THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

ADDRESS: c/o ISKCON International Ministry of Public Affairs, 1030 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109

 OTHER NAMES: Hare Krishna Movement; ISKCON

LEADERSHIP: ISKCON has been a decentralized movement since the founder died in November l976, with overall authority invested in the governing body commission (GBC).

MEMBERSHIP: Not reported.

HISTORICAL ROOTS: Krishna consciousness means to be conscious of God. It is recorded in the Vedic scriptures (Veda means knowledge), many of which are acknowledged to be at least 5,000 years old (3,000 B.C.) in written history alone. Previous to 3,000 B.C. there was a disciplic succession of spiritual masters who passed on Krishna consciousness, and this disciplic succession continues until the present day. Historically, the Movement is known as the Vaishnava religion. Vaishnava means personal servant of God, the same God of the Bible and the Koran. The modern spread of Vaishnavism outside of India was first due to the inspiration and teachings of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 A.D.) which were later taken up in the mid 19th century by Bhaktivinode Thakur, who translated Vaishnava works intended for the English speaking countries.

Thakur's disciple was Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, the spiritual master of his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Srila Prabhupada) who founded ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada came to the United States in 1965, having been especially commissioned by his spiritual master to bring Krishna consciousness to the Western countries, and founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City the following year. There he began publishing Back to Godhead, the Society's monthly periodical.

BASIC BELIEFS: ISKCON belief may be summarized as follows:

1 . By sincerely cultivating a bona fide spiritual science, we can be free from anxiety and come to a state of pure, unending, blissful consciousness in this lifetime.

2. We are not our bodies but eternal spirit souls, parts and parcels of God (Krishna). As such, we are all brothers, and Krishna is ultimately our common father.

3. Krishna is the eternal, all knowing, omnipresent, all powerful, and all attractive Personality of Godhead. He is the seed giving father of all living beings and He is the sustaining energy of the entire cosmic creation.

4. The Absolute Truth is contained in all the great scriptures of the world. However, the oldest known revealed scriptures in existence are the Vedic literatures, most notably the Bhagavad Gita, which is the literal record of God's actual words.

5. We should learn the Vedic knowledge from a genuine spiritual master one who has no selfish motives and whose mind is firmly fixed on Krishna.

6. Before we eat, we should offer to the Lord the food that sustains us. Then Krishna becomes the offering and purifies us.

7. We should perform all our actions as offerings to Krishna and do nothing for our own sense gratification.

8. The recommended means for achieving the mature stage of love of God in this age of Kali, or quarrel, is to chant the holy names of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: Regulative Principles:

1. no illicit sex;

2. no gambling;

3. no intoxication of any kind, including coffee, teas, and cigarettes; and

4. no eating of meat, fish, eggs.

All holidays of ISKCON are reckoned according to the lunar calendar, and occur on different days each year. The eleventh day after the full moon each month (called Ekadaski) is a fast day from beans and grains. The annual calendar begins in the spring on the birthday of Lord Chaitanya (March or April). The major festivals are: Jaganatha or Rathayatra (July); Janamastami, Krishna's Birthday (August) and Vyasa Puja, the spiritual master's birthday (August).

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: (Refer to "Leadership" and to "Ministerial Leadership.")

MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP: A president serves each local facility as its spiritual leader and administrator. Each temple also has a number of priests (pujaris) who are responsible for worship, instruction, ceremonies, etc., and are expected to preach.

WORSHIP: Each devotee is required to arise before sunrise for worship and chanting. The program includes chanting the holy names of God before the Deities (representations of the Supreme Being and pure devotees or saints, similar to the images often utilized in Catholic Churches and not to be confused with so called "idol worshiping"). The evening ceremony is similar.

Minimum equipment required for worship include japa (prayer) beads, kunti or sacred bead necklace and telok(clay marking on forehead). Worship is normally performed in a temple with an alter, deities and a seat for the spiritual master.

DIETARY STANDARDS: Devotees eat no fish, meat, eggs, garlic or onions. Alcohol, drugs, coffee, tea, and smoking are not permitted.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: None. There are no restrictions on autopsy, and cremation is generally encouraged. It is highly desirable for a priest to be present at the time of death, but the blessings of a qualified priest are not required for a person to go back to Godhead.

OTHER: Devotees are nonviolent, although not pacifists. On the basis of full time devotional service, devotees have sought draft exempt status as ministerial students on an individual basis.

Krishna Consciousness is offered to the public through the chanting of God's names, the distribution of prasad (foodstuffs first offered to God), and the distribution of literature.

ISKCON recognizes those religions based upon the recognized Scriptures of the world. Vaishnavas adopt the nonsectarian view that religion means to surrender to God, follow the laws of God, and revive the love for God dormant in the hearts of all. The test of real religion is whether these tenets are achieved. God is One, and therefore religion is also one.

GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS:

Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, rev. ed. 1983. 904pp.

Srimad Bhagavatum. 12 vols. Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1972-1989.

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswarni. Prabhupada. He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live. Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1983. 362pp.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

ISKCON International Ministry of Public Information, 1030 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109