1

Inside
Why Do We Need
Farm Communities?
Who is Ka?
A Doctor of the Soul
A Window to the
Spiritual World
Lunar Calendar
and Ox-power
Indian Cultural Center and Organic Farm
Hungary
2
On the Altar of Krishna Valleys Temple
THE CENTERS OF THE HUNGARIAN SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PEOPLE.
Krishna Valley, 8699 Somogyvmos, F u. 38. Tel./Fax: (+36 85) 540-002, (+36 30) 377-1530, E-mail: info@krisnavolgy.hu, Homepage:
www.krisnavolgy.hu/english; Budapest, 1039 Lehel u. 15-17. Tel.: (+36 1) 391-0435, E-mail: budapest@pamho.net, Homepage: www.haribol.hu;
Eger, 3300 Eger, Szchenyi u. 64. Tel.: (+36 36) 313-761, E-mail: eger@pamho.net; Pcs, 7624 Pcs, Damjanich u. 22. Tel.: (+36 72) 515-991,
E-mail: pecs@pamho.net; Kecskemt, 6000 Kecskemt, Felscsalnos u. 116. Tel.: (+36 76) 480-920, E-mail: kecskemet@pamho.net
Bhaktivedanta College of Theology 1062 Budapest, Andrssy t 53. I.em. 1., Tel.: (+36 1) 321-7787, (+36 30) 684-6861; E-mail:
bhf.to@externet.hu, Homepage: www.bhf.hu
Govinda Restaurant, Budapest, 1051 Vigyz Ferenc u. 4. Tel.: (+36 1) 269-1625, (+36 1) 302-2284, Fax: (+36 1) 473-1310, E-mail: govinda@invitel.hu
Homepage: www.govinda.hu
UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND
Belfast, Northern Ireland Brooklands, 140 Upper Dunmurray Lane, BT17 OHE/ Tel. +44 (028) 9062 0530; Birmingham, England 84
Stanmore Rd., Edgbaston B16 9TB/ Tel. +44 (0121) 420 4999/ E-mail: birmingham@iskcon.org.uk; Cardif, Wales The Soul Centre, 116
Cowbridge Rd., Canton/ Tel. +44 (02920) 390391/ E-mail: the.soul.centre@pamho.net; Coventry, England Kingfield Rd., Coventry (mail: 19
Gloucester St., Coventry CV1 3BZ)/ Tel. +44 (024) 7655 2822 or 5420/ E-mail: haridas.kds@pamho.net; Glasgow, Scotland Karuna Bhavan,
Bankhouse Rd., Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, ML11 0ES/ Tel. +44 (01555) 894790/ Fax: +44 (01555) 894526/ E-mail: karuna.bhavan@virgin.net;
Leicester, England 21 Thoresby St., North Evington, LE5 4GU/ Tel. +44 (0116) 276 2587/ E-mail: pradyumna.jas@pamho.net; London,
England (city) 10 Soho St., W1D 3DL/ Tel. +44 (020) 7437-3662; residential /pujaris, 7439-3606; shop, 7287-0269; Govindas Restaurant,
7437-4928/ Fax: +44 (020) 7439-1127/ E-mail: london@pamho.net; London, England (country) Bhaktivedanta Manor, Dharam Marg,
Hilfield Lane, Watford, Herts, WD25 8EZ/ Tel. +44 (01923) 857244/ Fax: +44 (01923) 852896/ E-mail: bhaktivedanta.manor@pamho.net; (for
accommodations:) accommodations.requests@pamho.net; London, England (south) 42 Enmore Road, South Norwood, SE25 5NG/ Tel.
+44 (020) 8656 4296; Manchester, England 20 Mayfield Rd., Whalley Range, M16 8FT/ Tel. +44 (0161) 226-4416; Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
England 304 Westgate Rd., NE4 6AR/ Tel. +44 (0191) 272 1911/ E-mail: bhakti.rasa@pamho.net; Swansea, Wales 8 Craddock St., SA1
3EN/ Tel. +44 (01792) 468469/ E-mail: iskcon.swansea@pamho.net (restaurant: govindas@hotmail.com)
RURAL COMMUNITIES
Upper Lough Erne, Northern Ireland Govindadwipa Dhama, Inisrath Island, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 9GN/ Tel. +44 (028) 6772 1512/
E-mail: govindadwipa@pamho.net;
ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS
Dublin, Ireland Govindas, 4 Aungier St., Dublin 2/ Tel. +353 (01) 475 0309/ E-mail: praghosa.sdg@pamho.net; Dublin, Ireland Govindas,
83 Middle Abbey St., Dublin 1/ E-mail: praghosa.sdg@pamho.net
The full list of centres is available at www.krishna.com
3
Dear Reader,
In the past ten years, many peo-
ple have visited Krishna Valley
to experience the values such a
community is based on.
Our guests observe the many
different elements of community
life: some are attracted by the
beauty of the landscape of So-
mogy county and the glorious
natural surroundings; others are
curious to see the functioning
of a God-centered community;
some are attracted by the spirit-
ual atmosphere, by the personal
dealings of the inhabitants, and
by the colorful Indian culture.
Some people see a developing
project and our accomplishments
so far, while trying to estimate
the quantities of work and mon-
ey invested. So many people and
so many ways to observe Krishna
Valley! Consequently there are
many experiences to be had at
Krishna Valley.
But a common opinion of our
guests is that even though we
live differently and observe val-
ues unlike those held by current
Hungarian society, it is still ob-
vious that we place a high value
on life and live according to the
values we accept.
This publication shows the
most colorful and complete pic-
ture of our lives and values, and
will help visitors find answers to
a lot of their questions.
Hare Ka!
Gaura akti Ds
President, Krishna Valley
Publisher: Manorma Ds.
Editor: Gaura akti Ds, Hemg Dev Ds.
Writers: Gaura akti Ds, Hemg Dev Ds,
vara Ka Ds, Manorma Ds, Prtha Ds,
Rdh-Ka Ds. Translator: Lokantha Ds,
Prema-vinodin Dev Ds
Editing: Braja Sevaki Dev Ds,
Tattvavit Ds.
Art Director: Zsuzsanna Magyar.
Layout: Sundara-rpa Ds.
Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness,
8699 Somogyvmos, F u. 38.
Tel.: (+36 85) 340-130, (+36 30) 228-4400,
e-mail: vim@pamho.net
2006 Vissza Istenhez magazin
All rights reserved.
ISSN 1587-4362
Contents
The Origins of Ka Consciousness 4
The Life of rla Prabhupda 6
The Teachings of the Vedas 8
Who is Ka? 10
The Model for a Spiritual Society 12
Our Moral Value System 14
Why Do We Need Farm Communities? 16
Welcome to Krishna Valley! 18
The Basis of Society: the Family 20
Gurukula The School of Spiritual Values 22
Lunar Calendar and Ox-power 24
How is Heaven Organized? 26
A Window to the Spiritual World 28
The Message of the Seasons 29
Ayurveda The Science of Life 30
A Doctor of the Soul 31
Guidelines for Good Eating 32
Cooking for Gods Pleasure 33
Ka Consciousness in Hungary 34
A Dream Comes True 36
New Temple in Budapest 37
Visitors Book 38
GUIDE TO SANSKRIT PRONUNCIATION The short
vowel a is pronounced like the u in but, long like the a in
far, and short i like the i in pin. Long is pronounced as in
pique, short u as in pull, and long as in rule. The vowel
is pronounced like the ri in rim. The vowel e is pronounced
as in they, ai as in aisle, o as in go, and au as in how. The
anusvra (), which is a pure nasal, is pronounced like the
n in the French word bon, and visarga (), which is a strong
aspirate, is pronounced as a final h sound. Thus a is pro-
nounced like aha, and i like ihi. The guttural consonants
k, kh, g, gh, and are pronounced from the throat in
much the same manner as in English. K is pronounced as in
kite, kh as in Eckhart, g as in give, gh as in dig-hard, and
as in sing. The palatal consonants c, ch, j, jh, and are
pronounced from the palate with the middle of the tongue. C
is pronounced as in chair, ch as in staunch-heart, j as in joy,
jh as in hedgehog, and as in canyon. The cerebral conso-
nants , h, , h, and are pronounced with the tip of
the tongue turned up and drawn back against the dome of
the palate. is pronounced as in tub, h as in light-heart,
as in dove, h as in red-hot, and as in nut. The dental con-
sonants t, th, d, dh, and n are pronounced in the same
manner as the cerebrals but with the forepart of the tongue
against the teeth. The labial consonants p, ph, b, bh, and
m are pronounced with the lips. P is pronounced as in pine,
ph as in uphill, b as in bird, bh as in rub-hard, and m as in
mother. The semivowels y, r, l, and v are pronounced as
in yes, run, light, and vine respectively. The sibilants ,
and s are pronounced, respectively, as in the German word
sprechen and the English words shine and sun.
4
Vissza Istenhez
The Vedas Books
of Spiritual Knowledge
Ka consciousness is not a new re-
ligion. Its roots date back to ancient
India, where it is called Vaiavism
(belief in Viu as the Supreme Lord).
Its teachings are several thousand
years ol d. Known as Vedi c l i tera-
ture, these teachings comprise the
Vedas, Puras, Upaniads, and the
epi cs Mahbhrata and Rmyaa.
The basic philosophy is contained
in the Bhagavad-gt (The Song of
God), also called the Bible of India.
Advanced philosophy is given in the
rmad-Bhgavatam, whose detailed
narrations describe the science of
the soul s rel ati onshi p to the Su-
preme Person.
own wonderful spiritual pastimes with
His associates in r Vndvana, a vil-
lage in northern India and an exact rep-
lica of the Lords abode in the spiritual
world. Ka later taught the essence of
spiritual truth (in the form of the Bhaga-
vad-gt) to His dear friend, Arjuna, a
Pava prince and warrior. The Gt is
the worlds most well-known philosophi-
cal dialogue.
The Spiritual Renaissance
of r Caitanya Mahprabhu
Lord Ka also appeared more re-
cently, in the fifteenth century, when He
assumed the role of His own devotee.
He appeared in the city of Navadvpa,
Bengal, and was known by the name
r Caitanya Mahprabhu (14861533).
He flooded the world with pure love of
Godhead, ka-prema. As the perfect
means of self-realization He recom-
mended the chanting of the prayer, or
mantra:
Hare Ka, Hare Ka,
Ka Ka, Hare Hare,
Hare Rma, Hare Rma,
Rma Rma, Hare Hare.
This means simply, O Lord, O en-
ergy of the Lord, please engage me in
Your service. His spiritual movement
brought about changes in medieval
India, and it later became the foun-
tainhead of a contemporary worldwide
Knowledge Descends from
Lord Ka through Brahm
As the Vedas themselves say, the tran-
scendental science they contain was
imparted at the dawn of creation by
Lord Ka, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, to the first created being,
Brahm, who then imparted it to his de-
scendants. This started what is called
a disciplic succession, or the transmis-
sion of knowledge from the Lord to a
self-realized soul who, in turn, transmits
it to disciples. During the many billions
of years since then, the Supreme Lord
has often appeared in various forms in
this universe or sent His pure devotees
to teach the same spiritual principles.
Five thousand years ago, Ka de-
scended to earth and manifested His
4
Krishna Valley
Consciousness
of Krsna
The Origins
5
spiritual renaissance. According to His
prophesy, the holy names of God, the
Hare Ka mantra, became known
and chanted in every town and village
of the world.
The Mission of rla Prabhupda
The prophesy of Lord Caitanya began
to be gloriously fulfilled by His Divine
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupda between 1965 and 1977.
rla Prabhupda was a spiritual mas-
ter in the disciplic succession started
by Lord Ka and Lord Caitanya. To
obey the request of his spiritual master,
he endeavored to spread Ka con-
sciousness in English worldwide. He
began in 1965, with the greatest and
most risky venture of his life. Having re-
nounced his family and business, he left
India for the United States of America
aboard a freighter, with only seven dol-
lars worth of rupees and some trunks
of his published books, to make the
Vaiava teachings known to the West-
ern world. While traveling, and after
arriving in New York, he encountered
severe hardships (heart attacks and a
lack of a fixed residence or support).
But because of his extraordinary dedi-
cation and pure devotion, he managed
to establish the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, with-
in one year of his landing. By means of
this organization, he then spread Ka
consciousness at an astonishing pace
all over the world.
ISKCON
The goal of ISKCON is to let people
know the universal principles of serving
God, which leads to peace, unity, and,
above all, spiritual knowledge. ISKCON
also aims to enrich our materially in-
clined, consumer society with new per-
spectives on the world, and to sustain
opportunities for members of the move-
ment to realize Ka consciousness in
practice.
ISKCON is a bona fide representa-
tive of the disciplic succession descend-
ing from Lord Ka through Brahm to
Lord Caitanya. ISKCONs principles are
rooted in truth, austerity, cleanliness,
and compassion (or non-violence). Its
teachings are based on spiritual love,
and the movement is widely regarded
5
as the most prominent worldwide mis-
sion of Hinduism.
The International Society for Krish-
na Consciousness includes more than
four hundred temples and a number
of farm communities, schools and col-
leges, and various other institutions. At
all its centers, its congregations attend
regular lectures and seminars. Practi-
tioners also meditate daily and indi-
vidually study the philosophy of Ka
consciousness. The centers organize
weekly Sunday festivities and hold veg-
etarian feasts on special festival days
throughout the year. All programs are
open to the general public.
