Krishna Today Home Page

Written for parents, former members, and friends of Krishna.

Krishna Today Magazine covers the activities of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) and other Krishna worship groups in the USA, with news, features and editorial comment.

Table of Contents

Links -- Everything you always wanted to know about the Hare Krishna Movement, and where to find it.

Q & A Forum -- Send your questions about the Hare Krishna movement to be answered here.

NoriLand-- Visit editor Nori Muster's home page, NoriLand.

Synopsis and Excerpts -- Betrayal of the Spirit, My Life behind the Headlines of the Hare Krishna Movement, by Nori J. Muster (courtesy of the University of Illinois Press, 1997)

The first installment explains how the organization got its start in Greenwich Village, then Haight Ashbury, and on to England, where devotees meet the Beatles and produce a number one hit single, "The Hare Krishna Mantra."

The second installment explains how Nori and her father, Bill Muster, visit the media centerpiece of ISKCON in America: Srila Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in West Virgina. The gold-leafed marble palace makes international headlines for its grand opening, Labor Day weekend 1979.

Life Magazine publishes a cover story on Srila Prabhupada's Palace of Gold, but their portrayal is less than favorable. "Children of a Harsh Bliss" reveals the unhappy reality for ISKCON's younger generation, in stark black and white images.

"The Place of Women in ISKCON," In 1988 Nori presented this speech at an ISKCON conference in Towaco, New Jersey. Also included: a banned ISKCON World Review editorial on women (as described in Betrayal of the Spirit, chapter 19).

"GBC Speech," Nori's speech to the North American Governing Body Commission in, Dallas, Texas, Oct. 1988. (See Betrayal of the Spirit, chapter 19, for background information and outcome.)

"On Leaving ISKCON," by Steven Gelberg (Subhananda Dasa). In this controversial 1992 essay, a former BBT staff writer tells why he's glad he left ISKCON.

Now On-Line:
"Then and Now: Continuing on the Path after ISKCON," by editor Nori Muster. A very personal assessment of life after ISKCON -- what was good, what was not; what is worth keeping, what is to be left behind.

Now On-Line:
"The International Society for Krishna Consciousness as an Addictive Organization" Life in ISKCON is a lot like drug addiction; drug addiction is a lot like being in a cult. This exploration of the Schaef model provides insight for current and former members of all high-demand groups.

Mailbox -- Nori answers letters about her book and the Hare Krishna Movement.

Now On-Line:
Rumor Mill -- A summary and analysis of ISKCON rumors.

AOL Hindu Bulletin Boards -- Read postings about ISKCON from the America On-Line Hindu Forum.

Please send questions, comments, problems, and letters to the editor to Nori Muster, nori@steamboats.com. All editorial correspondence becomes the property of trancenet.net -- unless requested otherwise -- and may be edited for purposes of clarity and space. Except where noted, entire contents Copyright ©1998 Nori Muster. trancenet.net^TM is a trademark of trancenet.net Society, an unincorporated nonprofit organization, John M. Knapp, executive director. The opinions and viewpoints of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of trancenet.net, its editorial staff, nor trancenet.net Society, its board, officers, employees, volunteers. Neither trancenet.net Society nor its editorial staff conclude that any group discussed on this site is necessarily cultic in nature. We provide suppressed and alternative information so that you may make informed decisions for yourself. Copyrighted works are reprinted with permission as noted or are made available under the "fair use" exception of U.S. copyright law, for research and educational purposes only.

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Cults come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Categories of cults that are recruiting successfully today include:

Eastern meditation: characterized by belief in God-consciousness, becoming one with God. The leader usually distorts and Eastern-based philosophy or religion. Members sometimes learn to disregard worldly possessions and may take on an ascetic lifestyle. Techniques used: meditation, repeated mantras, altered states of consciousness, trance states.

Religious: marked by belief in salvation, afterlife, sometimes combined with an apocalyptic view. The leader reinterprets the Scriptures and often claims to be a prophet if not the messiah. Often the group is strict, sometimes using physical punishments such as paddling and birching, especially on children. Members are encouraged to spend a great deal of time proselytizing. (Note: included here are Bible-based neo-Christian and other religious cults, many considered syncretic since they combine beliefs and practices). Techniques used: speaking in tongues, chanting, praying, isolation, lengthy study sessions, many hours spent evangelizing, "struggle" (or criticism) and confession sessions.

Political, racist, terrorist: fueled by belief in changing society, revolution, overthrowing the "enemy" or getting rid of evil forces. The leader professes to be all-knowing and all-powerful. Often the group is armed and meets in secret with coded language, handshakes, and other ritualized practices. Members consider themselves an elite cadre ready to go to battle. Techniques used: paramilitary training, reporting on one another, guilt, fear, struggle sessions, instilled paranoia, long hours of indoctrination. -- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds, Lalich and Tobias, Hunter House, 1993.