Most people think they know what the Hare Krishna movement is, until they actually speak with a monk living the lifestyle. In this eye-opening conversation recorded at Spirit Fest USA, we sit down with Jadardana Krishna Das, a modern monk who breaks down the truth behind one of the world’s most misunderstood spiritual traditions.
If you’ve ever wondered what the robes mean, why monks shave their heads, what Krishna Consciousness actually teaches, or whether the Bhagavad Gita has anything to offer someone who isn’t Hindu…this episode will challenge your assumptions and force you to see spiritual awakening in a completely different light.
This isn’t dogma. This isn’t recruitment. This is practical mind-training, ancient consciousness science, and a path toward inner clarity that anyone, any faith, any background, can explore.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔ What the Hare Krishna movement really teaches
Not the stereotypes. Not the assumptions. The actual mission: raising consciousness, reconnecting with the soul, and empowering people from any background to develop a spiritual foundation.
✔ The surprising truth about the Bhagavad Gita
It’s not a “Hindu book.” It predates Hinduism and Buddhism and offers universal teachings on the mind, the self, and the battlefield within.
✔ Why monks shave their heads & wear orange robes
Purification, simplicity, detachment, spiritual focus, and yes, hygiene. The symbolic meaning goes far deeper than most people realize.
✔ What the forehead markings really represent
Not decoration...purification, protection, and identity within a specific philosophical lineage.
✔ Are Hare Krishnas trying to convert people?
Short answer: no. Long answer: this episode explains why the movement focuses on knowledge, not recruitment.
✔ How chanting really works
Why anyone, child or adult, any religion or none, can chant Hare Krishna and experience its effects anytime, anywhere.
✔ The monk’s personal journey
From sports, movies, and a secular upbringing…to a life-changing realization in college that led him to choose a life of spiritual training.
Why This Conversation Matters:
This isn’t a fringe movement. This is one of the oldest consciousness-expansion systems on Earth.
And it speaks directly to the problems modern seekers face:
Resources Mentioned:
• Bhagavad Gita As It Is
The recommended version with Sanskrit, translation, and commentary used in the Hare Krishna tradition. Available online, in libraries, and in print.
• Local Hare Krishna Temples & Centers
Found in most major cities. Offer meditation, classes, and free vegetarian food.
Ideal For Listeners Seeking:
This episode will shift the way you think about spirituality, identity, and what it means to live a conscious life, whether you resonate with the Hare Krishna path or not.
Subscribe, Rate & Review!
If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!
Subscribe to The Skeptic Metaphysicians on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube for more deep dives into spiritual awakening, consciousness, spirituality, metaphysical science, and mind-body evolution.
Connect with Us:
🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com
📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician
If you’ve ever wondered what the robes mean, why monks shave their heads, what Krishna Consciousness actually teaches, or whether the Bhagavad Gita has anything to offer someone who isn’t Hindu…this episode will challenge your assumptions and force you to see spiritual awakening in a completely different light.
This isn’t dogma. This isn’t recruitment. This is practical mind-training, ancient consciousness science, and a path toward inner clarity that anyone, any faith, any background, can explore.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔ What the Hare Krishna movement really teaches
Not the stereotypes. Not the assumptions. The actual mission: raising consciousness, reconnecting with the soul, and empowering people from any background to develop a spiritual foundation.
✔ The surprising truth about the Bhagavad Gita
It’s not a “Hindu book.” It predates Hinduism and Buddhism and offers universal teachings on the mind, the self, and the battlefield within.
✔ Why monks shave their heads & wear orange robes
Purification, simplicity, detachment, spiritual focus, and yes, hygiene. The symbolic meaning goes far deeper than most people realize.
✔ What the forehead markings really represent
Not decoration...purification, protection, and identity within a specific philosophical lineage.
✔ Are Hare Krishnas trying to convert people?
Short answer: no. Long answer: this episode explains why the movement focuses on knowledge, not recruitment.
✔ How chanting really works
Why anyone, child or adult, any religion or none, can chant Hare Krishna and experience its effects anytime, anywhere.
✔ The monk’s personal journey
From sports, movies, and a secular upbringing…to a life-changing realization in college that led him to choose a life of spiritual training.
Why This Conversation Matters:
This isn’t a fringe movement. This is one of the oldest consciousness-expansion systems on Earth.
And it speaks directly to the problems modern seekers face:
- mental overwhelm
- lack of meaning
- disconnection from self
- the inner “battlefield” the Gita describes so well
- the pressure of material life
- the desire for spiritual grounding without dogma
Resources Mentioned:
• Bhagavad Gita As It Is
The recommended version with Sanskrit, translation, and commentary used in the Hare Krishna tradition. Available online, in libraries, and in print.
• Local Hare Krishna Temples & Centers
Found in most major cities. Offer meditation, classes, and free vegetarian food.