Ka Consciousness
in Hungary
Ka consciousness reached Hungary
in the nineteen seventies. After its first
difficult years of functioning illegally, the
movement had an easier time organiz-
ing its activities when it received official
acknowledgement as a church organiza-
tion under the name Hungarian Society
for Krishna Consciousness. Since then,
the Hare Ka devotees were often
seen on the streets, singing, dancing,
and playing musical instruments, selling
books of spiritual knowledge in the Hun-
garian language, and distributing food
to poor people. In Hungary the Society
has two main temples and several con-
gregations and preaching centers. The
Indian Cultural Center and Biofarm in
Somogyvmos, known as Krishna Val-
ley, is considered significant throughout
Europe. In this brochure we present its
many-sided activities in detail.
6
Vissza Istenhez
He carried a suitcase, an umbrella,
a supply of dry cereal, seven dol-
lars worth of Indian rupees, and a
few trunks of his books. During the
Abhay Caran, later known as A. C.
Bhakt i vedant a Swami or r l a
Prabhupda, was born in 1896 in
Calcutta. His father paid great atten-
tion to Abhays spiritual and mate-
rial education. While Abhay attended
university, the independence move-
ment in India gained strength, and
he considered himself a follower of
Gandhi.
He met his spiritual master, rla
Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura,
in 1922. Abhay was asked at their
first meeting to help spread the mis-
sion of Lord Caitanya in the Eng-
lish language. His spiritual master
convinced Abhay that the greatest
needs in society are self-realization
and Ka consciousness, no mat-
ter what social force or government
rules. Ka consciousness, he said,
has so much spiritual potency that it
can unite the world in loving devo-
tional service to the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. From that time
on, Abhay began to prepare for this
extraordinary mission.
Since he already had a small fami-
ly and a pharmaceutical business,
he used his extra time to study and
plan the spreading of these teach-
ings as his spiritual master had re-
quested. After thirty years, he retired
from family life. In the 1950s, he lived
in Vndvana (where Lord Ka ap-
peared fifty centuries ago) and ac-
cepted the renounced order of life. He
began translating the most important
Vedic scripture from Sanskrit into Eng-
lish and writing commentaries on it.
He felt that his real mission could
be accomplished only outside India,
so in August 1965 he took the instruc-
tion of his beloved spiritual master to
heart and left for America to teach
Ka consciousness. He traveled
on a complimentary ticket as the only
passenger on the freighter Jaladuta.
6
Srila Prabhupada
The Life of
Krishna Valley
7
journey he suffered two heart attacks.
After thirty-seven days, the Jaladuta
arrived in New York, where Bhak-
tivedanta Swami had only one or two
connections. He had no followers yet,
and no guarantee that he would fulfill
his gurus instruction to preach in the
West. Despite fragile health, a foreign
culture, and a materialistic audience,
he persevered with resolute purpose,
and soon Ka rewarded him with
astonishing success.
He found the younger generation
of Americans disappointed with the
establishment and frustrated with life.
Searching for solutions, many young
people had taken to
dr ugs and pseudo-
spi r i t ual processes.
They were both chal-
lenging and receptive.
rla Prabhupda lived
simply and gave talks
wherever he had an
opportunity. His first fol-
lowers came from the
regular visitors to his
classes on the Lower
East Side. In July 1966,
he founded ISKCON,
the International Society
for Krishna Conscious-
ness. Beginning in Jan-
uary 1967, he opened more branches
of ISKCON in North America, and by
his intense preaching soon started
centers in Europe.
rla Prabhupdas effect on his
disciples was certain. His patience,
peacefulness, kind severity, humor,
and philosophical knowledge en-
thralled them. They were not blind
followers but thoughtul young people
who appreciated Prabhupdas deep-
ly satisfying explanations to questions
that others could not answer. Is there
life after death? What is the purpose
of life? Can we know God? Among
Prabhupdas supporters and admir-
ers were Allen Ginsberg and George
Harrison.
In his preaching, rla Prabhupda
neither emphasized the difference
between religions nor tried to merge
them. He taught that every living en-
titys nature (or dharma) is to be the
servant of God, and as long as they
serve others instead, they cannot be
happy nor satisfy anyone else. Ka
consciousness, however, is more
than a philosophy. It is a way of life,
and it spiritualizes all aspects of life.
It has special ceremonies and ritu-
als, its own style of clothing, music,
and cuisine, even its own particular
fragrances. Anyone visiting a Hare
Ka temple and smells the aromas
of sandalwood incense or vegetables
fried in ghee (clarified butter) experi-
ences this ancient culture.
Twelve years after arriving in Ame-
rica, Bhaktivednta Swami left this
world (on November 14th, 1977) at
the age of 81. His sincere efforts were
crowned with extraordinary success.
The message of Lord
Caitanya was estab-
lished in the West and
throughout the world
beyond his expectati-
ons. rla Prabhupda
spread the teachings
of Ka conscious-
ness in most major
cities of the world.
He initiated several
thousand di sci pl es,
started 108 temples
or farm communities,
and traveled around
the globe twelve times,
guiding the members
of his movement. He authored more
than sixty volumes of translations
with commentaries, since published
in every major language of the world.
He was respected by prominent
academics and well-known people,
who expressed their appreciation for
his achievements in the fields of reli-
gion, philosophy, and culture. Harvey
Cox, the world-famous professor of
religion at Harvard, described how he
gradually recognized the importance
of rla Prabhupda: I remember I
was quite astonished when I first met
the devotees. I was wondering who
they were. Their clothes, their sing-
ing, and their shaved heads were
somewhat strange to me. Later, when
I got to know the movement, I reali-
zed that the essence of its teachings
and the original roots of Christianity
bear some striking resemblances.
These are: simple living, not collec-
ting too many mundane goods, and
acting out of compassion and love
for all living entities. I think what rla
Prabhupda wrote and did was im-
portant and lasting.
7
Srila Prabhupada
8
Vissza Istenhez
The Importance of Human Life
What is the difference between living
entities and lifeless objects? It is con-
sciousness. Consciousness of oneself
manifests on different levels among the
various life forms. Among the forms of
life known to us, human life represents
the highest level of developed conscious-
ness.
At the same time, in daily activities,
we act in ways very similar to the animals.
Animals eat, and we also eat; they repro-
duce and so do we; they defend and we
defend; and they sleep just like us. The
fact that we carry out bodily functions in
more complex ways indicates that we
possess a higher level of consciousness,
but this does not completely explain our
superiority to other life forms.
The human form is but one of the
various life forms, but humans have
unique abilities that differentiate them
from others. Only human beings raise
questions about their existence and think
about who they are and who God is. We
ponder the meaning of life in complex
languages and contemplate the exist-
ence of divine life.
For this reason the Vedas recommend
that now, in human life, we make inquir-
ies about our real identity, the universe,
and God. If we do not use our God-given
intelligence in this way, we will waste our
precious life satisfying our sensual de-
sires and instincts, just like the animals.
We will be merely intellectual animals.
Human beings must find a solution to
the most serious problems of life: birth,
death, old age, and disease. It is on ac-
count of our taking birth in this world that
we suffer. Why does this happen? Will it
happen to us repeatedly? Is there a way
to stop that process? Dogs and cats can-
not raise such questions. They arise only
in the minds of human beings.
Human Perception is Limited
If we accept the grave import of such in-
quiries, we naturally will want to find reli-
able answers. And, obviously, if there is
some perfectly reliable knowledge avail-
able about the individual self, the uni-
verse, and God, it comes from a higher
level than our frail human opinions. We
all have imperfect senses, make mis-
takes, and are under the illusion that we
are these bodies, yet we pose as be-
ing very learned. Through our relative
perceptions, we do not obtain reliable
knowledge about our existential posi-
tion or the nature of our relationship to
this universe and God. Truth based on
empirical speculations cannot help us
understand the Absolute Truth, which is
beyond our imperfect senses and mind.
The Vedas inform us that to find out
about anything beyond the limitations of
ordinary human perception, we need to
hear from persons who have acquired
spiritual and material knowledge from an
infallible source.
The Disciplic Succession
Transcendental knowledge was first re-
vealed by the Absolute Truth personified,
the infallible Supreme Personality of God-
head. Those who impart this knowledge
without alteration can pass on to us the
same perfect answers to the problems of
life that God, or Ka Himself, gave. This
knowledge is found in Vedic literature.
It has been preserved throughout his-
tory by disciplic successions of spiritual
masters. rla Prabhupda is a recent
representative in one disciplic line. Thus
the knowledge in rla Prabhupdas
books is nondifferent than that spoken
by the Supreme Lord. rla Prabhupda
conveyed the timeless Vedic teachings
without adding or subtracting anything.
And he commented upon these sacred
texts in a way that is understandable to
contemporary people outside India.
rla Prabhupda often pointed out that although there are Philosophy
departments at the majority of colleges and universities, none of them
teach a scientific method of realizing the self and God. By presenting
the Vedic science of God consciousness, rla Prabhupda provided this
essential educational need by presenting his books. Over the past forty
years, millions of people have read his books and experienced an enrich-
ment in their lives. The following article introduces the spiritual science
he presented.
8
The Teachings
of the Vedas
Krishna Valley
9
The Universal Science
of God Consciousness
The knowl edge presented i n r l a
Prabhupdas books is enabling human
beings everywhere to raise their realiza-
tion of God to higher and higher levels.
It is not a matter of changing ones reli-
gious or cultural affiliations. The primary
goals taught by all religious scriptures
are understanding our relationship to
God and attaining love for God. Achie-
ving these goals will deliver a soul
from material suffering. These essenti-
al truths, found in any religion, can be
understood by followers of any faith.
Of the holy names of God, various re-
ligions prefer a certain one, and there
are differences in theology, methods of
worship, and so on. But universally the
essence is to develop love of God and
end our material suffering.
ges of the body and mind, indicates the
existence of another kind of energy. Spi-
ritual energy (the eternal conscious self)
and material energy (the gross and subt-
le elements of the temporary body and
mind) combine to produce human life.
The Vedas explain that consciousness
is the symptom of the soul, which conti-
nues to exist after the annihilation of the
material body.
If the consciousness is not free from
attachments to matter at the time of
death, then it is transferred to another
body by the process of transmigration or
reincarnation. Our next body is manifest-
ed as a consequence of our desires and
attachments and as a result of the pious
and sinful activities we perform. These
principles of divine jurisdiction are called
karma.
If we understand that living entities
are all eternal souls, merely covered
pastimes, the Personality of Godhead
has countless names. One of His names
is Ka, meaning all-attractive. An-
other name is Rma, the source of all
happiness. And the name Hare refers
to His immeasurable spiritual energy.
Vedic scriptures say that by chanting
the Hare Ka mah-mantra, the great
chant for spiritual deliverance, one puri-
fies the heart of all material contamina-
tion (lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride,
and envy) and one attains pure love of
Godhead. Chanters will thus recover
their original spiritual form, full of tran-
scendental knowledge, spiritual bliss,
and eternal existence, and ascend to the
spiritual world to enjoy the personal as-
sociation of God. In the Kali-santaraa
Upaniad the following statement ap-
pears: Hare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka
Real religion
means that we learn
to love God, and
this is the sum and
substance of the
teachings in rla
Prabhupdas books.
The Difference between
the Body and the Soul
In this world every phenomenon has a
beginning and an end. According to the
views of many modern scientists, con-
sciousness is a material phenomenon
and thus also ceases to exist when the
body dies. This, however, is only an as-
sumption. The idea that the self ends
along with the body, however, acts as an
important axiom in modern materialistic
thinking. Some of us have been taught to
believe this since our childhood. This un-
philosophical way of thinking makes one
drift through life almost unconsciously,
as if in an empty, nihilistic dream.
The basic Vaiava theology is at
complete odds with materialistic scienti-
fic views of consciousness and life itself.
According to the Vai ava teachers,
consciousness does not at all depend
on the bodys neurobiological functions.
Rather, it exists forever as an indepen-
dent, nonmaterial reality.
The presence of a conscious obser-
ver in the body, unaffected by any chan-
by temporary material bodies, then we
can draw the natural conclusion that the
activity that will make both an individual
person and the whole human society
happy is realizing our self by awakening
our dormant relationship with God. This
process of self-realization is known as
Ka consciousness.
Chanting of the Holy Names
According to Vedic literature, the most
effective method for self-realization in
this age is to constantly hear about, glo-
rify, and remember the Supreme Lord.
The Vedic texts contain unparalleled
transcendental knowledge, which is in-
dispensable for an actual understand-
ing of God. They explain, for example,
that God, being omnipotent, is present
in every atom and in the heart of each
living entity, while at the same time, He
resides eternally in His original, personal
form in His own spiritual realm beyond
the material creation, in the company
of His loving devotees. According to His
wonderful, inexhaustible qualities and
The disciplic succession
9
Ka, Hare Hare, Hare Rma, Hare
Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Hare these
sixteen names composed of thirty-two
syllables are the only means to counter-
act the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the
Vedas it is said that to cross the ocean of
nescience there is no alternative to the
chanting of the holy name.
The Hare Ka devotees, who follow
this Vedic advice, chant the Hare Ka
mah-mantra:
Hare Ka, Hare Ka,
Ka Ka, Hare Hare,
Hare Rma, Hare Rma,
Rma Rma, Hare Hare.
The sublime chanting of the holy names
connects us to the Supreme Lord, and
our original relationship with God be-
comes gradually awakened. The chant-
ing means, O God, O energy of God,
please engage me in Your service. In
this way, we gradually realize our spiri-
tual identity. We are forever interrelated
with Ka, the Supreme Lord, through
loving devotional service.
