Am I a Hindu

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Am I a Hindu?
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British Parliament
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Mixed Message

• There is a misconception that the Krishna
  consciousness movement represents the Hindu
  religion
• We are spreading Hindu culture throughout the
  whole world

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Institutional ConfusionWe are Confusing Others
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Confusion leads to?

• Internal Conflict
• Our own worst enemy
• Our own bad PR
• Loose credibility

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Institutional Anartha Indecisive Disempowerment
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Wasting Time Energy
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British PM Tony Blair

• The British public will forgive you for making
  a wrong decision, but they will not forgive you
  for not making a decision

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Decision
Resolve and resolute determination
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Meeting the Admiralty
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ISKCON Educational Services

• 25,000 school children benefit from ISKCON
  Educational Services
• Government funded schools

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Gathering support at the highest levels
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The Prime Minister
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The Queen
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380 Politicians and VIPs attend Janmashtami
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Gathering support at the highest levels
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Mixed messages?

• There is a misconception that the Krishna
  consciousness movement representsthe Hindu
  religion
• - Srila Prabhupada
• We are spreading Hindu culture throughout the
  whole world
• - Srila Prabhupada

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We are not Hindus

• In referring to the absolute unchangeable nature
  of God, the soul and the process of devotion
  service
• Don't think that Krsna, as it is stated in your
  English dictionary, "Krsna is a Hindu God." He's
  not Hindu, He's not Muslim, or He's not
  Christian.He's God. God is neither Hindu nor
  Muslim nor Christian. It is bodily designations,
  "I am Hindu, you are Christian.

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We are not Hindus

• When the term Hindu is used pertaining to those
  of Hindustani or Indian origin
• And actually, till now in our society there is
  not a single other Hindu than me. (laughter) Is
  that not? Is there any Hindu?

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We are not Hindus

• When the term Hindu may limit the interest and
  participation in Krishna Consciousness to the
  Hindu community
• " When you say we are not Hindu that we are not
  restricted with the Hindu community. That is the
  meaning

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We are not Hindus

• When we define ourselves according to our own
  language, traditions and scriptures.
• Actually, "Hindu," there is no such word as
  "Hindu" religion. We don't find in the Vedic
  scripture. Hindu religion... This "Hindu" word is
  given by the Muhammadans

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We are not Hindus

• When the word Hindu is used referring to a
  singular religion wherein there is a hodgepodge
  of beliefs, superstitions, multiple Supreme Gods,
  and which concludes in Impersonalism
• These Aurobindos or Vivekanandas and Gandhis,
  they have spoiled Hindu culture. Vedic culture
  they have spoiled. Hodgepodge writing, hodgepodge
  speaking, dry speaking, speculation-choked up the
  progress of Vedic civilization

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We are Hindus

• When the term is used in a general sense
  referring to those who follow the Vedas and the
  Varnasrama system, the cultured society of India
• Therefore in our Hindu society there is
  garbhadhana-samskara, so that everyone knows that
  "This man is this man's father." That is
  garbhadhana-samskara. And especially in brahmin
  family, if there is no garbhadhana-samskara,
  immediately he becomes a sudra, because cannot
  give real identity of the father.

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We are Hindus

• When scholars and Government use the term Hindu
  in referring to bonafide Indian faith traditions
• The personalist school, philosophers, they are
  divided into four Ramanuja-sampradayathat means
  followers of Äcarya Ramanuja Madhvacarya-samprada
  ya, or the followers of Madhvacarya
  Nimbarka-sampradaya, followers of Nimbarka
  acarya and Visnu Svami-sampradaya. They, their
  conclusion is the same. Although they are four in
  number, their conclusion is the same. And another
  sect is Shankarite sampradäya. So all these four,
  I mean, five different sections of the Hindus,
  they accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme
  Personality of Godhead.

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We are Hindus

• Presenting our case to governments, courts and
  out legal necessity
• The government...That this is not a
  religion. The swami knows some mind-controlling
  power and he's brainwashing. In this way, there
  is charge. So because America has got freedom of
  religion, so if they accept my movement as Hindu
  religion, they cannot do anything.
• "Represent our case to the Queen that Hindus are
  being harassed."

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We are not We are

• Nature of the Absolute
• Ethnic relevance
• Limits our audience and membership
• In our own language
• Pluralism (Hodgepodge)

• Culturally
• Academically
• Officially- Legally

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Reconciled

• Letter to disciple Janamajaya
• "Regarding your questions Hindu means the
  culture of the Indians But the culture of the
  Indians or the Hindus is Vedic and beginning with
  the four varnas and four asramas. So these four
  varnas and four asramas are meant for really
  civilized human race. Therefore the conclusion
  is actually when a human being is civilized in
  the true sense of the term he follows the system
  of varna and asrama and then he can be called a
  "Hindu.'' Our Krsna Consciousness Movement is
  preaching these four varnas and four asramas,
  so naturally it has got some relationship with
  the Hindus. So Hindus can be understood from the
  cultural point of view, not religious point of
  view."

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Once again

• So Hindu can be understood
• cultural point of view
• not religious (spiritual) point of view

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ISKCON Communications statement

• ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya Vaisnava
  sampradaya (denomination or tradition), a
  monotheistic tradition within Vedic or Hindu
  culture. Hindu culture is vast, and the term
  encompasses numerous theologies, philosophies,
  religious traditions and spiritual cultures.
  Thus, dialogue with Hindu traditions has been
  difficult for many seeking such dialogue. There
  are no official representatives of Hinduism, as
  the term Hinduism does not imply a single
  spiritual tradition. This statement therefore is
  representative of Hindu culture and religion as
  ISKCON, as a Vedantic, monotheistic Vaisnava
  tradition.

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Follow Srila Prabhupada

• When appropriated
• Emphasise the oneness
• Articulate the difference
• Dont just say we are not Hindus.