ISKCON History
ISKCON History
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Rethinking the Guru Approval System: An Interview with Krishna Dharma Prabhu
Krishna Dharma Prabhu describes his initial encounters with ISKCON and first years after joining the movement in the early '80s. He also shares his perspective on ISKCON's current system of formally approving gurus.
You can read more in his paper on the topic: tinyurl.com/bdy44y7x
Krishna Dharma Prabhu has also authored numerous beautifully-written English renditions of classic Sanskrit epics, such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad-Bhagavatam. You can find a full list of titles and learn more about his service as an author at his personal website-krishnadharma.com/
To learn more about the ISKCON History Archive, visit bolohari.com
Переглядів: 1 260

Відео

Authentic Vaishnava Culture: An Interview with Navina Nirada Prabhu
Переглядів 1,7 тис.6 місяців тому
Navina Nirada Prabhu was first introduced to ISKCON in Switzerland in 1984, and soon after received initiation from Harikesh Swami. In the 90s he became ISKCON's first global Minister of Sankirtan and began to travel and teach the art and culture of book distribution. In this interview, Navina Nirada Prabhu shares some early memories of ashram life as well as reflections on ISKCON culture, amon...
Women in ISKCON: An Interview with Pranada Devi
Переглядів 9307 місяців тому
Pranada Devi joined ISKCON in Los Angeles in 1975 and quickly took up the service of sankirtan. Later she became involved in book production with the Gita Nagari Press. In the late 80s, Pranada became a vocal advocate against the abuse of women that had become a norm in ISKCON, and began promoting the original spirit of women's empowerment that Srila Prabhupada had shown in his dealings with hi...
Krishna Conscious Theater: An Interview with Sankirtan Prabhu
Переглядів 2097 місяців тому
Sankirtan Prabhu and his wife joined the ISKCON Chicago temple in 1973 and served there for a couple years before relocating to New Vrindaban. In this interview, Sankirtan Prabhu shares memories from his time in New Vrindaban and his service in promoting Krishna conscious theater and storytelling. To learn more about the ISKCON History Archive, visit bolohari.com
ISKCON Comes to Africa: An Interview with Mukunda Prabhu
Переглядів 1648 місяців тому
Mukunda Prabhu first met devotees in New York City in 1972 and later moved into the L.A. ashram in 1975. He shares his memories as one of the first preachers in Africa, opening temples with Brahmananda Prabhu in Nigeria and pioneering ISKCON in Ghana and several countries in Central Africa. Mukunda Prabhu also narrates his experiences assisting Bhakti Tirtha Swami in forming the Institute for A...
Reflections on ISKCON's Guru Culture: An Interview with Kalakantha Prabhu
Переглядів 6 тис.8 місяців тому
Kalakantha Prabhu shares his perspective on how ISKCON's guru culture has developed over the past 40 years, as well as Srila Prabhupada's vision for a future in which all of his disciples would become acharyas, and ISKCON would have millions of members. To learn more about the ISKCON History Archive, visit bolohari.com
Early Days of ISKCON Berkeley: An Interview with Mitra Prabhu
Переглядів 68110 місяців тому
Mitra Prabhu joined ISKCON Berkeley as a new bhakta in the mid-70s. He describes his experiences in the ashram, going on book distribution, associating with senior godbrothers, and meeting Srila Prabhupada for the first time. He also shares memories of how the ISKCON Berkeley temple atmosphere changed after Srila Prabhupada's departure when Hansadutta became the zonal guru for Berkeley and Nort...
Why the Zonal Acharyas Struggled: An Interview with H.D. Goswami
Переглядів 6 тис.10 місяців тому
Hridayananda Dasa Goswami was one of eleven disciples of Srila Prabhupada who served as initiating gurus immediately following Prabhupada's departure. In this interview, Maharaja explains why the zonal "acharyas" struggles were inevitable, and how he personally felt about taking up the service of spiritual master. He also describes his role in completing Srila Prabhupada's translation and comme...

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @radhanadevi
    @radhanadevi 24 дні тому

    Thank you for this talk Prabhu :)

  • @FranciscoCruz-ie5qf
    @FranciscoCruz-ie5qf Місяць тому

    😌sureee....hes a victim of being a guru ahhh poor humble bhakta

  • @communiquesfromtheundergro579
    @communiquesfromtheundergro579 2 місяці тому

    When our spiritual master left his body in 1977, that was the end of it, nobody is fit to lick his boots. It’s just fraud now.