Ideal For Listeners Seeking:
- Spiritual Awakening
- Consciousness Expansion
- Mysticism & Esoteric Knowledge
- Mind-Body Connection
- Alternative Spirituality
- Exploring the Unknown
- Practical Meditation & Higher Self Work
- Non-dogmatic paths to spiritual growth
This episode will shift the way you think about spirituality, identity, and what it means to live a conscious life, whether you resonate with the Hare Krishna path or not.
Subscribe, Rate & Review!
If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!
Subscribe to The Skeptic Metaphysicians on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube for more deep dives into spiritual awakening, consciousness, spirituality, metaphysical science, and mind-body evolution.
Connect with Us:
🌎 Website – SkepticMetaphysician.com
📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://www.facebook.com/SkepticMetaphysician | https://www.instagram.com/skepticmetaphysician
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hey, we have a special guest with us today. We
were going around the floor and every once in a
while you just run across up and you say, oh
my gosh, we've got to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We could not be more excited to have you. Know.
I'm not gonna try tell us your name again. I'm sorry, Krishna.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
If I was gonna say, that's exactly how I would
have said it.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
So thank you so much for coming on the show today.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you for having me. It was you I had
to take the opportunity when you did it. Awesome, awesome, Great.
So you are you're part of the Harry Krishna. Yes, yes, yes,
So there's a lot of misconceptions about what you do
and who you.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Are and what you believe in.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So, in a two hundred word or less synopsis, what
is it that Harry Krishna's Yes, So, Hoday Krishna is
an ancient movement which is meant to respiritualize and help
uplift everybody, no matter which background they're from, which.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Gender they are, which religion they practice. But it's really
an amazing process which is helping us reconnect with our real.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Self, meaning the soul, the spiritual energy.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
That's see side of the body, and also helping us
re establish our connection with God. It's meaning to give
people or I guess elevate people back to their normal
God consciousness. So do you have people of a variety
of religious practices in yes, I mean if you look
(02:04):
a couple of our leaders, they go to a lot
of these interfaith conferences, and we have a lot of
great leaders, great speakers. The founder of our movement, Shilabad,
he would actually speak a lot to different bishops, different
leaders of the churches, different leaders of religious organizations, and
(02:29):
they would have these important conversations not of how can
I establish what I believe as better than yours, but
how can we work together in helping everybody come to
this higher level of consciousness.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Now, Krishna is well known in Hindu traditions, the.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
God Krishna.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
So I assume that Hari Krishna has something to do
with the following of that god teachings.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Is that correct? Yes?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So that's kind of why I brought this quok with me,
this Bugavi Gita. Yes, as it is, this is uh
this is Christiana's teachings to our Juna and it makes
the main philosophy for the Hia Christian movement. And also
if you look across Eastern cultures and traditions, they've all
(03:23):
adopted the principles of Bugavidita. And if you actually look
the bugvid Gita, it even predates the establishment of Hinduism
or Buddhism. It's it's why we can say it's for everybody.
(03:43):
It wasn't one Hindu god speaking to another Hindu person
about how he can be Hindu. But it was an
amazing conversation that took place between Krishna and our Juna,
not just for the benefit of our Juna, but for
the benefit of the whole right.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
And it's it's ironic because it's it's from what I
know a little I know about the Hartway creation.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now you really promote.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Love and self respect and things like that. And the
bog of a Gida takes place during a war, right,
And and that's it's ironic that the message of love is
coming through from the battlefield. Really, and when I read it,
it was it was note at all what I expected.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Prospired Well, where is it more needed? No? Absolutely no,
absolutely exactly yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
And in fact, one would say we are in the
battlefield right now, So now we really need you.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So yeah, yeah, that's like why these principles they're able
to transcend just this. It isn't just like you can see,
oh our Juna is a warrior and Christian is encouraging
him to fight. You know, I I'm just like an
electrician or I'm just like a everyday guy.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I'm like a teacher. How does this apply to me?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it's like you were saying, you know, it isn't
that we're literally going out to war, but a lot
of times we're having internal battles, especially within our own mind.
And that's Krishna really gets to that point really early
on in the bugg of Geeza where he really starts
to talk a lot about the mind, talk a lot
(05:15):
about how your mind can be your best friend or
your worst enemy.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It just depends on how you use it.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
So it really starts off as like this broad spectrum
you know, reality, but it gets deep, really really great.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So I have a question that I've always wondered. I
have a feeling a lot of people wonder this as well.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
We can always pick you out of a crowd because
of your what you wear, your hair.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
What is the meaning behind how you present yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
A lot of it has to do with demonstrating a
lifestyle of simple living and high thinking. Right, So a
lot of art distinguishing I guess presentation which you're talking
is one the shaped head with the ponytail and the
little tail. Yeah, mine's grown out a little longer because
(06:07):
I've been on the road for.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Like three weeks. So yeah, I'm shaved in about three weeks.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
But and then the tea lock or the clay parkings
that are most visibly seen on the forehead, but we
also put on our chest, the arms, and the back,
and then the orange saffalon robes. So the shaved head
is really meant to well. One, it's for cleanliness because,
(06:32):
as you probably know, when you have a lot of hair,
it gets everywhere.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yes, I know, like boy do we know?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Like before I shaved my head, I had long hair,
like down past my shoulders, and when I would clean
my room, I would just be like, how why.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Is there so much hair everywhere? Right?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So one is for cleanliness, and two it's it's to
demonstrate detachment. So there's there's there's there's two ways which
which you can visibly express detachment, especially in the form
of hair. One you can just shave it off and
be like, yeah, I don't I don't really care about this,
(07:12):
or two you can just let it grow however it goes.
