International Cultic Studies Association
 Department: Group Report - Hare Krishna

Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001
_______________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: news articles 1996
 
ISKCON in the News Articles from the Cult Observer 1984-1999 

1996

May/June

Hare Krishnas at Grozny "Front" (p. 10) Members of the Hare Krishnas [International Society for Krishna Consciousness] were seen in the Chechen capital of Grozny in December bringing relief aid to local citizens in the midst of the insurgency by nationalist rebels against the Russian government. The Krishnas at work contrast greatly with members of other relief agencies who ride around in white Land Cruisers and carry satellite phones.

The squad of twelve Krishnas, who serve 1,000 meals a day-as many as any other organization-have a reputation like Mother Teresa's in Calcutta, and apparently push no parochial agenda.

But the future of the Krishna endeavor has started to seem grim. The central administration has threatened to take their ambulance away, they have effectively lost contact with their Moscow headquarters, and a local merchant recently demanded rent on the shelled, hollow building they use to keep hundreds of people alive. (From "Krishnas Cast Bread on Roiling Waters in Russia," by Michael Specter, New York Times, 12/12/95, A4)   

September/October  

Hare Krishna Schism (p. 8)

ISKCON [International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Hare Krishnas] has six temples in Poland, with 250 resident monks. They claim 12,000 adepts. It is noteworthy that we have an active ISKCON schism in Poland named Mission of Czaitani, or Identity Institute International, founded by Chris Butler (Jagad Guru, Siddaswarupananda Paramahansa), present in all the larger cities, where they have more followers than the Hare Krishna themselves. They look more European in their dress, and don't shave their heads. Last year, some of their adepts from Ukraine and Russia came to a meeting with a California guru in Lublin. 

November/December

Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20 Years (p. 6) Former Hare Krishna leader Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada [born Keith Ham], accused of murdering and beatings to discipline his followers, was sentenced on Aug. 29 to 20 years in prison-the maximum possible sentence- for racketeering. Federal District Court Judge Robert Merhige, Jr., in Martinsburg, WV, also fined Bhaktipada $250,000. The 59-year-old guru, who uses a cane and suffers from asthma, hypertension, and the effects of childhood polio, could have his sentence modified after medical evaluations. 

Bhaktipada had pled guilty to one count of racketeering, which accused him of amassing millions through fundraising scams-including the sale of caps and bumper stickers  hearing copyrighted and trademarked logos - and conspiring to murder two dissidents to protect his business empire.  According to prosecutors, the two had threatened to topple Bhaktipada from power with rumors that he was a homosexual and a child molester.  Former follower Thomas Drescher was convicted on both murders and is serving a life sentence.  He testified that the killings were carried out with Bhaktipada's approval.

At the sentencing, Bhaktipada told eight followers sitting behind him: "this body in not mine.  The body belongs to God, and He can do with it as He pleases.

Bhaktipada's group was expelled for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1987.  (From "Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20-Year Sentence," New York Times, 8/29/96, A23)

 
 
       
_____________________________________________ ^
 

International Cultic Studies Association
 Department: Group Report - Hare Krishna

Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001
_______________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: news articles 1996
 
ISKCON in the News Articles from the Cult Observer 1984-1999 

1996

May/June

Hare Krishnas at Grozny "Front" (p. 10) Members of the Hare Krishnas [International Society for Krishna Consciousness] were seen in the Chechen capital of Grozny in December bringing relief aid to local citizens in the midst of the insurgency by nationalist rebels against the Russian government. The Krishnas at work contrast greatly with members of other relief agencies who ride around in white Land Cruisers and carry satellite phones.

The squad of twelve Krishnas, who serve 1,000 meals a day-as many as any other organization-have a reputation like Mother Teresa's in Calcutta, and apparently push no parochial agenda.

But the future of the Krishna endeavor has started to seem grim. The central administration has threatened to take their ambulance away, they have effectively lost contact with their Moscow headquarters, and a local merchant recently demanded rent on the shelled, hollow building they use to keep hundreds of people alive. (From "Krishnas Cast Bread on Roiling Waters in Russia," by Michael Specter, New York Times, 12/12/95, A4)   

September/October  

Hare Krishna Schism (p. 8)

ISKCON [International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Hare Krishnas] has six temples in Poland, with 250 resident monks. They claim 12,000 adepts. It is noteworthy that we have an active ISKCON schism in Poland named Mission of Czaitani, or Identity Institute International, founded by Chris Butler (Jagad Guru, Siddaswarupananda Paramahansa), present in all the larger cities, where they have more followers than the Hare Krishna themselves. They look more European in their dress, and don't shave their heads. Last year, some of their adepts from Ukraine and Russia came to a meeting with a California guru in Lublin. 

