Iskcon's Stance On Meditation: Why They Discourage The Practice

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or the Hare Krishna movement, is a Hindu-derived new religious movement founded in the 1960s that focuses on the worship of Krishna as the ultimate divinity. While ISKCON does encourage meditation, it is not in the traditional yogic sense. Instead, ISKCON recommends chanting the names of God as a particularly effective method of spiritual awakening, with meditation taking three distinct forms: japa, kirtan, and sankirtan. Japa is a quiet and personal meditation where one chants on beads, while kirtan and sankirtan are more social forms of meditation involving singing and musical instruments.

ISKCON encourages mantra meditation, which involves chanting the Maha Mantra, or the Hare Krishna Mahamantra

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) encourages mantra meditation, which involves chanting the Maha Mantra, or the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. This form of meditation is a spiritual practice that is found in many religious and spiritual traditions, including the Vaishnava tradition, which ISKCON is based on.

Mantra meditation involves the repetition of a mantra, which is a sacred Vedic sound in Sanskrit, along with its translation and meaning. The specific mantra used in ISKCON's mantra meditation is the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, which consists of three words: Hare, Krishna, and Rama. These words are believed to represent the beautiful energy of Lord Krishna, the all-attractive one, and Rama, the one who brings happiness to all.

There are two types of mantra meditation practised by ISKCON: Japa and Kirtan. Japa is a quiet and personal form of meditation where individuals chant the mantra on prayer beads, known as japa mala in Sanskrit. The beads are used to count the number of mantras chanted, with the goal of completing "a round" of 108 mantras. Kirtan, on the other hand, is a more social form of meditation where individuals sing the mantras together, often accompanied by musical instruments.

The act of chanting the Maha Mantra is believed to have several benefits. It is said to awaken the soul, bringing strength, peace, and happiness to the chanter. It is also believed to connect the chanter with Lord Krishna and reveal their original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge. Additionally, mantra meditation is said to help individuals develop inner calmness and maintain good physical, mental, and spiritual health.

By encouraging mantra meditation, ISKCON provides its devotees with a tool to focus the mind, develop Krishna Consciousness, and access the spiritual happiness believed to exist within all individuals.

The Hare Krishna movement focuses on the worship of Krishna as the ultimate divinity

The Hare Krishna movement, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a monotheistic Hindu religious organisation. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is believed to have direct lineage with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

The core belief of ISKCON is that Krishna is the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead' and the original source of all the avatars of the Almighty God. Devotees worship Krishna as the highest form of God and believe that Radha is his divine female counterpart.

ISKCON devotees, or bhaktas, dedicate their thoughts and actions to pleasing Krishna. They spend several hours each day chanting the Hare Krishna mantra:

> Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

This mantra is considered the only way of salvation for people in the current age of Kali. The chanting of this mantra is believed to awaken the soul and bring strength, peace and happiness. It ultimately connects devotees with Lord Krishna and reveals their original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge.

In addition to chanting, devotees also perform arati, a form of worship where devotees offer water, incense, a fire lamp, and flowers to a murti (a sacred statue or image of Krishna). They also regularly gather to worship deities, listen to discourses by senior devotees, and participate in kirtan (congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra).

The chanting of God's name is considered the most effective method to achieve a loving relationship with God

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) recommends chanting the names of God as a particularly effective method of spiritual awakening. This practice, known as Mantra Meditation, involves the repetition of a mantra or prayer, such as the Maha Mantra, which consists of the words Hare, Krishna, and Rama.

The act of chanting God's name is believed to have numerous spiritual benefits. According to the path of Dnyanyoga (Path of Knowledge), chanting purifies the individual's subconscious mind, making it capable of receiving Divine Knowledge. It is compared to ploughing a field to make it fertile for a good harvest. By chanting, one can obtain Divine Knowledge and attain spiritual awakening.

Additionally, according to Bhaktiyoga, chanting God's name is considered equivalent to undertaking pilgrimages and performing sacrificial rituals. It is believed that continuous chanting can turn one's mouth into a pilgrimage, a location of purity that can fulfil all desires. Chanting with devotion and belief in God's name leads to spiritual experiences and the development of faith in the Deity.

