Frequently Asked Questions

Here there are most commonly asked questions about our beliefs, practice and lifestyle. If you have any other questions, kindly mail them to damodara@ny.airnet.ne.jp. We will try to answer them promptly.

Q: What is ISKCON?

ISKCON is an acronym for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement.

Q: Who started the Hare Krishna Movement?

In 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada traveled alone from India to establish the timeless tradition of Krishna consciousness in the Western world. He single-handedly began a worldwide confederation of over 100 temples, farm communities, and institutes, with a current congregation of over three million in the West, 50 million worldwide. Srila Prabhupada translated over 50 books on Krishna consciousness, now available in over 45 languages. Before he passed away in 1977, he arranged for the movement to be guided by a Governing Body Commission composed of his senior disciples. Also, after Srila Prabhupada's departure, his disciples themselves began to accept disciples, carrying on the age-old system of disciplic succession.

Q: What is the Hare Krishna chant?

The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is recommended in the Vedas as the easiest method for self-realization in the present age of Kali (quarrel and anxiety). Krishna is a Sanskrit name of God, meaning "all-attractive," and Rama is another name for God, meaning "reservoir of pleasure." Hare is the divine energy of the Lord. The Hare Krishna mantra means, "O all-attractive, all-pleasing Lord, please engage me in Your devotional service." There are two ways to chant this mantra: group chanting (kirtana) and individual chanting, usually done with beads to enhance concentration (japa). In both methods no hard and fast rules apply to this joyous and systematic form of meditation.

Q: Isn't the constant chanting a form of hypnosis?

No. Hypnosis is a form of sleep, but chanting the name of God gives one heightened realization and great clarity of intelligence. Don't believe me, try it for yourself.

Q: Couldn't you do something more useful for society than chanting all day?

We don't just chant all day. Devotees are engaged in many activities, publishing books, building farms and schools, making films, and distributing food and literature to thousands. Our congregation works for money and dedicates part of their time to "full-on" spiritual practice.

Besides, chanting is a process for reviving our natural God-consciousness. This is actually the most important activity in human society. If more people took the time to understand the basic principles of God-consciousness, the problems of human society would be solved.

Q: Why are you vegetarians?

The Vedic scriptures establish non-violence, ahimsa, as the ethical foundation of vegetarianism. According to the Vedas, God is the Supreme Father of all creatures, not just humans. Therefore, the slaughter of innocent animals is considered equivalent to killing one's brother or sister.

Hare Krishna devotees follow a whole-some lacto-vegetarian diet excluding meat, fish, and eggs. Although it may be argued that vegetarians are guilty of killing vegetables, vegetarian foods such as fruits, nuts, milk, and grains do not require killing. But even when a plant's life is taken, the pain involved is dramatically less than that of a highly-sensitive animal such as a cow or lamb.

According to the law of karma, nature's law of action and reaction, human beings must suffer for any kind of killing that is against God's laws. For this reason, as well as to show recognition for the Supreme Proprietor and supplier of all foodstuffs, devotees prepare vegetarian meals as devotional offerings to Krishna, or God. The food is then called prasadam (spiritual food), which can then be fully enjoyed without karmic reaction.

Q: Why do some members wear robes and saris, why do men shave their heads, and what is the mark on you forehead?

In the ancient Vedic culture a person dressed according to his or her social and spiritual position. Following those traditions women who live in Hare Krishna communities wear saris and men wear robes called dhotis. Married men wear white and unmarried men wear saffron. Many men, especially priests, choose to shave their heads leaving a tuft of hair in the back called a sikha. This is done as a sign of renunciation and surrender to Krishna, as well as for cleanliness and simplicity. The clay marking on the forehead is called tilak which comes from sacred rivers in India, and is meant for identifying one as a devotee of Krishna.

Q: Why don't women shave their heads?

Men and women are different in many ways and how they practice spiritual life differs. It is traditional for men to shave their heads, but not for women to do so. Not all men shave their heads, either; some do and some don't.

Q: Would not your preaching be more effective if you dressed like Westerners?

Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. In certain situations preaching is better if we wear robes. However, when people are not able to appreciate the dress of a clergyman, then we wear ordinary Western dress.

Q: What do you believe?

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we are His eternal servants. Our real place is not here in the material world, but in the spiritual world with Krishna. By serving Him according to the scriptures we may develop love for Him and at the end of life attain our original position.

This is not a matter of belief. It can be tested and experienced. Therefore, it is a science.

Q: Do you believe in reincarnation?

Yes. In the Bhagavad-gita, the principal scripture of the Hare Krishna Movement, it is stated, "As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change." The Vedas further explain that the soul in the material world transmigrates within a cycle of material birth and death through 8,400,000 forms of life. The human form of life, however, is the only birth which affords one the change for self-realization. Lower-than-human species are not endowed with sufficient intelligence to understand the self as different from the body.

Q: According to the Krishna consciousness philosophy, what is the goal of life?

The Vedas state that the goal of life is to become a pure devotee of God, to establish one's eternal relationship with God and to return to God at the end of life and thus end the cycle of repeated birth and death (reincarnation). Members also share Vedic knowledge with others by profusely distributing ancient India's literatures.