But for for for us, it's recommended that you know,
for since we go amongst society a lot and we
don't just live in caves, that this is a more
reasonable presentation.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Which also follows these principles.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
And then this uh te lock or this clay, it's
meant for purification of the body, for protection of the body,
and also purification of the consciousness. Oh so it's actually
from Holy Rivers in India, and when you put it on,
you recite different mantras in which you're praying for purification
(07:57):
and protection. It's not something that you know, we say
that everybody has to do at all times, but at
least for the tradition of monks, it's a general practice.
If you look across a lot of different schools, and
also these specific markings that identifies which tradition that you're from.
(08:19):
So like a lot of a lot of common markings
you can see like the Shytes, for example, they put
the three lines across their head with these ashes from
their sacrifices so that's that also has.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
A deeper meaning.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
But traditionally in society, you would you would be able
to see exactly who somebody is just by looking at them,
so everybody would be oh, like you could even say, oh,
this is like the milkman, based off like what he's
what he's wearing, what he's doing, and different markings, so
(08:55):
similar different schools of philosophy, and traditionally you would be
able to see oh, like like like this is a Shivi,
this is a Vedantis, this is a Mayavadi, so this
uh so this Hari Christianas were identified with these uh markings, right.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
So it's nice to see at least that even though
you are practicing the Hari Krishna lifestyle, you still carry
your cell phone.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
So that's you don't have to give everything up, right, Yeah,
I mean.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Cell phone I sort of have to have with my
uh you know, because traditionally, at least monst they lived
in like monasteries up in the mountains, that lived in caves,
and because people were more spiritual, people had more of
a connection with their spiritual life. They would specifically go
(09:48):
to these places for spiritual upliftment and spiritual realization and
for guidance also, but nowadays, because society is a lot
more materialistic, it's sort of up to us to go
out and encourage that some people.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Right, So is that.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
People say that everything they see the higher creational somewhere
they walk the other way because they're afraid that they're
going to be recruited, right, they're going to be hit
over the head with you got to be So is
that a realistic worry?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Are you here to convert us or are you here
to help us learn how to live?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
So, even if you look traditionally throughout all societies and
all cultures, the percentage of the population that actually becomes monks,
it's very very little, but it's very very small, maybe
even less than one percent, even in the most saturated societies.
(10:52):
So we understand that this lifestyle it's beneficial if you
can do it, but if it's against your nature, then
it's actually just going to be like swimming up against
the current your whole life. So it isn't like we're saying,
either you become a monk, you shave your head, you
(11:13):
dress like this, otherwise I don't want to talk to you.
But it's a practical process that anybody can apply I
mean just going going back to Krishna and Arjuna. Our
Juna even says in the bug Nagita like, Oh, instead
of fighting, I'm just going to go to the forest,
I'm just gonna meditate.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I'm going to become a monk.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And Christian tells him don't do that, because it's his
duty as a warrior to fight, right, right. So while
we do recommend if people have the capacity, if people
have the inclination, it's it's nice to even spend some
time living in a monastery, living the month lifestyle, just
(11:54):
to sort of establish like a really strong foundation for
your wherever you decide to go further in life, whether
you stay a monk or whether you go pursue other things.
But even if people don't spend that time, anybody can
read these books. Anybody can chant Arii Krishna, like even
even a little child, they can chant.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Hadi Krishnahadi Krishnakhsha, Hay Hi Rama Hi Rama Rama Ramay.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Anybody can chant, and you can chant at any time,
You can shan at any place, you can chant in
any sort of circumstance. So here and where we're seeing,
mostly at least myself, I travel a lot to college campuses,
I go on the streets basically anywhere, and my main
(12:42):
purpose is to give people access to the knowledge and
the information because we see that most people in society
it's like almost like they're in like a dark well.
And when you're in a well, a lot of times,
you know, it might not seem like a situation so dangerous.
But the biggest problem is that out of your own power,
(13:02):
you can't really get out. But the best way to
get out is if someone throws you down a rope,
but it's still up to you to hold onto that
rope and make your way out. So we aren't, you know,
forcing people to follow what we do, or we aren't
saying that.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
You have to become a monk, or you have to
do this, you have to do that.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
But we're trying to give everybody at least the opportunity
to explore this philosophy, to explore this practice, and to
try it out for themselves. Because we don't just say,
you know, do what I say because it's what I'm
telling you, and just leave it because it's what I say.
