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ISKCON Movement  | The Founder | Basic Philosophy | Krishna Consciousness At Home
Living in the association of Krishna's devotees in a temple or ashrama makes it easier to practice devotional service. But if you're determined, you can follow at home the teachings of Krishna consciousness and thus convert your home into a temple.
 
Spiritual life, like material life, means practical activity. The difference is that whereas we perform material activities for the benefit of ourselves or those we consider ours, we perform spiritual activities for the benefit of Lord Krishna, under the guidance of the scripture and the spiritual master. The key is to accept the guidance of the scripture and the guru. Krishna declares in the Bhagavad-gita that a person can achieve neither happiness nor the supreme destination of life - going Back in Godhead, back to Lord Krishna - if he or she does not follow the injunctions of the scriptures. And how to follow the scriptural rules by engaging in practical service to the Lord - that is explained by a bonafide spiritual master. Without following the instructions of the spiritual master who is an authorized chain of disciplic succession coming from Krishna Himself, we cannot make spiritual progress. The practices outlined here are the timeless practices of bhakti-yoga as given by foremost spiritual master and exponent of Krishna consciousness in our time, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The purpose of spiritual knowledge is to bring us closer to God. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (18.55), bhaktya mam abhijanati: "I can be known only by devotional service". Knowledge guides us in proper action. Spiritual knowledge directs us to satisfy the desires of Krishna through practical engagements in His loving service. Without practical application, theoretical Knowledge is of little value. Spiritual knowledge is meant to direct us in all aspects of life. We should endeavor, therefore, to organize our lives in such a way as to follow Lord Krishna's teachings as far as possible. We should try to do our best, to do more than is simply convenient. Then it will be possible for us to rise to the transcendental plane of Krishna consciousness, even while living far from a temple.
Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra

The first principle in devotional service is to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra (maha means "great"; mantra means "sound that liberates the mind from ignorance").


Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

You can chant these holy names of the Lord anywhere and at any time, but it is best to set a specific time of the day to regularly chant. Early morning hours are ideal
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