ISKCON South Africa Annual Report - 2014 | Page 26

The phenomenon of something changing from material to
spiritual is an extraordinary one, but it is something we as
devotees are involved in daily—often several times a day. It
happens

when

prasadam

(unoffered

food)

becoming

prasadam, or food sanctified by the Lord.
Cooking has been an art and science since time immemorial. Each
individual, race, culture etc. has their own methods in which to nourish their
bodies. What makes ISKCON’s methods SO unique and special? We cook
with the intention of nourishing both the body and soul - for the pleasure of
Krishna and His devotees.
Sometimes referred to as the “kitchen religion,” ISKCON, or the Hare Krishna
Movement, believes the art of cooking is a sacred experience. The
preparation and eating of food should be based on principles of
compassion, non-violence and balanced living.
Thus, Krishna devotees advocate a lacto-vegetarian diet, strictly avoiding
meat, fish and eggs. The Bhagavad-Gita further declares that one who
lovingly offers his food to God according to scriptural guidelines becomes
freed from sinful reactions, or karma. Stopping animal killing reduces our
collective karmic debt, and thus helps alleviate the horrors of war which so
plague the modern world.
From our ancient scriptures - we hear and read about Srimati Radharani’s
expertise in cooking - Her thoughts whilst preparing is only to please Krishna.
Mother Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja, the Gopis, even the cowherd boys etc.
all have the intense desire to please the Lord. In this same way Srila
Prabhupada has created ISKCON as a home to facilitate desires to please
the Lord. He set an exemplary example and standards.
Srila Prabhupada has given us the basis in which we can learn correctly.
Srila Prabhupada had taught His disciples authentic methods of cooking,
paying attention to fine detail not only in the physical but also in the mental
state. From home, to Temple, to Deity cooking Srila Prabhupada has given
us all the facilities required to please Krishna everywhere and anywhere. His
disciples in turn are teaching us these methods. We in turn need to teach
the generations to come. In order to teach we need to learn. ISKCON has
transformed the act of cooking into an art. Let’s carry it forward.
Come join us in taking up the process of cooking for Krishna.

Enjoy Govinda’s at:
•
•
•
•
•

ISKCON
ISKCON
ISKCON
ISKCON
ISKCON

Midrand
Sandton
Cape Town
Durban
Phoenix

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Contact your local Hare Krishna Temple to find
restaurants run by ISKCON members in your area
You can find Govinda’s restaurants in over 100
cities including ; New York, Los Angeles, New
Dehli, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rome, London, Lima,
Buenos Aires, Nairobhi, Sydney and Melbourne.
Check krishna.com for listings

Tip:

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