u/Designer-Fan-4990

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What are the most extreme examples of fanatical behavior you came across when in ISKCON.

When I first started chanting i was introduced to other devotees who were quite polite .They asked me what I did for a living and I was working for the Lottery at the time so I told them and they went quiet and pointed at my bead bag and said "This is the most important thing" . I was fairly new and was not expecting that.

Another time I was in South Africa and met a guy who's sister became a devotee. She helped cook the prasad for the wedding but refused to eat any of it because she was initiated. The guy was quite upset by this

At Bhaktivedanta Manor (UK) I heard a lady say to my wife " As far as I'm concerned, the work you do for ISKCON is more important than the next breath" . She was/is a TKG disciple

Another time at the manor, I was in a room where Jaypataka Maharaj was present and someone mentioned that I worked at the lotter. A girl overheard this and said to me " Do you ?". I replied "Yes" . She then proceeded to ask Jaypataka Maharaj " Does he get any karma as he works for a gambling establishment ?"

Around 1996 some devotees were going to play football and another stricter devotee who disapproved of this said "I'm not into it. Its complete Maya". My wife's uncle who is a prabhupad disciple looked at me as to prove a point (he knew I was keen on football) .

I did not find this behavior inspiring, in fact it was quite off putting

Although these examples are not that extreme and all of you collectively have experienced much worse examples of fanaticism. Could you please share some of your own and comment on the above

Cheers

According to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, an eclipse is caused by the invisible planet Rahu moving in front of the sun or moon. Rejecting standard modern scientific explanations, he taught that eclipses are literal cosmic events described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, where devotees should focus entirely on chanting Hare Krishna rather than fearing inauspicious energies

What is your take on the above
Do you believe that a demon Rahu is trying to swallow the moon ?

Do you still wear your neck beads ?
I am not at the moment because they came off but am in no hurry to replace them

This reminded me of a time when I was at Calcutta airport when I was travelling back with a Parabhupada disciple. He went through the security check and the machine beeped. He was asked to take off his neck beads but he refused insisting that his spiritual master had instructed him never to take them off. Luckily for him he managed to talk the Indian security guards around to his way of thinking and they let him through. This was just one of many ultra fanatical actions that made me want to scream.

Can you relate ?

api cet su-durācārobhajate mām ananya-bhāksādhur eva sa mantavyaḥsamyag vyavasito hi saḥ

"Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination."

What is your take on this ?
It seems like an excuse to commit horrible acts and fall back on this verse

"look its ok"

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I actually did this(maybe not the full 50)
I chanted the Hare Krishna mantra in my mind when I was going to release
I got a spiritual feeling during release. It was not like the feeling you get when you have illicit sex. This happened twice.

The other time I got a spiritual buzz was when I chanted the mantra for the 1st time.

I told a work colleague about the mantra and wrote it down for him
He privately chanted it once and came back to me and said that something happened describing the happy feeling he received.

The above stopped me being a total atheist because I had never experienced anything like that before.

I was never a full Hare Krishna .Wearing a dhoti and tilak never appealed to me. I had many material attachments and still do. I would rather Netflix and chill or scroll through Social Media than sit for Kirtan for example. I do not like to preach anything to anybody as I believe that people should have a choice on how to live their lives. I occasionally like to drink alcohol but not much.

I have tried to convince myself that ISKCON is all a load of nonsense combined with reading the articles on this sub.

But the experiences above always come back in my mind so do you get these experiences in other ways ?

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More disturbing reports coming out of the Vrindavana Gurukula.

I have been informed that one of the school's teachers recently had a violent rage fit in the IT lab and brutally attacked a student.

The child is now in serious condition. According to reports, the teacher kicked him, beat him, and repeatedly slammed his head against the wall.

The boy is currently being kept in the school infirmary and has not been taken to a hospital — likely to avoid legal repercussions.

This is not an isolated incident.

Additionally, some time back, the Vrindavana Gurukula management re-hired a teacher by the name of Surananda, why has previously removed for physically assaulting the students.

He continues to need the children and runs the school like a boot camp.

Reports suggest that the school is understaffed, with 1 ashram teacher for up-to 50 students.

For years, the GBCs have repeatedly turned a blind eye to reports of extreme abuse coming out of this Gurukula. Nothing has been done.

Nothing has changed.

How many more children will have to suffer before the GBCs wake up and take meaningful action?

A child needs medical attention.

The community deserves accountability.

ISKCON needs to prioritize the protection of its children!