Planting the Seed of Hare Krishna Consciousness: The Beliefs and Activities of Hare Krishna in Kisumu County, Kenya
Abstract/ Overview
The global landscape has served as the origin of numerous religious traditions, fostering the development and sustenance of diverse philosophical and ethical frameworks. However, the coexistence of these various belief systems has occasionally led to disputes arising from inherent incompatibilities. The primary objective of this thesis is to analyze the operations and undertakings of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) within Kisumu County. The subject under discussion is a worldwide religious movement that may be traced back to Chaitanya Vaishnavism, a Hindu tradition that originated in India. The perception of Hare Krishnas in Kenya is sometimes limited, despite their provision of material and financial aid to humanitarian causes, particularly in response to tragedies affecting individuals or communities. ISKCON movement remains very inconspicuous and frequently operates in obscurity, evading widespread attention and remaining mostly unidentified and unrecognized among the majority of Kenyan individuals. The limited awareness among the general public regarding the Hare Krishna movement has resulted in significant instances of misinterpretation, social stigma, and vilification. This highlights the crucial necessity of promoting precise and factual information about the Hare Krishna movement, particularly in the context of its classification as one of the New Religious Movements in Kenya (NRM). This study aimed to investigate the dissemination and establishment of the Hare Krishna movement in Kenya, specifically in Kisumu County. It involved an examination of the doctrinal principles, beliefs, devotional practices, and lifestyle of the Hare Krishna followers in Kisumu County. Additionally, the study assessed the teachings of the Hare Krishna movement regarding peace and their strategy for engaging in interfaith dialogue within Kisumu County. The study used key informant interviews conducted with devotees ISKCON and participants in interfaith dialogue forum in Kisumu together with secondary sources obtained from literary works authored by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the official biography of Bhaktivedanta Swami, temple Daily Schedule, books, essays, and academic articles authored by disciples of Bhaktivedanta Swami. These provided valuable insights and scholarly perspectives on various aspects related to ISKCON doctrines and teachings. The study targeted members of ISKCON and participants in interfaith dialogue workshop in Kisumu guided by interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to investigate the individual experiences within the context of the doctrines, teachings, and actions of the Hare Krishna community in the Kisumu temple. The researchers employed purposive sampling to choose a sample of participants for the study. The sample consisted of ten priests, five African converts to ISKCON, thirteen youths and six representatives from the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK), two Archdeacons from the Anglican Church of Kenya, one member of the Baha'i faith, two lecturers, and two members of the civil society. The research was informed by Emile Durkheim's (1912) Social Identity Theory, which was utilized to elucidate the processes via which individuals become involved in religious groups and the subsequent transformative effects on their lives. The data shows that ISKCON first appeared in Mombasa and subsequently spread to Nairobi and Kisumu in the 1970s. Indigenous Indian businesspeople in the region supported this expansion. ISKCON promotes Bhagavad-gita and bhakti yoga, which emphasizes devotion to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vegetarianism, meditation, and other disciplines are promoted to help people connect with Krishna and achieve spiritual liberation. ISKCON considers communication with people of other faiths as an opportunity to listen, create mutual understanding and trust, and convey our beliefs while respecting theirs. The study suggests emphasizing peace ideals through interreligious interaction in ISKCON teaching. ISKCON should be examined to add new philosophies to theological knowledge and resolve related interreligious conflicts.