Self realization doesnt the Hare Krishnas teach that?Id like to learn.
Yes and no. There are devotees with varying degrees of wisdom and understanding. Since their behaviour is somewhat ‘stylised’ it can be difficult for a beginner to spot the difference.
The main practice is chanting the mahamantra, as I guess you know. Some basic instruction is given regarding the outer form of that practice, but the ‘inner game’ so to speak is not made clear IMO. If you ask about it, you will likely get very formulaic answers, unless you develop a close relationship with a devotee with deeper understanding and more liberated communication skills.
In areas where the converting thing didn't really work, and/or there is a larger Indian community it's mellowed out by the abundance of non-ISJCON gaudiya Vaishnavites attending.
I watched that happen in Melbourne (Australia).
I started associating with the temple when I was 15.
It was very much a hippie kind of demographic in the 70s. Then came the Indian diaspora circa 2000, and everything changed.
Some things changed for the better,. The influence of the Indian folk chilled things a bit.
30 years ago when I visited them, about 20 times, they were like "my way is the highway".
Oh yeah. Militant Hinduism. That’s what changed when the Indian population arrived.
Nobody in the family is capable of still having a normal conversation with the man. Sooner or later, his cultish nonsense comes out and everybody's left rolling with their eyes.
I’ve seen that too. But that can happen in so many ways. Political beliefs, militant veganism, lots of ways.
I knew various householder devotees who would also roll their eyes.
It wasn’t for me because I have always had an advaita tilt. But when I was young, it was the only available dharma teaching.
I haven’t done kirtan for years. I used to enjoy that.
The feasts are the best part.
My advice ? Get into it and enjoy it, but don’t get tangled in other people’s beliefs and interpretations.
Just take from it what serves you, and don’t hang around if it doesn’t serve you.
Everybody has a different way of finding themself.