  • @rsirayagaurangadas4202
    @rsirayagaurangadas4202 2 місяці тому

    Hare Krishna , is there a part 2 to this video ?

  • @simonreinart
    @simonreinart 2 місяці тому

    Beautiful

  • @tonycriscuolo2192
    @tonycriscuolo2192 2 місяці тому

    Thanks, Kalakantha, for your lived-through history of the years before I met the devotees (1997) in Alachua. I pray for your continuing work to bring ISKCON together. Blessings!

  • @RadharamanDas-x4u
    @RadharamanDas-x4u 2 місяці тому

    Prabhupad is not dead and he's watching over everyone who is serving him either in ISKCON or outside.. As he has said many times, before buying a diamond, one needs to have a basic idea of what a diamond is. Otherwise we will be cheated. Choosing a Guru is the same thing.. Unfortunately because of our past karma and mixture of desires, we sometimes end up choosing the wrong person as our Guru as many in ISKCON have. Its upon us to become sincere.. We have noone else to blame but us.

  • @pierreengberg6871
    @pierreengberg6871 2 місяці тому

    The aggressors becomes victims. What a twist..... Forced, more or less. Please spare us. Extremely tiresome.

  • @mrgaksi
    @mrgaksi 2 місяці тому

    Srila Prabhupada started a movement not an institution. No matter what Books are the basis, Preaching is the essense, Utility is the principle and Purity the force. Not Bucks are the basis, cheating is the essence, futility is the principle and purity is a farce. He gave us the blueprint and the charge to carry on without change. Nothing practical about disobeying the order of The Spiritual Master. ISKCON is already destroyed. Miskcon is what we have left. Missing the point. Hare Krsna social life is not Krsna Consciousness. Salt in the sweetrice.

  • @1ramarama
    @1ramarama 2 місяці тому

    Thank you very much !!! Thanks for the sincere historical testimony. I loved it! We need more of this.

  • @anon80792
    @anon80792 3 місяці тому

    By Iskcon following the gaudiya matha system, instead of following Prabhupadas orders, it has made a mockery of guru & sanyas.

  • @JambavatiSutaDas
    @JambavatiSutaDas 3 місяці тому

    Modern day iskcon serving poison using vegtable oils that didn't exist a hundred years ago. They have defiled the prasadam by not using ghee, if you want to become overweight grow sick and have all kinds of health problems eat their prasadam on a regular basis because they much rather save money rather than use the wonderful ghee. I'm a former Viasnava I know first hand the diet using the cheap cooking oils nearly killed me.

  • @bhavadasaacbsp3274
    @bhavadasaacbsp3274 3 місяці тому

    Thank you very much, Kalanta Prabhu. I agree with everything you said. I went through many similar situations through the years as your good self and can definitely relate.

  • @circlestar8697
    @circlestar8697 3 місяці тому

    They were appointed as Ritviks only. Srila Prabhupada never wanted them to be diksa gurus. Everyone they initiated is a Prabhupada disciple.

