Hare Krishna Transformed

In answer to Linda M. Steven's review of Burke Rochford's Hare Krishna Transformed, I have to wonder if she understands that there is a difference between a religion, or a religious social movement, and its institutional expression. Almost no religious institution lives up to the ideas of the founder/founders and ISKCON is no exception. I believe the reasons for this are the high ideals of religious scriptures and exemplars, and the actual consciousness of those who claim allegiance to them. To fulfill the original charter of an organization called the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a tall order. I believe Rochford has shown the heroic efforts of those who tried to fulfill the order, even if they failed. In my experience, most of the devotees of the Hare Krishna religion are very sincere, and they have found the founder's teachings to be more than adequate. The institution--that's another story.

In interesting and perceptive look at the political wrangling that has gone on within the movement's leadership over the years. Burke-Rochford speculates with regard to the future direction of ISKCON as a religious institution, and documents the experiences of second generation Hare Krishnas throughout their early school years. This could be a book that outsiders see as evidence of ISKCON's inadequacy as a spiritual movement. My own thoughts were that the evidence presented was exactly as I expected, and that such an open examination can only serve to facilitate a stronger move forward in the right direction.