10
Vissza Istenhez
A candle can light many additional candles, and all
of them will give off as much light as the original,
but still the original candles light remains undimin-
ished. Similarly, the original Supreme Personal-
ity of Godhead, Ka, expands into many forms
without His own form being diminished. As Lord
Viu, He animates and supervises this material
world. As the supreme cause of all causes (Ka),
and as the controller and proprietor of the cosmic
manifestation (Viu), the Personality of Godhead
is simultaneously one with his creation and differ-
ent from it. He is not transformed into His crea-
tion, even though, as Lord Viu, He enters every
atom and into the hearts of all. In His original form,
Ka, He remains in His eternal abode, the spiri-
tual world, to enjoy pastimes with His associates.
Just as the sun, without becoming exhausted, sup-
plies immense quantities of heat and light, similar-
ly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is an inex-
haustible source of emanations. Because there is
no other source of His power, He is independent.
Both the Supreme Personality and the living
entities are conscious and eternal, but God is the
supreme conscious, eternal person. Ka is the
loving father of all living entities. He is the highest
goal of life and the maintainer of the eternal prin-
ciples of religion.
There are no limits to His opulences: strength,
wealth, beauty, knowledge, renunciation, and
fame. No one is equal to or greater than Him.
The Vedas call the Supreme Soul Ka be-
cause this means that He is all-attractive.
Living entities are all endowed with minute
quantities of the attractive qualities of Ka.
His unrivaled position may sound abstract. We
may wonder who this wonderful person really is
and what He looks like, what our relationship with
Him is, and what His supreme abode is like.
Who is
Krishna Valley
Krsna?
. . .
10
11
The histories and narrations about
Ka found in Vedic literature have a
special spiritual potency. Just by read-
ing or hearing them, we can be freed
from the influence of the inauspicious
qualities in our hearts and awaken a
desire for selfless, devoted service to
God. By chanting the holy names of
the Lord, we can develop pure love for
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
This love will ultimately qualify us to
enter the spiritual world, where we will
experience a spiritual existence full of
knowledge and eternal happiness.
According to the Vedic scriptures,
the first created living entity in the uni-
verse, Brahm, satisfied his creator,
Viu, by his penance, and for this rea-
son the Lord allowed him to perceive
Goloka, the highest sphere of the spiri-
tual world, and then perform his acts
of creation as the cosmic engineer.
Brahm saw Lord Ka, along with
His divine associates and parapherna-
lia, and he sang about this breathtak-
ing experience in his wonderful hymn
called Brahma-sahit. By listening
to descriptions like this, arising from
the pure hearts of saintly, self-realized
persons, or by reading the Vedic litera-
ture, which contains spiritual knowl-
edge, or even by beholding the altar
or the beautiful paintings in the temple
in Krishna Valley, the very same sight
that filled Brahm with admiration, can
open before us a world much more
real and true than what we see around
us daily.
11
I worship Govinda, Ka, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the primeval
Lord, who plays on His transcendental flute. His eyes are like lotus flowers,
and He is decorated with peacock feathers. His bodily color resembles a
fresh black cloud, although His bodily feature is more beautiful than millions
of Cupids. I worship the transcendental realm where living entities, in their
unalloyed spiritual essence, practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord,
Ka, as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental desire tree, the soil
is made of desire gems, the water is nectar, every word is a song, and every step a
dance; where the flute is the favorite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental
bliss, the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty; where number-
less milk cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk, and where there is
eternal existence of transcendental time, which is ever present and without past
or future and hence not subject to passing away, even for the space of half a
moment. That realm, called Goloka, is known only to a very few self-realized
souls in this world.
n Extract from the Prayers by Brahm to Lord Ka A
Ll-uka Ds
Director of the Cultural
Center and temple
worship.
Devotee since 1991.
Pupa-Gopla
Dev Ds
Head pjr priest,
manager of the temple
worship department.
Devotee since 1992.
Krsna?
. . .
12
Vissza Istenhez
The Need for a
Spiritualized Social System
By establishing Ka conscious
farm communities, rla Prabhupda
offered a practical alternative to peo-
ple who have had enough of modern
society. Often the modern mentality
is devoid of principles and driven by
hedonism. rla Prabhupda turned
agai nst t hi s
d e g r a d i n g
value sys-
and are contained in the Bhagavad-
gt. They are extensively elaborated
upon in the rmad-Bhgavatam.
rla Prabhupda stressed that he
did not teach his own interpretations
of these books. He merely repeated
the revelations and commented upon
them in a way that is comprehensible
by people of the modern age.
The Eight Orders of Social
and Spiritual Life
Lord Ka says in the Bhagavad-gt
that at the beginning of creation He
divided human society into four social
orders, or varas. These divisions
were based on the types of work as-
sociated with the three modes of ma-
terial nature (goodness, passion, and
ignorance). The intellectual class of
society is formed by the brhmaas,
or teachers and priests. The adminis-
trative class, or katriyas, consists of
rulers, warriors, and leaders, whose
duty is to protect all members of so-
ciety. The vaiyas deal with business,
farming, and cow protection, and
their duty is economic development.
The dras are the manual laborers
and workers who assist the rest of
society.
The social system is also divided
tem in the Western world and harshly
criticized its materialistic foundations.
However advanced materialistic so-
cieties become, almost all of their
efforts for development satisfy only
those needs present even in animal
life.
A social system not only has to
provide enough for its members to
live on, it has to guarantee their spiri-
tual progress and happiness. To ful-
fill the purpose of human life, people
need eternal spiritual values. rla
Prabhupda, with reference to
scriptures, considered mate-
rialistic societies spiritually
exploitative and opposed to
the real interests of the living
being. He called attention to
the need for a social system
in which people can make spiri-
tual advancement and attain
real satisfaction by discharging
everyday duties as a devoted
offering to the Supreme Lord.
These transcendental ideals
of progress are enshrined
in a social system called
daiva-varrama-dharma
in Indias ancient Sanskrit
scriptures.
Theoretical principles
for a God-centered society
were taught by God Himself
12
Spiritual
Society
for a
The Model
Krishna Valley
13
into four spiritual classes called
aramas. Celibate students are called
brahmacrs. During their years of
study, up to the age of twenty-five,
they are taught by a spiritual master.
After this, they may enter the order
of household life (ghastha-rama)
and maintain a family. After the age
of fifty, when their children are grown
up and self-supporting, the parents
have more time and opportunities
for spiritual practices. This is when
they enter the retired order of life, or
vnaprastha. The last stage of life for
men is the sannysa order (women
are protected by their sons at this
stage). In this renounced stage, the
men renounce family duties for good
and live as mendicants, completely
dedicated to serving God.
Ones Nature, Character,
and Education
In varrama, the occupations of
people and their positions in soci-
ety are determined not by birth or
financial background, but by their
character, natural inclination to cer-
tain types of work, and the abilities
they develop by education. In Vedic
culture, people are urged to be ab-
sorbed in the work most suitable for
their nature. This helps fulfil the po-
tential of each individual. In light of
this, rla Prabhupda points out, the
Indian caste system based on birth
is nothing but a distortion of scrip-
tural principles.
The Peace Formula
Through various ages, different so-
cial classes have seized power and
exploited other classes and the re-
sources of society to achieve their
goals. Theocracy was brought forth
by the rule of brhmaas, feudalism
by katriyas, capitalism by vaiyas,
and communism by dras. What
they had in common was the ambition
to gain material benefits and satisfy
sensual desires. Thus the interests of
various groups in society perpetually
conflict. Harmonizing the goals of
these groups and working for a com-
mon cause can bring about peace in
The four social orders
13
society. Ka gives a peace formu-
la in the Gt (5.29): A person in full
consciousness of Me, knowing Me to
be the ultimate beneficiary of all sac-
rifices and austerities, the Supreme
Lord of all planets and demigods, and
the benefactor and well-wisher of all
living entities, attains peace from the
pangs of material miseries. We can
attain peace by centering our lives on
the service of God.
Mutual Respect
and Appreciation
Lord Ka says that the different
classes of the spiritual society re-
semble the limbs and parts of a
human body. The brhmaas rep-
resent the head, the katriyas the
arms, the vaiyas the stomach, and
the dras the legs. This analogy is
apt because the limbs and vital parts
of the body work together in a body
functioning harmoniously. In fact, a
body cannot be complete without
its parts, and their cooperation is
essential to a healthy organism. So
the varrama system is based on
a positive unity with difference, and
not on discrimination, which leads
to conflict. Varrama is a system
characterized by mutual respect and
appreciation, and by harmonious co-
operation between all its social and
spiritual orders.
A social system not
only has to provide
enough for its mem-
bers to live on, it has
to guarantee their
spiritual progress and
happiness. To fulfill the
purpose of human life,
people need eternal
spiritual values.
14
Vissza Istenhez
During the course of our lives we
are constantly relating to people
and other living entities who live
around us and help form our envi-
ronment. In the course of our acti-
vities we must regulate our behavi-
our and consider the circumstances
and interests of those around us.
Insofar as our deeds conform
with the current value system of so-
ciety and the expectations therein,
we are ethical. This interpretation
of morality, however, can lead to
several further questions, since it
designates a constantly changing
value system as the basis of mora-
lity. What is considered a moral act
today might seem obsolete by to-
morrow, and the sins of the present
time may become accepted social
conventions in a few years.
This is characteristic of the cur-
rent Hungarian society, too. Un-
fortunately, moral principles have
declined rapidly over the past few
decades. Not to mention other dra-
matic problems, it is enough to exa-
mine the consequences of unrest-
ricted sexual behavior. The institu-
tion of family has practically fallen
apart: nowadays more than 50%
of marriages end in divorce. Many
What is the significance of the regula-
tive principles followed by those who live
in Krishna Valley? Why is it necessary to
comply with moral principles in society?
The following brief analysis of morality
answers these questions.
14
Our Moral
Value System
Krishna Valley
15
people dont even enter into mar-
riage, but change their significant
other and sex partners continually.
No wonder that approximately 25%
of newborn children have unmar-
ried parents. It is obvious that this
situation affects the healthy devel-
opment of these children seriously.
But what is even more unfortunate
is that they appear to be the lucky
ones, since these days there are 72
abortions for every 100 births. More
specifically, it means that in Hunga-
ry the population of a Kaposvr-
sized town are murdered every
year with the conscious coopera-
tion of their mothers, in a manner
sanctified and supported by the
state. This phenomenon, namely
that the state itself encourages and
supports the abhorrent large-scale
genocide among its citizens, can
be considered the schizophrenia of
our society. This mentality will ulti-
mately lead society into complete
chaos, and individuals into despair
and unhappiness.
The problem with todays ver-
sion of morality is that there are no
fixed guidelines behind the change-
able value systems of societies of
different times. Moral principles can
fulfill their regulative functions in
our lives only if we can understand
the general and fundamental regu-
lations of morality, and find the per-
manent moral system that applies
equally to everyone, everywhere.
It is possible only if, instead of the
1) Do not take part in any unholy relationships with the
opposite sex; that is, have sexual contact only with your
husband or wife for the sake of begetting children.
2) Do not slaughter animals for the purpose of eating: fol-
low a vegetarian diet (no meat, fish, or eggs).
3) Do not be addicted to degrading customs of intoxica-
tion, that is do not use artificial stimulants or harmful
chemicals such as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.
4) Do not gamble; that is, keep away from the infe-
rior methods of getting money.
THE FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MORAL LIFE
ever changing human value sys-
tem, we base our behaviour on the
eternal, divine value system.
Ka tells us of His expecta-
tions towards us in the revealed
scriptures, in the form of regulati-
ons laid down in the Vedas. These
moral codes are at the same time
the basic principles of religion, the
instructions given by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead for the ma-
terial and spiritual prosperity of hu-
man society, that are called dhar-
ma in Sanskrit, the language of the
Vedas.
Ka states that these regula-
tive principles make for a firm ba-
sis upon which a moral code sys-
tem can be constructed, helping
us create a harmonious society,
keeping in sight the interests of
every living entity simultaneously,
and giving a strong foundation for
spiritual advancement. Although
following these regulative principles
seems impossible at first for many
people, due to the strength derived
from spiritual practices and experi-
encing a higher level of happiness,
the observance of these principles
is a natural and basic part of the life
of Hare Ka devotees.
15
Value System
16
Vissza Istenhez
Krishna Valley Magazine: Why do we
need spiritiual farm communities?
Gaura akti Ds: When rla Prabhu-
pda left India for America to spread
Ka consciousness, he did not want
just to disseminate a religion outside of
India. He wanted to completely change
the materialistic worldview that has be-
come common everywhere. The teach-
ings of Ka consciousness affect all
aspects of life. This God conscious per-
spective is based on Vedic philosophy.
If people wish to live in accordance with
the Vedic philosophical principles, then
the most effective way of achieving this is
in a rural economy, in harmony with na-
ture, in the company of people who think
similarly about God, the world, and the
meaning and purpose of life.
KVM: How did the idea of establishing such
a community in Hungary come to you?
GD: rla Prabhupda established rural
communities in several locations world-
wide and he gave his disciples the op-
portunity to found new communities. His
mission was taken up in Hungary by rla
ivarma Swami. He, in turn, emphasized
to his disciples many times that the prac-
tical application of the knowledge con-
tained in rla Prabhupdas books can
have a serious impact on society. When
people see in practice the rural commu-
nity life based on the ancient Vedic mes-
sage, they are affected.
