International Society for Krishna Consciousness;
Hare Krishnas


International Society for Krishna Consciousness; aka ISKCON; Hare Krishnas was founded by Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in 1966. Prabhupada was born in 1896 and died in 1977.

Prabhupada's spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Gosvami, convinced him to dedicate his life to Vedic knowledge . After many years of study and teaching in India, he came to the United States where he gathered followers and founded The International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July 1966 . This was regarded as a continuation of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. His teachings quickly spread around the world as a result of his travels. He began publication of the magazine, Back to Godhead.

Their sacred texts are Vedas, Bhagavada Gita, and all of the several books that written by Prabhupada including Bhagavad-gita As It Is There are about 8,000 core members and 350,000 lay constituents worldwide

The main belief of the ISKON is that Krishna is the supreme or "all-attractive" (aka Rama, "the highest eternal pleasure"). When the Krishna chant or mantra is recited, it is a way of putting oneself in harmony with Krishna . The mantra is the repetition of Hindo god's names. This is the chant you will hear when they are out dancing in the streets.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

The Hare Krishnas believe in reincarnation They see death as a transition, not an end and how one acts in their current life will determine whether one moves up or down or out of the cycle completely. The goal is to break away from the endless repetitive reincarnations, or samsaras, and return to god. This can only be accomplished by sankirtana, singing of God's names which in turn leads to Krishna Consciousness. Hell is regarded as a temporary destination for people who have sinned greatly on earth.

Iskon believes there are 9 Processes of Devotional Service:

They reject four pillars of sinful life: flesh-eating, intoxication, illicit sex, and gambling. They practice a strict vegetarian lifestyle. The do eat dairy products such as milk. Food is prepared for and offered to God and is then eaten as an act of communion and purifies the body of the devotee.

On June 26, 1992, in the case of ISKCON v. Lee , the United States Supreme Court decided that ISKON would no longer be able to solicit money in airports. The court decided that airports were not public and therefore the Hare Krishnas could not ask for donations there.

Books:

Daner, Francine Jeanne. 1976.
The American Children of Krsna, A Study of the Hare Krishna Movement. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston,

Rochford, Jr., E. Burke. 1985. Hare Krishna in America. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Shinn, Larry D. , 1987.
The Dark Lord, Cult Images and the Hare Krishnas in America. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1987.

Articles:

Mehra, Achal. 1984.
"ISKCON Court Decisions: Setback for Proselytizing Rights." Journalism Quarterly61 (Spring ): 109-116.

New York Times, 1996.
"Ex-Hare Krishna Leader Gets 20 Year Sentence," New York Times 29 August : A23.

Rochford, Jr., E. Burke. 1989.
"Factionalism, Group Defection, and Schism in the Hare Krishna Movement." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion v.28 (June): 162-179.

Wallis, Roy. and Steve. Bruce., 1982.
"Network and Clockwork." Sociology 16(1): 102-107.

Weiss, Arnold S. and Richard H. Mendoza. 1990.
"Effects of Acculturation into the Hare Krishna Movement on Mental Health and Personality." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 29 (June): 173-184.