Bharatpedia

Vaishnava Foundation

Revision as of 12:30, 2 March 2022 by MahaDevv (talk | contribs) (→‎Philosophy: fixed bold print)

The Vaishnava Foundation (VF) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization which promotes Krishna Consciousness as per the orthodox standards of its spiritual acharyas. 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- 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.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

The Vaishnava Foundation
VF Devotees on kirtan (1988)
AbbreviationVF
Motto"The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all." Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.2
FormationDecember 1986 (38 years ago) (1986-12) Lake County, California U.S.A.
FounderKailasa Candra dasa & Eric Johanson
TypeReligious organization
Legal statusFoundation
PurposeEducational, Philanthropic, Religious studies, Spirituality
HeadquartersSacramento, California U.S.A.
Coordinates38°34′54″N 121°29′40″W / 38.5816°N 121.4944°W / 38.5816; -121.4944Coordinates: 38°34′54″N 121°29′40″W / 38.5816°N 121.4944°W / 38.5816; -121.4944
Area served
Worldwide
Official languages
English
Kailasa Candra dasa
Main organ
Active Member Board
AffiliationsGaudiya Vaishnavism
Websitewww.therealexplanation.org

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.).[8] 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.[9] Eric Johanson acted as secretary for VF from 1986 to 2012. Kailsa Candra dasa has been a VF director since its founding.[10][11][12]

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.[13][14][15][16][17] Kailasa Candra dasa does offer Sanskrit names to VF members desiring one.[18][19]

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.[20] Prior to publishing on the internet, the group published a print magazine, “Transformational Realities”, six times yearly. [21][22] 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.[23][24] 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.[25][26][27] Criticism of the group can likewise be found online, for reasons ranging from authoritarian management to promoting conspiracy theories.[28][29]

External Links

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ [2]
  3. ↑ [3]
  4. ↑ [https://www.therealexplanation.org
  5. ↑ [4]
  6. ↑ https://www.therealexplanation.org/vfoutreach/VFO_ao.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.therealexplanation.org/vfoutreach/VFO_te.pdf
  8. ↑ Lynne Gibson, “Modern World Religions: Hinduism - Pupil Book Core”, Heinemann Educational Publishers, Oxford: 2002; pp: 4-6; ISBN: 0-435-33619-3
  9. ↑ [https://www.thekrishnaites.org/about/
  10. ↑ [5]
  11. ↑ [6]
  12. ↑ Henry Doktorski, “Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977-1987)”, Kindle: 2021; pp. 389-390; ISBN: 9781079561371
  13. ↑ 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
  14. ↑ [7]
  15. ↑ [8]
  16. ↑ Concerning Initiation
  17. ↑ Kailasa Candra dasa, Beyond Institutional Gurus, Initiations, And Party Men, Vaishnava Foundation: Oct. 30, 2019; ISBN:
  18. ↑ Henry Dotorski, “Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977-1987)”, Kindle: 2021; pp. 389-390; ISBN: 9781079561371
  19. ↑ [9]
  20. ↑ https://www.therealexplanation.org/VF_Articles_Videos_2022.pdf
  21. ↑ ”Transformational Realities”, Vol.1 No. 1: Late Summer 1988; Vaishnava Foundation, Inc. | https://therealexplanation.org/VF_Newsletter_1988.pdf
  22. ↑ ADD LAST ISSUE Citation date, number, issue if known
  23. ↑ Kailasa Candra dasa, Beyond Institutional Gurus, Initiations, and Party Men, Vaishnava Foundation: 2019; ISBN 9789696849661
  24. ↑ Bhaktivinode Thakur, Tattva-viveka: Awakened Intelligence in Absolute Truth, 2nd Edition, Vaishnava Foundation: 2012
  25. ↑ https://raj-kotecha.com/about/
  26. ↑ https://therealexplanation.org/veda-serbia/kontakt.html
  27. ↑ https://therealexplanation.org/veda-serbia/bhagavad-gita.html
  28. ↑ [10]
  29. ↑ [11]
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaishnava_Foundation&oldid=305457"