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Cults & Society
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| Featured Group Report |
Hare Krishna: women |
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Fundamental Human Rights in ISKCON
The
individuality of the self is a central teaching in Vaisnava philosophy,
but what is our practical understanding of this term?
Individuality is present in all living beings on both a material
and a spiritual level. This
article translates how this concept needs to relate to education practices
in ISKCON today. The author
explores evidence in some of Srila Prabhupada's writings and scripture
that deal with the issue of individuality together with some more recent
research by academics in the field. With
this data, the author builds a persuasive argument for devotees to become
more aware of the individual, both in themselves and in others so that
they may respond with respectful awareness to the individual's needs. Everyone
has an equal right to execute devotional service. That is the platform of
oneness and the basis for a classless society. Srila Prabhupada[i] Oppression
is not a spiritual phenomenon. Yet, the history of organised religion
abounds with examples of oppression in various forms at various times.
From early Christian martyrs to the Spanish Inquisition, from the Salem
witch trials to abuses of the caste system and the treatment of
‘untouchables’ in India, there has always been a risk of oppression in
the name of God. Research shows that there are certain universal
factors that cause or contribute to oppression within institutions and
nations, and there is also firm evidence that legal structures in the form
of Human Rights can minimise the tendency toward oppression. For these
reasons, a Declaration of Fundamental Human Rights for the protection of
both the institution and the members of the society would benefit the
Society. Oppression is defined as an "unjust or cruel
exercise of authority or power."[ii]
We must guard against oppressive behaviour in our society. We understand
as devotees, that oppression is a phenomenon of the Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy in which we now reside,
rather than being a symptom of religion. In fact, Srimad Bhagavatam
predicts that the age of Kali will be characterised by a lack of justice.
As H. H. Hridayananda Swami points out: Already
in many nations justice is available only to those who can pay and fight
for it. In a civilised state, every man, woman and child must have equal
and rapid access to a fair system of laws. In modern times we sometimes
refer to this as Human Rights. Certainly Human Rights are one of the more
obvious casualties of the age of Kali.[iii]
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