ISKCON Trinidad and Tobago

The word "reincarnate" derives from the root "carna" which means "flesh". Reincarnate therefore means to enter into the flesh again. The Vedic texts explain that the spirit soul is eternal and it never dies. In the natural course of life the body grows from a baby to youth to boyhood, middle age, then old age and death, and then transmigrates into another body at death. Your destination depends upon your thoughts at death, and what we think of at the time of death depends on what we have been absorbed in for most of our lives.

One of the most unique aspects of Vaishnavism is the form of Deity (murti). The Vedic texts maintain a sharp distinction between idols and Deities. The Deity is not a figment of imagination of the artist. The ancient texts called Shilpa-shastras give exact prescriptions for the fashioning of deities. There are specifications for the proper stance of the Deities, hand gestures, bodily proportions etc. The artists called shilpins enter into deep meditation and carve deity forms in accordance to scriptural canon. After this, elaborate ceremony is performed where the Lord is asked "to imbue the Deity with His divine presence". At this point, Deity is ready to be worshipped.

The answer is Karma. Western science and philosophy explain that the law of causality governs all actions and events in the universe. Actions and events have corresponding reactions on the material platform. The Vedic texts call this principle of action and reaction "karma". The spirit soul, which is entrapped in the material nature, acts in particular ways which can cause it either further bondage or liberation from the laws of nature. An individual's actions bring about his or her transmigration from one body to another. One cannot become free from karma simply by refraining from action. One has to learn the art of working without accruing karma, which is the process of bhakti yoga, or devotion to God.

Chanting is a spiritual practice that has a place in practically all religious traditions, although the method of practice may differ. It is a transcendental sound vibration that connects with the spirit soul; the soul cannot be Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Jew; the soul is simply what it is – pure spirit. According to Vaishnava tradition (which include devotees of Krishna), these spiritual sound vibrations especially the Hare Krishna Maha mantra - connects with who you really are (the soul) and revives our dormant spiritual consciousness. It is like nourishment for inner-self. The mantra is not a sectarian chant belonging to a particular religion. It is a chant of names of God and can be chanted by anyone.

The markings are called "tilak" and applied with sacred clay. Although the forehead marking is the most conspicuous, the devotees of Krishna mark their bodies at 13 central energy centers, reciting various names of the Lord while applying to each spot. This meditation is designed to promote the awareness that body is a temple of God.

We believe the art of cooking is a sacred experience, based on principles of compassion, non-violence and balanced living. Devotees abstain from eating meat, fish and eggs. We believe being vegetarian sustains the environment. The meat industry contributes largely to deforestation, desertification, water pollution, water shortages, air pollution, and soil erosion. Half of the Amazon rain forests have been cleared for cattle ranching. All the soybean and grain fed to US livestock in a year could feed 1.3 billion people. The only practical way to respect and be affectionate to all living entities is when we believe Lord as the Supreme father. The Bhagavad Gita further declares that one who lovingly offers his food to God according to scriptural guidelines is freed from sinful reactions.

ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya (denomination or tradition), a monotheistic tradition within Vedic culture. The word "Hindu" is not found in the ancient texts of India. The word originated as a designation for the people living in the vast regions east of the Sindhu River. Today, Hinduism has evolved into an umbrella term that refers to the "family of religions" based on the Vedic writings, including the major traditions Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism. Together, they make up the world's third largest religion—today called Hinduism.