformed.  All of our early season crops and flowers have been planted.

A few new items include:

1000 Beauregard Sweet Potatoes

3 varieties of bush green beans

2 varieties of pole beans

radishes

watermelons

a small field of giant golden amaranth

sunflowers

75 strawberries

50 new asparagus

We are also at the stage in which we are harvesting some of our earlier spring plantings.  This week we picked 3 bushels of spinach from the teaching garden.  There are many types of mixed greens and head lettuce we will be picking for this weekend. We have also picked  delicious sugar snap peas and beets. In the coming weeks we look forward to providing the temple and community with many types of fresh produce.

New Vrindaban Garden beans

Green beans mulched with hay in the Garden of Seven Gates