# Srila Prabhupada in Germany **Location:** Germany **Duration:** 15:18 <div class="video-container" style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%;"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jfB2ynxzhiI" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; pointer-events: auto; z-index: 10;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfB2ynxzhiI) --- ## Transcript **[00:10]** Young Krishna devotees prepare for a wedding ceremony in the ancient Hindu tradition. **[00:15]** Krishna is the Indian name of God in His personal form, and there are many followers in the country. **[00:22]** The International Society for Krishna consciousness is probably the most striking choice... **[00:32]** ...among the youth who are searching for spiritual meaning from the ages of 18 to 25. **[00:38]** The saffron robed, male members shave their heads as a sign of renunciation of the bodily concept of life and a path to humility. **[00:46]** A lock of hair is left on the back of the head. It indicates the devotee is a "personalist" **[00:53]** - someone who understands God as a spiritual personality instead of an impersonal concept such as "light" or "void." **[01:12]** In 1966, The International Society for Krishna consciousness was founded and incorporated in the USA **[01:18]** By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. **[01:24]** The foundation of the sect's teachings is from the ancient Vedic literature from which all Hindu's derive their philosophy. **[01:30]** There are four thousand full-time members world-wide. In Germany there are more than 150. (census in 1974) **[01:38]** The mission is led by the founder and managed worldwide by a Governing Body Commission. **[01:44]** The individual centers are managed by temple presidents. **[01:55]** The purpose of the International Society for Krishna consciousness is to help people of all religions... **[01:59]** ...understand that God, Krishna, is the proprietor of everything and that everything should be employed in the service of God. **[02:03]** The Krishna devotees believe that quarreling like cats and dogs has manifest... **[02:08]** ...because people have lost their understanding of who is the real owner of everything. **[02:11]** They promote the non-sectarian chanting of the Holy Name of God: **[02:15]** Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare **[02:20]** ...as the best way in this age to awaken our original, blissful consciousness. **[02:26]** I hope that all human beings utilize their life for the highest purpose - to learn to love God and all his parts and parcels. **[02:31]** Please try to seriously understand this profound knowledge offered in these books. **[02:34]** Hare Krishna. **[02:36]** The involvement in Hare Krishna life means to completely break with the past and minimize mundane relationships. **[02:45]** For some that is quite a chance. **[02:49]** I did many things before joining. **[02:52]** I took a lot of drugs. **[02:56]** I tried numerous jobs, studied various philosophies, but they weren't satisfying... **[03:06]** ...until I came to Krishna consciousness. **[03:09]** There I really found the strongest drug. **[03:12]** Among the younger Krishnas many were looking for answers that would help them find inner peace. **[03:22]** However, spiritual life requires discipline and other obligations. **[03:29]** Spending time with devotees on the road, I found myself fascinated by their philosophy and lifestyle **[03:36]** - so much so that I wanted to become one of them. **[03:40]** Before I met the devotees, I had taken many drugs. I thought that I was committing suicide. **[03:49]** The devotees helped me out of this awful condition. Finally, I found relief from my misery. **[04:01]** The younger Krishna's are not generally employed in businesses. **[04:04]** Their life is rather austere. They don't live a luxurious existence. **[04:07]** At 4 am they rise together in the temple for their morning prayers . **[04:11]** The monks spend the afternoon chanting publicly. **[04:15]** This activity could be considered "missionary employment." **[04:17]** The devotees sell their books with a hopeful attitude that the entire world will come to understand... **[04:22]** ...the bliss and freedom that comes from becoming Krishna conscious. **[04:25]** Who does it interest? **[04:30]** Primarily young people are most attracted to learning about Krishna consciousness. **[04:33]** How do they earn their living? **[04:36]** We are busy translating many books of our spiritual master into German and devotees are eagerly distributing them. **[04:44]** We are producing music and making incense to sell. **[04:54]** There is no question that they are busy, but their methods of distribution are suspect. **[05:00]** In 1974, the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office investigated their quarters in Rettershof. **[05:11]** The officials looked into whether their street collections were lawful. **[05:20]** The Krishnas claimed that their solicitations of thousands of Marks were going to feed hungry children in India. **[05:33]** In reality, the money went into the general treasury of the local organization in order to expand their mission. **[05:47]** However, the devotees themselves lead a demanding life. **[05:55]** Their food is strictly vegetarian and prepared according to Vedic recipes. **[06:00]** The Vedas are a collection of sacred hymns, prayers, mantras, and incantations. They form the philosophical foundations of Indian beliefs. **[06:08]** Veda means knowledge. The Vedas explain both material