Q: One cannot see the soul or God, so why believe in something we can't see?

Why believe in atoms, viruses, or the back side of the Moon? You can't see them. There are many things whose existence we accept without being able to perceive them directly. One can accept the existence of the soul and of God by their symptoms. Life or consciousness within the body, and the perfect symmetry and detail of the universe are symptoms which indicate the existence of the soul and of a Supreme Being.

We can accept on faith that there are spiritually realized persons who can actually see and know God. And as one becomes more and more purified by following a bona-fide process of self-realization one will also be able to see the soul and God.

Q: All religions say that they have the answer. How is your religion different?

We don't say that we're the best. We say that the process that helps you develop love of God is the best. You have to judge by the result. Who is actually developing love of God?

Q: If your religion is so wonderful, why are there so many problems in India, the place of it's origin?

It doesn't come from India, it comes from God. At one time India was very religious, the people followed the scriptures very closely, and India was the most prosperous country in the world. Now, they are trying to imitate the materialism of the West. So they are suffering. If one neglects the laws of God, then one suffers.

Q: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

Not only do we believe in him, we follow him, which is the important thing. Jesus Christ is a pure devotee of God, sent by the Lord to deliver us from material existence. Because he is giving us the way to reach God, he is as good as God, but he is not God.

Q: Why do you worship idols?

We worship Krishna, who is God. The Deities of the Lord are His authorized forms, which help us to focus our minds on Him, so that we can see and serve Him; this is His causeless mercy on us. An idol is a concocted form to represent one's own idea. If you follow sports or read People magazine, you're the one who's worshipping idols, not us.

Q: Aren't you limiting God by saying that He has a form?

No. You are limiting God by saying that He doesn't have a form. He has an unlimited spiritual form. From His form the whole creation, spiritual and material, is coming. He has an impersonal aspect and a personal aspect. God's original supreme form is that of Sri Krishna.

Q: Why does your movement consider women less intelligent?

We don't say women are less intelligent. In fact, our movement is the real movement for women's liberation. Men and women in our movement are treated equally and perform the same activities and work. Speak to the female devotees. Ask them if they feel exploited or liberated.

Q: If men and women are spiritually equal, then why aren't there any women gurus or leaders in your movement?

The qualification for being a guru is not that one is a man or a woman, but how much one is surrendered to God. There are many examples of women gurus as spiritual leaders in our tradition.

Q: Aren't you running away from reality by being a Hare Krishna devotee?

Define reality. Is reality this temporary material residence or the eternal nature of the soul? We follow every scripture in affirming that reality is our eternal loving relationship with God. That is blissful, of course. Aren't you really objecting to the fact that we've chosen to be happy rather than be miserable? If you're saying that happiness is illusion and misery is reality, that's a definition of reality which we see no logical reason to share.

Q: Haven't you lost your individuality by becoming a devotee, since you all dress and look the same?

Clothes are unimportant. At most, they are an indication of social position. These are the clothes of a clergyman; they are easy to maintain, inexpensive, and comfortable. Of course as devotees we agree on our philosophy, but we use our individual talents in individual ways in Krishna's service. By being Krishna's servants, we are more truly individuals than are people who mindlessly follow fashion and pursue socially imposed goals of maximising sense gratification.

Q: How can you criticize modern science and technology and at the same time use modern conveyances and machinery?

We don't condemn science and technology. We condemn the worship of them, the attitude that science and technology are the only important things in the world. They are means to an end, tools which can be helpful if properly used. We think people would be happier if life were materially simpler, if they had fewer distractions from concentration on their relationship with God, but we take the world as we find it. Utility is the principle.

Q: Why do you worship an ordinary man (the guru)?

The bona-fide guru is not an ordinary man. He is not worshipped as God, but as the representative of God. Because he gives us Krishna, we offer him all respects. That's simple gratitude, if nothing else.

Q: How do you know that the "man on top" isn't getting all the money?

The qualification for being "on top" is to be the most renounced. The leaders live very simply indeed. I know many of them personally. You too can get to know them.

Q: How can one tell a bona-fide guru from a fake one?

The guru's qualification is that he delivers the message of God, as set down in the scriptures and the tradition, without alteration or adulteration. He has to be saintly in character, and coming from a succession of spiritual masters originating right from God. Perhaps most important of all, what he says must work. By following his instructions, one must develop love of God. One must feel himself becoming detached from the material concept of life and get more and more attached to spiritual life. The symptom of a real medicine is, the fever must go down and healthiness must improve.

Q: Where do you get the money to support your movement?

The Lord maintains all living entities throughout the universe, so surely He will maintain His devotees. We raise money by selling books, running restaurants, and mainly from donations from our working householder members, congregation and life members, and from the general public.

You may send your questions by e-mail to me at damodara@ny.airnet.ne.jp This FAQ is being updated on a regular basis. So, keep checking in.
Note for Devotees: Prabhu, if you have an answer to the above questions explaining it in a better way, please e-mail us.

Last updated on: 20-Feb-1999