Vaishnava Foundation

2022-03-27T07:15:06Z

2601:98A:4301:5550:0:0:0:6F69: Added further references, 2 from religious encyclopedias, 1 from Wikipedia

{{Short description|Religious organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = [[The Vaishnava Foundation]]
| abbreviation = VF
| image = [[File:Devotees 1988.jpg|thumb|VF Devotees on kirtan (1988)]]
| motto = "The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all." [[Srimad Bhagavatam]] 1.1.2
| formation = {{start date and age|1986|12|df=yes|p=y}} {{nowrap|[[Lake County, California]]}} [[U.S.A.]]
| type = [[Religious organization]]
| status = [[Foundation (nonprofit)|Foundation]]
| headquarters = [[Sacramento]], [[California]] [[U.S.A.]]
| coords = {{coord|38.5816|N| 121.4944|W|display=inline,title}}
| leader_title = [[Director]]
| leader_name = [[Kailasa Candra dasa]]
| main_organ = Active Member Board
| affiliations = [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]
| founder = [[Kailasa Candra dasa]] & Eric Johanson
| purpose = [[Educational]], [[Philanthropic]], [[Religious studies]], [[Spirituality]]
| languages = [[English language|English]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| website = {{url|https://www.therealexplanation.org/}}|
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

'''The Vaishnava Foundation''' ('''VF''') is a [[tax-exempt]] [[nonprofit organization]] which promotes [[Krishna]] [[Consciousness]] as per the [[orthodox]] standards of its spiritual [[acharya]]s. '''VF''' has members worldwide, predominantly in [[North America]], [[Eastern Europe]], & [[South Asia]]. It is part of the [[Brahma]] [[Sampradaya]] of [[Vaishnavism]], which has existed for thousands of years. Specifically, '''VF''' is in the [[Brahma]]-[[Madhava | Madhavacharya]]-[[Gaudiya]]-[[Vaishnava]] [[lineage]] of disciplic succession. The full legal name of the [[corporation]], founded as an association in 1986 and incorporated in 1988, is '''Metamorphosis League for Monastic Studies: The Vaishnava Foundation, Inc.'''<ref>[https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/Detail]</ref><ref>[https://california-company.com/co/metemorphosis-league-for-monastic-studies-the-vaishnava-foundation-inc]</ref><ref>[https://www.celebheightwiki.com/kailasa-candra-dasa-height]</ref><ref>[https://www.therealexplanation.org]</ref><ref>[https://returntosquareone.com]</ref><ref> https://www.therealexplanation.org/vfoutreach/VFO_ao.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.therealexplanation.org/vfoutreach/VFO_te.pdf</ref><ref>J. Gordon Melton (editor in cheif), ''Encyclopedia of American Religions'' (7th ed.); Gale: Detroit, 2003; p.1024</ref><ref> Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan, ''Encyclopedia of Hinduism'' (Encyclopedia of World Religions series); Facts on File: NY, 2007; pp.287-288</ref><ref> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_Candra_Dasa</ref>

==History==
'''VF''' is a branch of the spiritual movement founded and incorporated by His Divine Grace [[A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]] in [[New York (state)]] in 1966 under the name of The [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]], Inc.(ISKCON, Inc.).<ref>Lynne Gibson, “Modern World Religions: Hinduism - Pupil Book Core”, Heinemann Educational Publishers, Oxford: 2002; pp: 4-6; ISBN: 0-435-33619-3</ref> '''VF''' is not, however, is not, however, associated in any way with the organization currently using that ISKCON moniker. '''VF''' was, in fact, founded by disciples of Srila Prabhupada who became alarmed at perceived deviations proliferating within the false-structure of the ISKCON entity, which emerged after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. In the latter half of 1986, [[Kailasa Candra dasa]] accepted Eric Johanson’s invitation to join the Mount Kailasa [[ashram]] in [[Lake County]], [[California]]. The two co-founded '''VF''' near the end of that year. In January, 1988, in [[Sacramento]], the Vaishnava Foundation association was legally incorporated, becoming a not-for-profit corporation. Mount Kailasa ashram was sold in 1988, mostly to settle a bankruptcy case. The proceeds were legally split between Mount Kailasa Foundation, Inc. and The Vaishnava Foundation, Inc.<ref>https://www.thekrishnaites.org/about/</ref>
Eric Johanson acted as secretary for '''VF''' from 1986 to 2012.
Kailsa Candra dasa has been a '''VF''' director since its founding.<ref>[http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2018/04/re-kailash-chandra-by-eric-johanson.html]</ref><ref>[http://bhaktivedantacccg.org/wp/?page_id=102]</ref><ref>Henry Doktorski, “Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977-1987)”, Kindle: 2021; pp. 389-390; ISBN: 9781079561371</ref>

