Hridayananda Goswami

[Hridayananda Goswami is a senior diksa and sannyasa disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the Gaudiya Vaishnava line and member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission.]

“We should encourage all people from all backgrounds to come to Krishna consciousness, and it is natural to form various associations to support the diverse Vaishnava communities in their spiritual practices. Surely Lord Krishna appreciates and blesses all sincere efforts to help others advance in Krishna consciousness.

“Vaishnavas should endeavor to bring Lord Caitanya’s mercy to all living beings, and we must treat all devotees, and indeed all creatures with appropriate dignity and respect. Srila Prabhupada’s books inspire us to such behavior by revealing that all living beings are equally part and parcel of Lord Krishna. This eternal fact should serve as sufficient justification and inspiration to arouse the mercy and respect of true Vaishnavas.”

(Chakra editorial, January 30, 2003)

“A truly spiritual society must constantly seek a balance between the strict codes of varnasrama, and the practical needs of sincere devotees. There can be no doubt that a significant number of souls, whose external sexual orientation is homosexual, sincerely strive to be Krishna conscious. It is entirely natural and predictable that a majority of these devotees, as with most heterosexual devotees, will not be suited for lifelong celibacy.

“My view of this issue is as follows:

1. As a general rule, we should appreciate devotees in terms of the sincerity and diligence of their spiritual attempts, given the psychophysical circumstances of their life. In other words, in any condition of life, if a devotee sincerely strives to please Krishna, that devotee is to be admired.
2. It is the duty of any society to recognize, and thus encourage, the admirable behavior of its members. Monogamy, among devotees of any orientation, is an admirable achievement in the context of today’s promiscuous society, and should be thus appreciated and encouraged.
3. Given the need to balance strict varnasrama with liberal spirituality, I believe that ISKCON should recognize and encourage monogamy among all its members of whatever orientation, and that such recognition and encouragement should take appropriate forms that achieve both purposes: the maintenance of varnasrama and the encouraging of spiritual sincerity.
4. I am not convinced that marriage is the best means in all cases, but some serious, formal and public recognition and appreciation of gay monogamy is, in my view, in the best interest of ISKCON and its members.”

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami

(Open letter, December 11, 2004)