  • @hi.jonathan3987
    @hi.jonathan3987 3 місяці тому

    💫Prabhupāda Approved Books🐬 ~ Even Early ISKCON, Prabhupāda expressed dissatisfaction with the reprinting of Books that had been edited by other people, and PRABHUPĀDA ORDERED that ALL REPRINTED BOOKS should be from the Previous Approved Books. LalKrishna das took up the service of utilizing the then current technology of Microfiche Cards to preserve all Prabhupāda Approved Books. LalKrishna das first consulted with Prabhupada to identify the Books already printed that Prabhupada approved and then transferred Those Books to Microfiche Cards. Then when any newly published Book would arrive Prabhupada would read and approve then LalKrishna das would transfer that Book to Microfiche Cards. 📌 So these sets of Microfiche Cards of Prabhupada's Books contain all Prabhupada Approved Books. 📌 1977 i did all the shipping at Prabhupada's Los Angeles Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Warehouse. At that time anyone in the world ordering Prabhupada's Books, would receive those Books from this Warehouse. Anyone could order a full set as either in Book Form or in the Form of Microfiche Cards. I remember shipping many of these Full Sets of Prabhupada Approved Books on Microfiche Cards all over the world. If you have a set of these Microfiche Cards please email~ theobjectoflife@gmail.com 🌊Prabhupāda Says ~Place the Books in their hands and tell what They are Because they will forget everything you said But they will remember the Book🐬 vaniquotes.org/wiki/Example_is_better_than_precept 💫 Prabhupada?~"Can someone say they are Your Disciple if they are not following ALL Your Instructions ?" Prabhupada replies ~ "FALSE PROPAGANDA." prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/760503r1hon/ Prabhupāda also instructs in this May 3,1976 conversation ~ If you simply follow PRABHUPADA PRESCRIBED ISKCON SADHANA AS IT IS then your actions are non-different from KRISHNA. BUT if you change anything your actions become ordinary. 💫 1977 GouraPurnima GBC meeting in MAYAPUR, Prabhupāda gave His Final Order for Minimum Daily ISKCON SADHANA. ~Everyone must attend the full morning and evening programs. Beyond these 2 classes everyone on their own must read a minimum 2 hours Bhagavad-gīta As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita and Nectar of Devotion. 💫 PRABHUPADA Gives 3 categories of Action for ISKCON SADHANA~Although very simple Actions, PRABHUPADA Gives specific detailed description how to perform these Actions~ 📌1~Chanting a ~ JAPA . b ~ Bhajan . c ~Kirtan 📌2~Deity Puja . a ~Cleaning and Cooking . b ~Making Arati Offerings c~Giving Classes (Reading) d~ Prasadam Distribution 📌3~ Book Distribution ~(Preaching)~ prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/22/118 ~In our KRISHNA consciousness movement we have therefore limited our study of Vedic literatures to ~ Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita and Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. These four works are sufficient for (preaching) purposes. They are adequate for the understanding of the philosophy and the spreading of missionary activities all over the world. ~Dec 6, 1974 SB 3.25.37 Prabhupada lecture. "But we should always understand that granthas , or the scriptures, should be worshiped as God. That is sound incarnation of God. It should not be neglected. Don't neglect Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata as ordinary books. You must be very careful. As you take care of the Deities, you should take care of the books also." 💫 Prabhupāda Said~"If you don't follow My Instructions there is No Meaning to this Initiation. If you don't follow My Instructions, I Can't Help you I Can't Protect you." 🐬 💫 vaniquotes.org/wiki/This_should_be_strictly_outlawed,_no_more_sannyasis._And_those_sannyasis_who_have_fallen,_you_get_them_married,_live_like_a..._No_more_this_showbottle,_cheating._It_is_very_ludicrous 💫 Jan 1,1944 Back To Godhead Magazine~"It is not necessary to pretend to be able to understand before we actually do ." 💫 ua-cam.com/users/shortsYi2VBOBeS28

  • @videoworks7731
    @videoworks7731 4 місяці тому

    Trapped in sectarianism with no understanding of Guru Tattva

  • @itsthat8496
    @itsthat8496 4 місяці тому

    Great information and video. As a neophyte male the sexism is a big challenge to over come both in terms of politics of the organization but also in terms of how many times the texts say women are less intelligent or belong to less intelligent class. In the West, more often than not, it is women who are the spiritually inclined and have more intelligence in this respect. So many times I read sexism in the purport and cringe, thinking of how another person has just given up on these beautiful books of Wisdom because of that... I try to relay that this is an Indian man teaching to mostly western men in the 1970's and that he would have explained things differently now... but it's a hard sell in 2024.

  • @richardmasla881
    @richardmasla881 4 місяці тому

    Dear Kalakantha, thank you for this talk. We have been friends since meeting in 1973-4 in the Brooklyn Henry St Temple. You have always spoken kindly and truthfully without intimidating others. I appreciate that quality of yours and wish you good health, peace and happiness in your future years . I am one of those you describe that have lost faith in the Institution but not in the holy names of Krsna. I am grateful for my life past and present. Love you my old friend. Hare Krsna.

  • @gauribanerjee1803
    @gauribanerjee1803 5 місяців тому

    Badmash

  • @advaitanundoo3587
    @advaitanundoo3587 5 місяців тому

    They didnt struggled. They exploted those under their socalled care and milked them for everything they coukd. The struggle was for the disciples..who were scrwed...while they lived a pumped up life of sickening luxury dressed as sannyasis. The one thing they did was massive offenses. That's where they failed.

