What is the Hare Krishna Philosophy?
The Hare Krishna Movement (formally the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is dedicated to giving human society the sublime opportunity for a life of profound happiness, purity of mind, and realization through God Consciousness.
Summary of Vedic Convictions:
- We are eternal spirit souls: Not these temporary material bodies. All living beings are brothers and sisters, and Krishna is our common father.
- Transmigration of the soul: Reincarnation is a scientific reality. The soul travels through various bodies according to its desires and karmic reactions.
- The Supreme Personality: Krishna is the original, eternal, all-attractive Supreme Being, sustaining the cosmic creation.
- Vedic Scriptures: The Absolute Truth is comprehensively revealed in the Vedic literatures, summarized in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
The Seven Purposes of ISKCON
Spiritual Education
To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and achieve real unity and peace in the world.
Krishna Consciousness
To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, especially Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Spiritual Community
To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, developing the realization that each soul is part and parcel of Godhead.
Sankirtana Movement
To teach and encourage the congregational chanting of the holy names of God (Hare Krishna Mahamantra), as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Holy Places & Temples
To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Krishna.
Simple Living, High Thinking
To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life rooted in spiritual values.
Spiritual Literature
With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, books, and other writings.
Find joy in the path of selfless service infused with devotion to Krishna
“Where every action becomes a sacred offering, and the journey itself becomes a blissful communion with the divine.”