Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS (ISKCON) CELEBRATES ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY THE HARE KRISHNAS celebrating 50 years WHO ARE THE HARE KRISHNAS NOW? ISKCON’s Activities Around the World THE JOY OF DEVOTION Festivals, Food, Philosophy, Outreach 196 6 2016 Welcome THE HARE KRISHNAS celebrating 50 years … is the offcial commemorative magazine treasures of a diferent religious backgrounds, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the order, beyond tempo- but we share in an International Society for Krishna rary, ordinary pursuits. enthusiasm for life that Consciousness (ISKCON), Founder- The bhakti tradition, comes by knowing the Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. or the yoga of devo- happiness that is found tion, informs us that within. It is not depend- EDITORIAL PANEL at our core we seek to ent upon the ordinary Executive Editors love and be loved. Our course of life’s activities, Mukunda Goswami deepest pleasure comes and it continues even Krishnarupa devi dasi not from possessing, after the end of this life. Project Manager Bhakta dasa We are all seekers of but from giving—not I hope you enjoy Design/Layout one kind or another. in controlling, but in reading this magazine Ramprasad dasa We seek happiness, sharing. It lies in mak- and learning more Writers/Editorial advisors a good bank balance, ing meaningful contrib- about ISKCON and the Anuttama dasa, Damodara Pandit dasa and a peaceful environ- utions by serving others. devotional tradition we Project Managerial Assistant Ultimately, it is to know, represent. We welcome Bhakti devi dasi ment. Some of us fnd love, and be loved by you to visit any of our Main Photographers pleasure in family and Ananta Vrindavan dasa, Trevor Gore friends, others via our the Divine. communities, read Copyright 2016 © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust stock portfolio, acts of The Hare Krishna some of our tradition’s International Inc (www.Krishna.com). charity, a walk by the Movement, the Inter- great literatures, sample BBTI images used with permission. sea, or reading books national Society for our tasty, sanctifed © Copyright 2016 ISKCON Communications, by a favorite author. Krishna Consciousness vegetarian food, and International. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored In whatever way we (ISKCON), is a global join us in experiencing in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any try to fulfll this drive for community connecting the joy of devotion. means without the written permission of happiness, we all share to each other, the world the publisher. one thing—whatever we around us, and to God Although the editorial panel and contribu- seek is elusive. Friends through service and the tors to this publication have made every effort to ensure accuracy at the time of come and go, family reciprocation of love. publication, ISKCON, the publishers, members pass away, As you will read in Anuttama dasa members of the editorial panel, and and fnances fuctuate. this magazine, we do so contributors involved in the preparation of Minister of Communications Our very physical health in varied and practical this publication shall not be liable to any Governing Body Chairman person for any loss or damage of any kind is subject to decay. We ways. Krishna devotees 2014/15 whatsoever including direct or consequential hope for stability, but are policemen, priests, loss arising from any errors or omissions time marches on! plumbers, homemakers, or from reliance placed upon any advice, statement, opinion, or conclusion in all or The wisdom tradi- professors, doctors, IT parts of this publication. tions found throughout professionals, taxi driv- the world ofer some ers, students, parents, Pronunciation solace. Collectively they and grandparents. Some of the names in this magazine are in the Sanskrit language. For information on inform us that human We come from diverse how to pronounce these words, see page 64. life is meant for seeking cultural, ethnic, and Cover: Photo by Chaitanya Kapadia (of Naimi Sharanya and her father, Vishvambhar Sheth, USA) What’s Inside? 02 Master with a Mission How ISKCON began. 08 Centers of Devotion 55 Some of ISKCON’s beautiful temples worldwide. 12 What We Believe Just what do the Hare Krishnas believe? 17 Lessons to Live By Learning and the culture of education. 20 The History of a Movement 2 Is ISKCON a new religion? Dr. Angela Burt explains. 30 A Timeless Tradition A look at the roots of the Hare Krishna Movement. 34 The Kirtana Experience The worldwide kirtana music phenomenon. 36 Chaitanya, the Golden Avatara 44 God descends to teach spiritual practice for this age. 37 Temple Rising 52 ISKCON’s Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, India. 40 Back to Basics Devotee farmers: simple eco living and high thinking. 48 The Finely Tuned Universe Has science overstepped its boundaries? 52 Krishna Culture ISKCON members contribute to the arts. 55 Divine Forms Temple worship and its ancient principles. 