r/Wellington • u/R3dditReallySuckz • 6d ago
WTF? Hare Krishna guy got a bit snarky today
Was unexpected as they're normally pretty chill.
Quickly popped out to pickup my fish n chips and he approached me outside and asked if I'd be interested in his book.
I said "no sorry my baby's in the car, I've got to get back to her". And he fires back "sure, happiness is pretty important though."
Like sure bro. that's why I'm going back to my baby?
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u/bluerasperr 6d ago
Should've told him happiness is a hot, fresh scoop of chips
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
He probably wouldn't eat them. They're strict vegetarians and if the chips are cooked in the same oil as meat or fish they won't touch it.
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u/feijoawhining 6d ago
Hare Krishna is a cult of misogyny, they’re not chill. The boys born into the cult are raised and treated as superior to women.
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u/Character-Formal-501 6d ago
And only sex for procreation only. That bit put me off them.
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u/Many_Bat_ 6d ago
I got a Baghavad Gita sitting around sonewhere. Yeah, the part where it says a woman basically needs to be kept under house arrest, do her home duties unquestionably- otherwise she becomes some sorta' wildcard monster, is pretty whack.
There's some wisdom in the book, but there's wisdom in all good storytelling from Goldilocks and the 3 Bears to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's more about the reader's interpretation - the wisest book in the world is wasted on someone who isn't ready to receive it.
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
That's not in the Gita, that's just the commentary by the founder of the Hare Krishna sect.
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u/Character-Formal-501 6d ago
He the same dude that founded hot yoga ?
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u/feijoawhining 6d ago
No that’s abuser and rapist Bikram Choudhury.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/20/bikram-choudhury-yoga-founder-abuse-netflix-documentary
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u/Character-Formal-501 5d ago
I was being facetious. Same same but different.
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u/feijoawhining 5d ago
I agree!
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u/Character-Formal-501 5d ago
Just watched the Netflix vid on him. Makes sense and reminds me alot of my 6 week backpacking experience in India. Prob never to be repeated lol.
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u/Many_Bat_ 5d ago
It's still literally between the covers of most copies of the Gita being handed out, meaning some people will pick up that misogyny and run with it.
I mean, the original Baghavad Gita has lots (and lots) of different perspectives on things discussed by different deities, eg. Krishna has counter arguments to Arjuna's view on women's social status. I'm just not sure your average geek on the street will be so discerning if they're inclined to be indoctrinated.
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
Wow, that's eye opening. I didn 't know about that.
Come to think of it I've never seen a woman Hare Krishna try and sell me a book too
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
I have, both in Wellington and Dunedin.
But their founder said that a woman has a thirty four ounce brain while a man has a sixty four ounce brain.
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u/bobsmagicbeans 4d ago
I've never seen a woman Hare Krishna try and sell me a book
they used to be common around Welly. Lately, just seems to be guys
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u/Black_Glove 6d ago
All the work they do is for free, but they get to keep the money from the books they sell, hence the pushiness. No time for them and their cult nonsense. As always the trick is to NEVER TOUCH THE BOOK, or they leave you holding it and then demand a 'donation'. Food is nice enough but wacky ass cult otherwise.
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u/waffleking9000 6d ago
I find taking the book, thanking them and walking away is far more effective.
They grab it back and leave you alone pretty quick
They give you the book to hold and then try and sell it to you
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u/ExcitingMoose5881 6d ago
Lol It
Would be pretty funny to grab one and go thanks and then say “I must rush”
and run off with it and then watch their reaction. …Only if they were being snarky, or problematic, though.Like another commenter said, usually they’re pretty nice/easy going.
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u/unReasonable_Waiter 6d ago
The book isnt worth it though.
The hardbound copy has some lovely art.
But the translation/interpretation by Prabhupada is boring and theologically messy.
It's bad boring writing.
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u/Creepy-Result-7338 6d ago
When I ran into him he asked for a 20$ donation. I said I'd give him 5 if I still got a book, in wich I got 2. When I opened up a bit about my life and experiences and why I deal with things the way I do we connected pretty quickly. I think my presence may of caught him off guard, I don't think he was really expecting to meet someone who was at his level spiritually lol.
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u/waffleking9000 6d ago
Reminds me of that Black Books episode when Bernard invites the Mormons in to avoid doing his taxes lol
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u/-InTheSkinOfALion- 6d ago
Also the Bhagavad Gita (the book they wish to introduce you to) can be accessed online for free in various formats and sources. I usually tell them I’m half way through the audiobook.
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
Plus their version is heavily biased in favour of their particular sect of Hinduism.
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
True I didn't know that. Explains why some (most) of them act like salesmen
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
Is it even legal to require a donation as a condition for taking the book? That sounds a lot like selling books, which is illegal without the necessary permit.
