FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tell me what you believe - what the philosophy of the Hare Krsna movement is?

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna consciousness is not a question of belief; it is a science. The first step is to know the difference between a living body and a dead body. What is the difference? The difference is that when someone dies, the spirit soul, or the living force, leaves the body. And therefore the body is called “dead”. So, there are two things: one, this body; and the other, the living force within the body. We speak of the living force within the body. That is the difference between the science of Krsna consciousness, which is spiritual, and ordinary material science. As such, in the beginning it is very, very difficult for an ordinary man to understand the importance of our movement. One must first understand that he is a soul, or something other than his body. For example, as a child grows, he becomes a boy, the boy becomes a young man, the young man becomes an adult, and the adult becomes an old man. Throughout all this time, although his body is changing from a child to an old man, he still feels himself to be the same person, with the same identity. The body is changing, but the occupier of the body, the soul, is remaining the same. So we should logically conclude that when our present body dies, we get another body. This is called transmigration of the soul.

How are people recruited into your movement?

We sell books, people read them and when they are convinced by their contents, they usually visit the temple. If they like it, they decide to join us. Or they see the public program, become interested, then they visit us and decide to stay. Usually it is one of these cases.

Do you admit anyone to your movement?

We admit anyone regardless of race, religion, economical situation or anything else. We only ask those living in temples as “full-time” devotees to follow our rules and take part in temple programs. Otherwise anyone can become a member of congregation, live outside the temple and visit our programs when he likes and follow the rules according to his abilities. If they follow a stricter standard they can make their home into a center.

Where do you get money to support your movement?

The Lord takes care of all living beings in the whole universe, so He will certainly take care of His devotees. Please, don’t forget that we are a world-wide spiritual and cultural movement with more than 450 centers in 76 countries, and not just a bunch of strange cult members from your neighborhood. Most of the money we get from the sale of Srila Prabhupada’s books (over ten million copies a year) published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, then from our famous restaurants and boutiques Govinda, from congregational members’ gifts, life members and from the general public. Aside from this many of our projects like charitable program Food For Life and establishing cultural centers are sponsored by many governments all over the world.

I feel that my belief in god is very shallow. How do I find out there is god?

We can learn about existence of God in the same way as we know about the existence of an artist when we see a picture, or about the existence of parents when we see a child. Therefore when we observe nature, her workings and laws - which means there must be a lawgiver - we know that the intelligence of her creator, God, surpasses our concepts and that this God must be a person because only a person has an intelligence.

Who is Krsna, then?

When we pronounce the name “Krsna”, it is not any sectarian name. Krsna is God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and primary person. Although He is omnipresent, He does not leave His eternal abode where He lives in His original, transcendental form. Krsna is unlimited, whereas we, living beings, are limited in every way. Krsna is the unlimited source of all living beings and we are His eternal, tiny parts and parcels. He possesses all noble qualities in unlimited measure. He is the most beautiful of all. Because He is the Supreme, His form and personality are also supreme. No one is more beautiful or attractive than Him. Krsna attracts everyone. Therefore His name is Krsna, which means “all-attractive person”. One who does not attract everyone cannot be God. The word “Krsna” also denotes the supreme pleasure and it is confirmed that the Supreme Lord is the source of all pleasure. Living beings have consciousness like the Lord and they desire to be happy. The Lord is always happy and if they associate and cooperate with Him, they will be also happy.

Can drugs help us in God realization?

If drugs could help in God realization they would be more powerful than Him. How can we accept such a claim? Drugs are material chemical substances. How can something material help anyone in God realization which is of fully spiritual nature? That is not possible. That which a person experiences while taking drugs is just a certain type of intoxication or hallucination; it is not God realization.

It seems that to develop Krsna consciousness, among other things, means to shave one’s head and wear saffron robes. Is it true?

Men have shaven head in a traditional way, with sikha (tuft of hair on the top of one’s head). It is pure and practical and it expresses a submission to the Lord and detachment from material world. Women usually wear long hair in braids. This shows their chastity because in the Vedic culture women untie their hair only in privacy in front of their husbands. Dot between eyebrows (bindi) means that the woman is engaged. Married women aside from bindi also color their parting by red kumkum powder. Devotees in ISKCON dress in various ways, sometimes traditionally and sometimes in a modern way. Because ISKCON is also a cultural movement, devotees usually dress according to the traditional Vaisnava culture which is the main spiritual stream of Vedic culture in India. Sometimes people think that it is not practical in the West, but devotees feel that in time this traditional position will be appreciated. When you see for example a policeman in uniform, you immediately know that he is the person who protects you. Devotee dressed in dhoti (saffron robe) and with shaven head is such a transcendental policeman whom you can approach with spiritual problems. Thank to this way of dressing devotees can be easily recognized and people can come to them for spiritual knowledge. In Orient people dress in dhoti and sari (a Hindi word, from Sanskrit sati / zaaTii - SB 9.9.7) for thousands of years. Saffron, or orange male dress, means the man took a vow of celibacy. White male dress means he is in the householder order (grhastha) or he prepares himself to become a full-time temple member. Women usually wear colorful saris and jewels.