  • @itsbigfrog
    @itsbigfrog 5 місяців тому

    What a fraud these guys are. my favorite Prabhupada quote is where he says women like to be raped, Children can be beaten, blacks should be slaves and that he was 22 years old when he honeymooned his 11 year old child bride. what is yours?

  • @ziggyschumann5284
    @ziggyschumann5284 5 місяців тому

    The guru voting system in Iskcon is farcial. Nowhere in the Vedas is this authorised.

  • @dhiradas108
    @dhiradas108 5 місяців тому

    A very well articulated description of ISKCON's history, from an insider's point of view. What a great preacher and teacher Kalakantha Prabhu is! Thank you for this Prabhu. My humble obeisances at your feet for the leadership you've taken in helping everyone come to solid Krishna Consciousness in America. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

  • @jackieparcell1370
    @jackieparcell1370 5 місяців тому

    Thanks for this conversation. And for posting Krishna Dharma's paper below. ❤

  • @julio801-jambavandas2
    @julio801-jambavandas2 5 місяців тому

    Pranams.Bhavananda had "some difficulties"? Nope, he was an active homosexual falling down with people inside and outside the society. But thank you for clarifying that Srila Prabhupada did not appoint any gurus. One is guru by qualification, and only those qualified should have taken this position.

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 5 місяців тому

    "It is obvious that this fool of all fools does not understand,that soon the yamadutas will drag this athest away to hell 👉🤓👹🤓👹👈🤣😂

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 5 місяців тому

    "His concern is ,why did you finish the translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam . When Prabhupad left this planet he ordered "PRADYUMMA as his last service for Srila Prabhupad to complete the "TRANSLATION. (CHEATER)😡😡😡😡😡👺 22:00

  • @katiekk
    @katiekk 5 місяців тому

    Nice history.

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    🤓👹🤓👹🤓👹🤓👺🤓👹👺

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    "SHIP OF FOOLS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 11 HELL BOUND AYE howie!! You've been a bad little chipmunk.🤣🤣🤣🤣🙈🙉🙊🤛

  • @reinerstephan7799
    @reinerstephan7799 6 місяців тому

    Thank you very, very much for sharing your insights. Greetings from Germany.

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    "Lies ,lies, lies , The 'FOOLS' Srila Prabhupad had left to take care of the affair of ISKON. It was becouse,'the fact that Srila Prabhupad was no longer present , they started acting like SrilaPrabhupad, then they thought they were Prabhupad, now they think they're better then Srila Prabhupad . These are definitely agent's of maya "Fools" YAMALOKA👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    "This man is one of those fallen, he is a CHEATER, he is expert at 'changing the wording in whatever Srila Prabhupad said, and this fool has borught out his own version of Prabhupads Bhagavad Gita. With this fact been said, and many others that can be said as well.Srila Prabhupads writing's should not be overridden at all nd he was not a nomal human being he was directly sent from the spiritual world by lord Krsna to inundate this planet with his holy names. Howard risnek is just your avrage joe.🙉👎👎

  • @arjuna_dasa
    @arjuna_dasa 6 місяців тому

    I didn't move into the iskcon Berkeley temple until 1990. Hari vilasa was gbc and lived in the temple. Janakinatha dasa was tp and krishna kumara dasa was temple commander...typical iskcon temple hierarchy! Mother madanasini was one of the only prabhupada disciples still living in the temple. Many of the congregational devotees were hamsaduta disciples. Hamsaduta dasa was banned from attending the temple at the time. As far as sannyasis, hanumat prekasa swami was there as well as trivikrama swami. Many prabhupada disciples visited on Sunday and festivals. Krta karma dasa lived there in 1991 as well as Visala dasa. Jagannatha swami dasa was in charge of organizing the San francisco ratha yatra. My gurudeva hh bhaktiswarupa damodara swami was across the bay at the san francisco iskcon temple/Bhaktivedanta Institute. This is all around 1990 to 1994.

    • @admiralsemmes6939
      @admiralsemmes6939 3 місяці тому

      Was the SF temple a small house that eventually got closed down?