58 Crossing Boundaries 32 Hare Krishnas help to bridge religious divides. 62 A Lasting Legacy Srila Prabhupada: Sanskrit scholar and prolifc author. 25 Plus: 06 Fifty Years of Achievements 14 Singing in the Streets 25 The Next Generation 26 A Festival of Food 32 Many Faces of ISKCON 43 Climate of War 8 44 A World of Festivals 60 Meditation for Your Well-Being 14 1 In 1965 an elderly Indian saint began a spiritual revolution. Soon after arriving in the USA, he was tirelessly traveling the globe, giving Vedic wisdom to a world dissatisfed with a life of material acquisition. By Visakha devi dasi Master with a Mission n 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti- I vedanta Swami Prabhupada, seventy years old, left his native India for the frst time aboard the cargo ship Jaladuta. He arrived alone in New York City with a mission to introduce bhakti-yoga, the revolutionary spiritual science of devotional service to Krishna (God). Over the next twelve years he would tirelessly travel, speak and chant Krishna’s name in kirtana (see page 34 for more on kirtana), and write numerous books to broadcast the joy of devotion and Vedic culture. 2 “I am impressed with how much the teachings of one man and the spiritual tradition he brought impacted themselves into the lives of so many people.” — Dr. Harvey Cox, Professor of Divinity, Harvard University Srila Prabhupada’s two seminal classics, his trans- lations and commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, form the theological basis of the Hare Krishna movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) that he founded. Scholars worldwide have praised his many books for their erudition and insight into authentic spiritual life. Tese and Srila Prabhu- pada’s other books form an extensive library of devotional philosophy, helping readers transcend mundane life and awaken their sweet, loving relationship with God. Photo: Bhargava dasa © BBTI God & Gurus Devotional teachings, immortalized in sacred Vedic hymns, have been handed down through millennia by a succession of self- realized teachers. When John Lennon from Te Beatles asked Srila Prabhupada, “How are we to tell who is a true master?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “It is not that you can go to just any spiritual master. He must be a member of a recognized sampradaya [lineage of realized teach- ers], a particular line of disciplic succession.” A Genuine Holy Man Te potency of Srila Prabhupada’s message is due Photo: Visakha devi dasi © BBTI to his resolute loyalty to the teachings of this Left: In eleven years, ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, His authentic, unbroken lineage. Dr. Tomas J. Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Hopkins, Emeritus Professor of Religious circled the planet fourteen times. Pictured here arriv- Studies at Franklin and Marshall College in the ing in Sydney, Australia, in the early 1970s. Top: Srila USA, said Srila Prabhupada was “a genuine holy Prabhupada met with reporters, clergy, and members person with enormous integrity and compassion, who had a powerful impact on those who met of the public wherever he traveled. Above: A television him. He never claimed authority and respect for interview with Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco, 1975. himself; what he said and did was always in the name of Krishna.” Dr. Harvey Cox, Hollis Research Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, said, “When I frst met the students of Srila Prabhupada, I can remember thinking how surprised I was, and I 3 Photo: Bali Mardan dasa © BBTI “Srila Prabhupada remained and always felt himself a simple, faithful follower and representative of the sublime tradition of bhakti-yoga.” BBTI Photo: Shyamasundar dasa © wondered what this meant. But as I came ISKCON had grown to a world- to know the [Hare Krishna] movement, wide confederation of more than 100 I came to fnd that there was a striking devotional ashrams, schools, temples, similarity in the essence of what they were educational institutes, and farming teaching and in the original core of communities. Everyone who has been Christianity—that is, living simply, not and will be touched by the far-reaching trying to accumulate worldly goods, culture of bhakti owes a tremendous living with compassion toward all debt to him. creatures, sharing, loving, and living By the eforts of Srila Prabhupada joyfully. and his followers, for the frst time “I am impressed with how much the in history this rich theology and life- teachings of one man and the spiritual style have been made available to tradition he brought impacted them- people throughout the world. BBTI selves into the lives of so many people. Yet despite his international success In my view Srila Prabhupada’s contribu- Srila Prabhupada remained and always tion is a very important and lasting one.” felt himself a simple, faithful follower Photo: © He also remarked, “Srila Prabhupada and representative of the sublime tradi- Top: In 1971 Srila Prabhupada planted the seed of is, of course, only one of thousands of tion of bhakti-yoga.