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. . devotion to Krishna in Moscow. Above: In May 1974 teachers. But in another sense, he is one in a thousand—maybe one in a million.” • Visakha dasi is a photographer, flmmaker, and Srila Prabhupada met with Cardinal Pignedoli, Pope Before Srila Prabhupada’s passing published author. For books by Visakha, please visit Paul VI’s secretary. Right: Disciples on a morning from this world on 14 November 1977, www.our-spiritual- ourney.com walk with Srila Prabhupada in Paris, 1974.
4 Photo: Bhargava dasa © BBTI Photo: Bhargava dasa © BBTI Fifty YEARS OF Achievements The number of ISKCON centers, temples, schools and colleges worldwide 516m The number of books and magazines published by 650 the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), and distributed worldwide since 1966. 95,000 110 There are 110 Since 1966, Hare Krishna around 95,000 vegetarian devotees have restaurants taken formal worldwide. spiritual initiation (clerical vows). m It is estimated There are 3600 home study/ 9 that more than worship (Bhakti Vriksha) nine million people groups worldwide that meet worship at weekly. ISKCON temples 3600 each year.
6 These statistics were as correct as possible at the time of writing. billion 1.2m 1.2 million meals of More than three billion meals of sanctifed vegetarian sanctifed vegetarian food 3 food (prasadam) are (prasadam) have been distributed served daily to children globally since 1966. in India as part of the ISKCON Food Relief Foundation’s ‘Midday Meal’ or ‘Annamrita’ program. 65 212,992 There are si ty-fve ISKCON farms/ eco villages globally. 6000 There are more than 6000 Krishna festivals held around the world Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai, India, one of nine every year in ISKCON. ISKCON affliated hospitals, medical clinics, eye clinics, and hospices in India, treated 212,992 patients last year.
Padayatra teams have walked 260,000km (161,000 miles) , worldwide visiting 52,000 towns and villages in 110 countries. 260Padayatra is a Sanskrit word meaning000 ‘festival cow protection, hold cultural festivals and or pilgrimage on foot.’ ISKCON’s Founder- make friends with all kinds of people at the Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta grassroots level. Swami Prabhupada introduced the frst One hundred and ffty padayatra teams, ISKCON padayatra with bullock carts in 1976, with approximately 10,000 participants, have in India. Many more followed on all conti- walked 260,000km (161,000 miles). nents, lasting from a few days to several years. This is almost 6.5 times the Earth’s A padayatra’s purpose is to spread the holy circumference. Padayatra Worldwide has names of God, distribute spiritual literature, visited 52,000 towns and villages in promote simple living, high thinking and 110 countries since its inception in 1976. 7 Centers of Devotion The places of worship or temples pictured here are not simply bricks and mortar, but hubs of devotional activity. They are artistic and spiritual expressions of the joy of devotion—places for spiritual upliftment, education, and culture. We invite you to visit a Krishna temple near you and be inspired by its atmosphere of peace and beauty.
8 Clockwise from left: Radha Krishna temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, USA; ISKCON temple, Kathmandu, Nepal; Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Understanding, Penang, Malaysia; Krishna Balarama temple, Gabarone, Botswana; New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA; Bhaktive- danta Manor, Hertfordshire, UK.
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Far left: Srila Prabhupada’s memorial at Krishna Balarama temple, Vrindavana, India. Left: ISKCON’s Sri Radha Radhanath temple, Durban, South Africa.
Center left: Radha Krishna temple, New Delhi, India. Center above: ISKCON’s temple, Nairobi, Kenya.
Left: Interior of the Nova Gokula temple Pindamonhangaba, Brazil. Above: Exterior of the Nova Gokula temple.
11 What We Believe You’ve seen the Hare Krishnas chanting and dancing in the street, but what do you really know about them? Mukunda Goswami, one of the earliest members of the movement, flls in the gaps …
he International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) T is a worldwide community of devo- tees, or Vaishnavas, practicing bhakti-yoga, loving service to Krishna. Krishna is a name for God that means ‘All-Attractive.’ ISKCON is also known as ‘the Hare Krishnas,’ or the Krishna consciousness movement. It’s part of the Vaishnava, or mon- otheistic, tradition within Hindu culture. illustration by Harsha Ravi
12 Basic Principles Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Te following eight principles form Krishna Krishna Hare Hare the basis of ISKCON’s philosophy: Hare Rama Hare Rama 1. By sincerely cultivating spiri- Rama Rama Hare Hare tual knowledge, we can be free from Chant the Names of God anxiety and reach a state of pure Te maha-mantra (above) is composed happiness in this lifetime. of three Sanskrit names of the Supreme 2. We are not our bodies but Being: Hare, Krishna and Rama. Hare eternal souls, parts and parcels of God, addresses the energy of the Lord as or Krishna. Te soul transmigrates the supreme pleasure potency, Radha, into diferent bodies according to the who helps us in reaching Krishna, or consciousness at the time of death. As God. Both Krishna (the All-Attractive) eternal souls, we are all brothers and and Rama (the Source of All Pleasure) sisters, and Krishna is ultimately our directly address the Lord. common father. Tis chanting comes directly from 3. Krishna is eternal, all-knowing, the spiritual platform, surpassing all omnipresent, all-powerful, and all- lower states of consciousness—sensual, attractive. He is the father of all living mental, and intellectual. People from beings and sustains the entire cosmic all walks of life can experience spiritual creation. He is also known as God the and personal fulflment just by chanting Father, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah, and the names of God. Tis chanting can Yahweh. be done either as an individual prac- 4. Te Absolute Truth is revealed in tice (japa)—chanting quietly on beads the Vedas,* the oldest scriptures in the as a personal meditation, similar to the world. Te essence of the Vedas is found recitation of the prayers on a Christian in the Bhagavad-gita, a literal record of rosary or on Islamic prayer beads—or Krishna’s words. singing more loudly in a group, which is 5. We gain spiritual knowledge from a called kirtana (see page 34). genuine spiritual master. 