KVM: How did the development start in
Krishna Valley? How did you personally
get involved?
GD: I came to know about Ka con-
sciousness in 1991. Then, after I had
moved into the Budapest temple and
become a monk, I felt very enthusias-
tic when my spiritual master, ivarma
Swami, spoke about the need to estab-
lish a farm community. Together with
some of my companions, I searched for
an appropriate location. We went to many
places in Hungary. There were beautiful
regions near Pcs, but because they
were in the vicinity of the uranium mines,
the area was polluted by radiation. Then
there were places where people had an
aversion to us. In Somogyvmos we fo-
und both a beautiful natural environment
and a positive reception. The then mayor,
Mr. Lszl Hanzel, thought our presence
would bring new life to the village. We
were glad to accept his proposal to buy a
beautiful valley. Finally, in April 1993, we
could buy the first big areas of land, as
part of an auction. In this way, we started
our rural program in Hungary, the one
that rla Prabhupda artfully described
by the motto Simple living and high thin-
king. I moved to the farm in 1998, and I
have been the leader of the community
since then.
KVM: People say that modernity makes
life easier and more enjoyable, and be-
cause of that, most of them reject the
idea of returning to a simpler way of life.
GD: Modern people seek happiness in
sense objects. They buy all kinds of ma-
chinery in the hope that they will become
happier. To put it another way, they simply
fall prey to the marketing policies of the
consumer society, which are based on
creating an illusion of happiness. While
equipping themselves with many useless
articles, they completely forget about
the people around them and become
impersonal. They begin to consider and
treat humans beings as objects. Their
relationships become shallow and perso-
nal dealings and true love disappear from
their lives. The result is that they become
16
Why Do We Need
Krishna Valley
We may wonder how the devotees
began building Krishna Valley, which
now attracts so many tourists. And
why did these young people turn
to a natural and simple life? What
is the mission of this community?
Gaura-akti Ds, the president of
Krishna Valley ISKCON community,
answers these questions.
Farm Communities?
17 17
unhappy. And they see no way out of
the situation. The biggest problem of our
time is depression. We can see that the
development of technological comforts
does not make people happy but causes
the opposite effect.
KVM: How can a simple rural life remedy
this problem?
GD: Simplicity is not enough. We be-
come happy only if we develop a perso-
nal attitude of caring for more than ma-
terial things. And the objective of all this
is not some kind of sentimentalism but
getting to know the greatest person,
Lord Sri Ka, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Making His acquaintance is
easier for those who learn to live depen-
ding only on Him. The magnificient orga-
nization of nature reflects His unlimited
intelligence and care, and the ever-new
beauty of nature reflects the indescribab-
le opulence of the spiritual world.
KVM: What is the mission of the resi-
dents of Krishna Valley?
GD: Our goal at Krishna Valley is to
establish a society based on a spiritual
foundation. Following the principle of
self-sufficiency, we depend on the land
and cows for our living. We educate our
children in spiritual life and practice the
process of Ka consciousness to at-
tain pure love of God. And we have a
strong hope that by our humble efforts
our example may become a source of in-
spiration for those sincere souls who are
seeking for pure spirituality and loving
and caring community.
KVM: What have you already achieved
and what are your future plans?
GD: At present we have a wonder-
ful community of 130 devotees and we
have all the basic facilities we need
for our Ka conscious life. We have
a beautiful temple for worshipping
Rdhe-yma, we have a school to
educate our children. We also have a
goala with 30 happy cows and the dif-
ferent gardens where we can grow what
we need to offer to Rdhe-yma and
maintain the community, and all these
in a beautiful rural environment. When
we started the farm the pioneers of the
project were in their early twenties but
today most of them are married people
and the families are just in the natural
phase of accepting the responsibility of
receiving children. I may list many won-
derful projects for the future but I believe
that the main future challenge is to be
able to continuously engage and main-
tain the devotee families, since a solid
social and spiritual environment is very
much needed if one wants to harmon-
iusly progress in Ka consciousness,
especially in a householder life situa-
tion.
We started construction of Krishna Valley in 1993. Where
there used to be barren land, there is now a flourishing
cultural center with a complex infrastructure. How could this
be accomplished so fast? An important role was played by
our supporters, whom we would like to thank here. There
have been people who have helped personally or by offer-
ing various amounts in the building of larger facilities, and
people who offered their manual work. However, all that can
be seen now is but the beginning. We will gratefully ac-
cept any assistance offered in the realisation of our plans.
How can you participate in the development of Krishna
Valley? Here are some ideas.
SUPPORT SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Complete or partial financing of areas of activities or new
buildings.
OFFER WORK
Any volunteer or discounted work can be of significant help.
If you have a qualification or skill that can be used in our
projects and are willing to offer it, please contact us.
We appreciate your assistance.
KVM: How do you personally evaluate
your achievements here?
GD: We founded Krishna Valley just
more then ten years ago, and we have a
long way to go before the farm becomes
a perfect example of a God-centered so-
ciety and self-sufficient economy. How-
ever our achievement here so far point in
a very inspiring way to the truth of rla
Prabhupdas teaching that simple living
and high thinking are a realistic basis for
a practical alternative to modern society.
Those who would like to find a solution
to the spiritual and material problems of
modern society may have a look with in-
terest to the model we follow, as we also
call it to be daiva-varrama-dharma.
OFFERING EQUIPMENT
We thankfully accept any offers of donation or discounted
transfer of equipment.
REGULAR MONTHLY DONATIONS
Planning, maintaining and developing Krishna Valley costs
a lot of money. If you would like to help us in meeting these
costs, we appreciate your donation by cheque or bank
transfer to the following bank account:
Krishna Valley,
name of the bank: K&H Bank Rt.
address of the bank: H-1051 Budapest Vigado ter 1.
swift code: OKHBHUHB
holder of the account: Krisna-volgy
address of the holder: H-8699 Somogyvamos Fo u. 38.
account number: 10201006-50279977-0000000
IBAN: HU48 1020 1006 5027 9977 0000 0000
To help us acknowledge your donation, please kindly in-
clude your name and contact. Further information:
Krishna Valley, Rdh Ka Ds (Zoltn Hossz),
8699 Somogyvmos, F u. 38. Tel: (30) 630-2578.
E-mail: info@krisnavolgy.hu
How can you help?
18
Vissza Istenhez
Please allow me to greet you on behalf of
Krishna Valley. I am very glad that my letter
has reached you.
You have probably heard about Hare
Kas and Krishna Valley many times. You
may even have visited us. And even if you
havent, then this year you should come
and visit us. You will see it is worthwhile to
spend a few hours or even a few days here
in the realm of peace and happiness.
Krishna Valley is a community, a culture,
a way of life that captures the hearts of those
who come here. Why? It is a fair question.
Why should one come to Krishna Valley at
all? There are so many nice places in the
world where people can go on holiday, for
recreation. But when they come to Krishna
Valley they feel as if they have come home.
That is why we think not in terms of tourism,
but of receiving guests. In Krishna Valley you
are not just a tourist or a stranger; you are
our precious guest.
Since its opening, Krishna Valley has
received more than 150,000 guests. Natu-
rally there are many visitors who come
back several times. One of the reasons is
that Krishna Valley is not a museum where
one can see objects of a bygone culture;
it is a place where the people living here
practice the values that everyone is craving
for in their everyday lives. Krishna Valley is
unique not only in Europe but in the whole
world in that here the slogan of Simple liv-
ing, high thinking permeates every aspect
of life, from gastronomy, agriculture, and
cow protection, to dressing, temple wor-
ship, and music.
We heartily welcome you with your fam-
ily and friends. If someone you know has
not yet been to Krishna Valley, please tell
them about the wonderful things one can
see here and the uniqueness of the experi-
ence.
Tell them that at the entrance there are
two huge, 4 meter high stone elephants
waiting to welcome visitors. (According to
the Indian tradition, elephants bring luck.)
Just a few steps further, in the wonderfully
peaceful atmosphere of the Jaipuri-style
pavilions at the ponds, they will forget about
the every-day strain and problems. On the
road leading to the temple it is worth a stop
at the art studio, the place where all the art
objects, paintings, sculptures, and reliefs
are being made by our artists.
Dont forget to tell your friends that they
should definitely take advantage of the
guided tour in the temple, during which one
can have a glimpse into the life of those liv-
ing here, and they can see God, Ka, and
His eternal companion, Rdhr, and can
hear about (and even experience) a lot of
interesting things. (If your friends would like
to hear more, we would suggest they visit
us on a Sunday when we propose a special
program for our guests. Up-to-date informa-
tion about our special Sundays is available
on our homepage: www.krisnavolgy.hu/eng-
lish.) After the guided tour your friends can
enjoy a special Indian-style dinner in our
Govinda restaurant and buy some gifts for
friends and relatives at home.
And please, tell them to visit our dairy,
where at present we tend thirty cows and
a few oxen and calves with great care and
attention.
And I hope you wont forget to tell your
friends that if they bring their children, there
is a playground made of wood at their dis-
posal, and every Sunday we organize a
childrens program where kids can get ac-
quainted with the secrets of craftsmanship,
acting, and playing Indian instruments.
If its late and theyre getting tired, but
they would like to spend more time in Krish-
na Valley, they can spend the night in the
Elephant Guesthouse.
And please dont forget: you are wel-
come all year round.
Hoping to see you soon.
Welcome to Krishna Valley!
Krishna Valley
Rdh-Ka Ds
Director of the Tourism
Department;
responsible for the
reception of guests,
preaching programs and
the coordination of the
handicraft unit.
Devotee since 1994.
Kuval
Dev Ds
is the main
guest guide in
Krishna Valley.
Devotee since
1997.
18
19
Festivals, bright colors, joy, music, dance, fairs, Indian special-
ties these are the things that characterize the everyday life
of Krishna Valley, because the spiritual world is a place where
every step is a dance, every word is a song and every day is
a festival.
We welcome our guests with a variety of special programs
each year.
One of the most memorable events of the year is the Krish-
na Valley Open Days on the last weekend of July. Although
Krishna Valley is open all year, this three-day event is a great
opportunity for lovers of the mysterious world of India. Those
who are drawn here by the exclusive programs, the gastro-
nomical wonders, the culture, the dance or the Indian wed-
ding wont be disappointed either. One of the features of the
program is the Vegetarian Cooking Contest where groups from
all over the country gather to match their cooking knowledge.
Other colorful programs: Indian music, martial show, Odissy
dance performance, mime-show, open fair (souvenirs, organic
cosmetics, etc.), craftsmens street, the garden of Indian spe-
cialties, question-and-answer tent, lectures, book fair. At the
playground a childrens program is available throughout the
whole day.
Festivals in Krishna Valley
19
20
Vissza Istenhez
The Basis of Society:
the Family
Krishna Valley
Mahjana Ds, Rdhr Dev Ds
and Rdhyma
Krishna Valley Magazine: How long
have you lived here?
MD: We moved here in 1996 and it was
here we got married and settled down.
Our son, Rdhyma was born in
2003 to our great joy.
KVM: Happy family life?
RDD: Yes.
KVM: What is your secret?
MD: If there is a child in the family, it sets
the mood. It accelerates the rhythm to a
certain extent but at the same time it en-
hances attentiveness and cooperation.
We have to be careful not to adopt each
others defects but to be always patient
and willing to help while respecting the
principles. The child usually places him-
self in the center (and the family tends
to accept this), but we try to arrange our
life around God. If the parents attitude
is natural and harmonious the child will
also gradually learn this.
Lalit-mohana Ds, Kmyavana Dev
Ds, Tilakin and Brajamohana
KDD: At first I was a little afraid to move
here because I was living in Budapest and
it seemed to me that Id never be able to get
used to so many things on the Farm. Today
I couldnt imagine living elsewhere and Im
convinced this is the best possible place for
the family too.
KVM: What was it that attracted you here if,
as you say, you had some fears?
LMD: The closeness of Rdhe-yma, the
devotees, and the hope that here we can
break away from the madness of modern
life. I think all this was reason enough.
KVM: You had settled down in 1998, your
children were born in 2002 and 2004, re-
spectively. After this many years of experi-
ence, would you decide again on Krishna
Valley if you were to start a family now?
LMD: Of course. Rdhe-yma are here,
our friends are here, and we have the possi-
bility to provide a Ka conscious life for our
kids in such a way that they can see a living
This is true for all societies. Krishna Valley is like a big
family but it naturally consists of smaller families. These
families choose to live here because they are organically
connected to this bigger family. Thats how they feel com-
fortable, thats what makes their life complete.
KVM: As parents with a child, how do
you see the future in Krishna Valley?
RDD: I think all the necessary condi-
tions are in place for raising a child and
having a balanced family life. Those kids
who are growing up now have the facili-
ties of an excellent education until the
end of junior high school. By the time
theyll have graduated from eighth grade,
the high school curriculum will also be
worked out, so they wont have to study
elsewhere. Another good thing is that
the Gurukula is also forming responsible
parents. In fact not only the child but we
also learn a lot, especially concerning
his education. Besides, since Krishna
Valley is a big family, nearly everyone in
the community is a reliable babysitter for
Rdhyma. He has many mummies
and daddies, he sees a lot of good ex-
ample and he is very balanced, thanks
to the greater family environment.
KVM: If you were to start a family to-
day, would you decide for Krishna Val-
ley again?