November/December

Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20 Years (p. 6) Former Hare Krishna leader Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada [born Keith Ham], accused of murdering and beatings to discipline his followers, was sentenced on Aug. 29 to 20 years in prison-the maximum possible sentence- for racketeering. Federal District Court Judge Robert Merhige, Jr., in Martinsburg, WV, also fined Bhaktipada $250,000. The 59-year-old guru, who uses a cane and suffers from asthma, hypertension, and the effects of childhood polio, could have his sentence modified after medical evaluations. 

Bhaktipada had pled guilty to one count of racketeering, which accused him of amassing millions through fundraising scams-including the sale of caps and bumper stickers  hearing copyrighted and trademarked logos - and conspiring to murder two dissidents to protect his business empire.  According to prosecutors, the two had threatened to topple Bhaktipada from power with rumors that he was a homosexual and a child molester.  Former follower Thomas Drescher was convicted on both murders and is serving a life sentence.  He testified that the killings were carried out with Bhaktipada's approval.

At the sentencing, Bhaktipada told eight followers sitting behind him: "this body in not mine.  The body belongs to God, and He can do with it as He pleases.

Bhaktipada's group was expelled for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1987.  (From "Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20-Year Sentence," New York Times, 8/29/96, A23)

 
 
       
_____________________________________________ ^
 

International Cultic Studies Association
 Department: Group Report - Hare Krishna

Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001
_______________________________________________
Featured Group Report

Hare Krishna: news articles 1996
 
ISKCON in the News Articles from the Cult Observer 1984-1999 

1996

May/June

Hare Krishnas at Grozny "Front" (p. 10) Members of the Hare Krishnas [International Society for Krishna Consciousness] were seen in the Chechen capital of Grozny in December bringing relief aid to local citizens in the midst of the insurgency by nationalist rebels against the Russian government. The Krishnas at work contrast greatly with members of other relief agencies who ride around in white Land Cruisers and carry satellite phones.

The squad of twelve Krishnas, who serve 1,000 meals a day-as many as any other organization-have a reputation like Mother Teresa's in Calcutta, and apparently push no parochial agenda.

But the future of the Krishna endeavor has started to seem grim. The central administration has threatened to take their ambulance away, they have effectively lost contact with their Moscow headquarters, and a local merchant recently demanded rent on the shelled, hollow building they use to keep hundreds of people alive. (From "Krishnas Cast Bread on Roiling Waters in Russia," by Michael Specter, New York Times, 12/12/95, A4)   

September/October  

Hare Krishna Schism (p. 8)

ISKCON [International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Hare Krishnas] has six temples in Poland, with 250 resident monks. They claim 12,000 adepts. It is noteworthy that we have an active ISKCON schism in Poland named Mission of Czaitani, or Identity Institute International, founded by Chris Butler (Jagad Guru, Siddaswarupananda Paramahansa), present in all the larger cities, where they have more followers than the Hare Krishna themselves. They look more European in their dress, and don't shave their heads. Last year, some of their adepts from Ukraine and Russia came to a meeting with a California guru in Lublin. 

November/December

Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20 Years (p. 6) Former Hare Krishna leader Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada [born Keith Ham], accused of murdering and beatings to discipline his followers, was sentenced on Aug. 29 to 20 years in prison-the maximum possible sentence- for racketeering. Federal District Court Judge Robert Merhige, Jr., in Martinsburg, WV, also fined Bhaktipada $250,000. The 59-year-old guru, who uses a cane and suffers from asthma, hypertension, and the effects of childhood polio, could have his sentence modified after medical evaluations. 

Bhaktipada had pled guilty to one count of racketeering, which accused him of amassing millions through fundraising scams-including the sale of caps and bumper stickers  hearing copyrighted and trademarked logos - and conspiring to murder two dissidents to protect his business empire.  According to prosecutors, the two had threatened to topple Bhaktipada from power with rumors that he was a homosexual and a child molester.  Former follower Thomas Drescher was convicted on both murders and is serving a life sentence.  He testified that the killings were carried out with Bhaktipada's approval.

At the sentencing, Bhaktipada told eight followers sitting behind him: "this body in not mine.  The body belongs to God, and He can do with it as He pleases.

Bhaktipada's group was expelled for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1987.  (From "Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20-Year Sentence," New York Times, 8/29/96, A23)

 
 
       
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