No trace of racism, sexism or “homophobia” in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings

June 23, 2023Posted inEssays, ISKCON3 Comments
I appreciate the well-intended concerns of the author, Kaunteya Prabhu, expressed throughout his book. However, after reading it, I find a few observations that need to be addressed in order to truly comprehend Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings. I request the author and other respected devotees to kindly consider the following remarks by my humble self.

Review of Chapter 3: Homophobia

June 22, 2023Posted inEssays2 Comments
In the book Tough Questions, Difficult Answers by Kaunteya (JPS) Prabhu, at the beginning of the third chapter, titled “Homophobia,” the author defines the word “homophobia” and its different meanings. Then, when it comes to scriptural analysis, he mentions it as sin, often compares it with heterosexism, and says that it is also natural like heterosexism. Since heterosexual marriages are accepted in ISKCON, homosexual marriage should also be endorsed and encouraged in ISKCON. So, in this way, he recommends that ISKCON should institutionalise gay and lesbian marriages.
Srila Prabhupada at the Center

How can Srila Prabhupada be the center when “the shastra is the center for all”?

February 3, 2023Posted inISKCON, VideoNo Comments
Srila Prabhupada says in his purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 20.352 that among the sources of knowledge of dharma given by one's guru, other saintly persons, and shastra, "the shastra is the center for all." Yet it is seen in many sampradayas that the acharya is still very much central to the practice and faith of the devotees. So, if the actual center is the shastra, then what does it mean to a community to keep the acharya in the center? This video discusses and answers this question.
The Lokanath Case: Is the scientific basis of the CPO compatible with Krishna Consciousness?

The Lokanath Case: Is the scientific basis of the CPO compatible with Krishna Consciousness?

August 25, 2022Posted inBlog, Research1 Comment
Is the scientific basis of the ISKCON Child Protection Office compatible with Krishna Consciousness? This article explores this question from the perspective of modern science. Simpson's Paradox, Confounded Variables, and Theoretical Perspectives are discussed, and the theoretical perspective of the CPO is compared with the fundamental tenets of Gaudiya Vaishnava Siddhanta.
Assessing the Five-Man Panel Report in Light of Mīmāṁsā

Assessing the Five-Man Panel Report in Light of Mīmāṁsā

April 8, 2022Posted inEssaysNo Comments
The only meaningful aspect of the report that merits scrutiny are the different approaches, or theories, of textual interpretation that the Minority and Majority use to reach their opposite conclusions. The Minority explicitly names a theoretical approach that they use for interpreting applicable law, and interpretations produced by this approach form the basis of their dissent. . . . It is unnecessary to examine the final decisions each side has made, since they proceed from their different ways of interpreting GBC laws. Hence, in order assess which side has more merit, it is necessary only to consider the different approaches to textual interpretation used by each side.