RDD: Yes. It was basically in our sons
interest that we brought him to the
world here and that we bring him up
here. Life in the city would offer plenty
of preaching opportunities, but to raise
children we cant think of a better place.
Here the child is exposed to the least
amount of bad influence and gets the
most good association; his life revolves
around Ka. Child-raising is of course
not impossible in an urban environ-
ment, but it requires more energy from
the parents to be able to maintain their
own Ka consciousness and that of
thier child.
Citta Hri Ds
Director for
Social Care,
supervisor of
project planning
and construction.
Devotee since
1991.
20
21 21 21
example before them. Elsewhere they would get so much bad
association that it would be very difficult to keep them on the
right track. But here we feel sheltered.
KDD: Here everyone focuses on Rdhe-yma and by this
both ourselves and the kids get a lot of inspiration. In such
an environment devotional service becomes natural. Tilakin is
only four years old but as soon as she sees something in the
garden she immediatley wants to bring it and offer it to Rdhe-
yma, be it a flower or the first cherry.
KVM: The children are still small but in some way you are
already connected to the educational system here.
LMD: Kindergarten is in our house at present. Therefore we
have the opportunity to get to know other parents, other kids
and the teachers as well.
KVM: So everything is smooth and simple?
LMD: No, but it would be very difficult to find such a place
anywhere in the world. It is exceptionally good that year by
year the families grow bigger and the cooperation becomes
better and better and if there are some problems, we are able
to discuss them.
KDD: From our point of view it is also a good thing that the
school is conforming to state requirements but at the same
time, Vedic subjects and the practice of Ka consciousness
are also part of the education.
Santana Ds, ymasundar Dev Ds,
Rdh-ll
DD: Why Krishna Valley? Because our neighbours are Hare
Krishnas, the school is Hare Krishna, all our friends are Hare
Krishnas. And because Rdhe-yma is here. And because
if our daughter goes out on the street, I dont have to be afraid
that she gets hit by a car.
SD: rla Prabhupdas idea was that brahmacrs and
sannyss preach in the city and householders live together
in a Ka conscious community in the country (but of course
they can also preach in the city). In the city there is nothing else
to do but to preach; life is more multi-faceted here in the coun-
try. Moreover we have so many guests coming that we dont
even have to move a step, householders can preach on
the spot and present different aspects of Ka
consciousness.
KVM: What does Krishna Valley mean to
Rdh-ll?
SD: Our small daughter was born in 2004.
She is only two years old but she knows
most of the temple songs by heart.
DD: She loves krtana. Every morning
at 4am, the harinma the procession
of devotees chanting the holy
names with mdagas
and karatlas goes
in front of our house.
Rdh-l l does
not always wake
up easily but if
she hears the
procession she
j umps out of
bed and wants
to join immedi-
ately. So we simply have to go to the temple where she is always
fanning Rdhe-yma.
KVM: How do you see the future in front of you?
DD: Everything is developing, the families are also developing
and therefore Krishna Valley, being a big family, is also developing.
As we have more experience, cooperation is better and better.
SD: and thats what rla Prabhupda left us as his main instrc-
tion: he wanted us all to work together cooperatively.
22
Vissza Istenhez
22
The grade school at Krishna
Valley was founded in the
fall of 1995. We interviewed
r Sarovara Dev Ds, the
headmistress of the school.
The School of Spiritual Values
Gurukula
Krishna Valley Magazine: Why was
it necessary to create a school in
Krishna Valley for the children living
here?
SDD: Children learn mostly from ex-
amples and models they see around
themselves. It is very important that
here the values of the parents, the
teachers, and all the devotees liv-
ing here are the same, therefore the
children see the same patterns of life
at home, at school, and everywhere
in Krishna Valley. If we give our kids
the opportunity to study in a spiritual
environment, from Ka conscious
teachers, they will be inspired to follow
these examples. This kind of education
will give them a basis on which they
can later build their spiritual life. At the
same time they can become a valued
member of our society because they
will be able to contribute to its peace
and happiness by their service.
KVM: Could you tell us something
about the beginnings? What were the
conditions of education then?
SDD: Preparations for the founda-
tion of our denominational school
were begun in 1993 when only a few
teachers with a little professional ex-
perience were living here. We devel-
oped our own concepts and began
teaching as an experiment with two
students in 1995. Besides subjects
included in the National Curriculum,
we taught philosophy and values of
Ka consciousness. At that time
there were only a few houses on the
Farm so any building where teaching
was possible was used as a school. At
first we taught in a wine-press house
on the vine hill, and then in the liv-
ing room of a family house. Then the
2002/2003 school year brought about
a great change in our circumstances:
the new school building was complet-
ed. The 100m Indian-style building
was built on one of the hills of Krishna
Valley. There is a beautiful view from
there. The ground floor houses the
gym, the senior common room, the
bathrooms, and the equipment store.
The classrooms are on the first floor.
Next we would like to build a park,
demonstration gardens, and a sports
ground around the school.
KVM: As far as I know you arrived at
Krishna Valley exactly when the new
school building was inaugurated, and
you have been the headmistress of
the school since September 2004.
Im sure you had some teaching ex-
perience before coming here
SDD: I will be 50 this year. I gradu-
ated as a biology-chemistry teacher
in 1980 in the Teachers Training Col-
lege of Budapest, so before coming
here I already taught for more than
20 years: first in a grade school, then
in a high school. In the meantime I
brought up two children of my own.
I have also been a member of the
National Child Protection Commit-
tee, which is in charge of the protec-
tion of childrens rights. But all other
members of our staff have a degree
in teaching. At the moment we have
four teachers on the staff.
KVM: Could you tell us something
about the educational principles of
Krishna Valley
Dna-tri
Dev Ds
First graduate in
Krishna Valleys
School. Serving
as an assistant to
the teachers and
teaching the small
children.
23
the gurukula? What are the differ-
ences compared to those of a lay
school?
SDD: Most schools today and this
is the same in other areas of life too
are becoming more and more per-
formance-oriented and stress the im-
portance of encyclopedic knowledge,
while real spiritual values and char-
acter development become less im-
portant. In education we mostly em-
phasize eternal spiritual knowledge.
Here in Krishna Valley we would like
to raise children with firm spiritual val-
ues, and help them develop not only
a general material education but also
sible and able member of the society.
In order to achieve this we are in con-
stant contact with the parents, which
very much enhances the efficacy of
our work.
KVM: What subjects do children learn
here besides the general ones?
SDD: The National Curriculum is in
reality a framework which allows us to
introduce extra subjects like etiquette
and Vedic literature (the study of our
scriptures), which are included in
the obligatory courses. The children
learn many verses and quotations
from scriptures, and by studying the
great historical epics they become
acquainted with the ancient Vedic
lifestyle, behavior, values, ethics, and
the basic philosophical and religious
teachings. They also get to know a lot
of instructive stories from the treas-
ures of Vedic literature and also of
the world literary classics. Part of the
syllabus is taught in study groups.
Children learn to play traditional In-
dian instruments and they also learn
the basics of cooking. In the Nature
Lover study group they learn the
secrets of harmonious cohabitation
with nature, they go on excursions,
they get to know the flora and fauna
of Krishna Valley, and they also learn
how to protect their environment. In
the Clever Hands study group they
learn to embroider, weave, sew, and
plait husks. Besides classes and
study groups, children regularly at-
tend the daily temple worship, they
get to know the life of Krishna Valley,
and in summers they participate in
the work of the departments of the
Farm in an organized and individually
planned way. For instance, they help
in the dairy, in the garden, and also in
hosting guests.
KVM: What are your plans for the fu-
ture?
SDD: In the long term, we would like
to develop an educational complex
from kindergarten to high school. The
Society has an accredited Vaishnava
Theological College in Budapest and
one of our graduate students is a cor-
respondent student of the College at
present. The plan is to set up a full-
time affiliated department of the Col-
lege here at the Farm so that our stu-
dents can take their degree locally.
On behalf of the kindergarteners,
gurukuli, parents and teachers of
Krishna Valley, we would like to thank
all our kind supporters for their dona-
tions, which help us in our work and
in achieving our goals.
r Sarovara
Dev Ds
Since 2003, she
has been the
director of the
junior high school
(Gurukula) at
Krishna Valley.
Devotee since
1997.
a pure character; that they grow into
people who, besides having acquired
a practical knowledge useful in every-
day life, have integrated the qualities
of forgiveness, tolerance, honesty, re-
spect, moderation, and love into their
value system.
We would like to provide a hu-
manistic, child-centered education.
These rather general terms refer to
an individual treatment and an indi-
vidual development planning. And of
course we would like to teach spiri-
tual and general subjects in a way
that is suitable both quantitatively
and qualitatively to the age and abili-
ties of a given child. In other words,
education becomes a character-de-
velopment training during which the
childs skills are developed in such
a way that their nature is taken into
consideration. The goal is that at the
end they may become a fully respon-
23
24
Vissza Istenhez
respects the earth as a mother, since the
earth maintains people just as a mother
looks after her children. It is only natural
that we do not want to exploit or abuse
Mother Earth. So we act to lessen the suf-
fering of other living entities. We produce
our basic necessities in accordance with
the principles of ahis, nonviolence, or
minimal violence. We follow a vegetarian
diet, out of respect for the animals right to
live. This diet includes grains, vegetables,
fruits, and dairy products. Lord Ka
Himself likes this sort of diet, and so this
is the most important argument in its fa-
vor, since our goal is to please Him.
KVM: Which agricultural work do you do
here?
RKD: We grow vegetables and protect
the cows. We grow grains (wheat, rye,
barley, oats, triticale), fodder plants
(corn), and almost every kind of vegeta-
ble and fruit the climate allows. We grow
medicinal herbs, too. Our ecological view
extends to healing and medicine. The
Ayurveda describes how the harmony of
the body can be preserved or recovered
by natural methods. We also have many
beehives. Honey is a natural sweetener
and healthier than sugar. Our cooks pre-
pare many kinds of sweets, and honey
is an ingredient. We also sell bottled
honey.
24
Krishna Valley Magazine: Krishna Val-
ley represents traditional Vedic culture in
this Central European environment. How
does agriculture fit into this?
RKD: To maintain any culture, people
must eat, and to eat they have to farm
in accordance with local conditions. The
culture in India is closely connected to
agriculture. The Vedic scriptures give in-
structions about agricultural production.
They describe growing methods, what to
do during phases of the moon, and how
to use nature sparingly.
KVM: Does agriculture have to be or-
ganic?
RKD: Organic farming was unknown fifty
years ago; everybody just used natural
methods. That this is a new term sug-
gests that modern agricultural production
has caused serious environmental dam-
age and now has to be corrected. This
is why people are returning to earlier
methods. Nowadays, the earlier methods
are called organic, ecological, or envi-
ronmentally friendly. The Vedic cultures
ancient methods are also organic.
KVM: How is ancient culture manifest in
the operation of a contemporary organic
farm?
RKD: We control production in such a
way that we impose the least possible
burden on the environment. Vedic culture
Lunar Calendar
and Ox-power
Rdh-knta Ds, the Director
of the bio-agricultural depart-
ment at Krishna Valley, has
extensive practical experience,
despite being only thirty years
old. He has been a devotee
since 1993. Although the farm
has tried his patience and
persistence, weariness is not
yet visible on his face. Rather,
one sees the strength of firm
conviction, proving that Ka
is the source of all happiness
in spite of hardships.
Krishna Valley
25
Govinda-
nandana Ds
As Head
of the Gola, he
is doing an
extensive research
on breeding different
varieties of western
and Indian cattle
breeds.
Devotee since
1997.
Sundara
Gopla Ds
Wholeheartedly
engaging himself
in developing the
vegetable and
fruit gardens for
Rdhe-ymas
pleasure.
Devotee since
1996.
KVM: How is keeping animals different
from cow protection?
RKD: The difference lies in the objective.
Where the keeping of animals is based
on exploiting them and disregarding their
feelings, the goal is the profit. We respect
the cow like our mother and protect her
because she provides milk. Milk is an
important food, and it is also essential
in Vedic sacrifices. Cows are the favorite
pets of Ka. When Ka appeared in
this world, He Himself demonstrated cow
protection. All our cows and oxen have
names. They have different personalities
on the farm. This is a great step forward
towards self-sufficiency.
KVM: How do ancient methods go to-
gether with todays expertise?
RKD: It is our long-term plan to make
better use of animal power. Under the
current conditions, with limited person-
nel, we require the use of certain ma-
chines. Of the vegetable types, we prefer
the older ones, because the new ones
are much more sensitive. But there are
good types among those, too.
KVM: How can you achieve self-suffi-
ciency nowadays?
and qualities. We do not want to exploit
them, but take proper care of them, and
we accept what they give us. We take re-
sponsibility for them until the end of their
lives. We consider it the greatest immorali-
ty to send cows to slaughterhouses in their
old age because they are no longer useful.
We would not do this to our mothers.
KVM: Cows give you milk, but what
about the oxen?
RKD: In todays society, bulls are born
without a chance for a normal life. They
can only end up at butcher shops. In
Vedic culture, however, people relate to
the bull or ox like a father. The oxen also
take care of us by helping us produce
grains. Here we work with them, plough
and sow with them, or sometimes har-
ness them to a cart and carry goods.
KVM: Do you produce just for your own
needs or do you sell surplus goods out-
side?
RKD: If there is a surplus, we sell that.
The majority of farmers today produce
for selling outside, in the hope of profit.
