How Tulsi Gabbard's Hinduphobic Guru Weaponized "Hinduphobia"

I stand in solidarity with American Hindus and with Hindus around the world. I reject the premise, pushed by Tulsi Gabbard and her guru Chris Butler, that they somehow "own" Hinduism. Butler's hateful, fanatical version of it defames real Hindus. Weaponizing a peaceful, ancient religion to cover up his Science of Identity group's crimes against children and its political corruption is sickening.

I am a deeply spiritual person, and my own practice draws on many of the world's faiths, including Vaishnava Hinduism. This beautiful, ancient tradition is the very opposite of the abuse and entitlement that Chris Butler, Tulsi Gabbard and their inner circle of leaders embody.

At heart of the Vaishnava Hindu tradition is humility, tolerance, and respect for others. The contributions of Hindus and the Vedic tradition to humanity are immense. The Maha Upanishad gave us Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, "The world is one family". The principle of ahimsa, non-violence, shaped movements for justice around the world.

I am deeply sorry for the pain this causes Hindus who are only now learning they were duped by Tulsi Gabbard, Sunil Khemaney, and their guru Chris Butler. But the truth matters. The only thing Tulsi, her guru, and her inner SIF circle have ever cared about is their own gain — their ruthless climb toward fame, power, and wealth. Butler repeatedly has defamed the very Hindus he callously used for personal gain and political PR.

Putting the name of a religion on a group does not make that group religious. For example I was appalled at the crass politicization of Hinduism in my own dealings with leaders of the Hindu American Foundation. They repeatedly asked me for editorial control of Tulsi's 2020 presidential website TulsiGabbard.org. One repeated request was to remove the page on "Standing Against Islamophobia." I said no. The thinly veiled quid pro quo of HAF leaders providing religious PR cover and fundraising for Tulsi, with a clear expectation of influence over her political positions, was something I could never condone.

I firmly reject the idea that there is any connection between political PR manipulation and the ancient Hindu faith rooted in compassion and enlightenment.