Frequently Asked Questions Get the FAQts right As could be expected there are a lot of questions coming in through the Talk To Us page and our feedback address. The FAQ presented here is an attempt to cover common questions that get asked over and over again. For easy reference they are grouped according to a common subject. This FAQ is regularly updated and extended. Last additions made: July 30, 1997 ISKCON, the movement ISKCON, the devotees Krishna, the Supreme Lord Krishna consiousness Guru, the spiritual master Chanting Hare Krishna Philosophy Scriptures Viewpoints Miscellaneous ISKCON, the movement: ISKCON (an acronym for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna movement), founded in 1966 in New York by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is the contemporary representative of the ancient religion of Krishna consciousness. It is a cultural and religious movement that offers humanity facilities to acquire, study and practice Vedic knowledge. What is the ISKCON movement? Who started your movement? How is your movement set up? What are the goals of your movement? What are the means by which your movements tries to achieve its goals? How do you vision the future of your movement? Are there any specific rules and/or restrictions in your movement? How did society react to the emerge of your movement? How are people recruited in your movement? Do you accept just anyone in your movement? Does your movement provide money for medical care? Where do you get the money from to support your movement? What makes you so sure that "the man on top" isn't getting all the money? What is the position of women in your movement? Is your movement not merely an attempt to escape reality? Why does you movement criticize technology and at the same use it? ISKCON, the devotees: Devotees of Krishna, there are many. The devotees in ISKCON represent a world wide branch of the ancient Brahma-madhva-gaudiya Sampradaya (disciplic succession) that dates back all the way to Krishna Himself. Since ISKCON is also a cultural movement, devotees dress according to the ancient traditions and follow rules and regulations that may seem odd to people of other cultures. However, devotees feel that in time people will come to appreciate this traditionalism. By dressing and behaving the way they do, devotees may easily be recognized and approached for spiritual knowledge. What is this mark on the forehead of devotees? What is the meaning of the shaven heads? What are these neck beads about? What does the dress and its different colors signify? Why do devotees chant Hare Krishna? Why don't devotees eat onions or garlic? How come you eat vegetables, don't they have souls too? Why do devotees get new names? Haven't you lost your individuality by becoming a devotee? Do you really think that women are less in some way? Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: Krishna is God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the original and primeval person who is simultaneously expanded everywhere throughout existence and yet is still situated in His eternal abode in His original, transcendental form. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-merciful being. He is the chief eternal living entity amongst all eternal living entities who are His parts. He is responsible for fulfilling all the desires of the subordinate living entities since time immemorial. Who is Krishna? How do I know that God exists? Could you explain me your definition of God? How should I understand the personification of God? Is Krishna personal or impersonal? Who decides what is God's name? Aren't you limiting God by giving Him a form? Is there anything known about the disappearance of Krishna? Is Krishna going to let this society go to hell? Who is Lord Caitanya? How could Krishna have 16108 wives? If God is so wonderful, why was I send here to suffer? Krishna consiousness: Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original, natural energy of the living entity. As living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness is now adulterated by the material atmosphere. Why do different living entities respond differently to Krishna consciousness? How can I get more out of life? How can I learn more about Krishna consciousness? What about so many voices out there saying they're the ones? Can I practice Krishna consciousness at home? Would I have to give up my religion to join you? Can I move into a temple right away? How do I tell my parents that I am interested in Krishna consciousness? Are you hindus? Do you support the Hinduistic idea of many Gods? Do you also worship other gods, like Shiva and Vishnu? Why are cows so highly respected? Guru, the spiritual master: On hearing the word guru, we tend to envision a caricaturelike image: a bizarre-looking old fellow with a long, stringy beard and flowing robes, meditating on distant, esoteric truths. Or we think of a cosmic con man cashing in on young seekers' spiritual gullibility. But what is a guru really all about? What is a guru? How to tell a real guru from a fake one? What is a disciplic succession? Can I become a spiritual master? What does "founder-acarya" stand for? Why do you bow down before a statue of your guru? Do your gurus pick mates for their followers? Chanting Hare Krishna: Although "Hare Krishna" has become a household word, practically nobody knows what it means. Is it merely a repetitious incantation designed to hypnotize its practitioners? Or is it a genuine meditation that can actually summon higher awareness? What is the Maha-Mantra? Isn't constant chanting a form of self-hypnosis? Isn't there something more useful to do for society than chanting all day? Can I also chant? Can I make my own chanting beads? Do you pray and chant, or do you just chant? How come some chanters fall down if chanting only once yields all perfection? Philosophy: The philosophy of Krishna consciousness, being the ultimate conclusion of all Vedic knowledge, is as old as time itself. Yet, it is never stale or boring. Human life is the same no matter what time setting it manifests in, hence its problems remain the same as well: birth, death, old age and disease. The root cause of these problems is our false identification with this material world and forgetfulness of our original position in relationship with the Supreme. How can I be certain at all about your philosophy? How does your philosophy relate to hinduism? What is hinduism anyway? Do you believe in the end of the world? How would you define beauty? What does your philosophy say about the mind? Why are we here in this material world? What is actual yoga? What is karma? Why do terrible things happen to good people? Do people in troubled places deserve to suffer? What is nirvana? What is my real identity? What is the ultimate goal of life? Is it true that meditation is not possible nowadays? Why did I fall down? Is it my fault? Why are some people fallen and some not? Why did I leave the spiritual world if everything there is perfect? Why am I punished here for actions of previous lives I cannot even remember? What is your concept of time? Do you have nature spirits and things like that? Is there life after death? What is the Absolute Truth? What is ekadasi? Isn't sensuality spiritual? What is Mayavada-philosophy? What can you tell me about deviations from your philosophy? What are the six systems of Vedic philosophy? Scriptures: The Vedic scriptures are the spiritual literature of the ancient Indian culture. A huge collection of books written in the Sanskrit language, they include material (mundane), religious (ritualistic), and spiritual (monotheistic) knowledge. The word "Vedic" is derived from the Sanskrit word veda, meaning knowledge or revelation. According to Vedic history, these scriptures were written down about 5000 years ago. This date is not accepted in modern Indology, but the date is in fact not very important, because the knowledge in these scriptures existed long before it was written down. Could you tell me something about the Vedas and their chronological order? What does Veda refer to in regards to the Vedic scriptures? What is the Bhagavad-gita? Viewpoints. What do you think about... Behind the carefully draped mass media veil of fantasy and deception lurk the symptoms of a society rotten to the bone. They are the symptoms of a disease rooted in the primeval hunger for lording it over material nature. The ancient Vedic wisdom, with its ageless vision, sheds new light on these problems of so-called modern life. It shows us the symptoms of human degradation from the eternal spiritual perspective. The eternal relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Abortion? Death and dying? Drugs? Environmental destruction? Gambling? Meat-eating? Prayer? Reincarnation? Sexual relationships? Total equality of man and woman? Miscellaneous: This section contains practical questions that could not be accommodated under any of the other sections. Is killing always bad? How do we get rid of the karma of killing? What about these statues drinking milk? What kind of "sacrifice" is proper for today's society? Where does Lord Shiva fit into my relationship with Krishna? What could you tell me about Ganesh and Narayana?

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