FOUNDER
Caitanya (incarnation of Krishna) – devotional yoga as a way to worship Kirshna, 16th cent India
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – to USA in late 1960’s (Greenwich Village)
NAME
ISKCON = International Society of Kirshna Consciousness
(Not just a belief system; whole way of life)
AUTHORITY
Any religion all right it if makes sense and gives you peace
Bible accepted, but inferior to Hindu scriptures
VIEW of GOD
Lord Sri Krishna is original personality of the Godhead (Brahma, Siva, etc., just expansions of him)
He is everything and can be present in anything, including images, wood, marble, etc.
Krishna – mischievous, happy, loving God with 16,000 wives
VIEW of the TRINITY
Do not believe in the Trinity
VIEW of CHRIST
Krishna’s son – loved by God but not God
Great spiritual leader but not Savior, just a guru
VIEW of the HOLY SPIRIT
Called Paramatma; it is to Krishna as rays are to the sun
VIEW of SIN
Man not sinful
‘Cleansing’ comes by personal sacrifice & discipline, eating foods sacrificed to gods, etc.
VIEW of SALVATION
Soul trapped in body by previous lifetimes’ actions (Karma). Reincarnation, thus they are vegetarians
Escape reincarnation’s cycle by chanting Krishna’s name & acknowledging his presence in everyone
Through proper worship of Kirshna, Karma is destroyed & soul is liberated
Life’s main goal is to overcome our ignorance and develop Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna (“Hail Krishna”) – ant praise to Krishna 1,728 times a day)
Bypass mind, go into trance-like condition devoid of senses (like TM)
Tithe their time to worship Krishna (2 1/2 hours a day)
Noninvolvement in world affairs & social issues, concerned only with own liberation
VIEW of HEAVEN & HELL
Those very sinful have to undergo different kinds of temporary punishment on different planets
No heaven or hell, cycles of reincarnation