09/24/1998 - 2271

Sex Question Splits Hare Krishnas

Russia (VNN) - from The Moscow Times

Copyright 1998 Independent Press
The Moscow Times

 September 23, 1998

 SECTION: No. 1545
LENGTH: 823 words
 HEADLINE: Sex Question Splits Hare Krishnas
 BYLINE: By Julia Solovyova
 Staff Writer

 While the world follows the twists and turns of the Bill andMonica story, the international Hare Krishna community is playingout its own, slightly more theological version of a sex scandal.The movement's spiritual leader, Harikesa Swami Sri Vishnupad,created the scandal by proposing that sex be allowed betweenmarried couples other than for procreation, and announcing plansto marry his own Monica.

 Vishnupad's proposal appears to have hit the loudest chord inRussia, where a group of his followers has broken away from themainstream.

 The proposal would change one of the fundamental principlesof the Hare Krishna religion, which condones sex withinmarriage only in order to produce children. The movement as awhole considered the proposal a sacrilege.

 Vishnupad, 49, an American living in Germany whose secularname is Robert Compagnola, was stripped of his post as chairmanof the GBC - the body governing the International Society forKrishna Consciousness, or ISKCON.

 In response, Vishnupad quit ISKCON, denouncing it as acorrupt "communist" organization only interested in "money,power, buildings and fruitless institutionalization." While therest of the international Hare Krishna community has taken thedevelopments in stride, Vishnupad's Russian devotees have beendeeply divided. He is one of about a dozen Hare Krishna guruswho have disciples in Russia, but is by far the most influential.

 At least 200 of his devotees have broken away, concentratingaround a temple in St. Petersburg.

 "We are disappointed in ISKCON. They are a bunch of scribesand pharisees," said Karen Saakyan, president of the St.Petersburg temple and leader of the splinter group. "(Themovement) doesn't have any future. Vishnupad used to be itsheart. Without him it is doomed." The guru's change of heart cameafter he fell into a coma in early June. When he recovered, withhelp from Monica, a healer, he told his disciples that herealized the social status of a sannyasi, or celibate monk, wasnot right for him anymore.

 His former fellow clerics blame the medication he was takingfor chronic fatigue, saying it made him emotionally and mentallyunstable.

 "I wish to change this rule of no illicit sex, which means nosex except for having children," Vishnupad said in a videoaddress to Russian devotees last month. "It should be changed tono sex outside of marriage so that married couples can havenormal and loving relationships." Vishnupad went on to say thatpeople who join the Hare Krishna movement have to "constantlyrepress their various desires," which causes "unlimited problemsto their minds." He acknowledged that the movement was not readyfor the change, "although everybody knows that something'swrong," and said he no longer wanted to be part of it.

  "I consider it a sect," Vishnupad said. "Do not be dependenton some communist society. ISKCON is a communist society.Everyone knows that communism does not work." Echoing his guru,Saakyan called ISKCON "a kind of a young pioneer camp" whoseleaders have discredited themselves by "being jealous of theirmore advanced peer." Saakyan also criticized the movement forInternet postings describing Vishnupad as ill, when the Russiandisciple said the guru was actually in a "transcendental state.""I'm sure within a couple years 90 percent of ISKCON members willjoin us," Saakyan added.

  Sergei Zuyev, president of the Russian Krishna community,played down the importance of the split.

  "There is no schism going on. We've got 120 temples (aroundRussia) and only one of them has stepped aside," he said, addingthat the total number of Krishna devotees in Russia is about100,000. "It's a healthy development process." Zuyev expressed awillingness to consider Vishnupad's proposal. He said it may bebrought up for discussion at a GBC meeting next year, ifVishnupad fully recovers from his "emotional instability." "It'snot a problem that needs an immediate solution," Zuyev said. "Itprobably wouldn't make sense for devotees who have taken theirvows, but it may be acceptable for the newcomers." Saakyan saidthe proposed reform is vital.

  "The Hare Krishna society is based on abstinence, but it'snot the crucial factor of spiritual growth," he said. "Peopleshould be able to create families but if they are allowed to havesex only once in their lives, why live together? Why tortureeach other? It turns into some sort of perversion." Therebellious guru has been one of the highest spiritual authoritiesin the Hare Krishna movement. Rumors have circulated among hisdisciples who chose to stick with ISKCON that Vishnupad's soulwas replaced by someone else's while he was in the coma.

  "I believe it's a temporary aberration," said AndreiKharitonov, a Moscow disciple who stayed within the mainstream."I trust in my guru and pray to God to help him overcome thistemptation."