6. Practicing vegetarianism and ofer- The Essence ing all our food to God before eating Te basic concept of ISKCON’s purifes our consciousness, minimizes philosophy is the understanding that we the violence in the world, and frees us are not our material bodies, but rather from bad karma, or material reactions. that our true identity is the soul within. 7. All our actions should be done as ofer- You could say that the Krishna ings to Krishna and not for selfsh motives. consciousness movement is not ex- 8. Te best way to attain self- actly a religion, but an educational and realization and pure love of God in this cultural system that is open to everyone. age of quarrel and hypocrisy is to chant Admittedly, the complete philosophy His holy names. Te easiest method for is a detailed one. However, we all like most people is to chant the Hare Krishna to eat, sing, dance, and make friends! maha-mantra or the ‘great mantra’: Tese activities form the main functions Left: The body changes from youth to old age, of the movement and are performed in a spirit of service to Krishna, or God. . but the soul never dies. It takes another body depending on the consciousness at death. * Anything relating to the Vedas is referred Right: Krishna, or God, in His beautiful two- to as ‘Vedic,’ a term used throughout this handed form, plays His divine fute. magazine. image © Dario Lo Presti /Dollar Photo Club 13 Singing in the Streets
Most people around the world have seen and heard Hare Krishna devotees singing Hare Krishna and dancing in the streets—from Leningrad to Tokyo, Sydney to London, New York to Kolkata. This singing of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is recommended in the ancient spiritual texts of India as the best way to understand the Divine in this modern age.
14 Clockwise from left: The nightlights of downtown Tokyo and happy Hare Krishna devotees; youth chanting in the UK; spectators in Tokyo join in the congregational singing of God’s holy names; young ladies in colorful saris stand out against the grey skies of Moscow.
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE 15 Clockwise from top: An elegant group chanting on a boulevard in Germany; creating a blaze of color, devotees weave through the holiday crowd in Byron Bay, stralia saffro ro es a d i a s entertain onlookers at a fair in Germany; the smile says it all—one of the Hare Krishna devotees during the popular Krishna ‘Polish Tour.’
16 Lessons to Live By Education is vital to the development of every society. Recognizing this, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has established various seats of learning and educational institutions around the world for its members and their children. By Prana dasa
s ISKCON has matured since its of primary schools in the UK, the incorporation in 1966, schooling Avanti Schools Trust—which incorpo- A for its children and adult education rates elements of the Vedic, or Hindu, now have both increased in prominence. culture in its educational philosophy Hare Krishna schools around the and curriculum—has received high globe—from primary to tertiary—have a commendations from government strong focus on teaching good character agencies for its academic excellence. and behavior as well as the study of ISKCON’s communities located in the usual subjects found in mainstream Vrindavana, India, and Mayapur, schools. Electives include the perform- India, have both been long-standing ing and fne arts, philosophy, drama, providers of systematic and biology, chemistry, and physics. comprehensive education for both Recently, an ISKCON-afliated chain children and adults. 17 Homeschooling Another educational initiative gain- ing momentum with Krishna families is homeschooling. Whether in remote areas or big cities, the homeschool network in ISKCON is growing with the assistance of committed parents and other professionals in the feld of education. Of course, not all families go this route, but those who do have seen Photo: Parvati devi dasi signifcant academic results. Most ISKCON temples worldwide conduct Sunday school classes for children ranging from fve years of age to late teens. Tese Sunday schools allow the younger members to learn about spiritual life and the Krishna tradition, while having fun socializing and sharing experiences with their peers.
ISKCON’s Adult Education Adult education, both formal and informal, via seminars and university- linked curricula, is an important part of ISKCON. Te systematic study and teaching of the movement’s main texts— Today, ISKCON Mayapur ofers a tural roots and also satisfying National Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Te Nectar of traditional “heritage approach” Government board afliation standards. Devotion, Te Nectar of Instruction, and to formal education on one cam- As far as the under 18-year-olds go, Shri Ishopanishad—are frmly entrenched pus (Bhaktivedanta Academy) and a students generally like what they learn, as standard benchmarks throughout Cambridge Examinations stream on relate well with their instructors, and ISKCON internationally. another. Te heritage approach of do well academically in all three types Tere are currently numer- education is based on Vedic principles of of schools. ous providers of these studies, individualism. ISKCON Mayapur has In terms of higher education, many some of which ofer degrees via an also developed a National School that devotees now successfully hold doctor- online course of study. caters mostly to the local Bengali com- ate degrees, and ISKCON Hungary and Tese providers have been responsive munity. It is a model of blended holistic ISKCON Belgium provide university to the demand and requirements of an education, drawing deeply from cul- qualifcation degrees and diplomas. evolving ISKCON. 18 ISKCON & Academia By Shaunaka Rishi dasa, Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies a liated with ford niversity