ISKCON Berkeley — Attraction in Berkeley

TL, DR: Unfriendly welcome to eager devotee, disorganized schedule and events (no prasadam, no bus, messy), many Indians (are they even devotees?), abandoned and covered in the dirt of my labor by the very people I helped. Listen to the other emphatic criticism of this place, because I initially dismissed it, but hopefully with this and that you may see past the random Indian reviews.

Honestly, this temple is just sad. It is poorly organized, uninspiring, messy and just... enervated. Probably the only thing keeping it going is the number of random Hindus and proximity to Srila Prabhupada's famous but now gone Temple in San Francisco. I say this as someone who is a "seeker" and someone who is halfway between a complete neophyte and a full fledged Brahmana Devotee. But then again, for the most part, it doesn't take religious sophistication to know a bad apple when you see one like this.

Allow me to illustrate with an experience I had there.

I arrived Saturday night looking rather haggard but eagerly seeking a place to stay for the night so I could experience the temple and the Ratha Yatra festival the following day within the limited time frame I had. I was greeted with the usual initial contempt (I see this happen even at the good temples and from otherwise nice people, it is understandable, but I don't think this behavior fits Prabhupada's vision) upon initially meeting a long term devotee. To his credit he let me in, and after that I vetted myself a bit by talking to the younger, more energetic devotees and they let me stay on the floor to sleep a few hours in a messy hall.

After a lukewarm morning ritual and some guy chanting way too loud, and talking to a cool guy who appreciated my enthusiasm for chanting, I went to help out load things on to a big truck for the Ratha Yatra festival. With enthusiasm I personally loaded about half the trailer, surrounded by a bunch of Indian guys speaking Hindi. When done, I looked down at my clothing to discover it had become totally soiled by soot from a stove I hefted. Nobody bothered to tell me this, but looking back I think they were getting a kick out of it. Nor did anyone bother to tell me that there was morning prasadam being offered, and I was fortunate to stumble upon it and help myself to some bland rice thingy to recover from the hard work. earlier. While eating by myself in the open it was apparent then that very few cared who I was, even a little bit.

I have a relatively high tolerance for depredation, but the final straw came when after having proactively sought a ride to the festival from numerous people, I ended up left standing on the sidewalk in front of the temple covered in soot from moving the very equipment the lot were celebrating with in a park a city away. (I was new to the area, tired and low on money, and obviously contributing) Every no, and excuse I got, particularly from devotees, further confirmed that this temple was sad. Especially the Indian devotee who told me, and practically promised, that if I were to stay at the temple while everyone was leaving I would find a ride. It was funny watching the temple president being whisked away on a limo while everyone scrambled to find a ride where a bus should have been. It wasn't funny being left out of a festival I basically made a pilgrimage to and helped with. Not much love going on there. And ultimately Bhakti Yoga is love. So what is a temple without love? Probably one to avoid...

After doing seva ALL DAY and invited to sleep there, they got me out of bed at ten pm because a "senior devotee" wanted that mattress in that room. Told me to leave. Its too much, they believe the lies just because that person is known to them. But they had no problem when i was working hard, that same day, then they were all smiles. My experience was that of being in a mean, dysfunctional ashram. There are other, better places to be. This place displays corruption and dishonesty. It was saturday. Night. All hotels in the entire area were booked. The members say, and do, hurtful things and they make things up. The "president" says he only listens to long time devotees, he was mean, even pushed me. But when i was helping his wife that day he was all smiles. Thank god two devotees stood up for me, but it did not make an impact. One nice devotee teaches martial arts at a local school, he really told the truth and confronted the others about their selfish behaviors, but people did not respect him. Sri Prabu looked very SAD. Did anyone notice ? I learned a lot that day. I was helping the presidents wife in the clothing store. No problem with that. But they as a group decided to kick the visitor as she slept. God...

Ok so I was in total disbelief what I was hearing from guy who works at the temple. Few days ago I called enqire about doing my son’s rice feeding ceremony at the temple. At first the guy sounded nice. Asked e about date and time etc. Then he asked me how much would I be willing to donate as I wasn’t sure I asked him. Then he proceeded to say I make an offer and he will say if it’s a lot or little. So I just randomly said $100 coz I have to pay separately to the priest. Well he said the minimum donation is $500.00 coz I’m saving a lot by doing ceremony here at the temple rather than booking a place somewhere else. Lots of people donate more money than what he was asking me to. He then said the rent is pretty high as the have to pay $10000.00 per month. Unbelievable as this is supposed to a sacred place and donation should be based on however much we can or willing to pay. Don’t think this is a business place. When I showed my unhappiness he said please don’t post it in social media we can work it out over the phone. I’m sure he must be doing this with lots of other unsuspecting bhaktas(Devotees) It’s really sad.

Please be...