Yes to everything else, except this:
<!--QuoteBegin-G.Subramaniam+Feb 23 2009, 09:44 AM-->QUOTE(G.Subramaniam @ Feb 23 2009, 09:44 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Even today, hindus are more oppressed in eastern xtian russia than in the west[right][snapback]94850[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Are you talking about the ISKCON situation in Russia? Well, it's <i>proselytising</i> in Russia (IIRC with the blessings or at least visible presence of Junior <i>Ford</i>). Eastern Orthodox Russia is not a proselytising nation. They have a right to be left alone, as Hindus have a right to be left alone. Hindus ought to be fair on this.
It is not like America that's trying to push one religion of WASPYiness. Russia already officially recognises 4 major religions within its borders, since these have long been part of its landscape (and which have over time worked out some sort of established platform of 'coexistence', although the eternal catholic aggressiveness and islam tend to pose troubles):
- christianism: the Greek Orthodox Church, but unfortunately also the catholic variety,
- Buddhism,
- Judaism and
- islam.
And Russia wants to preserve this particular religious identity in stability, which is its right. Why throw oil on the carefully-contained fire of its existing dynamics?
ISKCON is openly taking its Krsna Consciousness there now. Russia has specifically declared it does not like proselytising (nor any meddling NGOs for that matter, including the American evangelical varieties). Can't existing Russian adherents of ISKCON just do offerings to a Krishna Moorthy in their homes (like Hindus living in western countries generally do), instead of Junior Ford or whoever agitating to build an ISKCON Temple there? Traditional Temples in Bharatam have a purpose because these tend to have been built on sacred sites where our Gods appeared or did something important. So, if building ISKCON Temples is causing so much stress in Russia, a puja room in Russian ISKCON homes can easily suffice and will not stifle followers' pursuits.
Also, surely ISKCON is a very visible path on the web, and people can discover it and follow it in private if they choose? There's no need for it to be taken to the public physically as this obviously goes against non-proselytising people's comfort. (One of the issues I have with ISKCON is that it is very into proselytising - it even tries to convert Hindus in Bharatam to Krsna Consciousness...)
<!--QuoteBegin-G.Subramaniam+Feb 23 2009, 09:44 AM-->QUOTE(G.Subramaniam @ Feb 23 2009, 09:44 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Even today, hindus are more oppressed in eastern xtian russia than in the west[right][snapback]94850[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Are you talking about the ISKCON situation in Russia? Well, it's <i>proselytising</i> in Russia (IIRC with the blessings or at least visible presence of Junior <i>Ford</i>). Eastern Orthodox Russia is not a proselytising nation. They have a right to be left alone, as Hindus have a right to be left alone. Hindus ought to be fair on this.
It is not like America that's trying to push one religion of WASPYiness. Russia already officially recognises 4 major religions within its borders, since these have long been part of its landscape (and which have over time worked out some sort of established platform of 'coexistence', although the eternal catholic aggressiveness and islam tend to pose troubles):
- christianism: the Greek Orthodox Church, but unfortunately also the catholic variety,
- Buddhism,
- Judaism and
- islam.
And Russia wants to preserve this particular religious identity in stability, which is its right. Why throw oil on the carefully-contained fire of its existing dynamics?
ISKCON is openly taking its Krsna Consciousness there now. Russia has specifically declared it does not like proselytising (nor any meddling NGOs for that matter, including the American evangelical varieties). Can't existing Russian adherents of ISKCON just do offerings to a Krishna Moorthy in their homes (like Hindus living in western countries generally do), instead of Junior Ford or whoever agitating to build an ISKCON Temple there? Traditional Temples in Bharatam have a purpose because these tend to have been built on sacred sites where our Gods appeared or did something important. So, if building ISKCON Temples is causing so much stress in Russia, a puja room in Russian ISKCON homes can easily suffice and will not stifle followers' pursuits.
Also, surely ISKCON is a very visible path on the web, and people can discover it and follow it in private if they choose? There's no need for it to be taken to the public physically as this obviously goes against non-proselytising people's comfort. (One of the issues I have with ISKCON is that it is very into proselytising - it even tries to convert Hindus in Bharatam to Krsna Consciousness...)