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    "Be careful who you take your instruction, they can make you think differently they are very clever at twisting words for there own agenda, " your worst enemy could be your best friend, and your best friend your worst enemy, hare Krsna 🙏👍

  • @thomasdunne6409
    @thomasdunne6409 6 місяців тому

    "What do you mean there was no rule book!! , when Srila Prabhupad left, he only phsically left, his instrucions in his books are non different from his physical body. "Let's be straight-up,becouse Srila Prabhupad was not physicaally around these 11 diesiples became (puffed-up so bad, they thought they were on the same level as Prabhupad.Srila Prabhupad was sent personally by lord Krsna as krsna's commander in chief.Srila Pra hupad ki ji .🙏🙏

  • @mvpdd64
    @mvpdd64 6 місяців тому

    Dearest Kalakantha Prabhu, I cannot tell you how appreciative I am of your straightforward, honest and delicate approach for us to understand our ISKCON history better. When there is someone like you explaining the truth of the past, then we are clearly seeing how we must ALL assist Srila Prabhupada's movement with integrity, decency and devotion. Thank you for holding the torch that brings light to our consciousness. And how much Srila Prabhupada appreciates all of your fine efforts. y/s, mvpdasi

  • @cakra321
    @cakra321 6 місяців тому

    There was a rule book! The final instruction was rejected by massive egotistical unqualified disciples. This created horrific consequences for ISKCON. ISKCON was crippled by 11 men for an artificial position. Why not speak the truth HD Goswami? In 1980 there was an emergency Guru meeting in Miami Beach. The sole purpose of the meeting was to reinstate TKG as Guru. He dared to speak THE TRUTH & had to be checked. They could have come clean but they choose to continue the LIE. Prabhupada never choose any GURU's! Stop lying HDG. The planet needs Prabhupada! Not you!

  • @cakra321
    @cakra321 6 місяців тому

    There was a manual. HD Goswami is living a lie for over 45 years. The final instruction was CLEAR! Ritvik initiation was to continue. HD failed miserably as guru as did the other 10 imposters.

    • @circlestar8697
      @circlestar8697 3 місяці тому

      Correct. Imposters. Ritviks only. Liars and thieves

  • @lenny108
    @lenny108 6 місяців тому

    It all makes sense what Kalakantha Prabhu is saying. But at the same time it makes Srila Prabhupada look like he appointed the worst rascals as his successors - those who were not even kanistha. Why should Srila >Prabhupada have done such a thing? Only US gurus what is a massive provocation for India. If however, Srila Prabhupada did not appoint successor gurus then our attempt to have gurus anyway makes the parampara to be broken.

  • @nandagopal4807
    @nandagopal4807 6 місяців тому

    Just avoid the subject.. Bhavananda poisoned Prabhupad, elected me to distract the attention.

  • @mlake07
    @mlake07 6 місяців тому

    So text and sub-text: Text. It was Gaudiya Math's fault, it was his god brother's fault, it was Prabhupad's fault, it was ISKCON reform's fault.... Sub text (and in my judgement the real problem) my ego is so robust that I will never reflect on, and certainly never confess to my own failings....

  • @niksasrsen
    @niksasrsen 6 місяців тому

    🙏

  • @HAPPY.DRAGON
    @HAPPY.DRAGON 6 місяців тому

    All this is mental concoction, just do bajan !! You are still not strong to talk, I was in involved for 50 years and it was just trancedental and because it was transcendence we still can’t understand

  • @HAPPY.DRAGON
    @HAPPY.DRAGON 6 місяців тому

    How about now Sri vishnavas steeling devotees

  • @robb6059
    @robb6059 6 місяців тому

    "These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear." (Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 30, 1972)

  • @rajatsrivastava7791
    @rajatsrivastava7791 6 місяців тому

    Thank you Prabhuji for displaying such a maturity. With so many problems in ISKCON you never left it or created an apasampraday.

  • @rfbhakta8613
    @rfbhakta8613 6 місяців тому

    I would be interested in your process of taking a newcomer and developing them to the point of wanting initiation and to join the movement. If you have an outline or more please share. I think you may have cracked the code to reach the current generation. I would love to learn the process. Thanks Advaita

  • @vrajananda
    @vrajananda 6 місяців тому

    Creepy. I spent 40 years as a mushroom waiting for knowledge. Now I found my way

  • @autisticexpressiongenx
    @autisticexpressiongenx 6 місяців тому

    I'm sending your curses today black throuated demon