sectarian

Manihara: "At present there are 108 ISKCON centers in 30 countries throughout the world. These centers enable full-time members to live in close association, following the principles of Vedic life, and also provide a place where interested visitors can learn about the philosophy and culture of Krsna consciousness and participate in its various functions. The basis of the movement is the Hare Krsna mantra-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The chanting of this mantra is the most recommended means for spiritual progress in this age, as it cleanses the mind and enables one to transcend the temporary designations of race, religion and nationality and to understand one's true identity as an eternal spiritual being. In other words, simply by chanting Hare Krsna one can directly experience self-realization and lead a blissful life. The devotees experience divine ecstasy in singing the holy names of God to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The Hare Krsna devotees, as a prerequisite for the serious pursuit of spiritual life, voluntarily abstain from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. The Krsna conscious life-style is based on the principles of simple living and high thinking. The devotees rise very early, about 3:30 a.m., and spend the morning hours in meditation and study. During the day, the main activity is preaching Krsna consciousness. Many devotees go out to public places to distribute the Society's books and its official journal, Back to Godhead magazine, which has a monthly circulation more than a million copies in fourteen different languages. In addition to book distribution, devotees engage in a variety of activities, including teaching, artistic pursuits and farming. The qualification in Krsna consciousness is not what kind of work one performs, but that it be done in the spirit of devotion to God. For the first time, Swami Prabhupada has introduced Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha of Puri in the Western world. This festival is now being conducted in the major cities of the world like San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, etcetera. Millions of people relish the taste of pulling the transcendental ratha and partake of Krsna prasada. Another of ISKCON's projects is New Vrindavan, a model thousand-acre Krsna conscious community farm in the hills of West Virginia. This is ISKCON's first venture in protecting cows from going to the slaughterhouses."    (More...)

Here, bhuvo bhara-jihirsaya. An avatara comes to do some particular work. Just like Lord Ramacandra came to punish Ravana. That is avatara. And there are many avataras, they are mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: Matsya-avatara, Kūrma-avatara, and Varaha-avatara, Vamana-avatara, Nrsimha-avatara and Parasurama-avatara, Balarama-avatara, Buddha-avatara. Buddha is also avatara. Kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare [Dasavatara Stotra 9]. We do not agree with Buddha philosophy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, veda na maniya bauddha haya ta' nastika [Cc Madhya 6.168]. Buddha philosophy is atheism: "There is no God." He says, "There is no God." So that is atheism. And especially... That there is no God, there is God-that is not the point. His point was to stop the animal-killing. Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. Krsna became very, very, sympathetic with the poor animals: "Oh, in the name of yajna these rascals, rogues, are killing so many animals." Therefore He came as Buddha-avatara. Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. Kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare. So Vaisnava knows that "Here is Lord Buddha. He's Krsna's avatara," although we don't take his philosophy, because Buddha refused to accept Vedic authority. Nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam. Sruti means Veda. Sruti-jatam. In the sruti, in the Vedas, there is mention of pasu sacrifice, animal sacrifice, there is. So they began to argue with Lord Buddha that "You are stopping yajna-vidhi, stopping animal-killing in the yajna. This is mentioned in the Vedas." But Lord Buddha knew, "These rascals simply talking of Vedas, he does not know what is Vedas. But what is the use of arguing?" Therefore he has to say, "I don't care for your Vedas. Stop animal-killing." So nindasi yajna-vidheḥ. Yajna-vidhi, he wanted to stop: no more animal sacrifice in the yajna. Therefore he is denying the authority of Vedas. Nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam. We cannot violate which is mentioned in the... Therefore he was taken... But he's avatara. It was needed at that time.    (More...)