Date Posted:07:37 Author: Bill - 19 Sep 2001 Subject: Re: The Books of Srila Prabhupada In reply to:
Brian - 18 Sep 2001
's message, "The Books of Srila Prabhupada" on 07:36
Brian,
My experience with ISKON hasn't been very good. In the late 60's while visiting a local temple I was told that Yogananda was a mere yogi, everything was Krishna. They apparently believed that a blue-bodied boy/man who lived for a time here on earth is the Supreme Spirit. Not Supreme Spirit became Krishna. Krishna is Supreme Spirit.
I liked chanting the mahamantra with the devotee's for a couple of hours that day and felt that if we could each unite in devotional (different than emotional) kirtan there wouldn't be so much misunderstanding.
Another facet that I find troubling. Bhaktivedanta seems to want to turn followers into Indian's. They have to dress in the garb of the time of Chaitanya, become strict vegetarian's, assume Indian names, and all the rest. I don't find that in Yogananda's teachings; in fact he seemed to emphasize the inner connection to God over the outer, the birthplace of each devotee determining the style of life. In other word's, he didn't try to turn his follower's into Indian's; and in my opinion, that helped to broaden the acceptance of the teachings he brought with him from India.
I haven't read the translation of Bhaktavedanta's Gita. It is so highly touted by the reviews of academic's you've posted that the next time I'm at the local library I'll take a look.
Those are just my own thoughts and shouldn't be seen as anything but that.
