A look at Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, by the Hare Krishna faith

ISKCON published an interesting little book called, Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, which records the chats Prabhupada, founder, and a Peace Corps worker, Bob Cohen, had on the philosophy of the sect.

On page 1, Prabhupada says that God must only be called Krishna for Krishna means all attractive. It does not for Krishna means dark! He made the mistake of thinking that this name summarises everything about Krishna. But Krishna could have false attractiveness. Prabhupada admits as much when he says that rascals find Krishna attractive because he was one of the biggest rascals. He reasoned that if there were no mischief in Krishna it would not exist in the world. Yet he said that Krishna was completely and unlimitedly good (page 3). One wonders how the guru can say that all people will find Krishna attractive if he is really good for most of the worlds Gods who are regarded as different versions of Krishna are horrible. Krishna is just being called something he is not just because he is God.

Krishna will make a bad man rich for praying to him for wealth (page 4). Like Romanism, the sect employs double standards for how can a person who refuses to repent of sin really reach a good God? He is asking God for a favour though he will not do God a favour and say sorry and change. He is blaspheming God.

On page 13, if you make an image of Krishna it is the real Krishna. We read the same on page 88. The image of Krishna is Krishna appearing in the form of a statue or picture to you.

Page 15 says that sex should be given up for the Vedas say so. Sex is supposed to be the supreme enjoyment and so that is the reason. But what would be wrong with a person who engages in constant self-denial having sex once in a while? The Krishnas allow nice eating and sleeping in comfort which give pleasure and amount to more than the pleasure of sex. Bring out the insipid food and the boards to sleep on!

Page 31 says that we should not ask for anything from Krishna but should serve him. But the guru said that Krishna will hear the evil man who asks for wealth.

The guru said, “Because you have surrendered to your spiritual master, his order is final. So even if you don’t like it, you have to do it. To please me” (page 49). This is disturbing. Page 39 says that we are part of Lord Krishna because we are made of his energy so Krishna should not tell us to obey a man but to hear and obey his voice in our hearts. And Prabhupada said that the best servant of the Lord does not preach but sees everybody as a devotee of the Lord (page 55). Prabhupada is preaching and yet he commands total submission before him.

The greatest sin is sinning believing that chanting will cancel the guilt out for that is using it as a licence to sin (page 82).

Krishna never lies to a person who is a true devotee (page 89). But can one be sure that this is any consolation for devotees are bad devotees to begin with?

Only the perfect devotee of Krishna will be free from the rule of reincarnation and be able to step into Heaven (page 87). But nobody can be perfect in this world.

On page 94, it is alleged that Jesus did not allow the eating of meat for he forbade killing and yet he ate meat. Prabhupada says that this is not contradictory for Jesus was Krishna could prevent the damage to the soul that meat eating does. So, Jesus had to do it under the circumstances for some reason regardless of the bad example. Prabhupada stuck to the dangerous religious doctrine that God’s plans are strange to us.

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