What do the sign on your forehead and beads on your neck mean?

This is a so-called tilak, made from a clay from sacred Indian rivers, Ganges and Yamuna. In India you see people with many kinds of these signs according to the specific tradition they are part of. According to the tilak can be distinguished also various Vaisnava sampradayas (philosophical schools). We, Gaudiya Vaisnavas from Brahma-sampradaya, wear tilak made of two thin lines which converge at the root of the nose and a spot in the form of an almond on the nose. Those who have Visnu tilak on their forehead are devotees of Lord Visnu or Krsna. Neckbeads (kanti-mala) mean that the person took a vow to follow orders of genuine spiritual master, who is a direct representative of Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are made of wood of the sacred tulasi plant just as the rosary used for chanting the mantra (japa-mala).

Is it possible for a person living an ordinary everyday life to develop Krsna consciousness even without these external signs?

Saffron robes and shaven head with tilak are not the most important things, even though they create supportive mental disposition, just as well-dressed soldier has a good feeling that he is a real warrior. Does it mean that he cannot fight without the uniform? No. Also God consciousness knows no obstacles - it can be revived under any conditions - but certain conditions are beneficial in this regard. Therefore certain lifestyle, dress, diet and so on are prescribed. These things help in developing Krsna consciousness but they are not entirely necessary. Thus even person living an ordinary life can study and develop Krsna consciousness.

Devotee, Krsna conscious person, does not sit idle. He knows that philosophy of Krsna consciousness is so important that it should be spread. Therefore members of this Krsna consciousness movement appear in public and sing Hare Krsna mantra, preach and distribute this first-class literature about Krsna consciousness. This is the mission of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Krsna consciousness movement devotees serve without being paid, out of love for Krsna. They could work elsewhere and earn thousands a month, but his service is an expression of their love of God. Devotees serve in many ways - they garden, write, cook, clean etc. All their activities relate to Krsna and therefore they are Krsna conscious twenty four hours a day.

Contacting ISKCON

Q: Hello, I visited your web-site but am still wondering what the Hare Krsna religion is. I work at a Home Depot and helped a member of your faith. This gentleman seemed very peaceful and mystical. I guess why I’m writing is to not change religions or anything but to find out about people like yourselves and what you folks are all about. I personally believe there are great forces at large in the world that are not human or manmade. My stance on life is that if someone can admit that there is or are higher powers playing a role in your life that they are on the right track. Also that although you do need money in a modern society, it shouldn’t be the source of stress and corruption that it is. Please feel free to e-mail me and tell me more about you.

I saw you people in Hawaii and really wanted to talk w/ a devotee but they were chanting and drumming and I really thought that they shouldn’t be disturbed!!! Thanks for your time!!

A: Hare Krsna

Thanks for your letter, your help to a devotee and your appreciation. Lord Krsna will never forget any service or appreciation for His devotees.

Our websites provide basic information on us who try to become devotees of the Supreme Lord. I recommend you to read the articles to get answers to your main questions. Whenever you don’t understand anything, write and we’ll try to help you. There is a lot to learn for those who wish to delve into the Vedic tradition.

Yes, your understanding is right. One can see that the humanity is not in control of things, actually we are in bigger and bigger trouble because of our ignorant activities. However, the Lord is giving us the manual how to use this world in the form of Vedas, the scriptures. If we apply them to our lives, we will make spiritual progress and our life will be successful. He is the ultimate controller of everything and our real friend.

I recommend you to visit any of our centers and speak with devotees. Addresses are listed on our page. The best time to visit our temples is Sunday afternoon when there is a public program with temple ceremony, singing, lecture and a delicious feast. Also our Govinda restaurants are famous for its unique, karma-free food (prasadam). It means that it is offered to the Lord with love and devotion and thus becomes spiritualized and purifying.

The chanting and drumming you witnessed is called harinama, the traditional public glorification of Lord Krsna by chanting of His holy names. This is the best method of worship recommended in the scriptures for our age. It benefits both the chanters and the listeners. Practically every spiritual tradition recommends similar kind of worship (e.g. Psalm 150) so it’s not so strange as people sometimes think.

Wishing you all success in your life.