German Film

00:00:10:06,00:00:15:08 Young Krishna devotees prepare for a wedding ceremony in the ancient Hindu tradition. 00:00:15:15,00:00:22:14 Krishna is the Indian name of God in His personal form, and there are many followers in the country. 00:00:22:21,00:00:31:27 The International Society for Krishna consciousness is probably the most striking choice… 00:00:32:02,00:00:37:07 …among the youth who are searching for spiritual meaning from the ages of 18 to 25. 00:00:38:04,00:00:46:07 The saffron robed, male members shave their heads as a sign of renunciation of the bodily concept of life and a path to humility. 00:00:46:15,00:00:53:06 A lock of hair is left on the back of the head. It indicates the devotee is a “personalist” 00:00:53:11,00:00:57:08 - someone who understands God as a spiritual personality instead of an impersonal concept such as “light” or “void.” 00:01:12:15,00:01:18:13 In 1966, The International Society for Krishna consciousness was founded and incorporated in the USA 00:01:18:15,00:01:22:24 By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 00:01:24:16,00:01:30:05 The foundation of the sect’s teachings is from the ancient Vedic literature from which all Hindu’s derive their philosophy. 00:01:30:21,00:01:37:24 There are four thousand full-time members world-wide. In Germany there are more than 150. (census in 1974) 00:01:38:15,00:01:43:18 The mission is led by the founder and managed worldwide by a Governing Body Commission. 00:01:44:08,00:01:47:17 The individual centers are managed by temple presidents. 00:01:55:20,00:01:59:23 The purpose of the International Society for Krishna consciousness is to help people of all religions… 00:01:59:28,00:02:03:15 …understand that God, Krishna, is the proprietor of everything and that everything should be employed in the service of God. 00:02:03:21,00:02:08:16 The Krishna devotees believe that quarreling like cats and dogs has manifest… 00:02:08:18,00:02:11:16 …because people have lost their understanding of who is the real owner of everything. 00:02:11:20,00:02:15:00 They promote the non-sectarian chanting of the Holy Name of God: 00:02:15:09,00:02:20:13 Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 00:02:20:18,00:02:26:17 …as the best way in this age to awaken our original, blissful consciousness. 00:02:26:21,00:02:30:27 I hope that all human beings utilize their life for the highest purpose - to learn to love God and all his parts and parcels. 00:02:31:03,00:02:34:20 Please try to seriously understand this profound knowledge offered in these books. 00:02:34:25,00:02:36:00 Hare Krishna. 00:02:36:18,00:02:45:08 The involvement in Hare Krishna life means to completely break with the past and minimize mundane relationships. 00:02:45:15,00:02:48:10 For some that is quite a chance. 00:02:49:23,00:02:52:23 I did many things before joining. 00:02:52:26,00:02:56:01 I took a lot of drugs. 00:02:56:05,00:03:06:18 I tried numerous jobs, studied various philosophies, but they weren’t satisfying… 00:03:06:24,00:03:09:22 …until I came to Krishna consciousness. 00:03:09:26,00:03:12:10 There I really found the strongest drug. 00:03:12:16,00:03:21:27 Among the younger Krishnas many were looking for answers that would help them find inner peace. 00:03:22:01,00:03:29:00 However, spiritual life requires discipline and other obligations. 00:03:29:07,00:03:36:05 Spending time with devotees on the road, I found myself fascinated by their philosophy and lifestyle 00:03:36:07,00:03:40:10 - so much so that I wanted to become one of them. 00:03:40:15,00:03:49:19 Before I met the devotees, I had taken many drugs. I thought that I was committing suicide. 00:03:49:25,00:03:58:07 The devotees helped me out of this awful condition. Finally, I found relief from my misery. 00:04:01:20,00:04:04:01 The younger Krishna’s are not generally employed in businesses. 00:04:04:08,00:04:07:22 Their life is rather austere. They don’t live a luxurious existence. 00:04:07:27,00:04:11:15 At 4 am they rise together in the temple for their morning prayers . 