But we're inviting you know, you might not have faith
(13:46):
in what I'm saying, so try it out for yourself
and see how it works for you.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Fantastic. How did you get involved with it? Good question.
So my parents, they.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
They weren't particularly pushing me towards one religion growing up,
so I didn't have a super strong basis anywhere. You know,
if my friends were going to church, I would go
to church. If my friends are going to mosque, i'd
I'll come, Or if they're going to a temple. I
thought that was pretty cool, but I was more interested
(14:24):
in playing sports, in watching movies.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And hanging out with my friends.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
But specifically, when I was in college, I came to
like the practical realization where I didn't want to see
myself the same place that my peers were doing. Basically,
I saw that the route of getting a job, making money,
having a house, having a car that in and of
itself wasn't gonna make me happy. And not only that,
(14:52):
but most people they were so dissatisfied and so like
drained by material life that they couldn't help others.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Also.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, so I was like, I've already dedicated my time
in college to learning and to studying something, So the
most important thing that I can do is study the
thing that will be most important for me and then
learn something that I can then share with others.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So I started reading philosophies.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
I started studying different religions and cultures, and a lot
of what I would do is I would just talk
to people that knew more than I did and that
I felt like I could gain something from this person.
So when I read books like Bugavigita and the other
books by A. C. Buktivedante Swami Prabu pad it made
(15:42):
the most practical sense, and I saw that it didn't
contradict any of the other teachings of great teachers or
prophets that I saw, but it gave me the most
tangible information, and I saw that it had a really
practical process that I could apply to and share with.
It wasn't just something that was theoretical, It was something
(16:04):
very practical, very tangible, and I experienced it for myself.
So when I graduated college, I went to college on scholarship,
so I graduated with no debt, with no material things
tying me down. So I was like, you know, I
(16:25):
think living as a monk could be cool. If I
don't do it now, I'm never going to do it ever,
because I mean maybe when I'm like sixty seventy, but
who even knows if I'll lived that long, right, So
I was like, yeah, if I have the chance now,
might as well do it, right, And I've been living
this monk lifestyle for about two and a half years now,
(16:48):
and yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Think it's the best decision that I could have made.
So it's your path for sure?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Then yeah, I mean I can't say for sure or
something that's definitive.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
A lot of monks, even in the.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Hari Krishna tradition, they lived this sort of lifestyle for
about anywhere between like four to ten years, and about
ninety nine percent of them they end up getting married
having a family. But it's this initial training that's really important.
In fact, in traditional society, everybody would live as a
(17:26):
monk from the age of five till twenty five, because
I mean, just like now we go to school basically
from the hour five till twenty five, but they would
they would learn so many different things and they would
get like a spiritual education. So it wasn't like later
on in life you were seeing like middle aged people
becoming months like you see now, but everybody already had
(17:48):
that spiritual foundation growing up, and then they could then
choose whether to stay with that lifestyle, which only a
small amount maybe like one percent of people did, or
they could choose to go out and pursue what you
could consider to be a normal life, but it wasn't
normal because they had that special mindset and that special
(18:11):
training where they could see the world through a spiritual lens.
So yeah, I mean this, this uh these teachings of
Krishna and bud Vigita and this uh chanting of hard Krishia,
and this mindset and this elevation of consciousness that I'm
working towards. That'll last with me for my whole life.
(18:32):
But I hope i'll I'll be able to continue with
this monk lifestyle. But if I find myself that it's
just fighting my nature, then it's not something that I
have to stick with.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Okay, that's fantastic. So what do you think, Karen. I
think it's too late for you, dang it.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think that he would look good in orange, as
a matter of fact, I do, and he's.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Already losing most of it up.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
They're fighting words, son, all right. Well, if someone was
interested in learning how to get involved in lifestyle, how
can someone find out like if it's for them or not.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Yeah, I mean, uh, a lot of people they see
Arian Christians just walking down the street. Maybe not as
much as they used to back in the day, but
you know, I'm still out here doing my thing.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
You're represent.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, if you see any of us, you can
always talk to us. You can also read uh bug
anybody can read it. You can a lot of local
libraries have it. You can get it online. You can
also get the books from us too.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
And there's actually a bunch of books out there that
help you to interpret the of a Gida, So it
gives you the text and then an interpretation of it.
Because when I first read the Bag of a Gieda,
I was like, huh right, So when I read one
that had the interpretation, it helped me.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Can they put it in perspective? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And I went, oh okay, And it does a lot
of a lot of hiddoo thought processes really resonate with me.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So I just wasn't sure I'd look good in orange.
