CHARITY TO ISKCON

FUND-RAISING

30 reasons (THIRTY REASONS) why charity to ISKCON is the highest form of charity:

“Whatever is done without faith whether it is sacrifice, charity, austerity, or any other act is useless. It has no value here or hereafter, O Arjuna.” (17.28)

1. Largest book-distribution program for distribution of Bhagavada Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam

“The one who shall propagate this supreme secret philosophy, the transcendental knowledge of the Gita, amongst My devotees, shall be performing the highest devotional service to Me, and shall certainly come to Me. No other person shall do more pleasing service to Me, and no one on earth shall be dearer to Me. (18.68-69)

I promise the study of this sacred dialogue of ours will be equivalent to worshipping Me with knowledge-sacrifice.” (18.70)

“Whoever hears this sacred dialogue with faith and without cavil becomes free from sin, and attains salvation.” (18.71)

1. Nationwide presence and international presence of temples and guesthouses for spiritual tourists

Charity that is given as a matter of duty, to a deserving candidate who does nothing in return, at the right place and time, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness. (17.20)

Charity in the mode of goodness is the best purifying, beneficial, and righteous act. It equally benefits both the giver and the receiver (MB 13.120.16).

Nobody does anything for others. They all do for their own benefit. Even charitable works done for others are really done for one’s own good (MB 12.292.01).

It is the giver, not the receiver, who is blessed. Yogiraj Mumtaz Ali says: When you serve a less fortunate person in any way — material or spiritual — you are not doing him or her a favor. In fact, the one who receives your help does you a favor by accepting what you give, and thereby helps you to evolve and move closer to the divine, blissful being, who in reality is within all.

1. Sacred refuge for devotees who may be harassed by evil demoniac people

Supreme Controller: Lord Krishna is the supreme controller.

"I give heat, and I withhold and send forth the rain" (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.19)

“With a single fragment of myself I pervade and support this entire universe”(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.42)

1. Holy place to stay for business people while traveling worldwide
2. Dharmo Rakshita Rakshitaha: Those who protect Dharma are protected by Dharma

Set aside all meritorious deeds and religious rituals, and just surrender completely to My will with firm faith and loving devotion. I shall liberate you from all sins, the bonds of Karma. Do not grieve

1. Descending from authentic parampara / disciplic succession system by Srila Prabhupada
2. Helps to save pious souls due to having brahmacari ashrams. God becomes happy when you help to save pious souls because:
   1. You cannot come to the kingdom of God unless you bring another soul with you
   2. Pleasing God’s devotees is even better than worshipping God himself

Supreme Creator: Lord Krishna is the origin of all.

“The whole cosmic order is under me. By my will it is manifested again and again, and by my will it is annihilated at the end” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.8)

“Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being, moving or unmoving, that can exist without me” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.39)

"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts"(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.8)

"Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution" (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 7.6)

1. Sanatana Dharma strictly followed preserving the valuable culture of India
2. Proper brahminical initiations after proper bhakti shastri examinations
3. Very high standards of worship and Brahminical initiation with proper training and proper tests conducted (Bhakti Sastri training and examinations) to make sure the high quality of brahminical initiations
4. Unified largest umbrella body for devotees and worship is better for expansion of Dharma

Those having the qualities of heroism, vigor, firmness, dexterity, not fleeing from battle, charity, and administrative skills are called leaders or protectors (Kshatriyas).

1. charity (money or help given to aid the needy; an organization, fund or institution whose purpose is to aid those in need – derived from the Christian concept of caritas, meaning love of one's neighbor)

1. Four regulative principles strictly followed: No meat eating, No intoxication, No illicit sex, No gambling
2. Presence of ISKCON throughout India in all the holy dhams, so any pilgrimage tour can make use of ISKCON by staying in ISKCON guesthouses for the period of pilgrimage travel

Those who have serenity, self control, austerity, purity, patience, honesty, transcendental knowledge, transcendental experience, and belief in God are labeled as intellectuals (Braahmans).