00:04:11:21,00:04:14:24 The monks spend the afternoon chanting publicly. 00:04:15:07,00:04:16:20 This activity could be considered “missionary employment.” 00:04:17:03,00:04:22:07 The devotees sell their books with a hopeful attitude that the entire world will come to understand… 00:04:22:15,00:04:24:29 …the bliss and freedom that comes from becoming Krishna conscious. 00:04:25:13,00:04:27:21 Who does it interest? 00:04:30:25,00:04:33:11 Primarily young people are most attracted to learning about Krishna consciousness. 00:04:33:21,00:04:36:12 How do they earn their living? 00:04:36:17,00:04:44:07 We are busy translating many books of our spiritual master into German and devotees are eagerly distributing them. 00:04:44:12,00:04:52:10 We are producing music and making incense to sell. 00:04:54:11,00:05:00:17 There is no question that they are busy, but their methods of distribution are suspect. 00:05:00:23,00:05:11:12 In 1974, the Frankfurt public prosecutor’s office investigated their quarters in Rettershof. 00:05:11:18,00:05:19:27 The officials looked into whether their street collections were lawful. 00:05:20:02,00:05:33:07 The Krishnas claimed that their solicitations of thousands of Marks were going to feed hungry children in India. 00:05:33:13,00:05:41:29 In reality, the money went into the general treasury of the local organization in order to expand their mission. 00:05:47:05,00:05:54:22 However, the devotees themselves lead a demanding life. 00:05:55:00,00:06:00:06 Their food is strictly vegetarian and prepared according to Vedic recipes. 00:06:00:00,00:06:08:06 The Vedas are a collection of sacred hymns, prayers, mantras, and incantations. They form the philosophical foundations of Indian beliefs. 00:06:08:10,00:06:15:08 Veda means knowledge. The Vedas explain both material and spiritual principles. 00:06:15:15,00:06:20:03 The Krishnas believe that “Prasadam” - food offered to God, to Krishna… 00:06:20:05,00:06:24:03 …is spiritualized and that everyone who eats it will attain self-realization. 00:06:24:07,00:06:28:01 They also believe that anyone who takes even the smallest amount will be guaranteed a human birth in their next life. 00:06:44:12,00:06:51:10 In the temples, living quarters, and hallways, pictures of Krishna 00:06:51:12,00:06:57:10 - and His most recent incarnation as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - are present. 00:06:57:17,00:07:05:23 Krishna is seen as the origin of all incarnations, even Vishnu. 00:07:05:28,00:07:10:00 In the Bhagavad-gita, the bible of all Hindus, Krishna speaks 700 verses… 00:07:10:02,00:07:15:00 …which describe all knowledge of the spiritual realm and how to achieve it. 00:07:15:05,00:07:25:17 The Bhagavad-gita concludes that “bhakti,” loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is the best path to God. 00:07:25:22,00:07:35:09 400 years ago in what is now known as Bengal, Sri Chaitanya displayed the perfection of the path of bhakti. 00:07:35:14,00:07:47:10 Their leader, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the spiritual master, the guru of our age according to their opinion. 00:07:47:17,00:07:51:07 Only by the grace of a pure devotee of Krishna can a person be given correct instruction on the path to Krishna. 00:07:51:09,00:07:54:07 And thus be thoroughly fulfilled in loving devotion to God. 00:08:07:22,00:08:15:11 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada came to visit the Rettershof castle where the devotees have their temple and ashram. 00:08:16:10,00:08:21:12 Though more than 80 years old, this former businessman from Calcutta engages in the daily… 00:08:21:14,00:08:25:12 …chanting of the Maha-mantra, the great chant of deliverance. 00:08:25:16,00:08:33:13 The devotees have vowed to repeat the mantra 1728 times each day. 00:08:37:08,00:08:51:19 They chant on a string of 108 beads kept in a bag, and they keep track on a separate counter of smaller beads. 00:08:51:28,00:08:56:23 Say the four principles in German… 00:08:56:29,00:09:05:21 …No eating of meat, fish, or eggs; no drugs, no illicit sex, and no gambling. 