The brainwashing has started..

So how does it feel to be brainwashed and why did I let others to brainwash my mind?

It’s pretty simple once you are looking for a purpose in your life and have certain doubts about the way you and others live it. I assume people join cults for the understanding from others, love and sharing and the feeling of being fulfilled by philosophy that gave you answers to all your questions you’ve ever had! At least that’s the way it was for me. Suddenly I had a big family and everyone was so helpful and nice… at least in the beginning.

You need to show others that you are as good as them! Better, ideally. You read strictly religious books and hear the same *truths* from all sides. You have new friends and they all understand that your past life was hard and now you are becoming better person because devotees of Krishna are very rare individuals and so fortunate to be on this path. You are the lucky one because you took this opportunity that not many people have in this life(or even in next 1000 lives). So now try hard and you’ll become a perfect devotee with a pure heart and go back to Godhead. Other *karmis* (people who are not devotees of Krishna and engage in material activities) have to suffer for so many more births and live in the cycle of birth and death. But you can go to Godhead in this lifetime. They all will ‘take you down’ so better don’t associate with them. Your parents are karmis as well so you can respect them because they gave you a birth and everything but don’t listen to what they’re saying because they are living materialistic life and don’t know what is right for you.

Altough Hare Krishnas tell you we’re all spirit souls as a woman you have different duties than a man. You are good for cleaning, cooking, sewing and giving birth to new Hare Krishna members. Always listen to your husband because he knows better, he is more advanced and if you serve him well, you go back to Godhead with him. One woman living in the temple explained to me the position of a woman.. “It is no discrimination of women.. we have different bodies and our nature is to be mothers. We are very sentimental unlike men. We’re less intelligent and mental (*meaning of being unsure what to do and thinking a lot). But Krishna loves his gopis (women who were dancing and performing pastimes with him) so we are trying to be like them. Important is to be chaste for Krishna and especially if you don’t have a husband, avoid talking to men. You would only disturb them because they try to be celibate and it could lead to fall down for both of you. Just focus on your spiritual advancement at this moment and you will see, Krishna will send you very spiritual husband in the future!’ In next conversations I was told how I need to keep my hair covered and all body parts too. If you don’t do this you will be considered a prostitute.

yes.. so now you might be wondering how I fell for this obvious manipulation… I am also asking myself the same question. But if you are surrounded by so many people living the same way of life and constantly telling you how you have to surrender and give up all material activities something in your mind switches into the same *mode*..

The 4 rules that need to be followed.

1. No meat eating, no eggs, no garlic and onion
2. No illicit sex (You can’t have any sex outside marriage and if you have sex with your husband/wife, then only once a month for a purpose of conceiving a child)
3. No intoxication (No cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, tea and any caffeine drinks)
4. No gambling (includes sports)

Other than that you have to chant 16 rounds of HK mantra a day (cca 2 hours of meditation), read only Srila Prabhupada’s books, associate only with devotees of Krishna, attend their retreats and so on, preach about Krishna to others, wear chaste clothes, don’t talk to opposite sex, cook your own food that is not *contaminated* by non-devotees etc, don’t watch TV or listen to the radio or read newspapers…

You have to get up at 4 am (if you are lucky) to attend morning services and after all lectures and ceremonies you work all day for *Krishna*. This involves cooking, cleaning, reading, gardening, farming, or the most glorious – distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books that is the best service you can do. It is illegal because you are asking for often very generous donations to be given for a book/books. However Hare Krishna have ways to avoid prosecution. “It is all for Krishna”. The leaders often live off money *fundraised* by ordinary devotees on streets. This is not mentioned in Sunday class though. They’re authorities and are not to be questioned because they made it. Srila Prabhupada has an absolute truth and can NEVER be questioned too.

The feeling of being better than those who are non-devotees is constantly preached to you in various subtle ways. If you suffer you are getting rid of all the bad karma from previous lives. If you have doubts or in depression it means you are not fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness and your mind is giving you a hard time because it wants to enjoy material activities naturally. Just think about Krishna and get on with it. Other version is “Maya is testing you, Prabhu”. Maya – Illusion of material world that wants to grab you back and wants you to engage in material activities and create karma and suffer more and more…

Ok, so this was the basic Hare Krishna brainwashing pattern and philosophy. I am going to add much more stuff later. I hope you’re having a good day :-).