Back To Prabhupada, Issue 19, Spring 2008
ollowing our previous reports of how ISKCON has deviated into all manner of mundane commercial enterprises, with no connection to Krishna consciousness, simply to amass money, we find that an ISKCON restaurant in Australia (listed on ISKCON’s website as a bona fide ISKCON centre) even runs a regular cinema, showing all the latest Hollywood movies:
“We recommend you allow at least half an hour to dine before going upstairs to the cinema [...] Tickets to the movie only are available on the night for $11.90. […] The movie room is a boutique cinema which offers seating on mainly upholstered floor cushioning carefully designed to give both support and fabulous comfort. Guests are encouraged to kick off their shoes, stretch out and really make themselves at home. […] Due to the intimate nature of our cinema we regret we cannot allow children under the age of five.”
(ISKCON Govinda’s, Sydney, website)
Indeed, newspapers have given rave reviews to the “intimate nature” of the cinema:
“The story of Elly and Ian’s first date at Govindas. “Govindas is a Sydney dating institution. For the past 28 years couples have been canoodling on the couches in the boutique cinema after gorging on vegetarian food filled with good karma in the restaurant below. […] Forget uncomfortable cinema seating; at Govinda’s, shoes come off and patrons lie back on rows of long cushions that bear more resemblance to beds than seats. […] Both agree that Govinda’s is the perfect setting for a bit of romance...”
(Sydney Morning Herald (Spectrum), Aug 31-Sep 6, 2007, from Govinda’s website)
BTP has continued to report how following the original deviation of removing Srila Prabhupada as the diksa Guru of ISKCON, ISKCON has continued adding more and more deviations, with demigod worship, government schools, “couples yoga”, mantras for sale, automobile blessings, and a whole plethora of commercial business ventures, even hiring out temple space for bingo, etc. Now we can add an IT park, shopping mall and even a regular “Hollywood” cinema. It seems all we are missing now is a nightclub! It’s about time “ISKCON” dropped the “Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada” attribution from its name, and indeed the name “ISKCON” itself, and honestly accepted that it is no longer the institution founded by Prabhupada by a long stretch. To continue to associate Srila Prabhupada’s name with such activities is a disgrace.
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