00:09:14:06,00:09:19:16 Kaladri means who sets fire to the time immemorial. 00:09:27:05,00:09:28:29 The right hand. 00:09:32:09,00:09:36:19 The four principles specify the way of life for the Krishna devotees. 00:09:37:26,00:09:46:07 The consumption of meat, drugs, coffee, nicotine, etc. are not allowed. 00:09:46:27,00:09:48:24 Gambling is forbidden. 00:09:49:09,00:09:55:04 Sexual relations are permitted only between married people, and then only for the purpose of procreation. 00:09:57:08,00:10:01:12 Upon acceptance of the beads, the initiation ceremony is completed. 00:10:02:08,00:10:06:01 From now on the devotee must be Krishna’s servant with body and soul. 00:10:07:00,00:10:12:13 A disciple must be submissive to the authority of the guru. 00:10:13:06,00:10:16:21 Often, such surrender does not appear liberating to the outsider. It can be interpreted as restrictive. 00:10:19:19,00:10:28:05 Swami Prabhupada, previously known as Abhay Charan De, studied philosophy, economy and English at university in Calcutta. 00:10:28:15,00:10:31:26 He has written approximately 60 books. 00:10:32:01,00:10:36:03 He writes exclusively on subjects about Krishna consciousness. 00:11:14:05,00:11:23:24 Ardent dancing and chanting will restore the world’s harmony and bring about unity in God’s service. 00:11:23:29,00:11:32:02 The devotees engage in different activities to attain this goal. 00:11:32:28,00:11:37:22 The Krishnas established schools to educate their children in spiritual values. 00:11:39:05,00:11:47:08 There are boarding schools in Dallas, USA, and outside Paris. 00:11:48:11,00:11:52:22 In India, the society is establishing new temples which will become centers of pilgrimage. 00:11:53:04,00:12:05:13 In the USA and England, devotees apply their Krishna consciousness to develop self-sufficient farm communities. 00:12:05:18,00:12:07:16 What is the basic philosophy of the Krishna devotees? 00:12:07:24,00:12:13:05 Srila Prabhupada describes his teachings in this way: 00:12:16:25,00:12:25:28 We beings, part and parcel of God or sons of God, originally we have got our.. 00:12:26:05,00:12:29:29 We living beings are a part of God. 00:12:30:07,00:12:33:26 Originally, we were all Krishna consciousness. 00:12:34:03,00:12:36:07 …or God conscious. 00:12:36:29,00:12:41:03 In this artificial material civilization, we have forgotten it. 00:12:41:09,00:12:44:24 We want to only satisfy the senses of our body. 00:12:45:10,00:12:49:17 Now this God consciousness must be revived. 00:12:50:05,00:13:02:00 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. 00:13:02:10,00:13:05:16 He becomes unintelligent and forgets his father. 00:13:05:24,00:13:14:15 Therefore, it is best for this fool to go back to his father so he can regain his original consciousness. 00:13:14:28,00:13:18:07 That is the meaning of Krishna of consciousness. 00:13:19:05,00:13:21:10 It is nothing unnatural. This is the program of Krishna consciousness. It is not new or manufactured. 00:13:21:21,00:13:30:21 …is to cure that mad man to his original consciousness and get him back to his rich father. And then he will be happy. 00:13:31:19,00:13:39:08 This is the program of Krishna consciousness and there is nothing manufactured. 00:13:43:14,00:13:45:29 The day ends in the ashram. 00:13:46:00,00:13:53:03 A final prayer is offered to Krishna before the devotees rest at 10:30pm. 00:13:57:08,00:14:04:06 Compared with other spiritual movements, the community of young Krishnas is very small. 00:14:04:08,00:14:12:07 Nevertheless, like all other religious communities of Asiatic origin which preach in this country… 00:14:12:25,00:14:19:06 …the Krishna phenomenon should be taken seriously despite criticism. 00:14:20:11,00:14:28:03 The western so-called “progressive” thinking of our age has failed in answering the questions of life for our young people. 00:14:28:08,00:14:34:21 The east offers alternatives. 00:14:35:05,00:14:40:08 Is the increasing interest in it more than only a fashion?