==Philosophy==
The group adheres to the [[philosophy]] of [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]] within [[Krishnaism]]. It aims to distinguish bona-fide versus sentimentally-driven [[bhakti]] [[yoga]] and to articulate authentic versus deviated Gaudiya Vaishnava doctrine and praxis. The foundation has a reputation for [[traditionalism]], stressing adherence to (and highlighting divergences from) the norms established by the Gaudiya [[Guru]]-[[Shastra]]-[[Sadhu]] standard. Given that Metamorphosis League for Monastic Studies: The Vaishnava Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1986, it can be considered an early expression of [[New Monasticism]]. A unique characteristic of the organization, among contemporary Gaudiya societies, is that it does not offer [[diksha]] [[initiation]] at this time. '''VF''' members who were not initiated by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (while he was still physically manifest) take him as their [[siksha]]-guru. The group’s position is that it does not know the whereabouts of any bona fide spiritual master having the capacity to legitimately act as a diksha guru or a regular guru. Nor does '''VF''' acknowledge any [[Vedic]] validity attributed to the post-mortem ritvik system (ritvik-in-absentia), for allegedly bestowing diksha upon uninitiated devotees.<ref>Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan, “Encyclopedia of Hinduism”, (Encyclopedia of world religions series); Facts on File Inc.: 2007; p. 78; ISBN: 978-0-8160-5458-9</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISKCON_guru_system#The_Ritvik_Idea]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISKCON_guru_system#A._C._Bhaktivedānta_Swāmi_Prabhupāda_as_Shiksha-Guru]</ref><ref>[https://returntosquareone.com/?p=2750#more-2750 Concerning Initiation]</ref><ref>Kailasa Candra dasa, ''Beyond Institutional Gurus, Initiations, And Party Men'', Vaishnava Foundation: Oct. 30, 2019; ISBN: </ref> Kailasa Candra dasa does offer Sanskrit names to '''VF''' members desiring one.<ref>Henry Dotorski, “Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977-1987)”, Kindle: 2021; pp. 389-390; ISBN: 9781079561371</ref><ref>[http://henrydoktorski.com/ElevenNakedEmperors/Aftermath.pdf]</ref>

==Activities==
'''VF''' seeks to make [[Vedic]] and [[Vaishnava]] studies in [[bhakti]] [[yoga]] and [[sadhu]] [[sangha]] accessible for all sincere and serious devotees. This group takes advantage of the [[internet]] in many ways in order to promote the teachings of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]]. For example, '''VF''' maintains multiple websites, is active on [[YouTube]] and [[Facebook]], and holds weekly meetings via [[Skype]].
Its Co-Director and chief Founder, [[Kailasa Candra dasa]], has published hundreds of articles and posts a video missive each month.<ref>https://www.therealexplanation.org/VF_Articles_Videos_2022.pdf</ref> Prior to publishing on the internet, the group published a print magazine, “Transformational Realities”, six times yearly. <ref>”Transformational Realities”, Vol.1 No. 1: Late Summer 1988; Vaishnava Foundation, Inc. | https://therealexplanation.org/VF_Newsletter_1988.pdf </ref> '''VF'''’s resources are freely accessible online. In addition, '''VF''' has published two books thus-far, available in both print and ebook format: Beyond Institutional Gurus, Initiations, and Party Men and Tattva-viveka: Awakened Intelligence in Absolute Truth.<ref>Kailasa Candra dasa, ''Beyond Institutional Gurus, Initiations, and Party Men'', Vaishnava Foundation: 2019; ISBN 9789696849661</ref><ref>Bhaktivinode Thakur, ''Tattva-viveka: Awakened Intelligence in Absolute Truth'', 2nd Edition, Vaishnava Foundation: 2012</ref> '''VF'''’s authoritative teachings are currently primarily in English, with some available in Spanish and Serbian. The foundation’s future plans include publishing more materials in Serbo-Crotian, as part of its Eastern European outreach. Personal testimonies to the efficacy of the [[spiritual direction]] offered by VF can be found online.<ref>https://raj-kotecha.com/about/</ref>
<ref>https://therealexplanation.org/veda-serbia/kontakt.html</ref><ref>https://therealexplanation.org/veda-serbia/bhagavad-gita.html</ref> Criticism of the group can likewise be found online, for reasons ranging from [[authoritarian]] [[management]] to promoting [[conspiracy theories]].<ref>[https://lastingimpression.info/god-given-rejection-of-nonsense/]</ref><ref>[https://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/02-10/editorials5689.htm]</ref>

==External Links==
* https://www.therealexplanation.org
* https://returntosquareone.com
* https://www.radha.name/digital-books/philosphy/vaishnava-foundation-articles-esay

[[Category:Foundations based in India]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Vaishnava Foundation