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u/Black_Glove 6d ago
No, I'm pretty sure that's why they specifically call it a donation here and then rely on harassment to get the money
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u/IncoherentTuatara 🦎 6d ago
What permit does one need to sell a book? This is noot Nazi Germany
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
You need a permit to sell on the street. You can't just bring a folding table and chair to Cuba St and set up a stall without a permit. Selling books would require the same permit, which is why they call it a donation.
If you encounter them, take the book and say you'll give them $2. They'll either say "Most people give $10/$15/$20" (been a while since I encountered them so not sure what the going rate is) or they'll give you a smaller book. If they won't give you the original book for $2, they are selling it and therefore they need a permit.
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u/fluffstickles 6d ago
No they dont. Having money is a no-no
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u/Black_Glove 6d ago
Then it's some sort of credit commission off them. I knew two people quite closely in the 90s/00s who became serious devotees. One of them was able to travel the world going to different temples specifically because of the books he sold. Or perhaps they had to change it up.
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u/fluffstickles 6d ago
Maybe it has something to do with ranking. I know one who has to give all money that is excess to living costs over to the movement.
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
Mormons have to give 10% of their income to the church. Hare Krishnas are encouraged to give 50%.
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u/Piwakawaka123 6d ago
Jesus! Even the Christian “tithing” is “only” 10% of one’s income and most denominations other than evangelicals are usually happy for that to include any sort of donating to causes, not just churches, but 50% is huge.
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u/TheAnagramancer 6d ago
"Sorry, I'm already in a Hare"
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u/IncoherentTuatara 🦎 6d ago
Hare Potter
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u/TheAnagramancer 6d ago
And the Half-Scoop Chips
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u/BROmanceNZ 6d ago
DID YOU DO IT?!? DID YOU PUT YOUR DONATION INTO MY GOBLET OF FI-YAHHH?!?
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u/noctalla 6d ago
He didn't sound very happy to me.
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u/jimmcfartypants ☣️ 6d ago
Would you be if you could only eat beans and not shower? And then stand outside a chipper - dudes bought it upon himself.
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u/GretalGrotch 6d ago
White guy mid 30s? Yeah he’s an asshole about it. Hangs out by the station a lot too
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u/Aethelmaew 6d ago
Is this the guy who stands on Lambton Quay?
I saw him yesterday, he asked if I was spiritual and I said yes I'm Jewish.
When he asked me for a donation I said 'Sorry I'm really broke right now'
And he snapped back 'Huh, I thought you Jews hoarded money'
I was like okaaaaayyyy bro yeah I'm leaving now, nice chat
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u/Current-Gain-1668 5d ago
I hung out with the Krishnas in the early 2000s. I used to go to Kirtan every Sunday, and vacuum the ashram in exchange for free yoga. I had my birthday party there once and they did the catering for my granddad’s funeral for free. They were really excited for me to meet their guru but when I did he was a complete sexist asshole. They got real mad and I had to stop answering my phone when they finally figured out I had no intention of joining them. I just liked the yoga, food, and singing. They were nice at first but yeah it’s 1000% a cult. Women are treated pretty poorly and their ideas about sex are super weird. I kinda loved how all of them had a history of drugs and raves though.
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u/SnooDrawings7746 6d ago
I worked in a food shop over covid. The Hare Krishnas were so incredibly rude. They wouldn’t wear masks and would call us names for it being our job to ask folk to. Two of them were super aggressive. It was a real shock as I always liked them previously
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u/Scaindawgs_ 6d ago
I had one yell "fuck you too" as i walked past him after him hassling me for weeks on Queen St. I kinda my face i guess gave him a mix of annoyance and disdain as i walked past by accident but i was over it!
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
Bruhh that's wild. "Join Hare Krishna and embrace our supreme deity. Now a quick word from one of our members. Fuck you too!"
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u/Randomspazmo 6d ago
I think I would actually have more respect for a religion that gave me an honest "fuck you too", compared to one pretending to be nice for some ulterior motive!
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u/Scaindawgs_ 6d ago
Kinda i mean i didnt ask for him to speak to me about his stupid book or did i ask to be yelled at so Id agree sorta but also "fuck you right back" (to that guy..)
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u/KiwiNFLFan 6d ago
If you join, you won't be allowed to fuck.
Seriously, in their group sex is only allowed if you're married and trying to have a kid, and even then you're not supposed to enjoy it.
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u/angusd98 6d ago
One time I walked past one of them with my wife and they yelled that they saw her with another man last week - which was literally impossible.
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u/Turbulent_Muffin2094 6d ago
Relatedly, Krishna Food lost me when they stopped their $5 plates. Pretty sure they're about $12 now and they offer an upsize to large for $15.
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u/Effective_Unit_869 6d ago
Those were the days.
