Q1 : Who is the current Guru of the Hare Krishna Movement?

Q2 : But Srila Prabhupada departed from the world in 1977 - how can he        continue to be the Guru?

Q3 : How are people recruited in your movement?

Q4 : Do you accept just anyone in your movement?

Q5 : Do you have enough money for medical care (dentit, doctor, etc.)?

Q6 : Where do you get the money from to support your movement?

Q7 : Is your movement not merely an attempt to escape reality?

Q8 : Why does you movement criticize technology and at the same time       make use of it?

Q1 : Who is the current Guru of the Hare Krishna Movement?

Ans 1 : Srila Prabhupada, the founder is also the Guru for the whole of ISKCON as long as ISKCON exists.

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Ans'2 : Before Srila Prabhupada departed he set up an unique management system by which ISKCON would be managed.

As he prepared to depart he set up a system of using ritvik priests to manage the performance of the diksa ceremonies on his behalf. His signed final letter on this subject is given below:

Letter Begins

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik-representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:

His Holiness Kirtanananda
Swami His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami
His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami
His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami
His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami
His Holiness Hamsaduta Swami
His Holiness Ramesvara Swami
His Holiness Harikesa Swami
His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari
His Grace Jayatirtha dasa Adhikari

In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has acceted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated Disciples" book.

Your servant,

Signed Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

Approved
Signed by Srila Prabhupada

Letter ends

It states 3 times that Srila Prabhupada would continue to remain the initiating Guru. He also set up a system of using Governing Body Commissioners to manage the whole of ISKCON including the ritvik system that Srila Prabhupada set up. However these commissioners can ONLY carry out and maintain instructions that Srila Prabhupada has already given.

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Ans 3 : We distribute books and people read them and start associating with us. Then gradually they learn and understand the entire philosophy, the goal of our life and when they are convinced they decide to live with us. But practicing Krishna consciousness in not just within the scope of a temple, you can practice the principles of bhakti yoga in your house also and associate with the temple as a congregation.

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Ans 4 : We accept everyone from any race, religion, economic situation or whatever. Only we ask that whoever lives in the temples as a full time devotee must follow our principles and attend the schedule of programs in the temple (like morning mangala arati, Bhagavatam Class etc). . Otherwise anyone can become a congregational member and live outside the temple and come for programs when he likes and follow as he can. Or one can, if he is stricter, make his home into a preaching center.

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Ans 5 : Generally, devotees who live in our temples are cultivating renunciation and thus do not often have funds of their own. But all of their medical needs are taken care of by the temples in which they are serving.

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Ans 6 : The Lord maintains all living entities throughout the universe, so surely He will maintain His devotees. We are a world wide religious and cultural movement with over 350 centers in 76 countries, and not just a couple of weird "sect" members. We receive money mainly through donations from our working householder members, congregation, life members, and from the general public. We also receive money from sale of devotional paraphernalia, from our world famous restaurants. Besides that, many of our projects, like Food For Life Emergency Relief are sponsored by some corporate.

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Ans 7 : History has made it ample clear that "reality" from a material point of view has always been a matter of time, place and circumstances. Cultural trends and general believes are the social facets that shape whatever a specific community of people will consider acceptable or rejectable, normal or abnormal, real or illusory. These norms are relative and subject to constant change. Moreover, they can be carefully controlled and manipulated by sophisticated propaganda techniques. The spiritual reality found in the ancient Vedic literatures is beyond time, place and circumstances as it deals with and originates from the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is always truth, and therefore actual reality. It is never subject to interpretation or speculation, cultural trends or opinions. It was reality millions of years ago, is reality now and will still be reality after millions of years. We follow these scriptures in affirming that reality is our eternal loving relationship with God, full of bliss and knowledge, and not our temporary stay in this material world full of suffering and misery. Material, cultural reality has no answers to the actual workings of nature, its past, present and future, life and its origin, the goal of existence and everything else beyond its narrow-minded little attempts to explain everything in terms of matter. In that sense its position is like that of an ant trying to explain the light at the end of a light post. All speculation. Spiritual reality is different. The temporary material world finds its origin in the spiritual realm. Spiritual reality is the only actual reality from which all relative realities sprout. It has all the answers. So from this angle of vision the answer is: no, it is a sincere attempt to get closer to reality.

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Ans 8 : We do not criticize or condemn technology. We criticize what it is used for and the attitude that science and technology are the only important things in the world. Science and technology are means to an end, tools which are helpful if properly used, harmful otherwise. Properly used means that they are used in the service of the Supreme Lord, Krishna. The material world and everything in it belongs to Krishna and everything should therefore be used for His pleasure. We think people would be happier if life were materially simpler, if they had fewer distractions from concentration on their relationship with Lord Krishna, but we take the world as we find it. Utility is the principle.

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