I hope this is not a disrespectful question (ritual, moral)

[kiwimac]

But I have always wondered how traditional hindus feel about ISKON? Does the Society enhance western views of the Dharma or not?

Kiwimac

[Arkangel]

Originally Posted by kiwimac

But I have always wondered how traditional hindus feel about ISKON? Does the Society enhance western views of the Dharma or not?

Kiwimac

I was born a hindu in a very traditional ortodox hindu family so i guess my opinion on this matter would help.

I personaly think ISKON as just another temple i would visit. I know that Christians and Jews and Islam have a very defined understanding of their religion but for a hindu religion is not just about worshiping God but a way of life. Like bathing and then reciting your daily paryers, lighting your incense sticks and carry the aroma throughtout the house. Bathing is a very religious act for hindus, a clean body and hygene is required while praying.

ISKON is just another part of hindu dharma. Majority of Hindus do not think much of ISKON and its teaching in the wests, but when ever i see westerners dressed up in safron dress and chanting hare krsna all i think is a bunch of carzy dudes wasting their time chanting things they barely understand.

For a traditional hindu relgion us is far more like a way of life than a way for moksa. My religion says to me that to attain moksa is through introspection and displine in thought. But then again, hindusim is not something that is defined. So anything that gets you spritual peace as a place in hindusim.

[Seyorni]

From what I've read from other Hindus Arkangel's portrayal of ISKONis as "a bunch of crazy dudes" is a common reaction. But I think most Hindus accept that they are a somewhat unusual Bhakti sect.

Arkangel also makes an important point when s/he describes traditional Hinduism as more a way of life than a religion in the Western sense.
I think almost all religions generally begin as cultures and weltanschauungs. It's only with contact with other cultures and the passage of time that religion, propriety, etiquette and morality become separate, distinguishable fields.

[Arkangel]

Seyorni has understood my point of view quite accurately, thankyou for that friend.

I do have respect for ISKON, but their teachings kind of differ.

I have just been a couple of times to ISKON enough to know what i am looking for, i wont find it in their. I did meet a guru their but i have met a lot of gurus, yogis, and spritual leaders and still not found one i think is whom i should listen to. I guess like Maharishi Parasuram i will have to find my own way and like him my temper and ego is my folly and my strength. I guess you will only understand my previous sentence, if you know the story of Maharishi Parasuram and google is not much of help either. It is a vedic/mytholgical story. and also my spelling of the name could be wrong.

[Moses the God Archetype*]

Hahahahahahahaha(estatic laughter), arkangel and seyorni what can i say you guys stole my thunder, basically i feel the same as far hinduism being a way of life more than a religion thats true....as far as iskon i do not like it for what it is now or what its become there's no unity within, my relationship with my eternal lord bhagavan sri krsna is personal and it does not take a iskon to legitmize my faith just my belief in him, i perform my own puja and arti and meditate alone in the confines of my own home, i'm my own guru until krsna says other wise.

[kiwimac]

So for a follower of the Hindu Dharma, it is more a way of being than a thing you are doing? A life rather than an act or set of actions?

Kiwimac

[Moses the God Archetype*]

Originally Posted by kiwimac

So for a follower of the Hindu Dharma, it is more a way of being than a thing you are doing? A life rather than an act or set of actions?

Kiwimac

Yes beloved this so.....dharma is the life you live in being one with the self rather than a set of actions or rigid tradition.

[Arkangel]

Originally Posted by Moses the God Archetype*

Yes beloved this so.....dharma is the life you live in being one with the self rather than a set of actions or rigid tradition.

Now my friend, you stole my thunder That sentence sums up the hindu or to be more presise sanathana dharma very elegantly. Well put.

[Moses the God Archetype*]

Originally Posted by Arkangel

Now my friend, you stole my thunder That sentence sums up the hindu or to be more presise sanathana dharma very elegantly. Well put.

Thankyou arkangel many blessings to you.

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by kiwimac

So for a follower of the Hindu Dharma, it is more a way of being than a thing you are doing? A life rather than an act or set of actions
Kiwimac

The primitive practitioners of any religion tend not to have a separate conceptual category for "religion", and I think Hindus may have more primitive and traditional practitioners than most religions. When they hear "Hindu" people automatically picture India. The very name is a synonym for India.

But Hinduism/Sanatana Dharma does not necessarily have to be a lifestyle or a part of Indian culture. Hinduism's a religion without official rules, doctrine, or, for that matter, officials. One famous definition of a Hindu is "anyone who doesn't object to being called a Hindu."

A Bhakti yogi practices worship, love and devotion to a Deity; Vedanta can be indistinguishable from theoretical physics. Both are considered orthodox schools of Hinduism.

I don't look or act like a "Hindu," I appear to be a born and bred WASP with a generous dose of 60's hippie thrown in, but I identify with Hindu philosophy and do not object to the designation.