So we highly recommend.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
People read this buggy with Gita as it is because
it has the original Sanskrit texts each each each word
has a direct word by word, meaning there's an overall
English translation, and then for each of the texts there's
like a detailed explanation which isn't just coming from the
thought of one person, but ac bucdivid Onto Swampy Proplepod
(20:37):
who compiled this buggy with Gita. When he was writing
the commentaries, he would have the commentaries of ten to
twelve other teachers, which he would then compile. He would
add his own realization and then that's what created what
are called these bucdivid Onto purports, which really gives you
(20:58):
access to a lot of people's detailed realization that have
spent their life studying this knowledge.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Gotcha, Wow, that's very cool. So black Bagita as it is? Okay,
can you find it on Amazon?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, perfect, there you go. You can do Amazon dot
com and grab that book. You can even find it
free online also if you like to read online. But
we recommend people read the physical copies because it's better
for the mind, is better for the eyes.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yes, and there's the energies and energy change for I
think in the book, the physical book that you don't
get from an online publication, and.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
You can read it in the bathtub without getting electrocutity
if you drop it exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
That's a very good point. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I'm glad you mentioned the bathtub because I thought we
were going somewhere else with that one.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
But yeah, and you can also look up online and
any major city, at least if you're in North America,
we have temples in most of these major cities, like
here in uh I guess we're in Virginia, right we are. Yeah,
we're like so like close to so many different places. Yeah,
that's true, hard to tell sometimes, but yeah, So in Washington,
(22:08):
d C. In that Maryland area, we have a temple.
Here in Philadelphia, there's one. In West Virginia there's one,
and it in most major cities all across the country.
We have these centers which are sort of like oasises
or like places where.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Anybody can come and learn more.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
They can get spiritual practice, they can get spiritual guidance,
like every day we do meditation.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
We have classes on all of these books, so anybody
can come at any time.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
We also have food for everybody that comes, free vegetarian food.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So yeah, it's it's.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Yeah, you can, you can, you know you can, and
it's and it's a spiritual food also, so it's uplifting
for the consciousness.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Well, so the best thing about this getting to know
you is that you seem just like a like a
normal regular dude, right, who's who's just practicing this lifestyle?
When you think when a lot of people think of
how Harry krishnos, they think all these guys are way
out there or whatever. You're You're a very personal, educated,
just a regular dude, so there's nothing to be afraid of.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Come up say hello. He's a very nice guy.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
So yeah, a lot of college students that I talked to,
I often tell them like, yeah, you know, just a
couple of years ago, I was literally just like you, right,
you know, I like know exactly where you're coming from.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I'm not some like guy that just grew up in
like a mountain. It's like my first time seeing civilization,
you know.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
But it's it's it's you know, it's you know, I'm
I'm I'm I'm in this human body just like you are,
and I've I've had similar experiences to what you're having.
So yeah, it's it's it's, uh, yeah, we are scary people,
right hopefully at least. Yeah, No, you seem very very
(24:06):
normal to me. Hey, thanks so much for being on
the show.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah, we appreciate it. Thank you guys for having me.
Thanks for joining us.
Hey, we have a special guest with us today. We
were going around the floor and every once in a
while you just run across up and you say, oh
my gosh, we've got to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We could not be more excited to have you. Know.
I'm not gonna try tell us your name again. I'm sorry, Krishna.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
If I was gonna say, that's exactly how I would
have said it.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
So thank you so much for coming on the show today.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you for having me. It was you I had
to take the opportunity when you did it. Awesome, awesome, Great.
So you are you're part of the Harry Krishna. Yes, yes, yes,
So there's a lot of misconceptions about what you do
and who you.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Are and what you believe in.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So, in a two hundred word or less synopsis, what
is it that Harry Krishna's Yes, So, Hoday Krishna is
an ancient movement which is meant to respiritualize and help
uplift everybody, no matter which background they're from, which.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Gender they are, which religion they practice. But it's really
an amazing process which is helping us reconnect with our real.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Self, meaning the soul, the spiritual energy.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
That's see side of the body, and also helping us
re establish our connection with God. It's meaning to give
people or I guess elevate people back to their normal
God consciousness. So do you have people of a variety
of religious practices in yes, I mean if you look
(02:04):
a couple of our leaders, they go to a lot
of these interfaith conferences, and we have a lot of
great leaders, great speakers. The founder of our movement, Shilabad,
he would actually speak a lot to different bishops, different
leaders of the churches, different leaders of religious organizations, and
(02:29):
they would have these important conversations not of how can
I establish what I believe as better than yours, but
how can we work together in helping everybody come to
this higher level of consciousness.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Now, Krishna is well known in Hindu traditions, the.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
God Krishna.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
So I assume that Hari Krishna has something to do
with the following of that god teachings.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Is that correct? Yes?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So that's kind of why I brought this quok with me,
this Bugavi Gita. Yes, as it is, this is uh
this is Christiana's teachings to our Juna and it makes
the main philosophy for the Hia Christian movement. And also
if you look across Eastern cultures and traditions, they've all
(03:23):
adopted the principles of Bugavidita. And if you actually look
the bugvid Gita, it even predates the establishment of Hinduism
or Buddhism. It's it's why we can say it's for everybody.
