Many Hare Krishnas would question the possibility of finding serenity in a life after leaving ISKCON, but I'm here to say it's possible and can even more fulfilling than life under a microscope. Life outside of ISKCON isn't ruled by unrealistic expectations or demonizing your own humanity but rather by embracing your faults and becoming comfortable with the uncertainties of life.
I would ask any devotee who wishes to leave, at what point in their lives did they accept the superstitions in ISKCON as reality and do you really see those outside really suffering any more or less outside the consequences of their actions ? The idea that you will fall into some mystically induced misery for leaving has no basis in reality outside the realm of books and stories. Prabhupada had 10,000 disciples, now there are only a few hundred left, not to mention all those initiated by fallen gurus who have left. They didn't burst into flames or become cursed or the walking dead, they left and started their own lives, got jobs, paid their bills and raised their families.
When I left I re-enlisted in the military after being out for 16 yrs, held on to a token connection ISKCON for a while and moved on with my life. One may ask what my grudge against ISKCON is, and the answer is I don't have one with the exception is they mislead people into joining by having two sets of doctrines. They have one for those outside the movement and another for those inside. I highly doubt any book distributor or college preacher has ever walked up to someone and told them, "we believe God is a giant boar who picked up the Earth when it fell the ocean at the bottom of the universe with his tusk and placed in back in orbit while fighting a blued eyed, blond haired demon". How many of you actually believed in an ocean of milk, giant talking snakes, or at what point did you accept mythology as facts ? Was it before or after you joined ISKCON ?
It takes effort to take your life back. Many devotees live in the fear of scrutiny, and in a constant state of paranoia induced by trying to live up to impossible standards that most of the leaders secretly break. How you find wholeness once again is up to you. But, many of you had productive and happy lives and many do again after leaving ISKCON. Life is series of choices, not a predestined sentence imposed by a flawed self proclaimed guru. Don't feel trapped, your only trapped by your fear, which is ISKCON's most plentiful currency.
Thank you for this blog. More devotees need to know these things and WAKE UP!
ReplyDeleteWho pays you to speak rhis way . Serms your working undercover for the zionist elite puting forward their propaganda . t
ReplyDeleteBut it is all true. And I am a Prabhupada man 110%. Who is your guru?
DeleteObviously your agenda is to discredit pravhupada . His words are not subject to your speculation about hitler . Its complete soeculation and nonsense .
ReplyDeleteEverything is a direct quote with cited sources. How does one translate English from English? Everything is a direct quote from his recorded conversations. He said not anyone else. It's not a speculation if it's a direct quote 100%, as for who's paying me. No one is paying me. People have a right to know what they are getting into before they join ISKCON. If I knew what I know to day I could have saved myself 13 yrs of Hell. ISKCON has three separate doctrines: one for the general public, one amomgst devotees and another between its so-called elite.
DeleteJyada chutiya mat banaya kr.sabko...samjha bahan ke landland....aur sun kam se kam rakh...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Great blog. Thank you. Just a little edit for you on the last sentence. > you're only trapped, in place of your only trapped.
ReplyDelete---Don't feel trapped, your only trapped by your fear, which is ISKCON's most plentiful currency.
Good job keep up the good work. "Like Srila Prabhupada said, "Kick them in the face with a boot on."
ReplyDeleteI had been studying Hinduism for a while and while attending a local festival, I encountered Iskcon people chanting. I chanted with them, purchased some books and went home. When I researched on them I found a lot of what they did to be reminiscent of a cult. Hindus who are NOT Iskcon are usually not interested in trying to get people to join or to convert people. They don't preach, they live in normal society, they believe in education and pursuing careers, they believe in respecting other sects and believe that all faiths are valid. I cannot say these things about Iskcon. What particularly pissed me off about them is how they insult and look down on other sects of Hinduism (especially Shaivism and Shaktism) and call them "demonic" for worshipping "lesser gods", which is a BIG NO NO in how Hindu sects should treat one another. I also hate how Iskcon has succeeded in convincing Western people that they represent all of Hinduism when they really are just one sect out of a thousand. Needless to say, I did not even consider joining.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this blog, I too have seriously been considering writing a book and a blog about my experience within ISKCON. For many years Ive kept quiet to protect my husband, thinking it to be my duty to stand by him no matter what. But there comes a time in every women's life when you assess your situation and ask yourself whether these are the kind of morals your parents raised you with, to put aside your own dignity and self respect for a person who abuses your good nature and a society that does not have your best interest at heart. I came to the point where I felt I had to take the risk of speaking out to help protect other ladies that may find themselves in a similar situation and tried everything I could to make a change or at the very least try to show others that we need a change. To stand alone is very difficult, but together we can make an impact, however despite my efforts I was constantly silenced and insulted for having an opinion. It is time the world knew who the Hare Krishnas truly are and what really goes on inside the movement. It is time we spoke out and that these persons are brought to justice. We have been mistreated, abused, raped, thrown out on the street, neglected, shunned, attacked verbally and physically that has left mental scars that are beyond repair. No person should get away with such unbelievable misconduct, it is time the tables are turned. It is time Justice prevails, the meek shall inherit the earth, the time is up for wolves posing in sheep clothing. We are not alone, the world needs to hear our story!
ReplyDeleteI was a devotee for 7 years. I'very recently made the decision to leave. I'll probably still go there to hang out occasionaly-the music and food is nice and I'm made some good friends but I don't consider myself as part of the movement any more.. it's been a 2 year process that started with eating meat and ended when I felt totally constrained by it. I couldn't like a cigarette on he street without worrying I'd be seen by someone from the temple and end up in trouble-especially since I was involved in preaching and other inside temple activities.I felt like I had to mould myself into the idea of a pretty,pale,dark haired sari clad submissive women that was totally at odds with the western culture I lived in..There's such a clash between this orthodox eastern culture and the world many devotees have to live in and I've seen many make compromise after compromise while putting on an act of strict observance as soon as they stepped inside the temple.
ReplyDeleteIt took me until last week to finally remove my neckbeads partly because they were comforting to have around my neck but also because I'm still a bit afraid of not having that protection if I don't wear them. It's still wierd adjusting to a world without rules or ideals- getting my head around being able to drink and smoke and Wear skimpy clothes without feeling guilty or looking over my shoulder but the freedom is wonderful. I feel like I've just woken up from a coma.
I wanted to add as well that I don't think there's anything particularly bad about ISKCON. I've met some amazing people who have literally fed and clothed me and given me rides and money when I was struggling but the them and us mentality and the general strictness of it is almost impossible to maintain unless you work or live in the temple or are self employed. I lost out on so many job opportunities because I was determined to chant on my breaks rather than mix with my colleagues or had crazy dietary requirements on staff outings -if I went at all-and was encouraged to maintain iskcon modesty standards even at work.I think it's impossible to be a full devotee and lead a regular life. you are either on the edge of the temple or the edge of society. And the pressure always to conform -to chant more be more strict vegetarian,do more more more service, become more renounced. I only realised recently how much it was controlling my life and the choices I made.And it took 2 years of not following at all before I had the guts to leave what can be quite a safe feeling bubble..I wish I had don't it sooner
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ReplyDeleteThis is our new FB page, we will not post diatribe.We'll only post verified and true articles. Trolls will not be welcome. The purpose of the page will be to educate people about the dark side of ISKCON and and it's doctrines that they see fit NOT to reveal to prospective members before joining. If a doctrine is fit and reasonable then they shouldn't conceal it from prospective members BEFORE joining. I'm just trying to make sure that people make a 100% informed choice and understand what they are getting into before they join.
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