A video was recently released that highlighted past and current child abuse in ISKCON. A common response by many members of ISKCON has run something like this:
The video makes some good points but it also impugns the character of gurus and sanyasis in ISKCON who had and have nothing to do with the child abuse.
This response is absolute bullshit and would only be made by someone brainwashed, or, if you prefer, someone committed to defending the institution and the leaders of the institution at any cost.
If you are a leader of an organization and have the power to set the agenda for the entire organization your then are responsible for what happens in that organization. If the organization isn’t taking adequate care to ensure child abuse doesn’t happen and you are focused on converting new members you bear responsibility for that. If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If the organization isn’t taking adequate care to ensure child abuse doesn’t happen and you are focused on converting new members you bear responsibility for that. If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If the organization isn’t taking adequate care to ensure child abuse doesn’t happen and you are focused on converting new members you bear responsibility for that.
If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
If members of the organization are being abused in any way, as most full-time members are, and you are a leader you are responsible for that. If you have power in an organization and you don’t do everything you can to protect the vulnerable in that organization you are responsible.
Here is the simple truth: the leaders of ISKCON care about converting new members and not much else.
And for that they are guilty. This true of people like Radhanath Swami, Indradymna Swami, Sivarama Swami, to name a few mentioned in the video, and everyone else who is in a position of power ISKCON.
ISKCON is a cult. Members of ISKCON defend the leaders of the cult, and of course they would as they are brainwashed into worshipping these people as saints who can do no wrong.
Once you see ISKCON as a cult and are no longer brainwashed by the ideology your perception of the leaders, even the best ones, changes dramatically.
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