(03:43):
It wasn't one Hindu god speaking to another Hindu person
about how he can be Hindu. But it was an
amazing conversation that took place between Krishna and our Juna,
not just for the benefit of our Juna, but for
the benefit of the whole right.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
And it's it's ironic because it's it's from what I
know a little I know about the Hartway creation.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now you really promote.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Love and self respect and things like that. And the
bog of a Gida takes place during a war, right,
And and that's it's ironic that the message of love is
coming through from the battlefield. Really, and when I read it,
it was it was note at all what I expected.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Prospired Well, where is it more needed? No? Absolutely no,
absolutely exactly yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
And in fact, one would say we are in the
battlefield right now, So now we really need you.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So yeah, yeah, that's like why these principles they're able
to transcend just this. It isn't just like you can see,
oh our Juna is a warrior and Christian is encouraging
him to fight. You know, I I'm just like an
electrician or I'm just like a everyday guy.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I'm like a teacher. How does this apply to me?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it's like you were saying, you know, it isn't
that we're literally going out to war, but a lot
of times we're having internal battles, especially within our own mind.
And that's Krishna really gets to that point really early
on in the bugg of Geeza where he really starts
to talk a lot about the mind, talk a lot
(05:15):
about how your mind can be your best friend or
your worst enemy.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It just depends on how you use it.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
So it really starts off as like this broad spectrum
you know, reality, but it gets deep, really really great.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So I have a question that I've always wondered. I
have a feeling a lot of people wonder this as well.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
We can always pick you out of a crowd because
of your what you wear, your hair.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
What is the meaning behind how you present yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
A lot of it has to do with demonstrating a
lifestyle of simple living and high thinking. Right, So a
lot of art distinguishing I guess presentation which you're talking
is one the shaped head with the ponytail and the
little tail. Yeah, mine's grown out a little longer because
(06:07):
I've been on the road for.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Like three weeks. So yeah, I'm shaved in about three weeks.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
But and then the tea lock or the clay parkings
that are most visibly seen on the forehead, but we
also put on our chest, the arms, and the back,
and then the orange saffalon robes. So the shaved head
is really meant to well. One, it's for cleanliness because,
(06:32):
as you probably know, when you have a lot of hair,
it gets everywhere.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yes, I know, like boy do we know?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Like before I shaved my head, I had long hair,
like down past my shoulders, and when I would clean
my room, I would just be like, how why.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Is there so much hair everywhere? Right?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So one is for cleanliness, and two it's it's to
demonstrate detachment. So there's there's there's there's two ways which
which you can visibly express detachment, especially in the form
of hair. One you can just shave it off and
be like, yeah, I don't I don't really care about this,
(07:12):
or two you can just let it grow however it goes.
But for for for us, it's recommended that you know,
for since we go amongst society a lot and we
don't just live in caves, that this is a more
reasonable presentation.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Which also follows these principles.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
And then this uh te lock or this clay, it's
meant for purification of the body, for protection of the body,
and also purification of the consciousness. Oh so it's actually
from Holy Rivers in India, and when you put it on,
you recite different mantras in which you're praying for purification
(07:57):
and protection. It's not something that you know, we say
that everybody has to do at all times, but at
least for the tradition of monks, it's a general practice.
If you look across a lot of different schools, and
also these specific markings that identifies which tradition that you're from.
(08:19):
So like a lot of a lot of common markings
you can see like the Shytes, for example, they put
the three lines across their head with these ashes from
their sacrifices so that's that also has.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
A deeper meaning.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
But traditionally in society, you would you would be able
to see exactly who somebody is just by looking at them,
so everybody would be oh, like you could even say, oh,
this is like the milkman, based off like what he's
what he's wearing, what he's doing, and different markings, so
(08:55):
similar different schools of philosophy, and traditionally you would be
able to see oh, like like like this is a Shivi,
this is a Vedantis, this is a Mayavadi, so this
uh so this Hari Christianas were identified with these uh markings, right.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
So it's nice to see at least that even though
you are practicing the Hari Krishna lifestyle, you still carry
your cell phone.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
So that's you don't have to give everything up, right, Yeah,
I mean.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Cell phone I sort of have to have with my
uh you know, because traditionally, at least monst they lived
in like monasteries up in the mountains, that lived in caves,
and because people were more spiritual, people had more of
a connection with their spiritual life. They would specifically go
(09:48):
to these places for spiritual upliftment and spiritual realization and
for guidance also, but nowadays, because society is a lot
more materialistic, it's sort of up to us to go
out and encourage that some people.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Right, So is that.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
People say that everything they see the higher creational somewhere
they walk the other way because they're afraid that they're
going to be recruited, right, they're going to be hit
over the head with you got to be So is
that a realistic worry?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Are you here to convert us or are you here
to help us learn how to live?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
So, even if you look traditionally throughout all societies and
all cultures, the percentage of the population that actually becomes monks,
it's very very little, but it's very very small, maybe
even less than one percent, even in the most saturated societies.
