What Do Hare Krishnas Actually Believe?

[Kromovaracun]

So I've been stopped a couple of times now by Hare Krishnas attempting to sell me books (although they insist they're not actually selling, I tried very to get one to just give me a book and she wouldn't).

Anyway, although I am instinctively suspicious of these people I don't actually know what these people believe and the internet (for once) really isn't all that helpful. Can anyone enlighten me?

[redman41]

This might help Kromovaracun

http://www.gotquestions.org/Hare-Krishna.html

[emmie]

i always thought they had the similar ideology as Buddhists, that the time on earth is a short one, but doing good things in this life will stand you in good stead for the next and so on till one reaches nirvana, or i have been dreaming again, not unheard of..

[hc4361]

They are a branch of Hinduism, much live Baptists and Methodists are branches of Christianity.

[emmie]

redman, i read most of that and still don't really understand, it's a bit long and involved......

[redman41]

I have not read any of it emmie as I'm not religious.

[emmie]

Written by: Benjamin E. Zeller another site...


Like other Hindu sects, ISKCON accepts the doctrines of karma and reincarnation, meaning that a person's actions during the present life affects future rebirths. ISKCON defines karma as the universal law of cause and effect. Good actions lead to good reactions, and evil actions lead to evil reactions. Many of these reactions or effects occur during an individual's lifetime. One common example given by ISKCON involves the eating of meat, a violation of the movement's vegetarian principles. ISKCON teaches that meat eaters inculcate a sense of violence, uncaring, and anger around them because of their choice to eat meat, resulting in their own development as more violent, uncaring, and angry individuals. Furthermore, other people respond to that negative energy in equally negative manners, beginning a chain reaction of bad karma.

[emmie]

me neither, but i was interested, i wasn't too far out.....

[Kromovaracun]

Thanks redman. Your link does come from a strongly Christian site, but it does provide some useful information:

"Becoming a member involves choosing a guru and becoming his disciple. This guru is so critical that it is said, "Without [the guru] the cultivation of Krishna consciousness is impossible.” From the devotee's side, “initiation means that he accepts the guru as his spiritual master and agrees to worship him as God." (Ron Rhodes, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions 2001, p. 176). And the whole of one's life is to be encompassed by Krishna-centered practice and devotion. To attain this goal, ISKCON pulls its members into communal settings where all discussion and life is deliberately centered around Krishna. Very intricate rules are established in these communities to make sure that all activity is Krishna-centered. Much of Indian/Hindu culture is imported into these communes. It must be noted that these communities have been questioned by ex-members and outsiders alike who allege illegal and immoral practices within the safety of their relative isolation"

Plus wikipedia tells me of numerous allegations of sexual abuse that happens in these communities. They're basically a cult, by the sounds of things.

[hc4361]

Redman's link gives a Christian view of Hare Krishna's (they don't like them and it's a false religion).

This is the official site
http://iskcon.org/

Buddhists believe there is no god; Hare Krishnas believe God is everything.

[mikey4444]

Well, they seem to think that a particular shade of orange/yellow looks good in our climate !