Philosophy and Spiritual Practices.
An essential feature of human nature is to inquire; to attempt to understand what our existence is about and to try and resolve the age-old questions of life, death and the universe.
We have the ability to make choices, how to behave and how to lead our lives; which puts us in a responsible position, as our actions can harm both ourselves and the world around us.
One of the main contributions of the Hare Krishna movement to our society, is the presentation of the ancient Vedic philosophy, through books and classes. The wisdom of the Vedas offers deep insights into the perplexities of our condition; who are we? where did we come from? what happens at death? what is consciousness? why do we suffer, when we so much want to be happy? The Vedas encourage us to be thoughtful about such questions and to search for truth beyond our various conditionings.
The Vedas are scientific. They don't expect us to follow a path out of blind faith, or "belief", but out of thorough understanding and realisation of the subtle laws of nature and how they affect us; the nature of the soul, and of the supreme Cause of all causes.
We hope this section will help you explore the intriguing philosophy of the Vedic literatures.
Spiritual Practice.
"The aim of Eastern thought is not information, but transformation." - Satsvarupa Goswami.
Spiritual practice goes hand-in-hand with philosophy. We may understand something with "the head", but until it becomes inwardly realised, it's not a complete understanding. Spiritual practices clear the mind of misconceptions and convert false ego into pure ego, so that we become free and rediscover our original, joyful selves.
What are the Vedas?
"The Veda's wisdom in science and cosmology is largely hidden to the world. Yet it's contributions to science are magisterial in scope, rich in detail and intellectually stimulating." - Gopal Gupta, Vedic scholar.
The Vedas are the oldest literatures known to mankind. Most were written down around 5,000 years ago, although it's understood that before that, they were passed down through oral traditions. The Vedas are a vast body of works, covering many different subjects, including medicine, agriculture, architecture etc. The ultimate aim of the Vedas is to ensure a healthy, peaceful life on earth, so that we are free to concentrate on the most important goal of self-realisation. The heart of the Vedas, is therefore it's spiritual works, such as Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and the Ishopanishads.