1. Regular disciplined daily temple programs including classes on Bhagavada Gita/ Srimad Bhagvatam/ Aarti from 4:15 am to 8:45 pm
2. Least Government intervention and corruption. So, temple funds are properly utilized to promote God consciousness through preaching and distribution of sacred scriptures such as Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam

1. Wealth used to preserve and promote Dharma is the best use of wealth

Wherever there will be both Krishna, the Lord of yoga, or Dharma in the form of the scriptures, and Arjuna with the weapons of duty and protection; there will be everlasting prosperity, victory, happiness, and morality. This is my conviction. You shall overcome all difficulties by My grace when your mind becomes fixed on Me. But, if you do not listen to Me due to ego, you shall perish.

1. Not being charitable is demoniac and leads to hell and hellish conditions of life

The Supreme Lord — as the controller abiding in the inner psyche of all beings — causes them to work out their Karma like a puppet (of Karma created by the free will) mounted on a machine.

1. Those who do not perform sacrifices for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Shri Krishna can never achieve happiness neither in  this world nor in the next
2. Benefits of charity to Krishna Consciousness are eternal. After many many births, we get this rare human body in which we have a chance to develop God consciousness. God consciousness cannot be developed in animal’s body. So, we should make use of human body to self-realize and do more than merely eating, sleeping, mating and defending which can be done even better by animals who never develop God consciousness.

Omniscient: Lord Krishna knows the past, present, and the future.

 `“O Arjuna, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities" (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 7.26)

“Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot!"(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 4.5)

1. Giving charity leads to divine protection/ spiritual energy of the Lord. This leads to ascension to higher and higher heavenly planets such as Swarga loka, Indralok, and finally the supreme planet Krsnalok.

Supreme Maintainer:

“The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of the whole world, comes from me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from me” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 15.12)

“I enter into each planet, and by energy they stay in orbit” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 15.13)

“This material nature, which is one of my energies is working under my direction” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.10)

1. ISKCON has many useful and great charitable programs such as:
   1. Book distribution
   2. Cow protection
   3. Building and manitainence of places of worship
   4. Active outreach preaching programd such as Village preaching, Rath Yatra and many more preaching programs
   5. Disciplined temple programs
   6. Nitya-annadanam
   7. Midday school meals
   8. Gurukula: Bhaktivedanta Swami School
   9. liberal distribution of pradasam and sankirtana, the whole world can be programs come peaceful and prosperous.”
   10. “Food For Life”

1. Donors to Krishna Consciousness provide divine protection and God’s favour to such pious divine donors

Omnipotent: Lord Krishna is omnipotent, meaning he is the greatest.

"There is no truth beyond Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread"(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 7.7)

1. Being demoniac and miserly leads to destruction of world (for example, many scholars are predicting end of world on 21st December 2012)
2. Giving charity to God consciousness provides one with lot of joy and pleasure

Supreme Father:

“It should be understood that all species of life, o son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed giving father” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 14.4)

“I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire”(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.17)

1. Divine people who donate to promotion of Dharma and Krishna consciousness also enjoy very good social credibility, public trust and respect.

Works of charity and sacrifice must be done for they purify even great souls. Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up; they must be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls. BG 18.5

1. ISKCON follows strict vaishnava culture and guidelines to make ideal citizens who are able to do the best welfare work for benefit of society.
2. Everything that ISKCON does is done in broad daylight. There are no hidden illegal activities, no corruption and no misuse of funds

1. God owns all the three planetary system. God does not need anything from anybody. However, anything that we give to promotion of God consciousness and dharma only goes to our own eternal credit

Seek refuge in the Supreme Lord alone with loving devotion, O Arjuna. By His grace you shall attain supreme peace and the Eternal Abode.

1. People learn many useful things when associating with ISKCON such as
   1. Learn to harness the power of the Mind through mantra Meditation.
   2. Unleash the potentials of the soul to find inner fulfillment.
   3. Gain access to the power of God to overpower undesirable and self-destructive habits and traits.
   4. Empower yourself with timeless Vedic techniques to successfully tackle the stresses and tensions of modern living.
   5. Harmonize yourself with the universal laws of Karma and thus save yourself from future suffering.
   6. Discover the non-sectarian spiritual truths that can unify all religions and people.
   7. Find the treasure of peace, happiness and love that lies hidden within your own heart.