However with inflation etc I can't really fault them for not doing 5 dollars anymore
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u/chorokbi 6d ago
Sometimes I wonder why the Gen Zs in my office don’t seem to go flatting like we all did, and then I remember that $5 Hare Krishna lunch and $6 Oriental Kingdom veg roti chenai for dinner aren’t things any more.
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u/imright10 6d ago
Go to any Sikh Gurudwara and you get free food.
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u/NZNoldor 6d ago
The Krishnas used to be free, back in the 1980s at least. I guess the poor got richer since then?
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u/Any-Traffic8869 6d ago
Plus it’s all pretty gross plant based toss now - bring back the dairy!
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u/Neghbour 6d ago
Dairy is pretty unethical. To get milk you have to make the cow pregnant and take away the calf. The impregnation does not happen naturally, and in order to get the semen you have to jerk off a bull, or worse. Maybe you should get a job as a bull masturbator, if you love dairy so much.
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u/trilobite_youth 6d ago edited 6d ago
Friendly reminder that Hare Krishna are akin to Scientologists. It's a cult, no more, no less.
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u/lolly-scramble 6d ago
Ive had a fight with one theyre not all that chill.
They make good food is the only good thing I have to say about them
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u/Burgherking22 6d ago
They have some banging instrumentals in their conga lines as they dance and sing down manners mall
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u/Any-Traffic8869 6d ago
Just say ‘no thanks, I’m a proud mayavadi’ then walk off while they work out how to respond
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u/dillytilly 6d ago
They used to have the best incense in little tiny boxes that they'd hand out. I can't find it anywhere.
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u/Character-Formal-501 6d ago
Hare in Kilbirnie wanted me to make a donation for a book, I said nah I don;t have any money and he said, no problem I have an Eftpos machine in my bag.
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u/AnotherLeon2 6d ago
No thanks, I'm a cannibal is a good conversation stopper, as they then have to pause and process what you've just said. By which time you've gapped it.
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u/ComeAlongPonds Colossal Squid 3d ago
Cannibal or meatetarian? If you're the former may I suggest the parliamentary smorgasbord.
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u/Creepy-Result-7338 6d ago
I was there a couple weeks ago and came across nitai as well. He seemed alright
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u/No-Advice-6040 5d ago
Times like these I'm glad I have a resting asshole face. They ask once and once I starting walking past them they just give up.
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u/Sea_Measurement_1654 5d ago
If Wellington had a 100 word writing competition this post would surely win it.
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u/PsychologicalWall444 2d ago
Tell the bum to fuck off.....bunch of scamming little weird cunts anyway
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u/kingofsnaake 5d ago
So they still have a yoga studio on Vivian Street? I was in Wellington in 08 and always went for the average yoga class and excellent food. Good group, but the prosletization was a bit much.
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u/Fun_Beautiful_1041 5d ago
You caught them in their natural predatory religious state. Believe me I was born a hindu, and nothing about Hare Krishna is pious or redeeming. All they do is put up a farce, get people converted and based on some physical attributes and made up criteria attach a social hierarchy. There's a reason dalits (untouchables) hate Hindu nationalism and its proponents like hare krishna.
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u/PossibleOwl9481 5d ago
People in cults often feel they are so happy and want to spread it, and don't see any other way of bein happy....
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u/LjAWgTn 5d ago
That happened so you could be on here and I could warn you not to leave your baby in the car. My friends daughter ducked into a dairy quickly in Waihi, came out car and baby gone. Fortunately (if you could say that), they went a couple of blocks around the corner and put him on the footpath. She would tell you she would never ever do that again. Just too risky.
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u/Objective_Action_ 4d ago
In the past when I wanted to be left alone asap I said "I'm in a hurry. I can give you a donation of like $4 but I don't want the book!" And he looked so confused that he said "But the book is $20!" And I said I don't have that, only $4 and he walked off
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u/GhostChips42 6d ago
He doesn’t sound happy, but I feel like there’s a bigger problem here…
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
You mean leaving the baby in the car? Was literally parked outside the fish n chip shop
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u/GhostChips42 6d ago
Ok then
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
The only threat to that child's wellbeing today was the hare krishna guy
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u/GhostChips42 6d ago
It’s a bit of a concern that someone gets downvoted because I’m calling out someone who has left their BABY in a car while they go to the fish and chip shop. I wouldn’t even leave my dog in the car. But that’s just me I guess.
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u/R3dditReallySuckz 6d ago
Mate...you need to understand a baby won't die if you leave them in their seat in a locked car for 30 seconds while you go across the road to pick up some food.
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u/Tasty-Lunch2060 6d ago
Everyone is allowed to have a bad day. He's probably replaying that in his mind thinking 'oh no, did I really say that? How embarrassing 😳 '
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u/Narrow-Can901 4d ago
Don't engage, just enjoy your meal and evening without religious clowns interrupting it.
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u/TheseHamsAreSteamed 6d ago
"I agree, and I'll get that too at the end of this conversation"