and spiritual principles. **[06:15]** The Krishnas believe that "Prasadam" - food offered to God, to Krishna... **[06:20]** ...is spiritualized and that everyone who eats it will attain self-realization. **[06:24]** They also believe that anyone who takes even the smallest amount will be guaranteed a human birth in their next life. **[06:44]** In the temples, living quarters, and hallways, pictures of Krishna **[06:51]** - and His most recent incarnation as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - are present. **[06:57]** Krishna is seen as the origin of all incarnations, even Vishnu. **[07:05]** In the Bhagavad-gita, the bible of all Hindus, Krishna speaks 700 verses... **[07:10]** ...which describe all knowledge of the spiritual realm and how to achieve it. **[07:15]** The Bhagavad-gita concludes that "bhakti," loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is the best path to God. **[07:25]** 400 years ago in what is now known as Bengal, Sri Chaitanya displayed the perfection of the path of bhakti. **[07:35]** Their leader, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the spiritual master, the guru of our age according to their opinion. **[07:47]** Only by the grace of a pure devotee of Krishna can a person be given correct instruction on the path to Krishna. **[07:51]** And thus be thoroughly fulfilled in loving devotion to God. **[08:07]** His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada came to visit the Rettershof castle where the devotees have their temple and ashram. **[08:16]** Though more than 80 years old, this former businessman from Calcutta engages in the daily... **[08:21]** ...chanting of the Maha-mantra, the great chant of deliverance. **[08:25]** The devotees have vowed to repeat the mantra 1728 times each day. **[08:37]** They chant on a string of 108 beads kept in a bag, and they keep track on a separate counter of smaller beads. **[08:51]** Say the four principles in German... **[08:56]** ...No eating of meat, fish, or eggs; no drugs, no illicit sex, and no gambling. **[09:14]** Kaladri means who sets fire to the time immemorial. **[09:27]** The right hand. **[09:32]** The four principles specify the way of life for the Krishna devotees. **[09:37]** The consumption of meat, drugs, coffee, nicotine, etc. are not allowed. **[09:46]** Gambling is forbidden. **[09:49]** Sexual relations are permitted only between married people, and then only for the purpose of procreation. **[09:57]** Upon acceptance of the beads, the initiation ceremony is completed. **[10:02]** From now on the devotee must be Krishna's servant with body and soul. **[10:07]** A disciple must be submissive to the authority of the guru. **[10:13]** Often, such surrender does not appear liberating to the outsider. It can be interpreted as restrictive. **[10:19]** Swami Prabhupada, previously known as Abhay Charan De, studied philosophy, economy and English at university in Calcutta. **[10:28]** He has written approximately 60 books. **[10:32]** He writes exclusively on subjects about Krishna consciousness. **[11:14]** Ardent dancing and chanting will restore the world's harmony and bring about unity in God's service. **[11:23]** The devotees engage in different activities to attain this goal. **[11:32]** The Krishnas established schools to educate their children in spiritual values. **[11:39]** There are boarding schools in Dallas, USA, and outside Paris. **[11:48]** In India, the society is establishing new temples which will become centers of pilgrimage. **[11:53]** In the USA and England, devotees apply their Krishna consciousness to develop self-sufficient farm communities. **[12:05]** What is the basic philosophy of the Krishna devotees? **[12:07]** Srila Prabhupada describes his teachings in this way: **[12:16]** We beings, part and parcel of God or sons of God, originally we have got our.. **[12:26]** We living beings are a part of God. **[12:30]** Originally, we were all Krishna consciousness. **[12:34]** ...or God conscious. **[12:36]** In this artificial material civilization, we have forgotten it. **[12:41]** We want to only satisfy the senses of our body. **[12:45]** Now this God consciousness must be revived. **[12:50]** It is just like the fool who leaves his home in order to live independently because he has forgotten that is father is a very rich man. **[13:02]** He becomes unintelligent and forgets his father. **[13:05]** Therefore, it is best for this fool to go back to his father so he can regain his original consciousness. **[13:14]** That is the meaning of Krishna of consciousness. **[13:19]** It is nothing unnatural. This is the program of Krishna consciousness. It is not new or manufactured. **[13:21]** ...is to cure that mad man to his original consciousness and get him back to his rich father. And then he will be happy. **[13:31]** This is the program of Krishna consciousness and there is nothing manufactured. **[13:43]** The day ends in the ashram. **[13:46]** A final prayer is offered to Krishna before the devotees rest at 10:30pm. **[13:57]** Compared with other spiritual movements, the community of young Krishnas is very small. **[14:04]** Nevertheless, like all other religious communities of Asiatic origin which preach in this country... **[14:12]** ...the Krishna phenomenon should be taken seriously despite criticism. **[14:20]** The western so-called "progressive" thinking of our age has failed in answering the questions of life for our young people. **[14:28]** The east offers alternatives. **[14:35]** Is the increasing interest in it more than only a fashion?