ISKON’s dogmatic attachment to Krishan and the Gita, and their condemnation of all other paths in Hinduism is well known. While such a sectarian position is not unique in Hinduism, and does not necessarily remove one from the Hindu fold, ISKON is unique in that while they do condemn all other Hindu paths, more than this they actually condemn "Hinduism" itself and they are very quick to tell you they are not Hindus. However, while they condemn Hinduism by name, they very heavily promote Jesus Christ and the Bible as an acceptable means to reach god, and that Vaishnavism and Christianity are not contradictory... but Hinduism is? How is it that following a Hindu path not aligned with ISKON is considered immoral, yet being an adherent of Jesus and the Bible is encouraged? Even the founder of ISKON, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, admitted to being a follower of Jesus and promoted Bible reading, yet he condemned all other branches of Hinduism. There is much more to be said and learned about ISKON and its agenda, but I have started a quote list where you can begin to see ISKON’s pro-Christ invasion into Hinduism.
ISKON FOUNDER CALLED HINDUISM “USELESS, DRIED-UP”
Often Srila Prabhupada would simply deny the existence of a religion called “Hinduism.” He attributed the improper designation to “foreign invaders.” At other times he acknowledged the existence of the faith, but considered it a hopelessly degraded form of the original Sanatana Dharma of the Vedas. In his April, 1967, New York lectures he remarked, “Although posing as great scholars, ascetics, householders and swamis, the so-called followers of the Hindu religion are all useless, dried-up branches of the Vedic religion.” ISKCON, he believed, was the only true exponent of the Vedic faith today. In an interview given for Bhavan’s Journal on June 28, 1976, he said, “India, they have given up the real religious system, Sanatana Dharma. Fictitiously, they have accepted a hodgepodge thing which is called Hinduism. Therefore there is trouble.” – Can it Be That the Hare Krishnas Are Not Hindu?, Hinduism Today
ISKON founder: Jesus was an empowered incarnation of Krishna
Yes, Lord Jesus was jiva-tattva. He is not Visnu tattva. When a jiva-tattva becomes specifically empowered by the Lord, he is called saktyavesa avatara. Lord Buddha and Lord Jesus Christ were in this group of saktyavesa avatara.. But they were not in conditioned state when they appeared; they came to teach here. – http://krishna.org/you-are-not-eternally-conditioned-you-are-eternally-liberated/
ISKON founder: Jesus is a spiritual master, the Bible is the book of a spiritual master, one can find perfection through Jesus
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of ISKCON and living Guru:
Girl devotee: Is Jesus in the parampara?
Srila Prabhupada:He says, “there is God. I am son of God”. That is parampara.
(Bhagavad gita Lectures 1975)
Tamal Krishna: Can a Christian in this age, without a Spiritual Master, but by reading the Bible, and following Jesus’s words, reach the…
Srila Prabhupada: When you read the Bible, you follow the Spiritual Master. How can you say without? As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ. That means that you are following the Spiritual Master.
Tamal Krishna: I was referring to a living Spiritual Master.
Srila Prabhupada: Spiritual Master is not question of…Spiritual Master is eternal…[…] As you say that “by reading bible”, when you read Bible that means you are following the Spiritual Master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ.
(Morning Walk, Seattle, 2.10.68.)
Srila Prabhupada: Actually, one who is guided by Jesus will certainly get liberation.
(Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, chapter 9)
Srila Prabhupada: “This is called Guru parampara, disciplic succession..This is our process. We are getting knowledge from Krsna, the most perfect. Or you get knowledge from Jesus Christ, that is also perfect, because source is perfect.”
(Conversation, Germany 19.6.74)
“You must follow one acarya, like Christians, they follow Christ, acarya. […] You must follow some acarya … Evam parampara praptam.”
(Room Conversation, Melbourne, May 20th, 1975)
ISKON founders admits to being a follower of Christ
“Following Jesus Christ”
Tamala Krsna: Well, he quotes, “And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of earth mourn and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” In other words… “And shall he send…” There is so many statements in the Bible to allude that Christ will come again.
Prabhupada: What is the harm if he comes again?
Tamala Krsna: Practically that is the whole basis of the Christians’ faith is they are awaiting the day when Christ will come.
Prabhupada: For the time being, you follow what he has said. Rather, what is the use of waiting for him?
Belief in Vaishnavism and Christianity not contradictory
Jesus, the Vaishnavas, and the Spirit of Understanding
You know, I have never returned my Sunday School membership card or renounced Christianity. I still have my baptism certificate which, I understand, is still valid until you hand it back to the vicar asking to be ‘unbaptised.’ So that must mean I am still a Christian musn’t it? Just one with a slightly peculiar understanding of Jesus.
Jesus Christ is very important for me, and I would like to think that I understand him slightly better now – and appreciate his sacrifice more – than I ever did before.
You see, you don’t have to not believe in Jesus in order to be a Vaishnava; and you don’t have to wish ill towards Christians or anyone else.
Thanks Vincent
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