Questions New Devotees Ask

These are the questions we heard most often from new bhaktas in the temple, and the ones that arrive most often by email. The answers are short, and each one is what Srila Prabhupada taught, not our opinion. Where he addressed a question directly, we link to it.

Do I have to be Indian, or Hindu, to be a devotee?

No. Krishna consciousness is the eternal function of the soul, and the soul is neither Indian nor American, Hindu nor Christian. Srila Prabhupada's first disciples were young Americans in New York, and he insisted that the process is for everyone: A Philosophy for Everyone. He also disliked the word "Hindu," which is a geographical label, and described what he taught as sanatana-dharma, the eternal religion of the soul.

Do I have to give up my religion?

No. Srila Prabhupada told Christians to follow Christ, and to follow him properly: love God, chant His name, and stop killing. See his conversation with Father Emmanuel and Krishna and Jesus Christ. What he asked people to give up was not their religion but their sins, and the idea that God has no name and no form.

Do I have to move into a temple?

No. Most of Srila Prabhupada's followers were and are householders living and working in the world. He said that the home could be made into a temple by following the principles there, and this whole site exists for people who do exactly that. See Temple Standards at Home and Practical Engagement.

Do I have to quit my job?

No, unless the job itself is sinful, such as working in a slaughterhouse, a bar, or a casino. Krishna tells Arjuna to fight, not to leave the battlefield. Do your work honestly, offer its results to Krishna, and use your income to maintain your family in Krishna consciousness and to support the spreading of Krishna consciousness. Bhagavad-gita 3.9 and 18.46 are the verses Srila Prabhupada quoted.

My family eats meat and thinks this is strange. What do I do?

Be patient, be kind, and keep your own standard. Srila Prabhupada said the best preaching is behavior. Cook wonderful prasadam and share it. Do not argue at the dinner table. Over time your family will see the change in you, and that is far more convincing than any argument. If they will not eat your food, at least prepare your own meals separately and offer them.

Where do I start?

Chant. Even one round of japa a day, kept every day, begins the process. Then set up a simple altar, begin offering your food, and read Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Everything else follows. The Bhakta Handbook is arranged in the order we taught it.

How many rounds do I have to chant?

Srila Prabhupada set sixteen rounds a day as the minimum for his initiated disciples. A beginner should fix a number he or she can keep every day and increase it steadily. See How to Chant Japa. The number you promise must be chanted every day, without exception.

What about tea and coffee?

They are intoxicants and are given up along with alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Srila Prabhupada was explicit about it. Herbal teas and caffeine-free drinks are fine, and they can be offered to Krishna.

Why no onions and garlic?

Because they cannot be offered to Krishna. The scriptures classify them as being in the modes of passion and ignorance, and Srila Prabhupada never allowed them in the temple kitchen. Asafetida (hing) gives a similar flavor and is used freely in devotee cooking.

Can I eat in restaurants?

A devotee eats prasadam, food offered to Krishna, and food cooked by non-devotees carries their consciousness and cannot properly be offered. So restaurant food is avoided as far as possible. When travel makes it unavoidable, choose simple vegetarian food without onion, garlic, or eggs, offer it mentally with the prayers, and return to your own kitchen as soon as you can.

Who is my guru?

Srila Prabhupada. He is present in his books, his recorded words, and his instructions, and he said that a disciple's relationship with the spiritual master is through the instructions, not the physical presence. Read his books, follow what he says, chant, and serve his mission, and you are his follower. The Spiritual Master explains what a guru is and how to approach him. Questions about formal initiation are best sent to info@harekrishnatemple.com.

Is it all right to worship Krishna if I am not initiated?

Yes. Chanting, offering food, reading, and worshiping the pictures on your altar are open to everyone. Srila Prabhupada wanted everyone to do these things. Initiation formalizes a commitment you have already been living.

Where do I get beads, books, tilak, and altar things?

From the Krishna Store, which carries only Srila Prabhupada's original editions and everything else a home devotee needs, and ships worldwide. Where to Get Beads, Books, and Supplies links to the exact section for each item.

What is Ekadasi?

A fasting day from grains and beans that comes twice a month. See Ekadasi and the Vaisnava Calendar.

I keep failing at the principles. Should I stop?

Never. Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita 9.30 that even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly, because he is properly situated in his determination. Get up, chant, and go on. Srila Prabhupada said that the only real failure is to stop chanting. There is no loss in this endeavor, and a little advancement protects one from the greatest fear (Bhagavad-gita 2.40).

Can I ask you something else?

Yes. Write to info@harekrishnatemple.com. We are householders with jobs and may take a few days to reply, but we do reply.