A small Goddess shrine - New-Delhi I often come across the dilemma weather Gaudiya-Vaishnavism (Krishna Consciousness, "Hare-Krishna") is a religion or not. Considering the fact that it revolves around God, our relationship with the supreme and meditation on God as a person, the common assumption is that this philosophy is a religion. It seems that once God is involved most people would consider the subject matter a religion. This assumption is clearly incorrect. Buddhism is a religion without god and so is Jainism. But from the other hand we cannot just define every mystic or spiritual persuasion as a religion. The first question should be: what is the definition of religion?
When we think of a religion we often think of a prophet talking to a large crowd of people, one such as Jesus or Moses talking to the people from a mountain top. Not so is the case with Vedic spiritual leaders such as Shankara, Ramanuja or Chaitanya. Though they are sometimes referred to as religious figures, they in fact show more of the symptoms of philosophers rather then prophets. If you look at the teachings of lord Chaitanya, as presented in writings such as the Chaitanya-Chaitamrita, you'll find him having deep conversations with other scholars such as Sarvabhoma Bhatacharya, presenting valid arguments and thus establishing his teachings. This is the standard presented by vedic scholars. Religious figures, on the other hand, present instructions that demands faith rather then logical proofs. Not that religious leader such as Moses and Jesus had philosophical base for their teachings and not that their scripture, if you take a second look at them, have no deeper spiritual meaning (usually discovered later by religious scholars). Though there is a class of educated theologians in every religion, the congregations of all religions consist mostly of masses of people who never considered deep philosophical questions.
When we think of a religion we often think of a prophet talking to a large crowd of people, one such as Jesus or Moses talking to the people from a mountain top. Not so is the case with Vedic spiritual leaders such as Shankara, Ramanuja or Chaitanya. Though they are sometimes referred to as religious figures, they in fact show more of the symptoms of philosophers rather then prophets. If you look at the teachings of lord Chaitanya, as presented in writings such as the Chaitanya-Chaitamrita, you'll find him having deep conversations with other scholars such as Sarvabhoma Bhatacharya, presenting valid arguments and thus establishing his teachings. This is the standard presented by vedic scholars. Religious figures, on the other hand, present instructions that demands faith rather then logical proofs. Not that religious leader such as Moses and Jesus had philosophical base for their teachings and not that their scripture, if you take a second look at them, have no deeper spiritual meaning (usually discovered later by religious scholars). Though there is a class of educated theologians in every religion, the congregations of all religions consist mostly of masses of people who never considered deep philosophical questions.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534)
Founder of Gaudia-Vaishnavism ("Hare-Krishna)
For example: when I was in West-Bengal I've notices a picture of a local saint presented on stores, houses, taxi cabs and so on. When I asked who is this man, everyone know his name to tell me. But when I asked what did he do and why do you have his picture, all they could tell me is that he was a grate man. So is the case of all religions. Most Buddhists go to temples praying the Buddha and Buddhisatvas for material wealth, not showing much interest in the Buddhist teachings, which are in fact much deeper. So is the case for most Christians, Jews and Muslims and Hindus. It is also worth mentioning that there are also a grate deal of people in India who consider Gaudiya-Vaishnavism as their "religion", defining it as a branch of Hinduism.
To the spiritual aspirant there are no religions. To him there is only truth and the way to it. Also, if you look at the teachings of transcendentalists, such as lord Chaitanya, you'll find ouy not only that the activities they encouraged were on different level then religion, but that they also apposed organized religion in many ways. Offering an unorthodox interpretation of scriptures, reducing the emphasis on ritualism and apposing the cast system, those were principles spread by Chaitanya and others like him.
Is religion a bad thing? Not at all. It is simply one of the many branches of activity in our life. And like all of them, it two can become spiritualized. All religions have the everyday level as well as the higher levels. The everyday level includes material activities. The higher level is where the scriptures show us a higher purpose. One that will eventually shell free the aspirant from material bounds and let him gain enlightenment. At this level he is detached from all mundane things, including material forms of religion. As it said by lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita: (18.66) "Abandon all forms of drarma (religion, truth) and give in to me"
To the spiritual aspirant there are no religions. To him there is only truth and the way to it. Also, if you look at the teachings of transcendentalists, such as lord Chaitanya, you'll find ouy not only that the activities they encouraged were on different level then religion, but that they also apposed organized religion in many ways. Offering an unorthodox interpretation of scriptures, reducing the emphasis on ritualism and apposing the cast system, those were principles spread by Chaitanya and others like him.
Is religion a bad thing? Not at all. It is simply one of the many branches of activity in our life. And like all of them, it two can become spiritualized. All religions have the everyday level as well as the higher levels. The everyday level includes material activities. The higher level is where the scriptures show us a higher purpose. One that will eventually shell free the aspirant from material bounds and let him gain enlightenment. At this level he is detached from all mundane things, including material forms of religion. As it said by lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita: (18.66) "Abandon all forms of drarma (religion, truth) and give in to me"
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