Gaura Priya
IRL
Here are some misconceptions about Hare Krishnas, or Gaudiya Vaishnavism, at least by the influence of ISKCON:
1) Hare Krishnas are a cult. Indeed, the 'Hare Krishnas' are Gaudiya Vaishnavas who practice the method of bhakti for 500 years ago, and link themselves to the Vaishnava tradition claiming to be 5000 years old. We hail from the tradition of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and believe Him to be an incarnation of God, the Eastern Saviour.
2) Hare Krishnas are pacifists. Actually, we aren't. There is time, place, and circumstance for everything, and our Vedic literatures (such as Mahabharata) show examples of brave warriors. If defense is needed, then we give defense.
3) Hare Krishnas are just white people trying to be Indian. I'm Filipino, lol. Besides, there is a difference between 'Vedic culture' (in that it refers to the high civilisation of India, as well as a culture surrounded by Krishna/God centred religious principles) and Indian culture. We have Chinese devotees, African devotees from Ghana, South Africa, etc.
4) Hare Krishnas are pantheistic, believing that everything is Krishna. Actually, we are a form of monotheism... The soul and God are two separate things. We can never become Krishna, nor can Krishna ever become material like us. We do not worship demigods and other spirits (Egyptian demigods with the exception of Aten, Greek demigods, Vedic demigods such as Varuna, Candra, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, etc.)
We have three realisations of God as outlined in the Scriptures: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Brahman is the effulgence or energy of God that emanates from God's transcendental body. It is the first realisation. The second one is Paramatma, which means that the Lord is in the heart of everyone and everything, and is the guiding principle for people to do good, like the Holy Spirit. The third realisation, which is the final one, is the realisation of Krishna as the Supreme Being who is a Transcendental Person. He loves, cares for us, and desires for us to love Him.
1) Hare Krishnas are a cult. Indeed, the 'Hare Krishnas' are Gaudiya Vaishnavas who practice the method of bhakti for 500 years ago, and link themselves to the Vaishnava tradition claiming to be 5000 years old. We hail from the tradition of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and believe Him to be an incarnation of God, the Eastern Saviour.
2) Hare Krishnas are pacifists. Actually, we aren't. There is time, place, and circumstance for everything, and our Vedic literatures (such as Mahabharata) show examples of brave warriors. If defense is needed, then we give defense.
3) Hare Krishnas are just white people trying to be Indian. I'm Filipino, lol. Besides, there is a difference between 'Vedic culture' (in that it refers to the high civilisation of India, as well as a culture surrounded by Krishna/God centred religious principles) and Indian culture. We have Chinese devotees, African devotees from Ghana, South Africa, etc.
4) Hare Krishnas are pantheistic, believing that everything is Krishna. Actually, we are a form of monotheism... The soul and God are two separate things. We can never become Krishna, nor can Krishna ever become material like us. We do not worship demigods and other spirits (Egyptian demigods with the exception of Aten, Greek demigods, Vedic demigods such as Varuna, Candra, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, etc.)
We have three realisations of God as outlined in the Scriptures: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Brahman is the effulgence or energy of God that emanates from God's transcendental body. It is the first realisation. The second one is Paramatma, which means that the Lord is in the heart of everyone and everything, and is the guiding principle for people to do good, like the Holy Spirit. The third realisation, which is the final one, is the realisation of Krishna as the Supreme Being who is a Transcendental Person. He loves, cares for us, and desires for us to love Him.