The Vaishnava tradition, followed by ISKCON, includes three distinct forms of meditation: Japa, Kirtan, and Sankirtan. In Japa, the practitioner softly recites God's name using beads, similar to a rosary. Kirtan, on the other hand, is a public and joyous form of meditation where the names of God are sung loudly, accompanied by musical instruments. When performed in a group, it is called Sankirtan.

The Maha Mantra, or the "great mantra for deliverance," is central to ISKCON's practices. It consists of the names Hare (God's energy), Krishna (the all-attractive one), and Rama (the source of all pleasure). Chanting this mantra is believed to awaken the soul, bringing strength, peace, and happiness, and ultimately connecting the devotee with Lord Krishna.

Thus, the chanting of God's name, through Mantra Meditation and the Maha Mantra, is considered the most effective method to achieve a loving and connected relationship with God in the ISKCON tradition.

The practice of bhakti (devotional) yoga is believed to free the soul from bondage to the material world

Bhakti yoga, also known as the yoga of devotion, is a spiritual practice within Hinduism that focuses on loving devotion towards a personal deity. The word "bhakti" means "devotion, worship, or to serve God", while "yoga" means "union or to yoke". Thus, bhakti yoga is understood as the path of devotion to find spiritual liberation and union with the divine.

Bhakti yoga is considered one of the easiest yogic paths to master and the most direct method to experience the unity of mind, body, and spirit. While other forms of yoga require physical strength and flexibility, discipline, or intellect, the only requirement for bhakti yoga is an open, loving heart. This path involves developing a deep sense of love and devotion towards the divine, which can be directed towards a specific deity such as Krishna, Ganesha, Shiva, or any other form of God that resonates with the practitioner.

The ultimate goal of bhakti yoga is to reach the state of "rasa", a feeling of pure bliss achieved through devotional surrender to the Divine. This practice involves various rituals, prayers, chanting, and singing of devotional hymns or mantras. These acts of devotion are meant to purify the heart and awaken the inherent love and devotion within. By offering one's thoughts, words, and actions to the divine, practitioners cultivate a sense of surrender and selflessness, freeing themselves from the bondage of the material world and ego mind.

Bhakti yoga provides emotional healing and transformation by redirecting one's emotions and desires towards the divine. It teaches individuals to detach from worldly desires and find solace in the unconditional love of the divine, replacing negative emotions with positive qualities such as forgiveness, gratitude, and contentment. This process of bhakti eventually leads to spiritual transformation and a deeper understanding of one's true self, connected to the divine.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) discourages traditional meditation techniques that involve complex postures and quieting the mind

Traditional yogic meditation techniques often employ complex postures and methods to quiet the mind and align the external and subtle selves. These techniques are intended to focus the mind towards self-realization. However, ISKCON teaches that the mind is always busy and restless and that it cannot be stopped. Instead of trying to quiet the mind, ISKCON recommends mantra meditation, which involves focusing on the sound vibration of the mantra.

The Maha Mantra, or Hare Krishna Mahamantra, is made up of three words: Hare, Krishna, and Rama. Hare refers to God's energy, while Krishna and Rama refer to God as the all-attractive and all-powerful source of pleasure. Chanting the Maha Mantra is said to awaken the soul, bringing strength, peace, and happiness, and ultimately connecting the individual with Lord Krishna.

There are two types of mantra meditation: Japa and Kirtan. Japa is a quiet and personal form of meditation where one softly chants the mantra using prayer beads. Kirtan, on the other hand, is a joyous congregational form of meditation where the mantra is chanted loudly and accompanied by musical instruments.

According to ISKCON, mantra meditation is easy to learn and pleasant to practice. It does not require any mental or intellectual adjustments or prior acceptance of a set of beliefs. The practice of mantra meditation is said to naturally enlightens consciousness, allowing individuals to experience truth and reality through direct perception.

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