The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple is an important halt during ‘Bangalore darshan’ conducted clockwise or anticlockwise. Popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement, ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition within Vedic, or Hindu, culture. ISKCON traces its spiritual lineage directly to the speaker of the sacred book, Lord Krishna, who is revered as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The text teaches that the goal of life is to develop love of God, or Krishna.
Recently in a Siberian court, state prosecutors have petitioned that the Gita, distributed locally by ISKCON members, is "extremist" literature. The court in Siberia's Tomsk city is scheduled to deliver its verdict later this month.
This is a very interesting development that has ruffled the feathers of some Hindus in Russia, India and probably elsewhere in the world too. Why, some Indian Members of Parliament have demanded diplomatic intervention to influence the Siberian courts.
There is no God in the sense many of us perceive GOD. God is never born in the ordinary sense. Processes of birth, death and incarnation which imply limitation do not apply to Him. When the Lord is said to manifest Himself at a particular time, on a particular occasion, it only means that it takes place with reference to a finite being. It is all in the mind. When any finite individual dwells on spirituality exhibiting charity and absolute selflessness, he sits in judgment on the world influencing human minds. In such a situation we say that God is born for the protection of good and destruction of the evil and the establishment of the kingdom of righteousness.
I feel India should just ignore these developments in Russia. So far as the teachings of the Bhagvadgita is concerned it is immaterial whether Krishna the teacher, is a historical individual or not. Gita does not actually require a Krishna movement to propagate its teachings. Nor does a Krishna movement require the BOOK ‘The Bhagwat Gita’ to sustain it. The teachings evinced in the Gita are universal so much so they can be detached from specific individuals. Just consider the protagonist (with a name Krishna) and the pupil (Arjuna) as any two individuals. They are just two characters – the teacher and the pupil.
Here is the first four stanzas of Chapter IV from the Gita where the teacher reveals the eternal truth of humanity…the soul is immortal and survives the mortal biological self…..
IV 1
Imam vivassvate yogam
Proktavan aham avyayam
Vivasvan manave praha
Manur iksvakve bravit
I proclaimed this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan; Vivasan told it to Manu ans Manu spoke it to Iksvaku
IV 2
evam paramparapraptam
imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kalene ha mahata
yogo nastah paramtapa
Thus handed down from one to another the royal sages knew it till that yoga was lost to the world through long lapse of time, O Oppresser of the foe (Arjuna).
IV 3
sa eva yam maya ate dya
yogah proktah puratanah
bhakto si me sakha ce ti
rahasyam hy etad uttamam
This same ancient yoga has been today declared to thee by Me; for thou art My devotee and My friend; and this is the supreme secret.
IV 4
Arjua uvcja
Aparnm bhavato janma
Param janma vivasvata
Katham etad vijaniyam
Tvam adau proktavan iti
Later was Thy birth and earlier was the birth of Vivasvat. How then am I to understand that thou didst declare it to him in the beginning?
IV 5
Sribhgvan uvaca
bahuni me vyatitani
janmani tava ca rjuna
tany aham veda sarvani
na tvam vettha paramtava
Many are My lives that are past, and thine also, O Arjuna; all of them I know but thou knowest not, O scourge of the foe (Arjuna).
Courts can’t shackle the spirit of humanity…..which is beyond all religions and man made laws…..
That fact of the matter is that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has in recent years been noted for bulking up its membership in Eastern Europe. The organization has more than 400 centres across the world. Why not let Russia decide if they want them or not?
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