We built a small community, and our goal
is to sustain it. For some years now, we
have achieved that, during the summer
season, we do not need to purchase
any vegetables or other foodstuffs from
outside and the local devotees eat food
prepared entirely from materials grown
RKD: This can be realized by the coop-
eration of those in communities. People
depend on each other. Formerly, two
or three villages had one miller, but he
could surely make a living. It is a very
complex issue to organize self-sufficien-
cy in all fields. We would like to ensure
self-sufficiency first in the area of pro-
ducing our own food, because this is the
most essential need. Later, we can apply
it in regard to making clothes, building
materials, and so on. There are some ex-
amples of this in Hungary and the rest of
the world. We have a lot to improve upon
in this regard, but self-sufficiency can be
realized only in several stages. It will not
happen in one generation.
KVM: What do you recommend to this
generation, which was brought up in a
consumer society?
RKD: A vast change of mentality is need-
ed. Everybody should think about the goal
of life. People usually live according to a
philosophy, and there are results to our
plans and deeds. If we look at the history
of the past fifty or hundred years and the
behavior of todays people, we see that
society is heading in the wrong direc-
tion. The current social arrangements are
based on artificial consumption and can-
not be sustained. In European countries
and other modern states, some people
have already realized this and are read-
justing their economies. Biological and
ecological concerns are more and more
common. In Hungary, 8-10% of the pop-
ulation works in agriculture. Previously it
was more, but industrialization restruc-
tured society and changed the lives and
outlook of the people. The world became
really fast-moving, and I hope it will not
make everyone dizzy as a result. Vedic
culture preserves human values. Our
natural way of life creates conditions in
which people can advance toward com-
mon objectives, depending on and as-
sisting each another. This sort of reori-
entation is what Krishna Valley is about.
25
26
Vissza Istenhez

Krishna Valley Magazine: How long
have you been living in Krishna Val-
ley, and how did you become the Vice
President?
MD: I have been practicing Ka con-
sciousness since 1991. At first I had
service in the Bkscsaba center, and
later in Budapest. Otherwise I studied
computer programming and utilized it
in my service, especially in systematic
planning and problem solving. I was
asked to come here to Krishna Valley in
1998 to assist in the coordination of the
activities on the farm.
KVM: How do you control such a big
community and organize its many-
branched activities?
MD: The directing of the 150 devotees
who live here, and the coordination of
the more than twenty daily activities,
is serious business. According to the
functions, we created departments. The
leaders in charge of coordinating these
departments form the Board of Direc-
tors, which gathers every week.
KVM: Is this Board of Directors the
highest body of decision making in
Krishna Valley?
MD: Although the Temple President
is the highest authority, still we make
our decision together, as a group. We
make our plans, work to realize our vi-
sion, coordinate our activities, and find
solutions for problems. Because it is a
dynamically developing community, we
need to improve our management sys-
tem continuously. The church runs four
companies and a foundation to carry
out the different functions. Our accoun-
tancy is done with double-entry book-
keeping. We find it important to remain
a comprehensible organization, so we
regularly give an account to our finan-
cial supporters. During these meetings
we give them information about the
achievements of the previous period of
time, and about the plans of the next
period.
KVM: Are there professionals of differ-
ent fields among the members of the
community?
MD: The school degree is not a prereq-
uisite for taking on a service, but it is
How is Heaven
In the mind of guests visiting
Krishna Valley, the question of
how such a community is man-
aged, and how the activities
are coordinated, may arise. As
one visitor put it, Krishna Val-
ley is like heaven. We asked
Manorma Ds, the Vice Presi-
dent of Krishna Valley, how
heaven is actually organized.
Krishna Valley
good to have. The leader of the agricul-
tural department, for example, has an
agronomical degree, our accountants
studied economics, and those doing
artistic work are also professionals. Be-
sides this we make efforts to organize
the postgraduate studies for the people
who live here.
KVM: How do you maintain Krishna
Valley financially?
MD: A high percentage of the income
of the church that may be spent on
maintenance comes from donations.
You must have already met monks from
Krishna Valley, who distribute books on
the streets. In addition, the yearly 1%
support from the government helps us
also. This is offered by taxpayers to the
Hungarian Society for Krishna Con-
sciousness, as well as to the Foun-
dation for Vedic Culture, which was
established to support Krishna Valley.
I would like to hereby take the oppor-
tunity to thank all our kind supporters
for their donations. When you visit
Krishna Valley you can see for certain
that you gave your support for the right
purpose. And for the big investments,
such as the recent construction of the
school and the cowshed, we receive
bigger donations from committed dev-
otees of the church. Beyond the dona-
Organized?
26
27

tions, the other source of income is
from business enterprises, like those
dealing with tourism and catering, as
well as publishing books.
KVM: Are the directors paid a salary?
MD: I do not receive any salary for my
work. This is my service to Ka and
to the community. In Krishna Valley
the leaders and most of the devotees
who live here are volunteers who of-
fer their work as a service to Ka,
to the community, to the church, while
the church takes responsibility for the
individuals and gives them a so-called
payment in kind. It is just like the life
of monks in previous ages. We get full
provision in this way, which includes
lodging, food, sanitary needs, etc. And
there are also devotees who work in
our different businesses and get sala-
ries. We also employ workers from the
village.
KVM: How do you deal with problems
and difficulties that arise in Krishna
Valley?
MD: Even while practicing spiritual life,
the problems and difficulties that arise
from everyday matters are present
here, too. The scriptures state that as
long as we are in the material world, we
will always have problems. Maybe the
difference lies in that the spiritual foun-
dations, a deeper moral value system,
and a common goal, all make it easier
for us to deal with problems in a spiri-
tual way.
Activities in Krishna Valley
ymajiu Ds
Financial
controller and
organizer
of the festivals
at Krishna Valley.
Devotee since
1998.
KVM: Electricity is not installed in this
place. But I can see that you use cel-
lular phones, and you have a very nice
homepage on the internet. These things
seem to contradict each other.
MD: We use techni cal equi pment
primarily for our preaching activity,
to be more and more effecti ve i n
spreadi ng our spi ri tual message.
We empl oy these devi ces onl y i n
cases when they are conducive to
our service to Ka. Otherwise, in
our pri vate l i ves and i n the l i fe of
the community we endeavour for a
natural lifestyle.
Rdhrdhya
Ds
Chief
Accountant of
Krishna Valley.
Programmer
of Hungarian
Krishna
websites.
Devotee since
1995.
27
28
Vissza Istenhez
TDD: As a trial, to see whether or not we
should take on this huge assignment, our
spiritual master asked us to make a 1.5
square meter relief, nicely painted and
framed. He chose a painting depicting
Ka playing on his flute and surrounded
by his main incarnations. This sounds
quite ridiculous now, but we set about
doing the job by first learning the tricks
of how to cast plaster from a college stu-
dent. He showed us how to use silicone
rubber, and all the well-tried technologies
of making a casting pattern in general.
KVM: Entering the temple room nowa-
days, the first impression is that one has
entered a fairytale world. How did you
get the inspiration to use colors so exqui-
sitely?
TDD: I came across a few Indian picture
postcards with miniatures. Being a graphic
artist I marvelled at colors for the first time
in my life. And as a matter of fact, when,
out of curiosity, we set the first painting
upright onto the freshly puddled temple
wall, everybody was taken aback. We had
not seen anything but concrete, adobe
clay, straw, colourlessness for a year. We
needed time to get used to colors again.
KVM: Speaking of boldness, what has
been your most daring enterprise?
TDD: There was only a year left until the
planned opening ceremony of the temple,
when Indians withdrew the manufacturing
of the domed canopy of the main altar.
We only had one blueprint of it, and a few
photos of the London temple altar, which
is similar, but much more elaborate. My
husband and I were enthusiastic to think
Krishna Valley Magazine: What was
the beginning like?
TDD: This is an exciting, but not so sim-
ple question. I guess we can go back into
the past, to the time when we did not sus-
pect anything of what would follow. After
high-school graduation I became an active
member of the Hare Ka temple in Bu-
dapest. I spent most of my time with artis-
tic design even then. Looking back, it must
have been a kind of warm-up. One day I
was asked to carve a statue of Lord ea,
to be placed under the future altar of the
newly found farm, so that He will support
and protect the temple. I gladly prepared
it, but I still did not suspect that the laying
of this foundation stone would change our
simple lives, and that it would be the be-
ginning of a flourishing art studio.
KVM: We can see so many creations
here, the hard work of seven years. What
was the first piece of art you created?
A Window to the Spiritual World
Krishna Valley
that we might manufacture it ourselves. It
was not so easy to convince our spiritual
leader about this, but finally we recruited
some new artists from around the coun-
try, and I think there really was a positive
miracle that year...
KVM: It seems like pioneer work has
been hard and adventurous for you, too,
but the reward is there. After many years
of shortage, now you have an art studio
of your own.
TDD: Yes, about five years ago a nice
sponsor had a spacious and sunlit stu-
dio built for us, and now, armed with
our previous experiences, accumulated
knowledge, and modern tools, such as
the 3D program, our small team can work
very efficiently. The big temple for exam-
ple, which is planned to be built in 15-20
years in real Indian style, will be carefully
thought-out and designed beforehand.
KVM: But I think research and experi-
menting will never end for you
Vivambhara Ds
In 1996 he moved from
his native Ukraine to
Krishna Valley. Man-
ager of the Arts and
Handicraft unit.
Devotee since 1990.
We interviewed Tarlk Dev Ds, one
of the chief members of the art studio in
Krishna Valley, about the past
Tarlak Dev Ds
Being an artist (graphic arts), her
main service is the decoration of
the temple room
with paintings,
designing the
dresses for the
Deities, Rdh-
ymasundara,
and illustrating
books and
other publica-
tions. Devotee
since 1988.
28
29
Krishna Valley is situated in the foothills
of Somogy county, and surrounded by a
diverse natural environment. Visitors can
observe many aspects of culture and
specialized vocations in practice, such as
architecture, craftsmanship, and farming.
It is the duty of our Landscape Planning
& Environment Department to preserve
and develop the surroundings.
The natural vegetation is mainly
crusted oak and white linden hornbeam.
The brooks that run through Krishna Val-
Around our lakes waterbirds have
made their homes. Occasional guests
are the sea-eagle, the squacco, and the
aigrette. In the thicket under the head of
the brook the small brebe nests. This bird
can also swim underwater, and picks up
its tiny prey from there. The mud-turtle
also lives here and can be seen sunbath-
ing on the rushbeds on bright mornings.
The idyllic peace is sometimes disturbed
by a rare predator, the otter.
Beside our lower lake, mud-banks
have formed and are frequented by mud-
treading emigrant birds during the spring
and autumn: greenshanks, redshanks,
reeves, and ruffs. Amphibians provide
free music during the summer. These
artists are the grass-frogs, leptodactyls,
paddocks, tree-frogs, tree toads, and
bombinators.
The groves on the waterside are vis-
ited by wonderfully colorful butterflies:
the razor butterfly, the swallow-tailed but-
terfly, the snake-weed butterfly, and the
peacock butterfly. In the evenings, hum-
mingbird hawk-moths appear, attracted
by the sweet aromas of the flowerbeds.
The land is not deserted during win-
ter. Guests arrive from the far north to cre-
ate havoc among the population of voles
and rodents: the hen-harrier, the falconet,
and the shrike. But we also have perma-
nent predators: buzzards and hawks. The
silence of the snowy hillsides is broken
by the jingling of the flocks of grosbeaks,
siskins, goldfinches, and green linnets.
Among the four-footed animals, foxes
set out at dusk, whereas on fields cov-
ered by the dew of dawn we will surely
meet grazing deers.
The parks and groves conceal bo-
tanical specialities: nearly two hundred
species of trees and shrubs, and a dozen
protected herbs. In 2001, we planted a 30
acres botanical garden that offers inter-
ested visitors many curiosities.
A basic principle in the Vedic approach
to nature is nonviolence, or ahis. We
do not poison or practice exaction with
artificial fertilizers and spray insecticides.
And we prefer not to use machines, which
require industrial investments and cause
high-scale pollution. Human activity obvi-
ously has an affect on the environment,
but the gentler methods of agriculture,
a vegetarian diet, and the conscious
development of the land can harmonize
the relationship between humanity and
nature. Wherever people live, they must
not forget that they are indebted to the
land and to God. Even the crowded city
supermarkets can sell only the produce
of the land. The closer the relationship
between humanity, nature, and God, the
easier it is to experience dependence on
Gods magnanimity.
Krishna Valley gives us the opportu-
nity to live in a beautiful environment, and
anyone who visits can experience this.
Such an environment encourages us to
remember God, who provides through
nature, and facilitates the attainment of
the ultimate goal of life: to reach the spir-
itual abode, which is an eternal land of
blissful beauty.
Krishna Valley is a tiny reflection of
Kas beautiful, spiritual realm. Every-
one is welcome to experience this realm
in the groves of Krishna Valley.
29
The Message
of the Seasons
A Window to the Spiritual World
Prtha Ds
Manager of the Land-
scaping and Environ-
mental Protection unit.
Member of the local
government of
Somogyvmos.
Devotee since 1997.
ley are lined with alder trees, and the
forests are rich with maples, beeches,
beam-trees, and wild fruits. The Valley
lies along the circumferences of such
mixed forests, and we see some of them
in the middle areas. The old forests here
disappeared many decades ago, but na-
ture still produces astonishing things in
every thriving area.