(10:52):
So we understand that this lifestyle it's beneficial if you
can do it, but if it's against your nature, then
it's actually just going to be like swimming up against
the current your whole life. So it isn't like we're saying,
either you become a monk, you shave your head, you
(11:13):
dress like this, otherwise I don't want to talk to you.
But it's a practical process that anybody can apply I
mean just going going back to Krishna and Arjuna. Our
Juna even says in the bug Nagita like, Oh, instead
of fighting, I'm just going to go to the forest,
I'm just gonna meditate.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I'm going to become a monk.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And Christian tells him don't do that, because it's his
duty as a warrior to fight, right, right. So while
we do recommend if people have the capacity, if people
have the inclination, it's it's nice to even spend some
time living in a monastery, living the month lifestyle, just
(11:54):
to sort of establish like a really strong foundation for
your wherever you decide to go further in life, whether
you stay a monk or whether you go pursue other things.
But even if people don't spend that time, anybody can
read these books. Anybody can chant Arii Krishna, like even
even a little child, they can chant.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Hadi Krishnahadi Krishnakhsha, Hay Hi Rama Hi Rama Rama Ramay.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Anybody can chant, and you can chant at any time,
You can shan at any place, you can chant in
any sort of circumstance. So here and where we're seeing,
mostly at least myself, I travel a lot to college campuses,
I go on the streets basically anywhere, and my main
(12:42):
purpose is to give people access to the knowledge and
the information because we see that most people in society
it's like almost like they're in like a dark well.
And when you're in a well, a lot of times,
you know, it might not seem like a situation so dangerous.
But the biggest problem is that out of your own power,
(13:02):
you can't really get out. But the best way to
get out is if someone throws you down a rope,
but it's still up to you to hold onto that
rope and make your way out. So we aren't, you know,
forcing people to follow what we do, or we aren't
saying that.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
You have to become a monk, or you have to
do this, you have to do that.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
But we're trying to give everybody at least the opportunity
to explore this philosophy, to explore this practice, and to
try it out for themselves. Because we don't just say,
you know, do what I say because it's what I'm
telling you, and just leave it because it's what I say.
But we're inviting you know, you might not have faith
(13:46):
in what I'm saying, so try it out for yourself
and see how it works for you.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Fantastic. How did you get involved with it? Good question.
So my parents, they.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
They weren't particularly pushing me towards one religion growing up,
so I didn't have a super strong basis anywhere. You know,
if my friends were going to church, I would go
to church. If my friends are going to mosque, i'd
I'll come, Or if they're going to a temple. I
thought that was pretty cool, but I was more interested
(14:24):
in playing sports, in watching movies.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And hanging out with my friends.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
But specifically, when I was in college, I came to
like the practical realization where I didn't want to see
myself the same place that my peers were doing. Basically,
I saw that the route of getting a job, making money,
having a house, having a car that in and of
itself wasn't gonna make me happy. And not only that,
(14:52):
but most people they were so dissatisfied and so like
drained by material life that they couldn't help others.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Also.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, so I was like, I've already dedicated my time
in college to learning and to studying something, So the
most important thing that I can do is study the
thing that will be most important for me and then
learn something that I can then share with others.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So I started reading philosophies.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
I started studying different religions and cultures, and a lot
of what I would do is I would just talk
to people that knew more than I did and that
I felt like I could gain something from this person.
So when I read books like Bugavigita and the other
books by A. C. Buktivedante Swami Prabu pad it made
(15:42):
the most practical sense, and I saw that it didn't
contradict any of the other teachings of great teachers or
prophets that I saw, but it gave me the most
tangible information, and I saw that it had a really
practical process that I could apply to and share with.
It wasn't just something that was theoretical, It was something
(16:04):
very practical, very tangible, and I experienced it for myself.
So when I graduated college, I went to college on scholarship,
so I graduated with no debt, with no material things
tying me down. So I was like, you know, I
(16:25):
think living as a monk could be cool. If I
don't do it now, I'm never going to do it ever,
because I mean maybe when I'm like sixty seventy, but
who even knows if I'll lived that long, right, So
I was like, yeah, if I have the chance now,
might as well do it, right, And I've been living
this monk lifestyle for about two and a half years now,
(16:48):
and yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Think it's the best decision that I could have made.
So it's your path for sure?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Then yeah, I mean I can't say for sure or
something that's definitive.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
A lot of monks, even in the.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Hari Krishna tradition, they lived this sort of lifestyle for
about anywhere between like four to ten years, and about
ninety nine percent of them they end up getting married
having a family. But it's this initial training that's really important.
