The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a bonafide religious society strictly following the principles described in the Vedic scriptures and practiced in India for thousands of years. Our basic beliefs are as follows:
1) The Absolute Truth is contained in all the great Scriptures of the world; the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. However, the oldest known Revealed Scriptures in existence are the Vedic literatures, most notably the BHAGAVAD GITA which is the literal record of God's actual Words.
2) God, or KRISHNA is eternal, all-knowing, omnipresent, all-powerful and all-attractive, the seed-giving Father of man and all living entities. He is the sustaining energy of all life, nature and the cosmic situation.
3) Man is actually NOT his body, but is eternal spirit soul, part and parcel of God, and therefore eternal.
4) That all men are brothers can be practiced only when we realise God as our common ultimate Father.
5) All our actions should be performed as a sacrifice to the Supreme Lord . . . "all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." (Bhagavad Gita, IX, 27)
6) The food that sustains us should always be offered to the Lord before eating. In this way He becomes the Offering, and such eating purifies us.
7) We can, by sincere cultivation of bonafide spiritual science attain to the state of pure, unending blissful consciousness, free from anxiety in this very lifetime.
8) The recommended means of attaining the mature stage of Love of God in the present age of 'Kali,' or quarrel, is to chant the Holy Name of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.