In the hills of Krishna Valley live more
than a hundred varieties of birds, accord-
ing to observations made so far. Among
these is the curious bee-eater, a species
under stringent protection in Hungary. Its
imposing appearance and gurgling song
brings the magic of the tropics into the
heart of Europe. The bee-eater nests in
the hollow cavities of sandy (loess) hill-
sides.
Everyone likes to ponder the beauty of nature: mountains, trees, brooks, sea-
shores, sunsets. The Bhagavad-gt says that a great sage or self-realized per-
son sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything, as the magnifi-
cence of nature is a spark of Gods splendor. rla Prabhupda often said: God
made the country, but man made the town.
30
Vissza Istenhez
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of holistic
health. The Sanskrit word ayu means life, which
refers to the interaction of the soul, the mind, the
senses, and the physical body. The word veda
means science; Ayurveda, therefore, is the sci-
ence of life. However, it is not just medical science
but a lifestyle that incorporates a whole world
view. It is a tradition dating back millions of years.
Ayurveda emphasizes prevention and preserva-
tion, and encompasses diet, behavior, and lifestyle
as integral elements of maintaining and restoring
health. In order to appreciate the many elements
of this science which is part of the body of tran-
scendental knowledge coming from God we
have to know what a living entity is made of.
Basically everyone is a soul that is our iden-
tity. The soul is covered by the physical body which
itself consists of two coverings: the subtle physi-
cal body that is invisible to the eye, and the gross
physical body that is visible. The latter, just like the
universe, consists of five primary elements: ether,
air, fire, water, and earth. The main principle of
Ayurveda is the system of the three doas. The
doas are forces created from a certain combina-
tion of the five primary elements and they carry
the biological energy and characteristics of these
elements. The functioning of the doas results in
movement and change within the body and in-
duces digestion and metabolic processes. These
forces have their effect beyond the body too: they
influence the functioning of the mind. They are
in a constant, dynamic change. There are three
main doas: vta, pitta and kapha. Everyone has
a unique doa-type which can be determined from
the persons physical and psychic characteristics.
The balance of the three doas at the time of birth
can change due to effects of the environment and
habits. It can be totally upset as a result of ex-
treme stress. If the original causes persist, they
may lead to malfunctioning of the organs.
Ayurvedic health preservation and treatment
has three main areas: diet, lifestyle, and curative
methods. Diet has a very important role in our
spiritual and physical health. This ancient science
recommends a lacto-vegetarian diet for everyone,
which consists of vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts,
and dairy products. These ingredients provide a
wholesome diet for humans.
The restored physical/spiritual harmony can
only be maintained in the long term if we change
our attitude and lifestyle in a way suggested in the
Vedas. If we return to our earlier bad habits, self-
destructive lifestyle, and the pursuing of material
desires, the good results will only be temporary
and give only very short relief. Instead, Ayurveda
recommends that we turn our minds toward the
creator of this ancient science and the source
of all living beings, God, whose name is Ka
(meaning, the all-attractive one). The ultimate
goal of Ayurveda is the understanding of our re-
lationship with Ka. Its methods help us to per-
form His service with great energy and devotion.
Krishna Valley
30
31
A Doctor of the Soul
31 31
Krishna Valley Magazine: How would a
Hare Ka define health?
SDD: A pure, balanced way of life dedi-
cated to loving devotion to God that en-
sures the harmony of soul, mind, and
body.
KVM: How did you become a family doc-
tor in Somogyvmos?
SDD: Since 1993 Ive come to Krishna
Valley each summer for a couple of weeks
in order to get away from the bustling at-
mosphere of Budapest and to relax a little
after my university exams. During the
years the spiritual atmosphere of Krishna
Valley and its natural beauty has filled me
with a desire to settle down here for good,
therefore I began to search for job oppor-
tunities in nearby villages. After success-
fully passing my state exam in 2000 at the
Semmelweis Medical School of Budapest
and having obtained a degree in medical
science, I became a family doctor in 2002.
Shortly after this I heard to my greatest
surprise that there was a vacancy in the
position of family doctor in Somogyvmos.
I considered this a divine arrangement of
Lord Ka and I happily applied for the
job, which I obtained in January 2003.
This January, after more than five years
of practicing, Ive successfully passed the
special exam required for being a quali-
fied family doctor.
KVM: Do you have any helpers in deal-
ing with all these tasks?
SDD: Both the nurse and the district
nurse helped me a lot in overcoming the
usual difficulties at the beginning. Com-
pared to being a doctor in Budapest, it is a
far greater task to be a country doctor, but
it made me very happy that the villagers
quickly accepted me both as their doctor
and a member of their community, which
allowed me to actively improve the local
health culture and the health provision.
I would like to specially mention
Gtjal Dev Ds, my friend and col-
league, who is an internal specialist and
also lives in Krishna Valley. She graduated
from the Medical School in 1999. After
working at several medical divisions she
passed her specialist exam in 2005. After
this she joined the Medical Team at the
Farm because she felt that a holistic medi-
cal treatment, the treatment both of the
body and the soul, is not possible solely
on the basis of a Western-type medicine,
with Western methods and knowledge.
Although occasionally she still practices
as a GP, she has already taken retrain-
ing courses in alternative medicine, es-
pecially in acupuncture, fitotherapy, and
apitherapy.
KVM: What are your plans for the future?
SDD: The most important thing is to lay
great emphasis on prevention and provide
a solid and quality health service. Apart
from that, on the long term, we would like
to set up an Ayurvedic Health Center in
Krishna Valley. In order to achieve this,
the first step is to obtain the necessary
qualifications. Gtjal Dev Ds is an
internist and she passed a special exam
in holistic medicine this June. I am also
eagerly studying holistic methods, espe-
cially Ayurvedic ones, and I plan to pass
the primary exam in holistic medicine
next year. In 2004 we had the opportunity
to gather a lot of experience in one of the
most famous Ayurvedic clinics in Bombay
for our future Health Center in Krishna
Valley. This center would provide a really
high standard of service and a unique op-
portunity to combine the experience of
Western and Eastern medicine.
KVM: What is a Hare Ka doctors vi-
sion of the medical vocation?
SDD: I think it is very important that a
doctor should treat people not just as a
body but also as a soul. Moreover, doctors
should be able to treat not just symptoms
on the surface but also the real causes of
problems. Ka consciousness gives the
solution to that too, because it gives us the
necessary knowledge so that we can prop-
erly see people in their relations with one
another, the environment, and their rela-
tion to God. A doctors duty is to be able
to treat illnesses in their depth. This is my
conviction, and I sincerely hope that this
necessity will be recognized by more and
more physicians in the future.
Gtjal Dev Ds
Medical doctor special-
ised in internal medi-
cine. She provides
emergency medical
services in the region
and is presently study-
ing Ayurvedic and
alternative therapies.
Devotee since 1997.
Innumerable are those who suffer from some kind of physical or mental illness;
still more numerous are those who suffer from a lack of spiritual experience and
spiritual knowledge. Fortunately there are also quite a few people who cure the
body or the mind, or give spiritual support to others in need as ministers, priests,
and pastors. But we dont often see someone who treats people on all three lev-
els. Sundar Dev Ds lives in Krishna Valley and is a general practitioner in the
villages of Somogyvmos and Pamuk. She has been a devotee since 1992.
32
Vissza Istenhez
We shouldnt be surprised to see bodily health discussed
in spiritual writings. The Vedas consider the human body a
divine gift, a chance for the imprisoned soul to escape from
the cycle of birth and death.
Proper eating has a dual importance. Besides its role in
bodily health avoiding over-eating, eating in a disturbed or
anxious state of mind, or eating unclean food, which causes
indigestion, the parent of all diseases proper eating can
help the aspiring transcendentalist attain mastery over his
senses.
Here are a few guidelines for good eating taken from the
Ayurveda and other scriptures.
The Bhagavad-gt (17.810) divides foods into three
classes: those of the quality of goodness, those of the qual-
ity of passion, and those of the quality of ignorance. The
most healthful are the foods of goodness. Foods of the
quality of goodness [milk products, grains, fruits, and vege-
tables] increase the duration of life, purify ones existence,
and give strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such
foods are sweet, juicy, fatty, and palatable.
Foods that are too bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry, or hot,
are of the quality of passion and cause distress. But foods
of the quality of ignorance, such as meat, fish, and fowl, de-
scribed as putrid, decomposed, and unclean, produce only
pain, disease, and bad karma. In other words, what you eat
affects the quality of your life. There is much needless suffer-
ing in the world today, because most people have no other
criterion for choosing food than price and sensual desire.
As far as possible, take your main meal at the solar mid-
day, when the sun is highest, because thats when your di-
gestive power is strongest. Wait at least three hours after a
light meal and five after a heavy meal before eating again.
Eating at fixed times without snacking between meals helps
make the mind and tongue peaceful.
A cheerful mood helps digestion; a spiritual mood, even
more. Eat in pleasant surroundings and center the conver-
sation around spiritual topics.
Foods should be combined for taste, and for efficient di-
gestion and assimilation of nutrients. Rice and other grains
go well with vegetables. Milk products such as cheese, yo-
gurt, and buttermilk go well with grains and vegetables, but
fresh milk does not go well with vegetables. Avoid combining
vegetables with raw fruits.
Vitality and strength depend not on how much we eat,
but on how much we are able to digest and absorb into our
system. The stomach needs working space, so instead of
filling it completely, fill it just halfway, by eating only half as
much as you think you can, and leave a fourth of the space
for liquids and the other fourth for air.
(From The Hare Ka Book of Vegetarian Cooking
by dirja Dsa)
32
Krishna Valley
Guidelines
for Good Eating
India is the home not only of vegetarian cooking, but
also of the science of healthy living. The scripture
known as the Ayurveda, is the oldest known work on
biology, hygiene, medicine, and nutrition. This branch
of the Vedas was revealed thousands of years ago by
Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Ka.
33
Potato and coconut salad
6 medium-sized potatoes; 1 cups plain yogurt; 2 tsp salt; 1 cups
grated coconut; 1 tbs ghee; 1 tsp black mustard seeds; 1 tbs grated fresh ginger;
1 fresh chilli, minced; 2 firm ripe tomnatoes washed and cut into 8 wedges each
several sprigs of parsley
Boil the potatoes until they are soft. Peel them, cut them into cubes, and put them
in a bowl. Refrigerate.
Mix together the yogurt, salt, and grated coconut. Heat the ghee in a small
pan, then toss int he mustard seeds. Cover the pan immediately so that the seeds
dont jump all over the stove. When they finish popping, add the ginger and the
chilli. Stir for a few seconds. Empty this masala into the bowl of yogurt, drop the
potatoes in, mix, and toss gently to give the potatoes an even coating of the yo-
gurt and the spices.
Serve chilled, garnished with a sprig of parsley and wedges of tomato.
Alu narial raita
33
It is very easy to label vegetarians mere
sentimentalists and health nuts, but of
course there is so much more involved
than that. The question concerns us all,
on moral, health, economic, and religious
grounds. And underlying all this is the phi-
losophy, the attitude towards eating. We
are all familiar with the saying, You are
what you eat. Understanding how this
works is inextricably linked to the most
fundamental questions about the true
value of life all life, not only human.
Indeed, in Vedic culture Ka con-
sciousness permeates every aspect of
life: not only art, music, architecture, and
literature, but cooking and eating as well.
What distinguishes Vedic cooking
from other types is the cooks spiritual
consciousness, their awareness that they
are preparing an offering for God. In most
religious systems, people ask God to give
them their daily bread, but the devotee
of Ka offers the daily bread to God as
an expression of love for Him. And God
reciprocates. In the Bhagavad-gt, the
elemental Vedic text spoken by Lord
Ka, He says that He accepts a vege-
tarian offering, be it no more than a leaf or
a fruit, or a glass of water, if it is presented
with devotion, and out of His inconceiv-
able mercy He spiritualizes the offering
by personally tasting it. What was ordi-
nary food then becomes Ka-prasda,
the mercy of Lord Ka. And what would
have been ordinary eating becomes wor-
ship, a loving exchange with the Lord.
The effect of eating prasda is differ-
ent from that of eating food cooked merely
for profit, for the pleasure of the tongue,
or even for survival. We think about a lot
of things when we cook, but pleasing God
isnt usually one of them. And when food
is cooked without God consciousness, the
materialistic thoughts of the cook subtly
affect the consciousness of whoever eats
it. But when we eat prasda, food cooked
with devotion to God and offered to Him
in love, our hearts and consciousness
become purified. Although you may think
that Vedic cooking is exclusively Indian,
the principle of offering food to Ka is
transcendental to worldly designations. A
recipe does not have to come from India,
as long as the ingredients and procedures
follow the Vedic principles. The style of
cooking is not so important as the devo-
tion to Ka that goes into it.
India is traditionally vegetarian (meat-
eaters are called non-vegetarians) be-
cause her timeless Vedic culture teaches
that all life is sacred, and to kill innocent
creatures unnecessarily is a gross viola-
tion of the laws of God. All forms of plant
and animal life are bound by natures
laws to follow their instinct in se-
lecting what they eat; but man,
with his advanced intelligence,
can consider higher spiritual
principles in choosing his
food. The Vedas define a
true vegetarian as one who
eats no meat, fish, or eggs.
Going even further, Kas
devotees only eat that
which has been offered
to Ka.
Cooking for Gods Pleasure
Guidelines
for Good Eating
Mahjana Ds
Chief cook of the
guest restaurant
of Krishna Valley.
He regularly
appears on a
gastronomical
TV channel to
give vegetar-
ian cooking
lessons.
