Krishna Consciousness: Indoctrination or Real Education?

(written on November 30, 2019)

Krishna Consciousness is real education because it is the original knowledge meant for us to understand our constitutional (or eternal) position in relationship with the Lord. It is to awaken the dormant loving relationship with Krishna. People might think that Krishna Consciousness is indoctrination, because they cannot see Krishna or perceive Him in any other way. However, according to Srila Prabhupada there are four common defects which do not allow us to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, “The first defect is that he must commit mistakes. Another defect: to be illusioned. The third defect is the cheating propensity. Lastly, our senses are imperfect.” (Introduction to Sri Isopanisad). Our senses are not perfect enough, and overall we are so limited and and impure that we are not able to perceive Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada further explains why Krishna Consciousness is the bonafide education, even when we are not able to perceive Krishna. He says, “Vedic knowledge is called śabda-pramāṇa... The Vedas instruct that in order to understand transcendental knowledge, we have to hear from the authority. Transcendental knowledge is knowledge from beyond this universe. Within this universe is material knowledge, and beyond this universe is transcendental knowledge. We cannot even go to the end of the universe, so how can we go to the spiritual world? Thus to acquire full knowledge is impossible.” Since we are so limited, it will be impossible for us to experiment with our material abilities to find Krishna or see Him, so we have to accept the bonafide knowledge that is coming straight from Him.

Hence, Krishna Consciousness is real education. On the other hand, this “No Outsiders” movement is very much indoctrination. Firstly, it is concerning the bodily level. SB 12.4.28 says, “Anything experienced in terms of general cause and specific effect must be an illusion, because such causes and effects exist only relative to each other. Indeed, whatever has a beginning and an end is unreal.” Secondly, gay marriage is completely based on the sex pleasure because according to the Vedas, people should only get married to get KC children. Hence, the marriage can only happen between a man and a woman. However, the gay people are married only for sense gratification. By teaching this knowledge to young children in primary schools, they are brainwashing them. Hence, the “No Outsiders” movement is actually indoctrination.