Category:Krsna Consciousness Movement and Criticism
Theme Analysis
This analysis examines the nature of the criticism directed at the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s robust defense of his preaching strategies. The movement faced censure primarily for breaking traditional Hindu social norms—specifically, the mingling of men and women in Western temples and the awarding of brāhmaṇa initiation and sannyāsa to Westerners. Śrīla Prabhupāda attributes much of this criticism to envy from "so-called Vaiṣṇavas" and Godbrothers who could not replicate his global success. However, he maintained a transcendental perspective, arguing that "practical results" (the worldwide spread of the Holy Name) validate the method. Furthermore, he saw even "vicious criticism" as a form of success, as it gave the movement publicity and forced the critics to utter the name "Kṛṣṇa."
- Breaking Taboos: Critics focused on the movement's "mingling" of genders and the elevation of "mlecchas" to the status of sannyāsīs, which challenged rigid caste consciousness.
- Envy of Success: Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies envy as the root cause of criticism from those who are "bereft of the mercy of Lord Caitanya."
- Publicity through Controversy: Even severe criticism is welcomed as "good publicity," as it makes the movement a topic of conversation and encourages people to chant, even if in jest or anger.
- Practicality vs. Ritual: The ultimate defense is practical achievement. While critics sit idle, the movement is actively spreading God consciousness, proving its bona fide nature.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Criticism of the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement - Envy, Misunderstanding, and Practical Results.
Pages in category "Krsna Consciousness Movement and Criticism"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
I
- I am pushing on this Krsna consciousness movement, I am doing so many things which sometimes my Godbrothers out of envy criticize. But I know what is the circumstances how to do it. They do not know it. I know my business
- I have got practical experience that some of the Indian students in this country directly criticize this Krishna Consciousness Movement; so I am very glad that you are giving some serious attention to this Movement
- If people see us working together nicely, they cannot criticize anything against our Krishna consciousness movement
- If you criticize my dress, I criticize your dress, that's all. Then you go on criticizing dress, where is the talk between gentlemen? That is our disease, that we are concerned with the dress, this body, not the person who has the dress
- If you don't do anything and simply remain grhastha, then what is the use of criticizing others? The whole movement is meant for rendering service
- In India the Kalyana magazine has published a nice description of our movement, and they have very much appreciated about my regulative principles. So keep this standard rigidly intact so the Indians may not be able to criticize
- In our KCM it has been very difficult to disassociate ourselves from women in our society, especially in Western countries. We are therefore sometimes criticized, but nonetheless we are trying to give everyone a chance to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra
- It is not our business to criticize anyone, but because they (so-called devotees) try to find fault with this (Krsna consciousness) movement, the real truth must be stated
O
- One must be considered bereft of the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he criticizes the Krsna consciousness movement now spreading all over the world or finds fault with this movement or the leader of the movement
- Our movement is increasing, all over the world in . . . in spite of all criticism. We don't care for that. Because we know that we are following the footsteps of predecessor acarya, that's all right. We don't mind
S
- Since the European and American boys and girls in our Krsna consciousness movement preach together, less intelligent men criticize that they are mingling without restriction
- Sometimes jealous persons criticize the Krsna consciousness movement because it engages equally both boys and girls in distributing love of Godhead
- Sometimes our Krsna consciousness movement is criticized for mingling men and women, but Krsna consciousness is meant for anyone. Whether one is a man or woman does not matter
- Spiritual variegatedness is unknown to the Mayavadi philosophy; therefore all the Mayavadi philosophers and sannyasis criticized Lord Caitanya when He was conducting His sankirtana movement
T
- There are some foolish critics who say that Europeans and Americans cannot be offered sannyasa, but here (in CC Adi 7.163) we find that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to preach the sankirtana movement all over the universe
- There are some rascals who dare to speak against the mission of Lord Caitanya by criticizing the Krsna consciousness movement for accepting Europeans and Americans as brahmanas and offering them sannyasa
- They say that "Why you criticize others also?" Because we have to vanquish them. Now these people cannot rise. When there is sunrise, there is no use of these glowworms. So this Krsna consciousness movement is Krsna Himself
U
- Unfortunately, even some so-called Vaisnavas enviously refuse to cooperate with this movement but instead condemn it in so many ways
- Unless my Guru Maharaja had produced me, how this Krsna consciousness movement is going all over the world? And what he has done? Simply criticizing is no use. We want to see practical. Do you understand or not?