Devotee
since 1988.
34
Vissza Istenhez
PDA-YTR
The worldwide moral crisis can only be overcome
by definitive, positive steps. To contribute to this
endeavor, our devotee community of Eger goes
on an annual three months long pilgrimage on
foot. The now-traditional pilgrimage, called Lets
Take a Step, travels through Hungarys towns
and villages. The purpose of our pilgrimage in
Sanskrit, pda-ytr is to call peoples atten-
tion to the importance of a pure, ethical life. Our
motto is, No alcohol, no drugs, no violence. We
are not trying to convert anyone but rather offer-
ing human values that everyone needs, regard-
less of ones religion or world view. The program
gives positive solutions to diminishing the follow-
ing forms of violence: self-destructive and anti-
family addictions, violence against animals, and
violence against embryos.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
rla Prabhupda, the founding spiritual master
of the Hare Ka movement, wanted that no
one in the vicinity of a Hare Ka temple re-
main hungry. The purpose of our worldwide food
distribution program, called Food for Life, is to
help people in need. However, this food does
not only nourish the body but also helps one ad-
vance spiritually anyone who eats food offered
to God will gradually be relieved of the karmic
consequences of his or her past deeds.
Our programs operate in Budapest, and in
seven counties around the country. We distribute
hundreds of thousands of plates of hot food and
food packages to the destitute every year. In the
capital we organize food distribution on the street,
and other catering programs throughout the year
where help is given not only to the homeless, but
also to those living alone, the disabled, people
on small pensions or with a large family in fact,
anyone who might be in need of assistance.
BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE FOR
RELIGIOUS SCIENCE
The Bhaktivedanta College for Religious Sci-
ence in Budapest is a state-accredited institute
of higher education. Its purpose is to provide
education in the theory and practice of Vaiava
culture, philosophy, and theology. The College
teaches scientific and spiritual knowledge based
on humanitys oldest wisdom from the Vedas,
dating back more than 5,000 years. The Col-
leges principles of education are determined by
the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhakti-
vedanta Swami Prabhupda, the founding spirit-
ual master of ISKCON, who spread the Vaiava
philosophy of religion in the West in an authentic
way. That was the reason in our choosing him as
the eponym of our College. The College is open
to everyone interested in the religious thought,
philosophy, science, and art of Vaiavism, re-
gardless of ones creed or world view.
Krishna Valley
34
35
The College operates in the following areas:
1. Higher education
2. Academic publications on Vaiavism
3. Organizing conferences and workshops
4. Maintaining and developing the College
Library.
Address: 1062 Budapest, Andrssy t 53., Tel.:
(36) 1 321 77 87, Homepage: www.bhf.hu
BOOK DISTRIBUTION
Devotees of ISKCON are a common sight on
the streets of Budapest and around the country,
distributing books on Vedic philosophy. These
books contain translations and commentaries
on Vedic scriptures by His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda. The pur-
pose of book distribution is to inform the great-
est possible segment of the Hungarian society
about Ka consciousness and Vedic culture.
The books are distributed to anyone, without
discrimination, on a donation basis.
CENTERS
AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS
The Hare Ka temples and preaching cent-
ers welcome visitors every Sunday for a colorful
program based on Vedic traditions. These pro-
grams provide an opportunity for people to get
acquainted with Indian meditative music and the
basic teachings of Ka consciousness through
the medium of brief lectures that offer plausible
answers to their questions. The program ends in
a temple ceremony accompanied by music and
dance, followed by a sumptuous love feast.
GOVINDAS
The Govindas chain of restaurants has a world-
wide reputation for delicious foods. The first res-
taurants opened in the 1970s in the USA, Eng-
land, Australia, and Europe, with the purpose of
introducing people to Indian vegetarian cuisine.
Our guests often note that Govindas restau-
rants are peaceful islands in our hell-bent world.
Both the food and atmosphere radiate peace
and calm. In our self-service Budapest restau-
rant guests can choose from a menu of more
than thirty vegetarian specialties every day.
ATMA CENTER
The Atma Center opened to the public after the
reconstruction of Govindas Budapest. The Cent-
er welcomes all those who wish to have a little
peace, recreation, or relaxation in the midst of
the rapid flow of everyday life in downtown Buda-
pest. If you feel like having a thorough and relax-
ing massage or trying a short mantra meditation
in your lunch break, or if you want to be cured
of some physical or mental disease, the staff at
Atma Center are at your disposal. If you want to
spend your spare time in a pleasant and mean-
ingful way or you are simply interested in India,
yoga, philosophy, or healthy life, Atma Center is
for you! Services, programs and courses at Atma
Center are open for everyone.
35
36
Vissza Istenhez
rla Prabhupda entrusted the task of establishing farm
communities all over the world to his followers. In these
communities anyone can live a life free from the stressful
influence of modern society, a life characterized by rla
Prabhupdas slogan, Simple living, high thinking.
rla ivarma Mahrja, a disciple of rla Prabhupda,
is the leader of ISKCON Hungary. He has been instrumen-
tal in making rla Prabhupdas instructions a reality in
this country, and at present is working on making this real-
ity even more beautiful.
Born in Hungary, Mahrja emigrated to Canada with
his parents at the age of 5. It was there he joined the Hare
Krishna movement in his early twenties. Due to his spir-
itual intelligence, devotion and purity, he accepted the re-
nounced order, sannysa, at the age of 30. After leaving
Canada, he continued his missionary work in England and,
since 1987, in Hungary.
Mahrja is involved in all facets of ISKCON Hungary
and determines the future of the Hungarian zones. In work-
ing to realize rla Prabhupdas dream, he displays great
competencedeveloping Krishna Valley, organizing festi-
vals, feeding the poor, doing charity work, establishing our
Theological College, giving spiritual direction, and helping
devotees in their everyday lives.
He lives according to a strict daily schedule. Besides
maintaining a balance between organizational duties and
spiritual programs, he has also written and published a
dozen books and studies in Hungarian, English, and Rus-
sian that give the reader a deeper understanding of the
philosophy of Ka consciousness, and which reveal
Kas all-attractive personality.
rla ivarma Mahrja considers his primary task the
development of Krishna Valley. rla Prabhupda wanted
to establish communities based on a simple lifestyle.
Mahrja realized his desire in Krishna Valley, a place that
is the radiant reflection of his heart: peaceful, joyful, artis-
tic, and dedicated to Ka.
A Dream
Comes True
36
Krishna Valley
Browse ivarma Swamis
publications and purchase online
www.lalmedia.com
You can listen to Mahrjas
regular podcasts at
www.sivaramaswami.com

37
The story began a long time ago
In the late sixties and early seventies, ISKCON opened
many centers all over the world giving people a glimpse
into the culture of Vaiavism. At that time, Communist
dictatorship in eastern Europe persecuted the majority of
religions.
But the desire for freedom of thought and the quest for
the Supreme is unstoppable.
Seekers would gather secretly in private homes. At the
end of the 1980s the political system began to change
and persecution stopped. A handful of devotees bought
a house of their own where everybody was welcome. The
place soon proved to be too small, and finally they found a
suitable place in the buda district of Budapest. The neigh-
borhood had already enchanted the ancient Romans a few
thousand years earlier. The Danube meanders through
the area, and a mixture of
wonderful planes, hills, and
lakes add up to a beautiful
landscape.
The main building is
100 years old and was orig-
inally a school. It was later
enlarged and turned into
offices. Today the new wing
serves similar purposes.
37
The old school-wing, however, has completely
changed: the atmosphere of a wonderful Indian pal-
ace welcomes the visitor, who is immediately capti-
vated by the gentle music, the splashing fountain, the
exotic scents, and that certain Eastern charm. The
heart of the palace is the temple room, where worship
of the Supreme Lord is performed according to the
timeless Vedic traditions.
New Temple
in Budapest
Dont miss the opportunity; visit the Hare Ka
Temple and Cultural Center in Budapest, a ten minute
drive from downtown. You are most welcome any-
time.
Vijaya Gaurga Ds
President of the
Budapest Temple. He is
active participating in the
various preaching activities
of the Temple.
Devotee since 1992.
38
Vissza Istenhez
We were enchanted by the spirituality of Krishna Valley, the
sunshine, the environment, the tastes, the fragrances, and the
happy and pure glances. It was a pleasure to be here and to sing
and dance with the congregation. (Teachers of the K. D. Primary
School, Budapest)
I have had an unprecedented experience here in Krishna Val-
ley. It is extremely wonderful and uplifting. The devotees are nice
and friendly. I wish I could become like this one day. I will remem-
ber the many smiling faces with gratitude. Thank you. (B. A.)
The strength of belief has been proven many times, but what we have seen
here is unbelievable. Cleanliness, humility, simplicity, and seeing God in
everything. This is Ka consciousness. And this is what I learned here.
Thank you. (B. Sz., Budapest)
Dr. Klmn Gulys, State Secretary of Church Af-
fairs
When we descended to the Valley it was now shiny, now
cloudy, now rainy, now sunny. I guess life must have been
somewhat similar for the devotees in Krishna Valley in
the past ten years. It surely was not easy to create this
wonderful park, to build these houses, to employ the peo-
ple who adopted a new culture and who must somehow
practice their faith. This place is surely more than suit-
able for that.
Manbir Singh, Ambassador of India
I always knew that there were Hare Krishnas in Hungary too and that they
have centers all over the country. But when I finally came here I was still
very much surprised by the size of this estate and the care and expertise with
which the land and the property are handled. Moreover I have witnessed that
the devotees really make everyone smile here. They help the elderly, take
care of the sick, educate their youth, live in harmony with their neighbors
and strive for creating universal brotherhood. They help us in getting to
know each other better and understand each other
better. By presenting many features of traditional In-
dian lifestyle, this little village does a lot for building
tolerance.
The inhabitants of this valley live a typical In-
dian lifestyle. Thus the county and the country can
get an insight into the religion, village life, dance,
and prayers of India. I think in this age it has be-
come necessary to get to know each others religion
and lifestyle better. This enhances peace and under-
standing.
V
i
s
i
t
o
r
s

b
o
o
k
38
Krishna Valley
39
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupda:
Bhagavad-gt as it is
The Bhagavad-gt is universally renow-
ned as the jewel of Indias spiritual wis-
dom. Spoken by Lord Ka, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead to His intimate
disciple Arjuna, the Gts seven hundred
concise verses provide a definitive guide
to the science of self realization. No other
philosophical or religious work reveals, in
such a lucid and profound way, the nature
of consciousness, the self, the universe
and the Supreme.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupda:
Ka The Supreme Personality of
Godhead
Ka Book is a collection of beautiful
stories and illustrations. The stories de-
velop from Kas birth to His childhood
and youth. Ka plays with His friends in
the forest while looking after the cows and
calves and incidentally He kills so many
demons. On some full-moon nights Ka
dances with Rdh and His beautiful girl-
friends, the gops, in the rsa-ll dance.
Satsvarpa dsa Goswami:
Prabhupda He Built a House in Which
the Whole World Can Live
The riveting story of rla Prabhupdas
life will make you wonder how the world
has largely missed this saint who recently
walked among us. As a sociological,
philosophical, or religious study, rla
Prabhupdas life story stands tall as a
unique contribution to millions of indivi-
duals and to the world.
If you read nothing else about bhakti-
yoga, read this biography the life of one
soul steeped in pure love for God.
Krishna Dharma: Mahabharata,
The Concise Version of the World Famous
Epos
Krishna Dharma is the author of the
worlds best selling English editions of
the Mahbhrata (over 30,000 in print) and
Rmyaa (15,000 in print), the great epics
of Anciemt India. They have been trans-
lated into twelve other languages around
the world.
Dharma successfully captures the
mood and majesty of a rich and ancient
epic and, in the process, does full justice
www.krishna.com www.blservices.com www.krishnaculture.com
For thousands of years people have turned to Bhagavad-gt, rmad-Bhgavatam and
other classics for enlightenment. These books guide you daily in your spiritual journey.
to the critical elements of the complex
story. A well-wrought saga that will be
appreciated by Western readers and admi-
rably serve to introduce a new generation
to the rich spiritual, cultural, and historic
legacy of India. Highly recommended.
Midwest Book Journal
Kurma dasa:
Great Vegetarian Dishes
Dubbed as Australias Vegetarian Guru,
Kurma dasa has been writing cookbooks,
teaching students around the world, and
hosting internationally broadcast televisi-
on shows for over thirty years. His books
have sold over one million copies. Kurma
teaches his special brand of gourmet
vegetarian cuisine in homes, schools, and
colleges across the planet. His cuisine is
stylish and delicious.
40
Vissza Istenhez
FONYD
B
A
L
A
T
O
N
KAPOSVR
Balatonboglr
Lengyeltti
Somogyvmos
Marcali
Somogyvr
Buzsk
Krishna Valley
Indian Cultural Center and Organic Farm
8699 Somogyvmos, F u. 38.
Tel./Fax: (+3685) 540-002
E-mail: info@krisnavolgy.hu
The ancient Indian culture comes to life
Sights of Krishna Valley
Shrine Daily ceremonies at 12.40 and 16.00
Beautiful lakes Vedic cow barn Giftshop Indian cuisine
Programmes for groups
guided tour traditional music performance
your first Indian dance steps glimpses into the philosophy
exquisite Indian vegetarian feast
OPENING HOURS: All week: 10.0017.00
GUESTHOUSE: (rooms can be booked
by calling) (+3685) 540-002
Access to Krishna Valley