In fact, in traditional society, everybody would live as a
(17:26):
monk from the age of five till twenty five, because
I mean, just like now we go to school basically
from the hour five till twenty five, but they would
they would learn so many different things and they would
get like a spiritual education. So it wasn't like later
on in life you were seeing like middle aged people
becoming months like you see now, but everybody already had
(17:48):
that spiritual foundation growing up, and then they could then
choose whether to stay with that lifestyle, which only a
small amount maybe like one percent of people did, or
they could choose to go out and pursue what you
could consider to be a normal life, but it wasn't
normal because they had that special mindset and that special
(18:11):
training where they could see the world through a spiritual lens.
So yeah, I mean this, this uh these teachings of
Krishna and bud Vigita and this uh chanting of hard Krishia,
and this mindset and this elevation of consciousness that I'm
working towards. That'll last with me for my whole life.
(18:32):
But I hope i'll I'll be able to continue with
this monk lifestyle. But if I find myself that it's
just fighting my nature, then it's not something that I
have to stick with.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Okay, that's fantastic. So what do you think, Karen. I
think it's too late for you, dang it.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think that he would look good in orange, as
a matter of fact, I do, and he's.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Already losing most of it up.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
They're fighting words, son, all right. Well, if someone was
interested in learning how to get involved in lifestyle, how
can someone find out like if it's for them or not.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Yeah, I mean, uh, a lot of people they see
Arian Christians just walking down the street. Maybe not as
much as they used to back in the day, but
you know, I'm still out here doing my thing.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
You're represent.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, if you see any of us, you can
always talk to us. You can also read uh bug
anybody can read it. You can a lot of local
libraries have it. You can get it online. You can
also get the books from us too.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
And there's actually a bunch of books out there that
help you to interpret the of a Gida, So it
gives you the text and then an interpretation of it.
Because when I first read the Bag of a Gieda,
I was like, huh right, So when I read one
that had the interpretation, it helped me.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Can they put it in perspective? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And I went, oh okay, And it does a lot
of a lot of hiddoo thought processes really resonate with me.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So I just wasn't sure I'd look good in orange.
So we highly recommend.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
People read this buggy with Gita as it is because
it has the original Sanskrit texts each each each word
has a direct word by word, meaning there's an overall
English translation, and then for each of the texts there's
like a detailed explanation which isn't just coming from the
thought of one person, but ac bucdivid Onto Swampy Proplepod
(20:37):
who compiled this buggy with Gita. When he was writing
the commentaries, he would have the commentaries of ten to
twelve other teachers, which he would then compile. He would
add his own realization and then that's what created what
are called these bucdivid Onto purports, which really gives you
(20:58):
access to a lot of people's detailed realization that have
spent their life studying this knowledge.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Gotcha, Wow, that's very cool. So black Bagita as it is? Okay,
can you find it on Amazon?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, perfect, there you go. You can do Amazon dot
com and grab that book. You can even find it
free online also if you like to read online. But
we recommend people read the physical copies because it's better
for the mind, is better for the eyes.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yes, and there's the energies and energy change for I
think in the book, the physical book that you don't
get from an online publication, and.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
You can read it in the bathtub without getting electrocutity
if you drop it exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
That's a very good point. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I'm glad you mentioned the bathtub because I thought we
were going somewhere else with that one.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
But yeah, and you can also look up online and
any major city, at least if you're in North America,
we have temples in most of these major cities, like
here in uh I guess we're in Virginia, right we are. Yeah,
we're like so like close to so many different places. Yeah,
that's true, hard to tell sometimes, but yeah, So in Washington,
(22:08):
d C. In that Maryland area, we have a temple.
Here in Philadelphia, there's one. In West Virginia there's one,
and it in most major cities all across the country.
We have these centers which are sort of like oasises
or like places where.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Anybody can come and learn more.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
They can get spiritual practice, they can get spiritual guidance,
like every day we do meditation.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
We have classes on all of these books, so anybody
can come at any time.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
We also have food for everybody that comes, free vegetarian food.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So yeah, it's it's.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Yeah, you can, you can, you know you can, and
it's and it's a spiritual food also, so it's uplifting
for the consciousness.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Well, so the best thing about this getting to know
you is that you seem just like a like a
normal regular dude, right, who's who's just practicing this lifestyle?
When you think when a lot of people think of
how Harry krishnos, they think all these guys are way
out there or whatever. You're You're a very personal, educated,
just a regular dude, so there's nothing to be afraid of.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Come up say hello. He's a very nice guy.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
So yeah, a lot of college students that I talked to,
I often tell them like, yeah, you know, just a
couple of years ago, I was literally just like you, right,
you know, I like know exactly where you're coming from.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I'm not some like guy that just grew up in
like a mountain. It's like my first time seeing civilization,
you know.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
But it's it's it's you know, it's you know, I'm
I'm I'm I'm in this human body just like you are,
and I've I've had similar experiences to what you're having.
So yeah, it's it's it's, uh, yeah, we are scary people,
right hopefully at least. Yeah, No, you seem very very
(24:06):
normal to me. Hey, thanks so much for being on
the show.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah, we appreciate it. Thank you guys for having me.
Thanks for joining us.
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