Who is Robert Grant, and what did he do? The answer is far from simple. It reveals layers of scandals, tragedies, and lessons about power and faith. Also known as Ramesvara, Grant was one of the leaders of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON). He was involved in controversies that ended up destroying his reputation. But not only that. The way these things unfolded also exposed the cracks in a system that promised spirituality—but delivered chaos.
Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness & The Hare Krishnas, a documentary directed by Jason Lapeyre, spares nothing and no one in adapting the book by John Hubner and Lindsey Gruson. And the title? A macabre touch of literality: "monkey on a stick" refers to dead monkeys used as a warning in plantations—a perfect metaphor for the warnings ignored in ISKCON, where power and corruption reigned.
When gurus trade enlightenment for the spotlight
Robert Grant, or Ramesvara, was one of the pillars of the Hare Krishna movement in California. He was such a charismatic leader indeed. In addition, he had an almost supernatural ability to raise money. Behind the orange robes, however, there were shadows that no mantras could dispel.
Accusations of grooming and abuse against a teenager put an end to his rise. With his fall, a whole system that conferred divine powers to mortals far too human fell apart. The dirt under the rug began to show, exposing irreparable cracks.
Robert Grant used his charisma as both a leadership tool and a mask for his dark actions. His public conduct perfectly represented ISKCON. His demeanor attracted new followers while securing substantial donations.
However, the story behind the scenes was quite different. The accusations of grooming and abuse revealed a man who used his status to exploit the vulnerable, showing that even the most seemingly divine institutions can harbor disturbing depths.
Grant's story shows how some religious leaders abuse faith for their own benefit. His case reveals how spiritual leaders become corrupt when they choose power over principles. Simply put, when spirituality becomes a business, people suffer.
From hippie idealism to bureaucratic nightmare
The Hare Krishna movement was born in 1966 as an alternative to rampant materialism. Under the leadership of Prabhupada, a charismatic and visionary guru, ISKCON flourished as a spiritual utopia. But utopias rarely survive reality. After Prabhupada died in 1977, the movement plunged into a power struggle, precisely documented in the book Monkey on a Stick. Hubner and Gruson chronicle how ideals were gradually corrupted, giving way to a system where devotion was replaced by greed, manipulation, and violence.
This contrast between the initial purity and the final decadence makes ISKCON's story so tragic. The movement that promised inner peace became an example of how the thirst for power can disfigure even the noblest dreams. Instead of meditation sanctuaries, temples became stages for scandals while followers tried to reconcile spiritual beliefs with increasingly bizarre news about their leaders.
Corruption in sacred robes
ISKCON's problems were not limited to Robert Grant. Other leaders, or "gurus," also stood out — but for the wrong reasons. Jayatirtha, the "LSD guru," mixed chemical hallucinations with spiritual transcendence until a disturbed follower brutally murdered him. Hansadutta, the weapons guru, was known for his paranoia and for turning spirituality into a cult of violence. But perhaps the most infamous was Kirtanananda, who built a sumptuous temple at the cost of child abuse, financial fraud, and commissioned murders. Under the golden glow of the temples, there was a hell of crimes and complicit silence.
This gallery of horrors is a dark reminder that religious institutions, when dominated by corrupt personalities, can become machines of destruction. Each of these leaders used the mantle of spirituality to justify unthinkable acts, creating a network of abuse that would not spare even the most devoted followers. Their stories are as shocking as they are familiar, an eternal warning about the dangers of placing leaders above any questioning.
Between truth and fiction: a bold documentary
Jason Lapeyre did not make an ordinary documentary. He created a hybrid that challenges the rules of the genre, mixing creative dramatizations, interviews, and almost surreal moments of reflection. Lapeyre explores how truth can change, and how malleable were ISKCON beliefs.
His documentary challenges us to consider where genuine faith turns into manipulation. Using magical realism, it confronts difficult truths. By blending fact and fiction, Lapeyre reveals that sometimes emotional truth is more powerful than literal facts when explaining complex experiences of trauma and belief. In Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness & The Hare Krishnas, the line between reality and fiction is as fluid as the promises made by the leaders the film exposes.
Voices that broke the silence: Nori Muster
Nori Muster's resonates like a cry of resistance among the many voices in the documentary. A former ISKCON member, she not only witnessed the abuses up close but also fought to expose them. As the author of "Betrayal of the Spirit," Muster offers a raw and painful account of the institutionalized misogyny that permeated the movement. She symbolizes the courage of those who challenge corrupt systems, showing that even in difficult times, some people remain unbroken and willing not to bow their heads to oppression, and finally speak out.
More than a witness, Muster is an agent of change. She turned her pain into purpose. Her role in the documentary, as well as in her writings, is proof that even the most oppressive systems can be challenged. Muster's courage in facing an institutional giant is inspiring, a parallel narrative that gives humanity to what could be just another story of crime and corruption.
The fall of Robert Grant and Nori Muster's resistance
Grant became one of the most evident symbols of ISKCON's decay. While he consolidated his position as a very influential movement leader, figures like Nori Muster closely observed the crumbling of the spiritual structure that should have represented peace and elevation.
After the abuse accusations, Grant was expelled from ISKCON—and exposed the existing chasm between the movement's ideals and its leaders' practices.
Then, he disappeared, his legacy devastated by scandals. His departure was treated as the movement's attempt to turn the page, but his actions' impact continued reverberating among the faithful. While he symbolized the moral collapse of leadership, Muster stood out as a force of resistance, confronting the system that had protected abusers for so long.
A mirror to human power
Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness & The Hare Krishnas is more than just a story about the Hare Krishna movement. It is a universal narrative about what happens when spiritual power becomes institutionalized. This path taken could end up paving the way for abuses and crimes.
The documentary reveals ISKCON's inner contradictions and challenges us to examine power structures in our society. It's more than a true crime story—it's a deep exploration of human nature and how systems can become corrupt.
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The key message is clear: faith loses its true meaning when it serves personal interests. However, the film also offers hope, showing that resistance is always possible, even in small ways.
Between horror and hope, there is a lesson: never underestimate the power of a voice that refuses to be silenced.
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